Which ESSE stove should you choose?

For heating, start with how much warmth your room needs. For cooking, decide whether you want a hob, an oven or both. A cook stove also heats the room, so consider the two jobs together. Then compare the size, controls and look you prefer.

The compact ESSE 1 and arched-door 500 have a traditional look. The 550 is taller and narrower than the standard 500, while the 525 has round pillars in black or stainless steel. The 105 has a broad 606mm front and a shallow 290mm body; the contemporary 155 is narrower at 546mm.

The 175F and 175B are also 546mm wide, but lower and deeper than the 155. Both give a nominal 5kW, with 83.7% efficiency. Choose classic feet on the F or a solid base on the B.

The traditional 705 is 610mm wide. The contemporary 755 is narrower and shallower, at 550mm wide and 350mm deep, with the same 670mm height. Both 775 versions share the 755’s width and depth but are 60mm lower.

All four have a 6–11kW output range and 76% efficiency. We can help you check whether your room needs this extra heat before you choose the shape. The 5kW figures above are nominal outputs; these larger models are shown by their output range.

The 175F has classic feet; the 175B has a solid base. Both measure 590 × 546 × 312mm, weigh 97.5kg and have a nominal 5kW output with 83.7% efficiency.

The larger 775F has classic feet and the 775B a solid valance. Both measure 610 × 550 × 350mm, weigh 99kg and have a 6–11kW output range with 76% efficiency. The 175 and 775 are different stoves, so use the manual, drawing and accessories for your chosen family.

Warmheart and Warmheart S are for hob cooking. Both measure 691 × 500 × 600mm and give 5kW of heat, but their weights and top fittings differ. The standard S comes without a bolster lid, with its own optional barbecue shelf, cover and towel rail.

Bakeheart adds a 32-litre oven in a taller, 900mm-high body, still 500mm wide. The Lighthearts have an oven and boiling/simmering hotplate in a 700mm-wide body. Lightheart S is 65mm lower than the standard model, with the same width, depth and 4.6kW output.

The 900mm-wide Ironheart has a 47.8-litre oven and space for up to six pans on its hotplate. It sends 7.3kW of heat into the room.

Net efficiency and seasonal efficiency are different measurements. Bakeheart and both Warmhearts are shown at 77.3% net and 67.3% seasonal efficiency. The other figures are the efficiencies ESSE lists for each stove, not seasonal ratings.

Efficiency is useful to compare alongside output, size and cooking features. Your fuel use will also depend on the installation and how you use the stove.

Tell us which models you like, the size of the room and fireplace, and whether you want to heat, cook or do both. We will help you narrow the choice. Your installer will check the hearth, ventilation, flue and clearances using the right manual and drawing. If you are choosing a cook stove, check your cookware against the oven dimensions too.

We will set out the fuel setup, finish, accessories, delivery and fitting in your quote, so you can see what is included before ordering.