About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the espresso machine, which I purchased with my own money November of 2021.

My take

The Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima Espresso Machine has been a strong and stable machine over the last two years of ownership. With powerful steam pressure to rival larger commercial machines, solid build quality, manual or app-based shot settings, and a cleaning function, this machine is an overachiever for the home setting and a potential workhorse in smaller catering/cafes.

About the gear I own

• Model: 2021 Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima
• Boiler Type: Dual Boiler (1.65L)
• Pump Type: Rotary

About me

• Experience: I have been in the specialty coffee game for eight years, working as a barista, roaster, green buyer, and business owner. In opening my own roastery, I wanted to ensure I had a solid espresso machine that would allow me to extract the best out of the coffee I roasted. I wanted to be able to conduct catering events and truly understand what my coffees tasted like in espresso form. Having been around espresso machines and moving to a new town, I also wanted to ensure the build quality and components would not require extra maintenance as I was unsure of the technician availability in my area. As a company, we are focused on making a social impact and working to improve our sustainability and minimize waste. The auto rinse and heat cycling systems built into the espresso machine allow us to achieve this.

Test conditions

• When I bought it: November 2021
• Days used: Approximately 250
• Cups per day: 2-3 (Catering Events 40-50)
• Grinders used: Baratza Sette 270Wi with 40mm Etzinger Burrs and Ditting 807 Sweet Lab with 80mm Cast Steel Burrs.
• Coffee beans used: Specialty grade from several roasters (Ascension Coffee Roasters, Black and White, Onyx, etc.) but mainly my own, Vital Coffee Roasters. All roasts are light to medium and include blends and single origins (Ethiopia, Colombia, etc.)
• Milk used: Dairy (2%, whole, lactose-free), oat milk (Oatly).
• Drinks made: Lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, shots of espresso, Americanos.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a reliable, well-built machine that could handle small-to-medium catering events while providing me with consistent professional-level shots and steam pressure to understand and design espresso blends/single-origin shots.

Why I chose this gear

The dual boiler, build quality, energy and water-saving programming, and PID control were big reasons for going with the Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima machine, which would best represent my company.

While shopping for machines, I heavily considered the La Marzocco Linea Mini and GS3. Unfortunately, while I am familiar with La Marzocco (having worked with them in the past) and am a great fan of the quality and aspects of what they do, I really liked the materials used in the Eagle One Prima that would reduce the chances of scale build-up and the fact the machine had a shot timer.

What I love about it

• Durability: I have not encountered any issues with the machine itself. Like all espresso machines, filtered water is necessary, and regular maintenance is a great routine. With that in mind, I still see the machine as solid, just as on day one.
• Time to heat up: The machine takes around 20-30 minutes to heat up, which is common for dual boiler machines of this size.
• Efficiency: One of the biggest reasons behind purchasing this machine was the energy and water management modes. The machine recycles the heat from the water in the drain box using a heat exchanger. This heat is then used to help heat my brew water. This allows the machine to operate on a smaller brew boiler size, reducing the impact on electricity usage just to heat the boiler. The machine also has an auto-purge feature that uses just enough water to clean the group head, preventing excess water waste.
• Heat control: With the machine’s unique heat exchange and efficiency setup, I have achieved consistent brew temps and maintained quality shots even during a busy event. The water is first heated in the boiler using the heat from any unused or extra water not used in the brewing process, achieving most of the target temperature. The rest is achieved at the grouphead. The PID and settings also allow me to adjust the temperature to within half a degree through the app or the machine’s PID. The steam want is the same story, and I have not noticed any issues with getting great steam quality.
• Size: The machine is a single-group, compact machine that will fit under most counters. Measuring 21” x 16” x 15”, the machine is also great for a coffee bar. As far as using it plumbed, the Eagle One Prima has a 1L tank that can be filled. However, consumers are also given a kit to plumb in the machine (for waste, one will need to drill into the drip tray, too, but this is not a challenging process).
• Steam Wand: The steam wand is as powerful, if not more so, than other commercial machines. I have no issues achieving great microfoam and texture quickly.
• Pre-infusion: There is a pre-infusion setting, but it is only achieved by using the app.
• Ease of use: Overall, the machine is straightforward to use. Simple and direct. Almost all of the settings are achieved via the machine itself. However, I must use the app for some settings, such as pre-infusion.
• Features: On top of the unique heating and waste reduction elements, Eagle One also has an accompanying app that allows one to upload and download different recipes from other users. This is great if someone has a roaster that wants to share their recipe for one of their coffees.
• Home/Commercial: This machine is marketed as a single-group commercial machine. Its durability, use of materials, programmability, and temperature stability make pulling many back-to-back shots for customers (or antsy family members) easy without sacrificing quality.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Other: While great for sharing, the app seems to have issues connecting to the machine. As of summer 2023, the app has been down, and while Victoria Arduino sends updates in their fixes, it can be frustrating. This is something that I do not see as much of an issue as I mostly use the machine manually and change settings on it, but it is an issue and annoyance.

Favorite moment with this machine

I’ve loved every moment with this machine. From catering events to just usage at the house, I have been truly impressed, as have those individuals I’ve served. Many have commented on the modern look and cool light bar and said it has made some of the best espresso shots they have had. I used the machine for the first time at a holiday event at a shopping center. I was impressed with the way the machine held up. I noticed no drop in quality or consistency even when compared to the more expensive multiple-group machines I was more familiar with while working in cafes. It truly highlighted my roasts and the notes I wanted to showcase through espresso.

Value for the money vs. other options

While not a cheap machine, I think it’s a great value for the money compared to competitors. Between the shot timer and efficiency features, I think it offers the best bang for one’s buck. For example, the La Marzocco GS3 costs roughly $7,500-$9,010 (has timer and pressure profiling available), and the La Marzocco Linea Mini costs about $5,810-$6,600 (shot timer unavailable).

Final verdict

The Victoria Arduino Eagle One Prima is a great machine for a small cafe, roastery, catering event, or anyone wanting consistent quality espresso-based drinks. The power and water-saving features also make this a great machine for those who are or want to be more conscientious about their resources.