Cuppone Alpha or Izzo IZ6: rotating deck or fixed deck, which oven to choose?

Cuppone Alpha or IZZO IZ6: two designs, two baking philosophies

The first difference between the Cuppone Alpha and the IZZO IZ6 is above all visual. Their designs are radically different and reflect two approaches to Neapolitan pizza. The Cuppone Alpha has modern, contemporary lines, with a style that highlights technology and innovation. The IZZO IZ6, on the other hand, follows the aesthetic codes of the traditional Neapolitan oven, with its dome shape and its handcrafted character. Two very distinct styles, which can also influence the choice depending on the atmosphere and identity of the pizzeria.

Beyond their appearance, it is above all the way they work that sets them apart. The Cuppone Alpha, fitted with a rotating deck, makes the pizzaiolo's job easier by limiting work with the peel. Its adjustable rotation promotes even baking and brings real comfort during busy services. The IZZO IZ6, for its part, has a fixed deck in biscotto di Sorrento, particularly suited to high-temperature Neapolitan baking. The pizzaiolo keeps control of the traditional gestures and turns the pizzas himself during baking.

So the choice does not rest on baking performance alone. It also depends on the design you are looking for, how the work is organised and the place you want to give to craftsmanship. The Cuppone Alpha will appeal to professionals looking for a modern, technological oven that is comfortable to use, while the IZZO IZ6 will better meet the expectations of those who favour traditional aesthetics and manual control of the bake.

The Cuppone Alpha AO110/1TSN (formerly Giotto GT 110) and the Izzo IZ6 are the two ovens most requested by the pizzerias that contact us. They target the same output, but they work differently: the Alpha turns the deck, the IZ6 keeps the fixed deck of the Neapolitan wood-fired oven. The Alpha AO110/1TSN costs €13,500 (7 pizzas Ø 35 cm, Napoli kit included), the IZ6 costs €12,500 (6 pizzas Ø 33 cm).

This page puts the two ovens side by side: price, price per pizza slot, payback, consumption, installation and, above all, what each type of deck changes during service.

Configure the Alpha AO110/1TSN · Configure the Izzo IZ6

Rotating deck or fixed deck: what changes during service

This is the real question to ask before comparing prices.

The Izzo IZ6: the wood-fired oven gesture

In the IZ6, the deck does not move. The pizzaiolo loads with the peel so that the pizza bakes evenly facing the heat of the oven. This is exactly the work of a Neapolitan wood-fired oven: the pizza bakes in 60 seconds on a deck of 4 cm biscotto di Sorrento, the traditional refractory brick of Naples.

This way of working gives the pizzaiolo full control. Output therefore depends directly on the person at the oven.

The Cuppone Alpha: the deck does the work

In the Alpha, the deck turns. Each pizza passes in front of the mouth at regular intervals: you load and unload at the same spot every time, without reaching to the back of the chamber. Rotation is set from the touchscreen: two programmable speeds, two customisable speeds, reverse direction and a turntable stop.

In short

Do both ovens make real Neapolitan pizza?

Yes, but not in the same way.

The Izzo IZ6 is designed solely for Neapolitan pizza. It is recognised by the AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana), which treats it as equivalent to a wood-fired oven. It works between 440 and 460 °C with the mouth open.

The Cuppone Alpha is a versatile oven. In its basic version, it is a traditional pizza oven. The Napoli kit, already included in our €13,500 price, adds a special high-temperature stone and reinforced heating elements that bring the chamber to 450 °C. Top and deck are adjusted separately, from 0 to 100%: the same oven bakes a Neapolitan pizza and then a classic pizza at a lower temperature.

To understand what AVPN recognition covers, read What is the AVPN? And on the underlying question: Can you make authentic Neapolitan pizza in an electric oven?

Price and price per pizza slot

The IZ6 costs €1,000 less than the Alpha AO110/1TSN. But the Alpha bakes one more pizza, at Ø 35 cm instead of Ø 33 cm.

Relative to capacity, the Alpha works out cheaper:

• Cuppone Alpha AO110/1TSN: about €1,930 per slot;
• Izzo IZ6: about €2,080 per slot.

Options to plan for

The two ovens do not need the same equipment around them:

Budget examples: an Alpha AO110/1TSN with a motorised hood comes to €16,300. An IZ6 with chimney comes to €12,680, not counting the exhaust duct to be installed.

In both cases, indoors, the oven must be connected to an exhaust duct or placed under a hood. The requirements depend on your premises and on the regulations in your country: have the installation approved by your installer before ordering.

No VAT to advance

Both ovens are shipped from Italy. If your pizzeria is established in another European Union country and has a valid intra-community VAT number, Italian VAT is not invoiced to you: no VAT to advance. Customers established or delivered in Italy pay Italian VAT. Transport is quoted according to the delivery address.

How long does each oven take to pay for itself?

Divide the price of the oven by the margin you make on each pizza. With a margin of €5 per pizza and 80 pizzas per service, for a pizzeria open six days a week:

The €1,000 difference represents 200 pizzas, or two and a half services. It is not the price difference that should decide, but what the oven lets you sell on your busiest evenings: one more slot and a bake that does not depend on a single person are quickly worth more than 200 pizzas over a season.

This example is deliberately simplified: it does not take into account options, transport or electricity. The detailed calculation for the Alpha, with the hood and a cautious assumption of €2 net margin, is in Cuppone Alpha: how long does the oven take to pay for itself?

Electrical power and consumption

Both ovens connect to 400 V. Maximum power is 17.4 kW for the Alpha AO110/1TSN and 13.2 kW for the IZ6. This is the figure to give your electrician to check your supply contract and your distribution board: if your available power is limited, the IZ6 is easier to connect.

This maximum power is mainly used while heating up. Counting this maximum power for a whole 5-hour service, with 80 pizzas and a kWh at €0.20, electricity costs at most €0.22 per pizza for the Alpha and €0.17 for the IZ6. In practice, both ovens use much less once hot: Izzo states an average absorption of 8.5 kW for the IZ6, or about €0.11 per pizza in the same calculation.

Each oven has its own strengths for keeping the bill down:

• the Alpha lets you set a consumption ceiling in kWh, has an ECO mode for quiet periods and scheduling that switches the oven on automatically before you arrive;
• the IZ6 holds its heat thanks to its insulation: 10 hours after switching off, the chamber is still at 220 °C. It takes a little over two hours to heat up, but never starts from a cold oven the next day.

Dimensions and installation

The footprint is similar: 139 x 144 cm for the Alpha, 110 x 135 cm for the IZ6, plus 30 cm in depth.

The big difference is at delivery:

• the Alpha is designed to be tilted: it fits through a door 80 cm wide, with a clearance height of 181.5 cm;
• the IZ6 is delivered assembled, and its narrowest side measures 110 cm. Check the width of doors and corridors all the way to its location.

If your premises can only be reached through a standard door, the Alpha solves the problem.

Give us the full address and access details as soon as you request a quote: the feasibility of transport depends on it. The details are explained in Professional pizza oven delivery in Europe and internationally.

To size your oven correctly, read What pizza oven capacity should you choose for your production volume?

And for a bigger oven?

If 7 slots are not enough, the same comparison exists one size up:

For €500 more than the IZ9, the Alpha AO140/1TSN offers one more slot.

All the figures for both ranges are detailed in Cuppone Alpha (formerly Giotto): price, dimensions, power consumption and output and Izzo IZ2, IZ4, IZ6 and IZ9 ovens: price, dimensions, power consumption and which to choose.

Get a quote

The configurator shows the price of your oven with its options. You then receive a written quote, including the transport cost to your address.

• Configure the Cuppone Alpha AO110/1TSN (7 pizzas)
• Configure the Izzo IZ6 (6 pizzas)
• See the full Cuppone Alpha page
• See the full Izzo oven page

FAQ

What is the difference between the Cuppone Alpha and the Izzo IZ6?

The Alpha AO110/1TSN (formerly Giotto GT 110) has a rotating deck: the pizza passes in front of the mouth by itself and bakes evenly without being turned with the peel. The Izzo IZ6 has a fixed deck in biscotto di Sorrento, like a Neapolitan wood-fired oven: the pizzaiolo turns each pizza himself. The Alpha bakes 7 pizzas Ø 35 cm, the IZ6 6 pizzas Ø 33 cm.

What is the price of the Cuppone Alpha and the Izzo IZ6?

The Alpha AO110/1TSN costs €13,500, Napoli kit included. The Izzo IZ6 costs €12,500, wheeled stand included. Both prices exclude options and transport.

Which has the better price per slot, the Alpha or the IZ6?

The Alpha AO110/1TSN works out at about €1,930 per slot (7 pizzas Ø 35 cm), the Izzo IZ6 at about €2,080 per slot (6 pizzas Ø 33 cm). The IZ6 is cheaper to buy, but the Alpha costs less per pizza baked at the same time.

How long do the Alpha and the IZ6 take to pay for themselves?

With a margin of €5 per pizza and 80 pizzas per service, six days a week, the Alpha AO110/1TSN is paid off after 2,700 pizzas (about 34 services, 6 weeks) and the IZ6 after 2,500 pizzas (about 31 services, 5 weeks). This simplified calculation does not include options, transport or electricity.

Do the Alpha and the IZ6 make real Neapolitan pizza?

Yes. The Izzo IZ6 is recognised by the AVPN, which treats it as equivalent to a wood-fired oven, and works between 440 and 460 °C. The Alpha is a versatile oven that reaches 450 °C thanks to the Napoli kit (high-temperature stone and reinforced heating elements), included in our price.

Which oven uses less energy, the Alpha or the IZ6?

The IZ6 needs less power: 13.2 kW maximum against 17.4 kW for the Alpha AO110/1TSN. At maximum power over a 5-hour service, 80 pizzas and €0.20 per kWh, electricity costs at most €0.17 per pizza with the IZ6 and €0.22 with the Alpha. Both use much less once hot.

Which oven fits through a standard door?

The Cuppone Alpha AO110/1TSN is tilted at delivery and fits through a door 80 cm wide, with 181.5 cm of height. The Izzo IZ6 is delivered assembled and its narrowest side measures 110 cm: check the doors and corridors all the way to its location.

Should you choose a rotating deck or a fixed deck oven?

A fixed deck, as on the Izzo IZ6, suits an experienced Neapolitan pizzaiolo who wants to keep the gestures of the wood-fired oven. A rotating deck, as on the Cuppone Alpha, suits kitchens where several people work the oven, where 60 to 70 pizzas an hour are needed, or a menu that mixes Neapolitan and classic pizza.