I’m a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience working in my kitchen at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, and I’ve had the opportunity to put many pizza ovens to the test. In this article, I’ll compare the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Alfa Futuro 2, two ovens I’ve used extensively side by side. I’ll walk you through their quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and share the results of a real pizza cooking test to see how long each oven takes to deliver a perfect pie. If you’d like more detail about my testing methodology, you can also check out the thorough process I follow in my separate article.
The Cru Oven Model 32 is a stainless steel wood-fired oven made in Portugal that balances traditional design with modern simplicity.
The Alfa Futuro 2 is a premium Italian-made gas and wood hybrid oven known for its high heat and elegant build quality.
Here, I’ve done an in-depth comparison of the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Alfa Futuro 2, backed by my test results.
Please note that I use referral links in this article—if you decide to buy either oven through my links, it helps keep my blog alive and I truly appreciate your support.
Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Quality and Materials
| The Cru Oven Model 32 is built in Portugal with a dual-layer 304 stainless steel shell, ceramic fiber insulation, and durable Cordierite pizza stones. This construction feels robust, straightforward, and purpose-built for years of outdoor use. The simplicity of the Cru Oven Model 32 design means fewer components to maintain or replace. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 Pizza Oven is crafted entirely in Italy and features premium materials like a handcrafted stainless steel arch and lacquered aluminum dome. The Alfa Futuro 2 feels luxurious, with standout design details such as a large glass viewing door. However, this complexity can make upkeep and handling more involved over time.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Temperature Control
| The Cru Oven Model 32 consistently heats to 800–900°F in about 40 minutes. Although this preheat time is slightly longer, once the Cru Oven Model 32 is up to temperature, it maintains steady heat very reliably. Monitoring is simple with its integrated thermometer and accessible interior. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 boasts exceptional heat performance, reaching 1000°F in just 30 minutes. Thanks to its Full Effect Full Circulation patented flue system, the Alfa Futuro 2 delivers incredibly even heat distribution. However, the extreme temperatures of the Alfa Futuro 2 can require practice to master without scorching food.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Shape
| The Cru Oven Model 32 features a barrel-shaped design with a wide front opening and removable dome. This shape promotes excellent airflow and even cooking while making it easy to slide in large pizzas or cookware. The Cru Oven Model 32 prioritizes practicality over flashy styling. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 has a modern, semi-round dome with a sleek profile and an impressive glass door. The shape of the Alfa Futuro 2 enhances even baking but can lose a bit of heat each time you open the door to check progress.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: First-Time Usage Impressions
| My first experience with the Cru Oven Model 32 was straightforward and positive. The oven set up in under 5 minutes, preheated steadily, and produced excellent results with minimal effort. The removable dome of the Cru Oven Model 32 made cleanup feel effortless. |
When unboxing the Alfa Futuro 2, the premium build quality was immediately clear. Setting up the Alfa Futuro 2 took about 30 minutes and required help due to its bulk. The first bakes were impressive, but the Alfa Futuro 2 needed more focus to avoid overcooking because of its intense heat output.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Power Source
| The Cru Oven Model 32 is designed to run primarily on wood, but you can also use charcoal for added flexibility. This dual-fuel capability makes the Cru Oven Model 32 versatile for different cooking styles and flavors. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is primarily a gas pizza oven, though you can add an optional wood-burning kit for hybrid use. This versatility gives the Alfa Futuro 2 more fuel options but adds cost and complexity to the setup.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Size
| Measuring 22” L × 20” W × 17” H and weighing 56 lbs, the Cru Oven Model 32 has a 20” × 16” cooking area—big enough for 15” pizzas, large roasts, or baking trays while still compact enough to move around easily. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is significantly larger, measuring 30” L × 31” W × 38” H, with a 27.5” × 15.7” cooking surface. The Alfa Futuro 2 can handle two pizzas at once but is heavy and best suited for permanent installations.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Alfa Futuro 2: Ease of Cleaning
| The Cru Oven Model 32 is one of the easiest ovens I’ve cleaned. The dome lifts right off the Cru Oven Model 32, exposing the cooking chamber for quick sweeping and wiping. Minimal seams and components make maintenance simple. |
The Alfa Futuro 2 is also straightforward to clean, though the large interior of the Alfa Futuro 2 requires more time and effort. You’ll need to sweep ash, scrape debris, and check the Alfa Futuro 2 chimney regularly.
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Pizza Cooking Test
I wanted to see how the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Alfa Futuro 2 would perform side by side when making a classic Margherita pizza. The Cru Oven Model 32 took about 40 minutes to reach its ideal baking temperature of around 850°F. Once it was fully preheated, it cooked the Margherita pizza in about 2 minutes. The result was excellent: the crust developed beautiful leopard spotting and a satisfying crunch while staying soft and airy inside. The subtle wood-smoked aroma added a traditional Neapolitan character that I really enjoyed.
The Alfa Futuro 2 heated up more quickly, reaching 900°F in approximately 30 minutes, which is impressive for an oven of its size. Once preheated, the Margherita pizza was ready in just about 90 seconds. The crust was evenly browned with a crisp base and perfectly melted cheese. The taste was fantastic, although I found I needed to watch the pizza more closely during baking because the intense heat could burn the edges if I wasn’t careful.
Overall, both ovens produced delicious pizzas, but the Cru Oven Model 32 felt a bit more forgiving to work with and offered a classic wood-fired flavor that stood out just a touch more.
How We Tested
To give both the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Alfa Futuro 2 a fair evaluation, I followed the same process for each oven. I used high-quality hardwood for the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Alfa Futuro 2’s optional wood-burning setup, since I believe wood-fired cooking shows an oven’s true capabilities. Before starting, I measured preheating times with an infrared thermometer to confirm when the baking surface reached at least 800°F.
For consistency, I prepared identical 12-inch Margherita pizzas using the same dough batch, sauce, and cheese. Each pizza was shaped, topped, and launched into the oven at peak temperature. During baking, I rotated the pizzas at similar intervals to ensure even cooking.
After baking, I evaluated the crust texture, the flavor of the crumb, the melt of the cheese, and the overall appearance. I also compared how quickly each oven recovered heat between pizzas, since that’s essential for anyone making multiple pies in a row.
This side-by-side approach allowed me to clearly see how the Cru Oven Model 32 and Alfa Futuro 2 performed in real cooking conditions and made it easier to note their strengths and minor drawbacks.
Conclusion
In the end, it’s completely your choice whether you prefer the Cru Oven Model 32 or the Alfa Futuro 2. Both are excellent outdoor pizza ovens with their own strengths. If you decide to buy one, I’d highly appreciate it if you use my referral links for purchasing. I’ll earn a small commission at no cost to you, which helps me keep this blog alive and keep sharing detailed reviews. Here is the Cru Oven Model 32 referral link and here is the Alfa Futuro 2 referral link. Thank you for your support!