Crem · Dual boilerONE 2B Dual
A dual-boiler E61 prosumer machine from Crem — successor to the Expobar Brewtus lineage — offered in three tiers from basic PID/vibration-pump up to a rotary-pump pressure-profiling flagship with volume-based profile execution.
The short version
The ONE 2B is a well-engineered dual-boiler with an unusually thoughtful feature set for its class: simultaneous brew and steam, auto on/off scheduling, dual PID, and — on the top LFPP variant — a genuinely novel volume-indexed pressure profiling system.
The trade-off is that the rotary-pump flagship sits in a weight class (35 kg) that demands a permanent counter home, and the firmware and electronics were still maturing at launch.
Why people buy it
- Genuine dual-boiler independence: brew and steam boilers are PID-controlled separately and can each be switched on/off individually, making single-boiler eco mode practical
- Volume-based pressure profiling on the LFPP variant produces more repeatable shots across grind changes than conventional time-based profiling systems
Why they don’t
- At 35 kg the machine is not relocatable; portafilter ergonomics on the LFPP variant also require two-handed operation (screen and side Barista Knob simultaneously)
The full tally
- Genuine dual-boiler independence: brew and steam boilers are PID-controlled separately and can each be switched on/off individually, making single-boiler eco mode practical
- Volume-based pressure profiling on the LFPP variant produces more repeatable shots across grind changes than conventional time-based profiling systems
- Plumbable with auto-detection of mains connection, plus reservoir fallback — and SGS/NSF commercial certification means it is serviceably built for daily multi-user use
- OLED display with shot timer, auto on/off scheduling, and USB firmware updates make it meaningfully upgradeable without a service call
- At 35 kg the machine is not relocatable; portafilter ergonomics on the LFPP variant also require two-handed operation (screen and side Barista Knob simultaneously)
- Firmware was iterative and immature at launch — early owners encountered menu and profiling quirks that required USB updates to resolve
- The vibration-pump entry 2B PID variant is outclassed on noise and flow-stability by the rotary-pump R-GSP and R-LFPP siblings, yet costs meaningfully less without the features that justify upgrading
What the community knows
Years of owner threads, distilled — well regarded.
Firmware-upgradeable pressure profiling and rotary pump quiet appeal to advanced tinkerers; early electronics issues mostly resolved by mid-2024, but sparse ownership base and firmware distribution friction remain. E61 standard, excellent shot ceiling, design-forward aesthetic…
Ceiling per dollar
how far the cup can go, per dollar
Design pull
Value
price-to-performance the community respects
All 9 community measures
price-to-performance the community respects
shows up every morning, year after year
parts and repairs — you are never stranded
mods, guides, and community know-how around it
kind to first-timers
years before you outgrow or replace it
how far the cup can go, per dollar
speed and simplicity, day to day
Worth knowing before you buy — Most owners eventually focus on profiling learning curve, not machine itself—the machine is ready before users are.
Known weak points — Early ramp-up noise (solenoid valve issue) on pre-serial 11520060413; tank sensor calibration drift on long profiles; firmware profile-saving bugs (fixed in v1.13+); firmware updates require retailer access, not direct download from manufacturer.
“The great thing is, all of them can be done in firmware and will simply be a downloadable software upgrade via your USB key.”
“It's super quiet, great temperature stability/accuracy, easy to use, easy on the eye, huge drip tray and so many handy features taken care of.”
The measurements
Scored 0–5 on the same rubric as everything on file — the words matter more than the numbers.
The measurements
0–5, one rubric- Shot ceiling
- serious4
- Steam power
- confident4
- Built to last
- durable4
- Easy daily
- demanding1
Position in the market
Every dot is a rival, measured the same way. The gold one is this.
- Upper half for shot ceiling
- a higher ceiling than 147 of the 238 machines we’ve measured
- Upper half for build
- sturdier than 56% of the field, by the community’s own record
Every dot is a machine measured on the same rubric. See the whole market
Living with it
The part spec sheets skip: counter space, upkeep, and what owners learn later.
The honest note — Most owners who outgrow the ONE 2B are chasing finer electronic shot control rather than hardware limits — the natural next step is a Decent DE1 or a La Marzocco Linea Micra for those who want commercial group-head mass. The machine itself has room to grow with firmware, so hardware upgrades are less urgent than on fixed-platform competitors.
The full spec sheet
- Type
- Dual boiler
- Heat-up time
- ~8 min
- Steam power
- 4/5
- Brew + steam at once
- Yes
- Guest recovery
- 4/5
- Shot quality ceiling
- 4/5
- PID temperature control
- Yes
- Milk system
- Manual steam wand
- Removable brew group
- No
- Flow control
- Yes
- Hot-water tap
- Yes
- Workflow demand
- 4/5
- Maintenance
- 3/5
- Noise
- 2/5
- Build longevity
- 4/5
- Dimensions
- 30 × 45.8 × 42 cm
Before it arrives
What completes this machine — the faded pieces can wait.
Water filter / softener — Plumbed-in machines need inline filtration to keep scale out of the boiler — it is cheaper than a repair.
- Water filter / softener — Plumbed-in machines need inline filtration to keep scale out of the boiler — it is cheaper than a repair.
- Descaler & backflush kit — Electric boilers scale up and grouts gunk up — a descaler plus backflush routine is what keeps the machine alive for a decade.
- Coffee scale with timer — Espresso is a ratio. A 0.1g scale with a built-in timer is the single biggest consistency upgrade for any manual machine.
- Knock box — Somewhere to bang the spent puck that is not your kitchen bin.
- Calibrated tamper — The bundled tamper is usually an afterthought; a fitted, calibrated one makes prep repeatable.
- WDT distribution tool — Breaks up clumps before tamping — a cheap fix for channeling on any portafilter machine.
- Espresso cups & glassware — Proper demitasse and latte glasses keep the drink hot and look the part.
Feed it right
Week one is dial-in — and stale beans will lose it.
Coffee more than a few weeks past roast won’t extract predictably, and a new machine gets blamed for it. A machine in this class will show you the difference between roast dates — it deserves beans that change week to week.
Pick your coffee — any of these dials in beautifully here:
Sergio - Brazillian Fazenda Joia Rara Aerobic FermentedSCA 88Medium-light · Cerrado Mineiro · Aerobic FermentedHoney · OrangeEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$29.18 · roasted to order
Honeycrest - Costa Rican Volcán AzulSCA 87Medium-light · West Valley · Red HoneyRaisins · Maple SyrupEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$19.50 · roasted to order
Wild Ember - Ethiopian Buno Dambi UddoSCA 92Medium roast · Odo Shakiso, Guji Zone, Oromia · NaturalBlueberry · MarmaladeEnough brightness to show what this gear can separate.CA$26.83 · roasted to orderNo proper grinder yet? Sort that first — it decides more of the cup than the machine does. We ship whole bean, roast-dated, timed so it lands fresh the week your burrs do.
Roasted to order, daily, in Ajax, Ontario · ships Canada-wide. We’re the roastery behind this database — measuring the machines is how we make sure the coffee gets a fair shot.
On film
How it runs on camera, from around the community.
Common questions
What is the difference between the 2B PID, 2B R-GSP, and 2B R-LFPP variants?
All three are dual-boiler machines with an E61 group and dual PID control. The base 2B PID uses a vibratory pump with no advanced pre-infusion. The R-GSP adds a rotary pump and Gradual Soft Pre-Infusion (GSP), letting you program ramp-up time to full pressure over 2–30 seconds. The R-LFPP adds Low Flow Pressure Profiling on top of GSP: you define multi-stage pressure profiles where each stage advances by volume of water delivered rather than time, making profiles more consistent across different coffees.
Is the Crem ONE 2B plumbable?
Yes. All ONE 2B variants support both reservoir and direct water-line connection, with automatic detection when mains is plumbed in. A drain line connection is also available on the rotary-pump variants.
How do I update the firmware?
The machine has an external USB port. Firmware updates are distributed by Crem and loaded via USB key directly into the machine — no service visit required.
Can I turn off the steam boiler to save energy?
Yes. Each boiler can be switched on and off independently through the machine's menu, allowing a practical single-boiler eco mode when steaming is not needed.
What grinder does the Crem ONE 2B deserve?
A midrange stepless espresso grinder is the practical entry point. If you are using the LFPP pressure profiling, a low-retention single-dose grinder is worth the investment because profile repeatability depends on a consistent, accurately dosed puck.
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