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Mont Alpi Portable Review

A large-bodied, versatile option that flaunts the good looks of much more expensive pizza ovens
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Mont Alpi Portable Review
Credit: Aaron Rice
Price:  $300 List
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Manufacturer:   Mont Alpi
By Aaron Rice ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 14, 2022
63
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 16
  • Cooking Performance - 30% 6.0
  • Output Power - 30% 5.0
  • Control - 25% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Mont Alpi Portable is designed as an affordable price-point pizza oven, with all of the charm of much more expensive models, but with a cooking performance relative to its expense. An integrated thermometer allows you to accurately maintain internal temperatures up to 630°F, and a single gas burner allows for quick and simple adjustment of pizza stone temperatures. Even though its output power doesn't put it in the realm of much hotter Neapolitan pizza ovens, the large baking chamber of this Tuscan-style barrel vault oven makes it more forgiving for the novice chef, and more versatile for those looking to cook more than just pizza. See the complete best pizza oven article to find out why this model scored where it did.
REASONS TO BUY
Nice aesthetic
Large and versatile
Easy to operate
REASONS TO AVOID
Lower average internal temperature
Lack of insulation
Long preheat times

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Mont Alpi Portable
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 Best Buy Award
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Price $300 List
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Bottom Line If aesthetics are part of your key criteria, then this stylish and affordable oven should be at the top of your listThis price point pizza oven performs well above its weight class in terms of power and performanceFor those who can't decide between gas- or wood-fired pizza, this oven allows you to work with bothAn affordable, but impressive indoor option for those not interested in investing in a new applianceThis steel is perfectly suited to create NY-style pizzas, just don't expect it to produce a Neapolitan-style pie in your oven
Rating Categories Mont Alpi Portable BakerStone Original Bertello Outdoor NerdChef 3/8" Steel... The Original Baking...
Cooking Performance (30%)
6.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Output Power (30%)
5.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
Control (25%)
7.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
9.0
5.0
8.0
7.0
Specs Mont Alpi Portable BakerStone Original Bertello Outdoor NerdChef 3/8" Steel... The Original Baking...
Fuel Type Gas Gas Wood, Gas (w/ conversion) N/A N/A
Maximum Pizza Diameter 12" 13" 12" 14" 14"
Average Pizza Cook Times 6.8 min 4 min 1.6 min 3.1 min 5.6 min
Average Stone Temperature 623 °F 732 °F 777 °F 686 °F 479 °F
Average Oven Temperature 548 °F 780 °F 668 °F 637 °F 497 °F
Size of Firebox N/A N/A 97.5 cu. in. N/A N/A
Power Output 12,000 BTU 25,000 BTU Not listed N/A N/A
Footprint 306 sq. in. 345 sq. in. 301 sq. in.
441 sq. in. (w/ gas attachment)
228 sq. in. 228 sq. in.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Mont Alpi is a miniaturized table-top version of larger, more powerful, gas-fired pizza ovens. The full stainless steel frame houses a single 12,000 BTU burner situated below the 12" pizza stone. Relative to other designs, the most obvious difference with this oven is the oversized front door; measured at 107 square inches, it is more than double the size of other oven fronts. This detail alone makes it more of a versatile oven, and one that is certainly not confined to only baking pizza.

Performance Comparison


mont alpi portable - the mont alpi puts up a good fight for the most classically stylish...
The Mont Alpi puts up a good fight for the most classically stylish oven in this review.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Cooking Performance


The shape of this pizza oven really sets it apart from the majority of the pack. Instead of the sleek designs that seem ubiquitous amongst modern, portable pizza ovens, the Mont Alpi has a higher vaulted ceiling more akin to a Tuscan-style barrel vault oven. In fact, the 1.13 cubic-foot chamber of this oven is nearly double that of other ovens we tested.

mont alpi portable - the enormous front opening is guarded by a disappointingly...
The enormous front opening is guarded by a disappointingly lightweight front door. Which, as you can see around the edges, could benefit from a tighter fit and some insulation.
Credit: Aaron Rice

As a result, you may imagine that it takes longer for this oven to heat up than others — and you would be correct. A 5-10 minute preheat will get the internal temperature up to an average of 630°F, but it is going to take more like 20-30 minutes to pull the pizza stone temperature up to an average hovering around 575°F. While it is duly capable of transforming your homemade dough to a golden-tinged, thin-crust pizza in 5-7 minutes, it takes nearly that same amount of time to recover those ideal New York-style temperatures in between firing.

mont alpi portable - even though it may take longer to bake than most of the other...
Even though it may take longer to bake than most of the other gas-fired ovens we tested, it certainly produces a quality thin-crust pizza.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Output Power


The lack of insulation incorporated into the stainless steel construction of the Mont Alpi is a curse, but the inherent reflectivity of stainless steel is at least a bit of a blessing. Even without a thicker oven body, the heat radiated around the chamber settles comfortably around 500°F during normal operation. This won't be hot enough to cook Neapolitan-style pizzas, but it is certainly enough power for low- to mid-fired pizzas, like a Detroit or New York-style pie.

mont alpi portable - the stainless steel oven chamber is highly reflective, and draws...
The stainless steel oven chamber is highly reflective, and draws heavily on this capability to cook the upper crust. However, you can also see that the burner is ideally located directly underneath the pizza stone, for effective conductive heating.
Credit: Aaron Rice

The largest benefit to the power of the Mont Alpi oven is the positioning of the U-shaped burner directly underneath the pizza stone. This means that the loss of internal heat isn't as detrimental as it may seem. Instead of having to rely on the convective heat of the oven to heat the stone from the top, its conductive-cooking capability is backed up directly by a gas burner. Unlike many other ovens that can easily burn pizzas with flames rolling over the top, you have to manage the burner to make sure that the bottom of the crust doesn't overcook first.

mont alpi portable - not quite as hot as we would have liked, but still quite impressive...
Not quite as hot as we would have liked, but still quite impressive based on the general lack of insulation this oven carries.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Control


Beyond the lack of insulation, the fact that the door must be removed to maneuver or even check on the status of a pizza results in a significant loss of heat each time it is opened. The thermometer integrated into the door does an incredible job of accurately reading the internal temperature, but without an additional infrared thermometer, it is tough to find that optimal balance between the pizza stone and internal temperatures.

mont alpi portable - it is an unfortunate consequence of design that this pizza oven...
It is an unfortunate consequence of design that this pizza oven loses so much heat each time you need to turn a pizza.
Credit: Aaron Rice

The shape, power, and positioning of the single gas burner ensure that you will always have adequate heat from the bottom; just make sure to give this oven plenty of time between pizzas to regain optimal internal heat. But to the benefit of aspiring Pizzaiuolo, there is much less of a chance that you will end up with an inedible charred pizza while you hone your skills. That said, it will likely take time to learn the temperature tendencies of this oven before you are able to achieve pizza perfection.

mont alpi portable - the single u-shaped propane burner does a solid job of controlling...
The single U-shaped propane burner does a solid job of controlling both the temperature of the pizza stone and the overall internal air temperature of the oven.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Ease of Use


The Mont Alpi is much easier to fire, and much more forgiving, than other gas-fired models we tested. The position and even distribution of the heat source mean that once you learn how to manage the burner, this oven requires very little attention, unlike others that require you to constantly monitor and turn the pizza to avoid burning. And the fact that it takes an average of seven minutes to bake a pizza makes it more reasonable to fire alone, you will likely have enough time to prep, stretch, and add toppings to the next dough well before the currently baking pizza is ready to come out.

mont alpi portable - the oversized front opening makes it much easier to launch pizzas...
The oversized front opening makes it much easier to launch pizzas onto the stone.
Credit: Aaron Rice

It may be obvious based on appearances alone that this oven is more of a pain to store than many others we tested in this review. Despite its relatively low weight, at just under 30 pounds we would be hard-pressed to recommend this bulky oven as a portable option. Rather, this beautiful oven should earn its place as a mainstay of your outdoor kitchen.

mont alpi portable - although it is lightweight, the bulk of the mont alpi oven makes it...
Although it is lightweight, the bulk of the Mont Alpi oven makes it less of a portable option, and less user-friendly to store. At the same time, why would you want to hide this beautiful oven?
Credit: Aaron Rice

Should You Buy the Mont Alpi Portable?


The size and shape of the oven chamber make the Mont Alpi a much more versatile oven than most, and makes a better value out of an already affordable pizza oven. Though we focused on pizzas for the sake of this review, it is one of the few we would also recommend to bread bakers. While it might not be capable of producing high-fire pizzas, the opportunity for creativity certainly increases its potential, and it would be a perfect addition for any chef who likes to experiment in different realms of the kitchen.

mont alpi portable - the mont alpi oven presents a formidable aesthetic, sure to become...
The Mont Alpi oven presents a formidable aesthetic, sure to become the focal point of any outdoor kitchen space.
Credit: Aaron Rice

What Other Pizza Ovens Should You Consider?


From pizzas to bread, the Mont Alpi Portable presents solid performance that aligns well with its value. For those who love the classic aesthetic of Tuscan ovens, there is no other option that even comes close to touching the beauty of this approachable and versatile pizza oven. However, it does fall short of top options in terms of cooking efficiency and maximum temps. If you aren't bothered with aesthetics, but want a pizza oven that fits your budget and will make excellent Neopolitan-style pies, we recommend the BakerStone Original. Although much more expensive, the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo matches the sleek style of the Mont Alpi and is easy to learn how to use — all from the comfort of your indoor kitchen.

mont alpi portable - fresh pizza anyone? while it might not be suited to producing...
Fresh pizza anyone? While it might not be suited to producing Neapolitan-style pizzas, the Mont Alpi oven is still capable of churning out delicious pies.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Aaron Rice