As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the chance to test countless pizza ovens in a professional kitchen setting. In this article, I’ll compare the Ooni Koda 2 and Alfa Futuro 2, both of which I’ve used extensively in my kitchen.
I focused on real-world performance across eight key areas: quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and a hands-on pizza cooking test to see how long it takes to make a proper Margherita. If you want to see my detailed testing methodology, feel free to check out my separate article: How We Test Pizza Ovens.
The Ooni Koda 2 is Ooni’s latest gas-powered release, praised for its G2 Gas Technology™, smart compatibility, and compact, efficient design aimed at everyday home users.
The Alfa Futuro 2, on the other hand, is a premium, semi-professional outdoor oven built for serious enthusiasts who want commercial-grade performance and design in their backyard.
This article offers a comprehensive comparison of Ooni Koda 2 and Alfa Futuro 2, based on my own testing experience.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase using the links I provide, I’ll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps keep my blog running and allows me to keep testing more ovens for you.
Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Quality and Materials
| The Ooni Koda 2 is built with a die-cast aluminum shell that’s both sleek and durable. Its upgraded cordierite pizza stone is 50% thicker than the Koda 12’s, ensuring superior heat retention and durability. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 stands out with its Italian craftsmanship, featuring a stainless steel arch and a hand-shaped dome. Built entirely in Italy, this oven offers a premium, heavy-duty structure made for longevity.
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Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Temperature Control
| With its innovative G2 Gas Technology™, the Ooni Koda 2 heats evenly and eliminates hot spots. It reaches 950°F in just 15 minutes, offering quick preheat and consistent performance. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 features the patented Full Effect Full Circulation Flue System, allowing it to reach up to 1000°F in about 30 minutes. It delivers steady internal heat ideal for back-to-back pizza cooking.
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Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Shape
| The Ooni Koda 2 has a low-profile rectangular body that helps optimize airflow and ensures heat wraps around the pizza efficiently. It’s modern, compact, and easy to fit into small outdoor setups. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 showcases a clean, curved shape with a viewing glass door. Its larger, more stationary structure suits big outdoor kitchens and offers both elegance and great functionality for home chefs.
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Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: First-Time Usage Impressions
| The Ooni Koda 2 is extremely beginner-friendly—just connect the propane tank, turn the dial, and you’re cooking. Its even heat output gives great results on the first try. |
Using the Alfa Futuro 2 for the first time is fun but more demanding due to its size. Once set up, the first pizzas come out evenly cooked and delicious thanks to the spacious chamber and strong thermal balance.
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Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Power Source
| The Ooni Koda 2 runs on propane only. While it doesn’t support wood, this gas-only setup ensures reliable heat and easier maintenance for users who prioritize simplicity. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is gas-powered by default, but can be upgraded with an optional Hybrid Kit to allow wood-fired cooking—giving it an extra edge in flavor flexibility.
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Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Size
| Weighing only 35 lbs, the Ooni Koda 2 is portable and perfect for small patios, balconies, or even camping. The 14-inch stone accommodates large pizzas without compromising space. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is large and heavy, designed to stay in one place. With a 70×40 cm cooking area, it can bake two pizzas or even loaves of bread, making it ideal for feeding a crowd.
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Ooni Koda 2 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Ease of Cleaning
| Thanks to its gas-only design, the Ooni Koda 2 is low-maintenance. It self-cleans at high heat, needing just a wipe-down of the stone and shell—no ash or soot to worry about. |
Cleaning the Alfa Futuro 2 takes more effort. Especially if you use wood, ash needs to be swept out, and the chimney may need occasional cleaning. Its large size also adds to the cleanup time.
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Pizza Cooking Test: Ooni Koda 2 vs Alfa Futuro 2
When it comes to real-world results, nothing beats a side-by-side pizza cooking test. As a chef with over a decade of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I put both the Ooni Koda 2 and the Alfa Futuro 2 through the same trial: cooking a classic Margherita pizza.
The Ooni Koda 2 heated up fast—just 15 minutes to reach 950°F (500°C). Once it was ready, I launched a 14-inch Margherita pizza onto the thick cordierite stone. The result? A fully cooked pizza in about 60 seconds. The crust had that ideal leopard spotting, the cheese was perfectly melted, and the bottom was evenly crisp. The flavor was clean and balanced, with no charred bitterness—just the kind of pizza that keeps customers coming back.
The Alfa Futuro 2 took 30 minutes to reach its peak heat of around 1000°F. Once up to temp, I cooked two Margherita pizzas simultaneously, and both were done in roughly 90 seconds. The results were fantastic: beautifully puffed crusts with great chew, even melt, and a subtle smokiness. The larger cooking chamber helped ensure consistent heat across both pizzas.
Both ovens delivered outstanding Neapolitan-style results. The Ooni Koda 2 was quicker to heat and slightly more predictable, while the Alfa Futuro 2 shined in batch cooking with its spacious chamber and pro-level heat retention. But for speed, ease, and reliable results, the Ooni Koda 2 edged ahead in this test.
How We Tested
As a restaurant chef with over a decade of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I rely on more than just specs—I test pizza ovens the way real kitchens use them. To compare the Ooni Koda 2 and Alfa Futuro 2, I used both ovens extensively in my restaurant kitchen under real cooking conditions.
I focused on eight key categories: quality and materials, temperature control, shape and design, first-time usage impressions, power source and fuel options, size and portability, ease of cleaning, and of course, a hands-on pizza cooking test.
Each oven was put through a series of Margherita pizza trials to evaluate how quickly it heats up, how evenly it cooks, and how the final pizza tastes in terms of crust texture, melt, and flavor.
This wasn’t a one-time backyard experiment—I used both ovens in a professional environment with consistent ingredients and workflows to get unbiased, accurate results. For a full breakdown of my testing methodology, check out my separate article: “How We Test Pizza Ovens.”
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, whether you go with the Ooni Koda 2 or the Alfa Futuro 2 comes down to your style and priorities. The Ooni Koda 2 offers unbeatable heat control, portability, and simplicity—perfect for fast, fuss-free cooking. Meanwhile, the Alfa Futuro 2 stands out for its elegant Italian craftsmanship, dual-pizza capacity, and hybrid fuel flexibility.
Both ovens are excellent in their own right—I’ve personally cooked dozens of pizzas in each and can confidently recommend them.
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Thanks for supporting my work and happy pizza making!