Alfa Pizza Oven Review

Portable, well-built, and stylish, the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven may be just what you’ve been looking for to make classic Italian pizzas and more!

When we think of outdoor pizza ovens, the first thing that comes to mind is handy cooking equipment that is durable, heats up quickly, and reaches a high temperature, allowing you to bake restaurant-quality pizzas.

Alfa Pizza Ovens are a real workhorse to many home chefs. These ovens are manufactured by Alfa Forni, a brand known for true Italian pizza ovens, and provide some of the most well-crafted models on the market.

Their ovens are made of materials that are resistant to harsh weather, and humidity, and with high insulating power. The most defining feature of their pizza ovens is their thick insulating power. This allows for super fast heating so it cuts down cooking time.

Formerly known as Alfa One, the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven is one of the best pizza ovens they offer. We appreciate that this pizza oven comes in both gas and wood-fired pizza oven. It’s a small oven, baking 12-inch pizzas. However, it seems to deliver promising results.

After reading various reviews from users who put the Alfa Nano to the test, we found some interesting stuff about it. In this Alfa pizza oven review, we’ll go through the features of this oven, its baking performance, what we like about it, and what could be improved.

And if you want to look at other models from the same brand, we’ve also included some of their best ovens for you to consider.

Whichever model you pick, one thing we know for sure is that each Alfa pizza oven will look amazing in your garden, patio, villa, or anywhere you decide to put them!

About the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven

First, let’s talk about the name. Nano translates to “dwarf” in Italian. The Alfa Nano Pizza Oven is a small, portable pizza oven that comes in gas and wood versions.

With the gas version, you need to connect the equipment to a propane tank, which you can purchase separately. You can also connect it to a natural gas line.

The Alfa Nano Pizza can also come with a wheeled cart to hold your propane tank. And in its wood-burning form, the cart can serve as a storage case for your woods. If you prefer not to use the cart, you need to find a sturdy, flat surface like a countertop where you can rest your oven.

As claimed by the manufacturer, the Alfa Nano can reach high temperatures fast. And that is something you’d want if you intend to make authentic Italian-style pizza, bread, roasted meats, and vegetables.

Before we get into the review, let’s have a look at the oven’s specs, features, and more.

Specs

Features

Much like any good outdoor pizza oven, Alfa One has a range of features and capabilities that make it one of the best and most versatile pizza ovens available.

Fuel Source: Gas vs. Wood

It’s not dual fuel, but the Alfa Nano oven is available in a wood-burning and gas-fired pizza oven.

If you want to easily control the temperature depending on the type of pizza or dish you’re cooking, the gas-fired oven is the better option. The gas oven is also a faster and more efficient solution for folks who want to produce superb pizzas quickly.

For a more flavorful pizza, however, nothing beats baking in a wood-burning pizza oven. It imparts a smoky flavor to your pizza that gas-fueled ones simply cannot achieve. We prefer this for more versatility in terms of flavorings since it allows you to cook with your choice of wood.

The wood-fired pizza oven will be the ideal choice for traditionalists who can’t get enough of authentic, smoky, wood-fired flavor and the delight that you get from cooking with wood.

Unfortunately, the Alfa Nano does not come in a convertible configuration, which means you cannot use gas and wood simultaneously. Make sure to choose the version with which you are most accustomed. Opting for the gas model may sacrifice the added flavor, but it will make cooking faster.

There’s a clear trade-off here but the choice is yours.

High Heating Capacity

We’ve been reviewing a lot of outdoor pizza ovens, but the Alfa Nano offers the highest rated heat capacity so far. This oven can reach up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is quite impressive.

While the manufacturer claims the oven to heat up in 10 minutes at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, some users attested that it was able to reach that temperature in 30 minutes, which is a long time. But once it’s heated, you can cook pizzas in 90 seconds.

Other owners were still impressed when their Alfa Nano heated up to a scorching hot temperature of 750 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes. We think this is quite typical of many outdoor pizza ovens with a high maximum temperature.

Keep in mind that the higher the temperature, the shorter the cooking time. This oven offers a temperature range so high that you can cook practically anything in it. Due to its high-temperature range, you’ll be able to cook pizzas like Neapolitan-style pizza.

Another thing we like about this oven is that it can also handle many pizzas one after the other due to its patented heat retention features. Once you’ve taken your first pizza out of the oven, you can just slide another one.

Durable Construction

The Alfa Nano pizza oven may be smaller compared to its counterparts, but it’s solidly built. It’s crafted to last, despite the affordable price. We love the powder-coated steel construction with its almost malleted texture that looks beautiful. It exudes Italian quality with its solid yet carefully designed modern dome.

The manufacturer uses their Forninox technology. It combines refractory bricks and the durability and lightness of the stainless steel structure.

The 1.2-inch firebrick floor tiles perform well and are effective at keeping and transferring heat evenly, and it even outperforms a cordierite baking stone. This feature offers professional-grade heat retention and distribution.

It’s also insulated with a second layer of ceramic fiber. It’s the same procedure used in professional-grade ovens. Such features, along with a revolutionary flue system, a well-crafted opening, and a retractable door, collaborate to provide a remarkably effective cooking condition.

In addition, the slide-on slide-off flue mechanism makes it easier to cover the unit after use. We think it’s a wonderful bonus that you won’t need to screw and unscrew the chimney pipe every time you use the oven.

The Alfa Nano also has a nice heft to it. This is a good indication of excellent craftsmanship. And once you take it out of the box, you’ll notice that it has nicely welded joints and seams.

Stylish Design

We gotta give credit to the brand for how they designed their ovens. Alfa ovens are known for their exquisite designs, stylish looks, and thick insulation that makes them look more like built-in ovens than portable ones. 

The many proud owners of Alfa ovens were in awe once the equipment was set up. They are just so pretty!

The Alfa Nano pizza oven has this gorgeous beaten-copper exterior, as opposed to shiny steel. In addition, the blended steel material has been double powder coated to provide protection from the elements. We think it looks great in outdoor cooking settings.

Pizza Capacity

Its cooking surface is large enough to accommodate a 12-inch pizza. The inlet is 15.5-inch wide, leaving you a bit more room to turn your pie. This also makes sliding in a baking tray easier when you want to cook meat, vegetables, or seafood.

The oven’s cooking surface is also wide rather than deep. This makes it easy to keep the fire burning in the wood-fired oven and you don’t have to reach far into the oven to supply it with wood.

Such a design encourages the rolling flame to the top of the oven’s ceiling and distributes heat in a circular fashion, resulting in a more evenly cooked pizza. You will get the same outcome with the gas version, but without the mess that a wood-burning oven would produce.

While small, the Alfa Nano is more fuel-efficient than its larger counterparts. The brand claims that the wood version can last all night with 4.4 pounds of wood, and the gas version consumes the same amount of fuel as two gas rings on a kitchen stove.

That said, the space won’t be able to finish all your dishes in one go. But baking a 12-inch pizza in a short time is surely no problem for patient guests and friends.

Included Accessories

We all love a pizza oven that comes with key accessories that you’ll need to complete your backyard cooking arsenal. If you get the Alfa Nano pizza oven, you’ll have these inclusions:

A venting system. This element is very important to have with your outdoor pizza oven. It has a stainless steel chimney and a cap. Much like the classic ventilation style, the vent in the Alfa Nano provides an effective draw, which helps remove hot air from the oven.

Also, since hot air is drawn straight across the top of the dome, the ventilation system can help evenly heat your oven. It helps keep the dome at consistently high pizza baking temperatures.

Stainless steel wood holder for the wood-fired version. For wood-burning ovens, this accessory helps raise the fire off the oven floor. This results in faster heating times as well as a cleaner cooking surface.

Pizza peel. This small tool is nifty. It allows you to slide your pizza pies in and out of the oven while preventing spills and burn injuries. A pizza peel is essentially a huge spatula on which you may create your pizza before placing it in the oven.

Gas conversion kit for the gas-fired version. This accessory is useful for converting your oven from its default propane gas to natural gas.

Built-in pyrometer. When it comes to cooking perfect pizzas, the thermometer is your best friend. The Alfa Nano comes with a built-in thermometer that helps you monitor the oven’s inner temperature.

However, we don’t recommend relying on it. Get an infrared thermometer instead to get more accurate temperature readings.

Where To Buy?

You can purchase the wood-fired version of the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven on Amazon. For the gas-fired model, you can check out authorized dealers like Pizza Pro Ovens. You may also visit Alfa Forni’s website to locate a dealership near you.

Who Needs the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven?

Any true pizza lover will appreciate the Alfa Nano pizza oven. If you’re a seasoned pizza maker, this oven may be a great investment.

We don’t recommend it for inexperienced home cooks because there could be a steep learning curve, especially if you’ve never cooked in a home pizza oven before. This oven may take a time commitment to understand how it works.

It is also more expensive than most grills, and it may take up a lot of space in your patio or backyard when used with the base.

If you’re a home pizza chef who has mastered the skill of operating a pizza oven and is ready for an upgrade, the Alfa Nano pizza oven is for you. This oven is also ideal for pizza connoisseurs who are determined to put in the effort to master the technique of using the Alfa Nano.

Alfa Pizza Oven Review—Is It Worth It?

The Alfa Nano pizza oven seems to have it all—modern, sleek, and well-crafted design, durable construction, and high-temperature range. But we can’t help but wonder if the Alfa Nano pizza oven is really the type of oven that the maker claims it to be.

So, we did our research and gained insights from its first-hand users’ experience. From the setup to the baking performance to the cleaning process, here’s what we’ve found.

The Setup

Based on the reviews by home cooks that put the Alfa Nano to the test, assembling the pizza oven is easy. You can assemble the oven by yourself, however, you will need the help of another person to hoist the oven.

First, unwrap the unit, attach the feet onto the base of the oven, slide the chimney in, secure the ignition knob, and you’re set.

Putting together the unit with the cart is also a straightforward process. However, you may need another person occasionally to hold the pieces in position, making sure that the screws align properly.

For the wood-fried version, simply insert the wood tray in the center and fasten the handles to the door and the pizza peel. The gas-fired version comes with hardware to connect it to the propane tank.

In the manuals, you’ll be given a few sets of instructions: North America and Europe/UK. Check that you’re using the correct set, or else, assembling might become complicated.

The Installation

The Alfa Nano pizza oven is capable of reaching temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that you’ll need a safe, sturdy place to install it. Alfa recommends keeping the pizza oven at least 8 inches away from the wall or other appliances, 20 inches around the vent, and 39 inches from the oven’s top.

One of the things you’ll love about this oven is that its ceramic fiber insulation keeps the oven surface from becoming too hot.

Portability

While small, we think it’s still fairly bulky. With the chimney and the large domed interior, it may still eat up a considerable amount of space in your yard. That may sound like a lot to some, but you may decide how to integrate the Alfa Nano into your outdoor kitchen.

If you don’t plan on tucking it away after use, you can have it permanently installed in your patio kitchen. You may also keep it freestanding on a barbecue island or countertop.

For portability, you can use its custom-design base, allowing you to move the oven around. However, expect a markup in the price if you buy the oven with the wheeled cart.

We think it’s a great investment as you can also use it as a case for your gas tank or a storage unit for your woods. Transferring the pizza oven from one location to another would be a bother without the wheeled cart and it may always require two people to move the oven.

Overall, Alfa Nano is technically portable, however, this pizza oven isn’t one you’ll be carrying for camping trips.

Baking Performance

If you want to set it up and get it running right away, the gas-fired is easy to assemble and can preheat in 15 minutes. It’s a better option if you don’t like the extra prep of having to cut wood and clean up the mess after.

One thing that stood out to us after reading tester evaluations is that it’s better to start with smaller pizzas, about 8 to 10 inches in size. These sizes are easier to work with in the Nano and cook more quickly. You can easily make 12-inch pies once you’ve gotten used to operating the oven.

Some users’ first attempts at making exquisite pizzas failed, but they still got a dough that was a bit charred on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. They also claimed to have gotten perfectly cooked toppings.

Also, don’t be concerned that you prefer the gas version over the wood version. You’ll still get a crispy exterior and nicely fried toppings. But then again, you won’t get that infused smoky flavor in your pizza.

Keep in mind that this pizza oven gets very hot. So, it’s likely that you can do only one attempt to slide your pizza in, which takes practice. Make sure to turn your pizza several times so it cooks evenly. This is a necessary step even if it only bakes in 90 seconds.

With its incredibly hot temperature, many users were able to bake bread slowly, sear fish using the open flame, grill steaks, and bake cookies.

Ease of Cleaning

The Alfa Nano is incredibly easy to clean, requiring only a bucket, a brass bristle brush, and an ash shovel (for the wood-burning model).

In the case of the wood version, ashes will likely gather on the side of the oven where the fire is. You can start cleaning it by taking out the wood tray. Then, get your cleaning brush and carefully sweep the ashes to the center of the oven. Next, get the ash shovel to scoop the ash out of the oven into the bucket.

Cleaning the gas model is even easier. Simply take that same brush and clean the oven floor. It’s that easy!

Ease of Use

Operating the Alfa Nano pizza oven may require a bit of a learning curve for novices. But if you are willing to dedicate the time and patience to master this small pizza oven, you’ll go far with it.

We always find operating gas models easier since you won’t have to keep adding wood to fire up the oven, which also means you won’t be able to control the internal temperature of the oven. And the built-in thermometer isn’t that accurate either.

For keeping an eye out on your pizzas, it has a small window that you can peep through even when the oven door is closed.

Delivery

In terms of delivery, your experience may vary depending on where you get your oven from.

If you get it straight from Italy, it could take approximately two weeks. This ensures that you’re getting an authentic product unless you don’t want to wait. Amazon sells the wood-burning model of the Alfa Nano and it’s delivered to your door in just two days if you live around the Bay Area.

The brand also has great customer service, which is good so you can give them a call in case you have concerns about your package and the delivery.

Things We Like:
• High temperatures reach up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit
• Preheats in 15 minutes and cooks as fast as 90 seconds
• A versatile equipment; that allows you to cook vegetables, roast meat, grill, and bake professional quality pizzas
• Offers excellent heat retention and distribution
• Stylish and functional design
• Well-crafted, Italian-engineered
• Offers gas and wood options
• Fuel efficient in both gas and wood-burning models
• Comes with a few handy accessories
• Portable with the wheeled cart
• Easy to put together
• Easy to clean
What Could Be Improved:
• Some users were able to reach the highest temperature in 30 minutes
• Small cooking surface at only 12 inches
• Takes practice to master
• Relatively heavy and requires two people to move it
• Doesn’t come with cleaning tools and round peel
• Take up a lot of space
• Buying the cart separately will markup its price
• Not convertible from wood to gas

Do We Recommend the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven?

Yes! Just like the many proud owners of the Alfa Nano, we love everything about this pizza oven. We think it is an excellent solution for creating high-quality pizza at home.

It’s less expensive than other pizza models from other known brands, but we think it’s a worthwhile investment if you intend to use it frequently. And it’s versatile, so you can use it to cook your family’s dishes other than pizzas.

Plus, this oven’s modern and stylish look would look stunning in any cooking space. And, while it takes some practice to get the hang of it, once you do, you’ll get amazing pizza every time.

Are There Any Other Alternatives?

If the Alfa Nano Pizza Oven is too small for you, there are other Alfa ovens that are capable of baking larger pizza sizes. They may burn a hole in your pocket, but we think they are worth looking at.

The ALFA Ciao M, for example, has the same temperature range as the Alfa Nano, but it allows you to bake bigger sizes of pizzas.

A wood-fired oven, Alfa Ciao is great for making homemade pizzas, and baking bread, and even works best for barbecue meats due to the smoky flavor. And we can’t resist its gorgeous yellow exterior!

The Alfa Allegro could be another great oven worth considering. Its antique red exterior reminds us of a traditional pizza oven, but more sleek and modern. It’s also a wood-fired oven but it’s so efficient and consumes less wood. With this oven, you can cook up to 5 pizzas at a time.

Another wood-fired model you might want to go for is the Alfa 4 Pizze. This pizza oven is oh so pricey, but it delivers professional-quality pizzas, just like the Alfa Nano. It allows you to cook 4 pizzas next to the open fire in 90 seconds but preheats in 20 minutes.

It comes with an oven stand and side shelves, which justifies the expensive price. And we love the brown exterior of this Alfa oven. It has the same finish as the Alfa 5 Minuti, which is another wood-fired oven that allows you to cook up to 2 pizzas at a time.

Alfa Forni ovens are all constructed using the same technique, so there’s no doubt about their durability. Their pizza ovens integrate old-world techniques with cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of any home chef, and this is one of the things that separates the brand from its competitors.

FAQs

Is Alfa a good pizza oven?

If you’re on the hunt for stainless steel, wood-fired pizza oven with real Italian expertise, an Alfa oven will be an excellent choice.

Alfa has earned the reputation of offering high-quality, Italian-made pizza ovens. And they are sold at a reasonable price. Their ovens are crafted with sleek design, clean edges, and handmade stainless steel.

Which is the best Alfa pizza oven?

Some of the best Alfa pizza ovens are the Alfa Nano models. This oven is so affordable and is capable of producing professional-grade results. It comes in either gas or wood-burning form and can reach a baking temperature as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Alfa Nano also heats up quickly and cooks a 12-inch pizza in less than 2 minutes. But, if you want to go for a larger baking capacity, check out our recommendations above.

What is the best height for a pizza oven?

The right height should accommodate your specific working preferences. If you’re 5.5-foot high, an oven with a base that sits at a working height of 3.7-foot from the floor will be ideal. However, this will still depend on the level of comfort of the user.

When it comes to the oven dome, its height is usually proportional to the cooking floor’s diameter. This helps bounce the heat onto the cooking floor for consistent, uniform, and high pizza baking temperatures.

What is special about a pizza oven?

Pizza ovens deliver a crispier crust. They also cook pizzas a lot faster than conventional ovens.

The high temperatures generated by the radiant heat from the flame and heat reflecting off the interior walls of the oven quickly crisp up the exterior of the pizza. This extreme heat quickly absorbs moisture from the dough, which keeps the base from getting soggy.

Our Final Thoughts

We know how expensive pizza outdoor ovens can get, but if you’re going to get premium equipment for the upfront cost, then we think it’s worth shelling out the dough. And there is no doubt that the Alfa Nano pizza oven is an absolute steal.

A real Italian-made pizza oven with a scorching 1,000-degree Fahrenheit temperature reach, exceptional fuel efficiency, and the option of using wood or gas, opting for this oven makes perfect sense!

It’s for everyone, though. We think it is great for anyone who is fine cooking one 12-inch pizza in one go. It’s great for seasoned chefs but is also good for beginners who are happy to put in the effort to learn how to use it. The oven has carefully designed features that make it versatile and dependable.

We hope you find this Alfa pizza oven review helpful in making an informed decision. Good luck and have fun baking delicious pizzas!