I’m a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston. In this article, I’ll compare the Ooni Fyra 12 and the Alfa Futuro 2, since I’ve personally used both ovens extensively in my kitchen. I evaluated them based on quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and I also conducted a real pizza cooking test to see exactly how long each one takes. If you’re curious about the full details of my testing process, you can also check the separate article where I explain how I test pizza ovens step by step.
The Ooni Fyra 12 is a compact, pellet-fueled oven that promises authentic wood-fired flavor in a lightweight design. The Alfa Futuro 2, on the other hand, is a larger, premium oven built for more serious outdoor cooking with higher capacity and sleek styling.
I’ve put the Ooni Fyra 12 and the Alfa Futuro 2 to the test, and this article covers the detailed comparison.
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.4
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Our Rating:
4.7
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Powder-coated carbon steel
- Dome design but is more compact
- Heats up to 950°F
- Compact and lightweight
- Operates exclusively on wood pellets
- Cleaning the Fyra 12 requires a bit more effort
- Handcrafted Italian design and stainless steel arch
- Heats up to 1000°F but takes closer to 30 minutes
- Sleek and spacious shape
- Runs on gas by default but includes an optional Hybrid Kit for wood-fired cooking
- Its size makes it more suited for permanent outdoor installations than Portability
- Requires more effort to clean
Before we dive into the details, please note that I use referral links in this article. If you decide to buy one of these ovens, I’d really appreciate you using my links—it helps keep this blog alive, and I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Quality and Materials
| The Ooni Fyra 12 impressed me with its insulated 430-grade powder-coated carbon steel shell and durable cordierite baking stone. It feels sturdy, well-designed, and made for long-term use outdoors. Even after many sessions, it showed minimal wear. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is beautifully built in Italy, with high-end stainless steel, a thick ceramic stone layer, and a distinctive glass door. While its materials are premium and visually stunning, the oven’s chimney and large body need extra care to keep them pristine.
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Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Temperature Control
| The Ooni Fyra 12 delivers excellent temperature control once you learn how to manage the wood pellets. It can reach up to 950°F in about 15 minutes, which is very fast for a wood-fired oven, and it holds a steady heat for consistent cooking. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 also has impressive temperature capabilities, going up to 1000°F in around 30 minutes. The patented circulation system distributes heat effectively, though it takes more time and fuel to get it fully heated.
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Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Shape
| The Ooni Fyra 12’s streamlined, compact design helps concentrate heat across the cooking surface. Its rounded chamber ensures an even bake without taking up much space. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 has a large, elegant dome and wide opening, perfect for cooking two pizzas or larger dishes. Its spaciousness is a plus, but the size can mean more heat loss between bakes.
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Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: First-Time Usage Impressions
| My first time with the Ooni Fyra 12 was smooth. Setup was done in 20 minutes, and after a brief learning curve with pellets, I was cooking pizzas with great results. It feels approachable and satisfying to use even for beginners. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 also left a strong first impression, with its generous capacity and sleek look. But due to its bulk, I needed help moving and assembling it, which made it a bit more challenging to get started.
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Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Power Source
| Ooni Fyra 12 uses hardwood pellets exclusively, creating an authentic wood-fired flavor without dealing with logs or charcoal. This makes it simpler to operate and easier to keep clean. |
Alfa Futuro 2 runs on gas by default, with the option to add a wood-burning kit. While this dual-fuel option increases versatility, it also makes the system more complex.
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Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Size
| The Ooni Fyra 12 is compact and lightweight (22 pounds), ideal for smaller spaces or moving around. Its footprint is modest but still offers plenty of room for a 12-inch pizza. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is much larger (over 30 inches wide) and quite heavy. It can bake two pizzas at once, but you’ll need dedicated space and a sturdy surface to hold it.
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Ooni Fyra 12 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Ease of Cleaning
| Cleaning the Ooni Fyra 12 is straightforward. Ashes are easy to remove, and wiping the steel exterior takes just a few minutes. The stone also self-cleans at high heat. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is relatively simple to clean, but its large interior and heavy components mean you’ll spend more time brushing, scraping, and inspecting the chimney.
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Pizza Cooking Test
For this test, I prepared the same classic Margherita dough and toppings to keep everything fair.
Ooni Fyra 12 heated up impressively fast, reaching its target cooking temperature in just about 15 minutes. Once it was ready, I launched the pizza onto the cordierite stone. The pizza cooked in approximately 2 minutes, with the crust bubbling quickly and a beautiful char forming on the edges. The flavor was outstanding—light smokiness from the wood pellets, a crisp bottom, and a soft interior that held the toppings perfectly.
Alfa Futuro 2 took longer to preheat, requiring around 30 minutes to get up to about 900°F. However, thanks to its larger firebox and steady heat retention, it was able to cook two Margherita pizzas at the same time. Each pizza finished in about 90 seconds. The crusts were evenly blistered and developed a nice, chewy texture, and the toppings cooked thoroughly without burning. The flavor was excellent—slightly more mellow in smokiness due to the gas burner and the optional wood kit, with a delicate char on the bottom.
Both ovens delivered professional-quality pizzas, but the Ooni Fyra 12’s combination of quick preheat and consistent bake made it feel easier and a little more approachable for back-to-back pizzas.
How We Tested
To evaluate the Ooni Fyra 12 and Alfa Futuro 2, I followed the same process for each oven to ensure a fair comparison. I began by assembling both ovens fully and placing them in the same outdoor environment to control for wind and ambient temperature. I used the same brand of Tipo 00 flour to prepare identical Margherita pizzas with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil.
For the Ooni Fyra 12, I filled the pellet hopper to capacity and used an all-natural fire starter to ignite the flame. I timed how long it took to preheat and closely monitored the built-in thermometer to confirm when it reached maximum temperature. After that, I launched the pizza and tracked how quickly it cooked, noting the color, texture, and consistency of the crust and toppings.
With the Alfa Futuro 2, I followed the recommended preheat procedure using the gas burner and optional wood kit to simulate a hybrid cooking environment. I also checked the internal thermometer for accuracy. Once the oven reached the target heat, I baked a Margherita pizza, observing how evenly it cooked and how the crust developed compared to the Ooni Fyra 12.
Throughout testing, I took notes on ease of use, heat management, cleaning afterward, and overall cooking experience to form a balanced impression of both ovens.
Conclusion
|
Winner
|
Loser
|
|
Our Rating:
4.4
|
Our Rating:
4.7
|
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Powder-coated carbon steel
- Dome design but is more compact
- Heats up to 950°F
- Compact and lightweight
- Operates exclusively on wood pellets
- Cleaning the Fyra 12 requires a bit more effort
- Handcrafted Italian design and stainless steel arch
- Heats up to 1000°F but takes closer to 30 minutes
- Sleek and spacious shape
- Runs on gas by default but includes an optional Hybrid Kit for wood-fired cooking
- Its size makes it more suited for permanent outdoor installations than Portability
- Requires more effort to clean
It’s ultimately your choice whether you prefer the Ooni Fyra 12 or the Alfa Futuro 2. Both ovens have their strengths and can create amazing pizza, so go with the one that fits your style and needs best. If you decide to buy one, I’d greatly appreciate you using my referral links below—it helps keep my blog going, and there’s no extra cost to you:
Don’t miss the list of the best pizza ovens.