As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the privilege of testing many pizza ovens in my kitchen. Today, I’ll compare the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Alfa Futuro 2, two excellent models that I’ve used extensively. I’ll evaluate them based on quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and finally, I’ll share the results of a real pizza cooking test to see how they perform. For a more detailed look at how I test pizza ovens, feel free to check out my separate article.
The Bertello Pizza Oven is a compact, multi-fuel oven designed for versatility and portability, making it a great choice for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Alfa Futuro 2 is a high-end wood-fired oven, renowned for its spacious cooking area and authentic Italian design.
Here, you’ll find an in-depth comparison of the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Alfa Futuro 2, backed by my testing.
Finally, if you decide to purchase one of these ovens, I’d greatly appreciate you using my referral links, as they help keep my blog alive at no extra cost to you.
Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: Quality and Materials
| Crafted with durable stainless steel and a refractory stone surface, the Bertello Pizza Oven offers excellent longevity. Its sleek design combines functionality with resilience, making it a reliable choice for frequent outdoor cooking. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is built with high-quality Italian craftsmanship, featuring a stainless steel arch, dual-layer insulation, and a large glass door. While robust, its size and weight make it better suited for larger setups rather than portable use.
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Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: Temperature Control
| The Bertello Pizza Oven reaches over 900°F quickly, offering consistent and precise heat distribution for optimal cooking results. It’s equipped with the flexibility of using gas, wood, or charcoal for controlled cooking experiences. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 can heat up to an impressive 1000°F in 30 minutes. It uses the patented flue system for heat circulation but lacks the portability and multi-fuel capabilities of the Bertello.
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Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: Shape
| The dome-shaped design of the Bertello ensures even heat distribution for perfectly cooked pizzas, whether it’s the crust or the toppings. |
The sleek and modern semi-dome design of the Alfa Futuro 2 enhances airflow and heat retention, but its larger opening and glass door are more suited for larger batches rather than precision baking for small-scale use.
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Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Bertello‘s compact design and straightforward setup make it beginner-friendly. Preheating is fast (10–15 minutes), and its multi-fuel option allows users to adapt their cooking style easily. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 impresses with its spacious interior, capable of cooking two pizzas at once. However, its larger size and heavier weight make the first-time setup more challenging compared to the Bertello’s portability.
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Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: Power Source
| Bertello excels with its multi-fuel capability, accommodating gas, wood, and charcoal. This versatility allows for authentic flavors while maintaining convenience. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 primarily operates on gas but offers an optional hybrid kit for wood-burning. While innovative, its limited default fuel options make it less flexible than the Bertello.
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Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: Size
| Compact and portable, the Bertello weighs 34.6 pounds with a 12-inch cooking surface, ideal for small gatherings or frequent outdoor cooking setups. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is much larger and heavier, with a cooking area of 70 x 40 cm, allowing it to bake two pizzas or 2kg of bread simultaneously. This size suits professional setups but may overwhelm casual users or small spaces.
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Bertello VS Alfa Futuro 2: Ease of Cleaning
| Cleaning the Bertello requires effort due to its pellet tray placement, but its compact size makes it manageable overall. Its refractory stone is durable and easy to wipe clean after each session. |
Cleaning the Alfa Futuro 2 is straightforward for a large oven. The interior requires brushing and scraping to remove debris, and its chimney may need regular maintenance. Its size makes the process more involved than the Bertello.
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Pizza Cooking Test
When testing the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Alfa Futuro 2, both impressed with their ability to deliver restaurant-quality pizzas, but there were key differences in their performance. The Bertello reached its optimal temperature of 900°F in just 10–15 minutes, making it highly efficient and ideal for quick, spontaneous outdoor pizza sessions. In comparison, the Alfa Futuro 2 required around 30 minutes to heat up to its peak temperature of 1000°F, which is reasonable given its larger size and capacity.
Cooking a classic Margherita pizza was a breeze with both ovens. In the Bertello, the pizza was perfectly cooked in just 90 seconds, with a beautifully crisp crust, evenly melted cheese, and fresh, vibrant toppings. The Alfa Futuro 2 also excelled, cooking up to two Margherita pizzas at the same time in 90 seconds each. The Alfa’s spacious interior ensured consistent heat distribution, delivering evenly baked pizzas that were crispy yet tender.
Taste-wise, the Bertello produced an authentic wood-fired flavor, particularly when using its wood or charcoal options. The crust was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, creating a delightful texture that paired well with the gooey cheese and savory toppings. The Alfa Futuro 2 also delivered exceptional results, offering a slightly smokier flavor when using the optional wood-burning kit. Its larger cooking area allowed for a seamless cooking experience, especially for larger batches.
Overall, both ovens delivered excellent results, but the Bertello stood out for its quick heating time and portability, making it a great choice for smaller gatherings and on-the-go cooking. Meanwhile, the Alfa Futuro 2 shined in its capacity and versatility, perfect for hosting larger groups. Regardless of which oven you choose, both are capable of creating mouthwatering pizzas with ease.
How We Tested
To evaluate the performance of both the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Alfa Futuro 2, we conducted a series of tests focusing on key aspects of pizza cooking. Our testing began by setting up each oven in an outdoor environment, ensuring similar conditions to create a fair comparison.
We started by measuring the time it took for each oven to heat up to their optimal cooking temperatures. The Bertello reached 900°F in just 10–15 minutes, while the Alfa Futuro 2 took around 30 minutes to reach its peak of 1000°F. These preheating times were recorded using an infrared thermometer to ensure accuracy.
Next, we cooked classic Margherita pizzas in both ovens, using identical dough, sauce, and toppings to maintain consistency. We monitored the cooking times and checked for evenness of the crust and toppings. The Bertello baked a single pizza in just 90 seconds, while the Alfa Futuro 2 cooked two pizzas simultaneously in the same amount of time, showcasing its capacity advantage.
Finally, we evaluated the taste and texture of the pizzas. Both ovens produced authentic, wood-fired flavors with crispy crusts and perfectly melted cheese. However, the Bertello excelled in efficiency and convenience, while the Alfa Futuro 2 impressed with its ability to handle larger batches seamlessly.
Throughout the testing process, we also noted ease of use, heat retention, and any challenges encountered, such as cleaning requirements or maintaining consistent heat. This comprehensive approach allowed us to deliver a well-rounded comparison of these two exceptional pizza ovens.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the choice between the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Alfa Futuro 2 depends on your cooking needs and preferences. Whether you value portability and efficiency or larger capacity and premium design, both ovens are excellent in their own right. If you decide to purchase one, I’d highly appreciate it if you use my referral links for your purchase. It helps support my blog at no extra cost to you! Here are the links:
Thank you for supporting my work and happy pizza-making!