My advice to clients is to go to a high end appliance store where they do demos on weekends and get a good feel for any appliance you are buying. I had one client who loved the Aga she used in scotland so insisted on getting one for her home in Canada after one summer she hated the thing Scotland is cold in the winter and having the Aga hot all day is a great idea ( she was there in November) . A steam oven seems like a great idea , I work with one in a commercial kitchen , the thing is always breaking down and so i would think twice about investing in one even though I like the idea.

Great question. would love to see more responses

We have the DGC 6865 XXL - PureLine Plumbed Combi-Steam Oven over a H 6880 BP - 30 Inch Convection Oven. The 6880 has the wireless probe, the XXL 6865 does NOT. The value of the 6865 XXL is the ability to have if function as a second convection oven as needed for larger gatherings.

I was wondering if this combi-steam could function as the primary oven paired with a speed oven?

MLK K: my question exactly. My research says it is, however I'm concerned about resale later on. I've read in other threads various opinions on this. Most will tell us that we need a standard wall oven, but there were two posters who cook a lot and said they do exactly that (speed over combi XXL) and it works. I'm strongly leaning that direction. Let me know what you do!! I can go to school on you. :)

I just posted on another thread about this. I had designed my kitchen for the 24-inch Miele CO and the 24-inch CSO XL stacked above (both Sensotronic sadly no M touch 24-inch for the CO). I am thinking I'd use the CSO XL more often. However, I could just get the large CSO XXL, and only that. Why bother with the CO. I talked with a chef at an experience center last year, who said that the only oven he uses is the XXL, M touch. The unit is now $5700. I am trying to stay away from microwave units. I am getting the Miele induction cooktop with downdraft 30 or 36-inch wide. I've gone back and forth on this, so any advice appreciated.

Thanks, Suzanne.

@cabinathome What did you end up purchasing? I'm considering the Miele DGC 6865 XXL over the Miele H 6281 BP. I'm tempted to just get one, the CSO, as you mentioned, but I'm not there yet. This is all so new to me. As of last week I was going with 2 GE Cafe' ovens! Thanks.

If you look at the picture I posted the bottom appliance is the Combi Steam Oven DGC 6865 XXL. It is the most used appliance in our kitchen. I’m making pasta in it right now and which you can’t do with the normal wall oven. We use this appliance several times a day for rehearing leftovers, defrosting frozen food, baking bread, steaming all types of food. The oven heats up much quicker than my Blue Star Platinum gas oven so I save the gas oven for cooking for larger dinners and using the 1800 degree broiler. I can’t say enough good things about the Miele combi-steam oven.

Here is a picture further back showing my blue star on the left and the Miele on the right in the beverage area.

please don't get the GE cafe ovens! I have their speed oven over the top of the their convection oven in our MN home and I've just not happy. Yes, they LOOK GREAT. And The convection oven is just *fine*. HOWEVER, the speed oven has been nothing but trouble. It has gone out on us once (new logics panel.) The door broke, and the inside is a NIGHTMARE to clean. I finally abandoned all the ridiculous OEM direction of using "hot water" to clean and went after it with bar keepers friend... (yes. omg, but it looks a bit better). MEANWHILE, I have the Miele combi Steam oven in our other home. I use it 95% of the time. Yes, there is a learning curve if you really want to take advantage of it's technology, but that said, you can also just use it as an oven - a great oven. I can't speak more highly of it. (tho it, too, isn't fun to clean if I am 100% honest)

can you use regular cast iron pot or pans in the combi XXL steam oven? I have a few cast iron pots and pans of diff sizes and wondering if I can use those in XXL

Any new thoughts on using the XXL CSO as a primary oven? Design had 30" regular oven, plus 24" speed oven. I think we'd actually really like the Combi-steam, so am leaning towards that instead of speed. But now have no dedicated spot for a microwave. Would love to have the CSO and the speed (both Miele) if the XXL were enough for a big roast/20 lb turkey.