As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of hands-on experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve tested and cooked with a wide range of outdoor pizza ovens in my professional kitchen. In this article, I’ll be comparing two popular models that I’ve personally used—Solo Stove Pi Prime and Alfa Futuro 2. I’ve evaluated both ovens based on their quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and most importantly, how they performed in a real pizza cooking test. If you’re interested in my detailed testing process, I’ve outlined it in a separate article you can check out for more insights.
The Solo Stove Pi Prime is a compact propane-powered oven known for its sleek design, quick heat-up time, and user-friendly performance.
The Alfa Futuro 2, on the other hand, is a high-capacity, premium pizza oven built in Italy that offers hybrid fuel capability and impressive heat retention for professional-grade results.
I’ve compared the Solo Stove Pi Prime and Alfa Futuro 2 in detail in this article, using my own test results.
While they weren’t picked for the TOP-5 pizza ovens, these pizza ovens are still dependable.
Just a quick heads-up: this article contains referral links that help keep my blog running. If you decide to purchase either oven, I’d truly appreciate you using my links—they cost you nothing extra but allow me to continue sharing detailed comparisons like this one.
Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: Quality and Materials
| The Solo Stove Pi Prime is built with premium stainless steel and excellent craftsmanship for a compact oven. It feels solid and is built to last in outdoor conditions. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is made in Italy with top-tier craftsmanship and a stylish stainless steel arch. It’s elegant and highly durable, though the chimney may wear faster.
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Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: Temperature Control
| The Solo Stove Pi Prime heats up quickly to 900°F in just 15 minutes. While it lacks a built-in thermometer, the propane flame offers precise and consistent heat. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 reaches an impressive 1000°F in 30 minutes. Its patented flue system circulates heat well, but preheating takes more time.
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Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: Shape
| The Pi Prime has a smart cylindrical shape that distributes heat evenly and allows easy pizza rotation. It also has a flared opening for smooth peel access. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 has a clean, modern design with a large glass door. While beautiful, the bigger shape makes it harder to move and store.
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Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Using the Solo Stove Pi Prime for the first time was intuitive. Setup was fast and our first pizza came out golden brown and delicious in under 90 seconds. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 also impressed on first use. We cooked two pizzas at once with great results, though setup and heating took longer.
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Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: Power Source
| The Solo Stove Pi Prime runs on propane gas, offering simplicity and steady heat without ash or smoke. It’s ready to cook with just a single tank connection. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is gas-powered too, but has an optional hybrid kit for wood—adding flexibility, though at a higher price and complexity.
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Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: Size
| Compact and portable at 30 lbs, the Solo Stove Pi Prime is great for smaller patios and easy to move when needed. Ideal for pizza nights anywhere. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is large and heavy, suitable for more permanent setups. It fits two pizzas but isn’t ideal for quick relocation.
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Solo Stove Pi Prime VS Alfa Futuro 2: Ease of Cleaning
| The Pi Prime is easy to clean with just a dry cloth and brush. The removable stones make crumb cleanup simple and hassle-free. |
Cleaning Alfa Futuro 2 takes more effort due to its larger size. Ash removal and chimney checks are essential for maintenance.
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Pizza Cooking Test
To put both ovens to the test, I used the same dough recipe and made a classic 12-inch Margherita pizza in each. This allowed for a fair side-by-side comparison of heat-up times, cooking speed, and final taste.
The Solo Stove Pi Prime preheated in just 15 minutes, reaching the ideal cooking temperature of around 900°F. I placed the pizza inside and it cooked in about 90 seconds. The crust came out evenly golden with a crisp base and slightly puffed edges. The cheese had the perfect melt, and the tomato sauce retained its vibrant, slightly sweet flavor. The result was an authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, full of flavor and beautifully cooked top to bottom.
The Alfa Futuro 2 took a bit longer to preheat, clocking in at 30 minutes to reach its peak temperature of 1000°F. Once ready, it also cooked the pizza in about 90 seconds. The result was impressive—the crust developed a deep char that added complexity, and the interior was pillowy soft. The toppings were cooked evenly, with a bit more bubbling on the cheese thanks to the higher dome heat.
In summary, both ovens produced outstanding results, but the Solo Stove Pi Prime stood out for its speed, ease, and the remarkably consistent texture of the pizza. The Alfa Futuro 2 delivered a slightly smokier finish and more traditional feel, especially great for enthusiasts who want a high-end showpiece oven.
How We Tested
To fairly evaluate both the Solo Stove Pi Prime and the Alfa Futuro 2, I used the same dough recipe, same sauce, and identical toppings—a classic Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, and basil. I tested both ovens on the same day, outdoors, in similar weather conditions to ensure consistency.
Each oven was given the proper preheating time recommended by the manufacturer—15 minutes for the Pi Prime and 30 minutes for the Alfa Futuro 2. I monitored the internal temperature using an infrared thermometer to confirm both reached optimal cooking heat before baking.
I also paid close attention to how evenly each oven cooked the pizza, how the crust turned out (both on top and bottom), how well the cheese melted, and how the flavors came together. After multiple bakes, I also looked at ease of handling, how often I needed to rotate the pizza, and how long it took for the oven to recover heat between bakes.
This hands-on testing allowed me to directly compare performance, user-friendliness, and overall pizza quality between the Solo Stove Pi Prime and Alfa Futuro 2.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, choosing between the Solo Stove Pi Prime and the Alfa Futuro 2 comes down to your cooking style, budget, and how often you plan to fire up pizzas. If you want a highly portable, affordable, and efficient propane-powered oven, the Solo Stove Pi Prime is hard to beat—especially for its speed and ease of use. On the other hand, if you’re aiming for a more premium, spacious oven that delivers that traditional Italian wood-fired experience with room to cook for a crowd, the Alfa Futuro 2 is a fantastic (though much pricier) investment.
Whichever model you choose, I highly appreciate it if you use my referral links when purchasing—I’ll earn a small commission at no cost to you, and it helps support my work on this blog.
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