Casadio Undici vs La Cimbali M26 – Which one is right for you?

In this blog post, we’ll be taking a closer look at two popular commercial coffee machines: the Casadio Undici and the La Cimbali M26.

We’ll be examining the features and the key differences between the two espresso machines and help you make an informed decision about which is best for you. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or just starting out, read on to learn more about these machines.

La Cimbali or Casadio – which one should you buy?

La Cimbali Group is one of the largest manufacturers of professional espresso machines in the world, with a global presence and a diverse portfolio of brands.

The groups brands are regularly seen in cafes, restaurants, and other out-of-home settings everywhere. Cimbali is a major player in the coffee equipment industry, with a stellar reputation for producing high-quality, reliable machines that are trusted by coffee professionals.

It’s important to understand that La Cimbali Group owns Casadio – having purchased the brand in 2003.

So, when we compare the M26 and the Undici, we are comparing similar espresso machines – the two machines have similar build quality and are built mostly with the same parts.

The Cimbali Group owns a handful of coffee brands. You could compare it to how the Volkswagen Group owns a number of car brands including Seat, Volkswagen, Audi – and even Lamborghini. 

Casadio Undici vs La Cimbali M26: Understanding the features

Both the Casadio Unidici and La Cimbali M26 are high-quality espresso machines suitable for use in cafes and restaurants.

They have similar features, such as boiler capacity, number of group heads, steam wands, hot water spouts, sizes, weights and power!

Comparing The Look

If both machines have similar internal features, the first place to start contrasting the machines is in the look and design.

Both the Casadio Undici and the La Cimbali M26 have a classic design, reminiscent of traditional Italian espresso machines. They’re also available in a range of colours to suit different decor styles – be sure to ask us about customisation options!

You can argue that the M26 has a more premium look and feel, but we’d encourage you to book a visit to our showroom to see the two machines for yourself, side by side.

Speaking plainly, if your budget is tighter, you should have no issues electing for a Casadio Undici, it’s a very well-made coffee machine.

There are however, some differences with the machines, and you’ll have to decide whether these features are worth it for you. Of course, if you’re unsure, we can talk with you through the options.

Casadio Undici vs La Cimbali M26: Understanding the differences

To analyse the differences, it’s best to view them as ‘extras’ that come with the M26, but are absent on the Undici.

These additional features make the M26 more expensive on average than the Undici.

Temperature Control System for more consistent espresso

The Casadio Unidici has an electronic temperature control system – aloowing baristas to set the temperature of each group head independently. Great fun if you know all about the ins and outs of espresso extraction! However, the process is manual and learning curve is steep.

The La Cimbali M26, on the other hand, has patented smart boiler technology, which optimizes the boiler performance to reduce energy consumption and ensure consistent temperature control.

In short, the temperature control system of the M26 takes all the guesswork out of pulling espresso and you have a more reliable machine when it comes to temperature.

Further, the M26 comes with an ‘Energy Saving Mode’ which will do your electricity bills a favour.

More power means faster warm up

While the M26 and the Undici have similar boiler sizes, the La Cimbali M26 has a higher power range than the Casadio Unidici. This means it can heat up faster and handle high-volume use more efficiently.

Imagine you’re going through a busy period in your cafe, and your Baristas are working hard pulling nearly 60 espressos in an hour – the M26 might be better for you.

When water enters the coffee machine, the boiler works hard to heat that water up. A less powerful machine will take longer to heat this water.

If a customer needs to wait for their coffee, they’re more likely to vote with their feet and head elsewhere!

Both machines need careful installation

While the two machines are the same size (770 x 560 x 520 mm) – The Undici is slightly heavier than the La Cimbali M26, which may make it more difficult to move around or adjust. That said, both machines will need careful planning and preparation when it comes to installation.

Installations are about your space, your power and your water. And don’t forget you need a grinder and a hot water boiler too!

Which is the better brand?

Casadio and La Cimbali are both well-respected brands in the coffee industry, but if you’re in the know – you probably want to look at La Cimbali.

La Cimbali has significant market share and probably has more “brand clout” than a Casadio machine. Your customers are more likely to be impressed seeing that your café is powered by a La Cimbali!

User Interface Screen

Simple things are often the most important and you should know that The La Cimbali M26 features a user-friendly interface with programmable buttons. Doesn’t sound like too much, but the screen more easily allows Baristas to customise shot volumes and brew times.

This helps to ensure consistent quality across all espresso drinks, regardless of who is making them.

Undici vs M26: Making a Latte

To truly compare the machines, Guy our B2B Marketing Manager made a latter on both!

The M26 is faster than the Undici

The M26 set up was about 15 seconds faster than the Undici set up, which might not sound like much, but will definitely add up amongst a full work day.

The additonal speed is thanks to the additional power available in the M26, as well as using some of the automatic features available with the M26.

The TurboSteam Wand

When using the M26 for the video above, Guy elected to use the automatic TurboSteam wand to make a Barista quality drink almost on autopilot.

While the espresso was pulling, and the wand was steaming the milk, there was 20 seconds of “downtime” where Guy was effectively doing nothing! When using the Casadio, the whole process was manual, so Guy was on the move for the whole time.

For your busy Baristas, this downtime could be used to chat to customers, prepare any food or cakes, or start on another drink.

The additional time given you you by having the M26 might be the main reason to choose it over the Undici!

Note: The M26 comes in an SE or a TE version, the TE versions contain the TurboSteam wand. For additional speed, Guy used the Elective AutoTamp Grinder, which delivers consistent, precise tamps for accurate and quick puck prep.

Ultimately, the choice between the Casadio Unidici and La Cimbali M26 will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the cafe or restaurant. Both machines are capable of producing high-quality espresso drinks consistently, and there is a similar build quality. The Cimbali M26 perhaps looks a little better and is more reliable machine.

Ultimately, the choice will depend on your needs and your budget.

If you would like help on working out which machine is right for you, the coffee experts are more than happy to help. Please just get in touch.