Lincat CiBO vs TurboChef CiBO+: High-Speed Ventless Ovens for Cafés Compared

Last updated: November 2026

In 30 seconds:

• The Lincat CiBO (from £3,059) is a counter-top fast oven for toasties, paninis, pizza, bagels and pastries. It uses convection, a top grill and a heated base, with no microwave.
• The TurboChef CiBO+ (from £5,229) adds microwave to its heat mix. That is what lets it handle denser food such as pies, lasagne and jacket potatoes.
• Both are ventless and run from a standard 13A socket, so neither needs an extraction canopy or a new electrical circuit.
• Pick by menu, not by price. Thin, toasted and baked food suits the CiBO. Thick, dense or chilled-through dishes point to the CiBO+.

A customer asks for a hot panini and a lasagne in the same order. One of these ovens handles both well, and the other is built for the panini. Knowing which is which is most of this decision.

The Lincat CiBO and the TurboChef CiBO+ are high-speed, ventless ovens for cafés, coffee shops, bars and kiosks that want hot food without a full kitchen. Plugging into a normal 13A socket is widely seen as their biggest selling point, because it skips the canopy and the electrician.

Lincat CiBO vs TurboChef CiBO+ at a glance

Lincat CiBO: the toastie and snack specialist

Quick specs

• Heat: convection, top grill and heated glass base, switched on and off in phases by the program
• Total element power: 4900W, but the controller never runs them all at once, so it stays under 13A
• Supply: plugs into a 13A wall socket
• Size: 437mm wide, 367mm high
• Weight: 27kg
• Controls: touchscreen with six pre-set programmes, plus your own saved recipes
• Finishes: black, champagne, merlot or teal glass, or stainless steel
• Warranty: 2 years, UK mainland (Lincat manual)
• Price: from £3,059. See the Lincat CiBO fast oven

How it works

Each program runs in steps. Most start with the oven and base together to heat the food through. A short grill step then browns the top.

The grill can only run on its own. That is how Lincat keeps the oven inside a normal plug’s limit.

The results are quick. Lincat’s own default programs list an open toasted sandwich at 1 minute 10 seconds and a fresh thin-crust pizza at 3 minutes 25 seconds. Lincat says most food is ready in 2-3 minutes.

Best for

Cafés, coffee shops, bars and kiosks with a menu of toasties, paninis, flatbreads, thin pizza, bagels, nachos and pastries. It also bakes, at times similar to a good fan oven.

Honest note

The cooking cavity is small. Lincat advises against using it all day for fatty proteins, such as a stream of bacon or sausages. It also has no microwave, so dense dishes take longer to heat through.

TurboChef CiBO+: when the menu gets denser

Quick specs

• Heat: Tri Heat, which combines microwave, high-velocity TurboAir and an independently controlled ContactBase
• Supply: standard 13A 3-pin socket (3kW)
• Width: 395mm
• Capacity: takes a 12-inch pizza
• Controls: 7-inch icon touchscreen (QPad) with saved programmes
• Extras: Cooldown+ for faster cooling before cleaning, and remote monitoring through Open Kitchen
• In the box: pizza paddle, Teflon tray, Teflon sheet, USB stick and an oven cleaner kit
• Price: from £5,229. See the TurboChef CiBO+ rapid cook oven

How it works

The microwave heats the food through. Fast-moving hot air crisps the outside. The ContactBase browns the bottom, so pizza and pastry keep a crisp base.

That mix is the real difference. It lets the CiBO+ take pies, lasagne and jacket potatoes, which are the dishes a non-microwave oven finds slow.

Best for

Coffee shops, bakeries, convenience stores and quick-service sites with a wider hot menu. It also suits multi-site operators who want to check their ovens remotely.

Honest note

It costs £2,170 more than the CiBO. If your menu is toasties and paninis only, you are paying for microwave power you will rarely use.

Who each oven suits

• Coffee shop adding a short food menu: CiBO. Toasties, paninis, croissants and cookies are its home ground.
• Bar or pub serving pizza and nachos: CiBO. Both have their own default programs.
• Café selling pies, lasagne or jacket potatoes: CiBO+. The microwave is what gets dense food hot through quickly.
• Convenience store or forecourt: CiBO+. Chilled ready meals and pies are a big part of that trade.
• Front-of-house display cooking: CiBO. The five glass fronts let it match your counter.
• Several sites under one owner: CiBO+. Remote monitoring helps you keep every site cooking the same way.

What you need before you buy

A proper wall socket. Lincat’s manual says to plug the CiBO into a 13A wall socket. The TurboChef listing asks for a standard 13A 3-pin socket. A 13A socket gives roughly 3kW (our own sum: 13A x 230V), so do not share it with a kettle or toaster.

Clear space round the vents. Lincat asks for a level surface and unobstructed vents. Any nearby wall or furniture must be non-combustible, with minimum gaps of 100mm at the points shown in the CiBO manual.

A plan for the menu. List your top ten hot items before you choose. If more than one or two are dense, chilled-through dishes, the CiBO+ earns its price.

Kitchen-free does not mean rule-free. You still need the usual food hygiene set-up for hot food. The ovens remove the canopy and the new circuit, not the paperwork.

In a van or trailer? Both ovens are made for mains power. On a generator or hook-up, the supply must cope with a full 13A load on top of everything else you run. Read our LPG vs electric catering equipment guide before you plan a mobile set-up.

The biggest mistake: buying on price, not on menu

The CiBO is £2,170 cheaper, so it is tempting to start there. That works well when your menu is thin, toasted or baked.

It goes wrong when the best-sellers turn out to be pies and lasagne. Without a microwave, those dishes take longer, and the queue feels it at lunch.

The opposite mistake costs money too. A CiBO+ that only ever makes toasties is a £5,229 sandwich toaster.

So write the menu first. Then choose the oven that cooks your top sellers fastest.

Looking after either oven

• Cook on the liner. Lincat says never cook directly on the CiBO’s glass base. Use the Teflon sheet, and never use metal tools on the glass.
• Clean the filter. The grease filter on the back of the CiBO should be checked regularly. It can go in a dishwasher, and the oven must not run without it.
• Treat the catalytic converter gently. It cleans smoke and fumes once it is above 240°C. Do not spray it with detergent or oven cleaner, and have it checked once a year.
• Budget for small parts. The CiBO door seal and clock battery are not covered by the warranty. Lincat suggests changing the battery every year.
• No hoses. Do not use a water jet or steam cleaner on the CiBO. Wipe the cool panels with warm water and mild detergent.

If the CiBO’s screen works but it will not heat, the safety thermostat may have tripped. Let it cool, then press the red reset button on the rear panel.

Comparing other ways to heat food fast? See our commercial microwave oven guide and our commercial toaster buying guide. If the oven is joining a new espresso set-up, our commercial coffee machine buying guide for cafés covers the other big purchase. Both ovens are over £1,000, so you can spread the cost with lease finance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Lincat CiBO and the TurboChef CiBO+?

The CiBO+ adds microwave to its heat sources and the CiBO does not. The CiBO uses convection, a top grill and a heated base. The CiBO+ uses microwave, TurboAir and a ContactBase, which lets it heat dense food like pies and lasagne much faster.

Can the Lincat CiBO run from a normal plug?

Yes. Lincat says to plug it into a 13A wall socket. Its elements total 4900W, but the controller never lets them all run at once, so the draw stays under 13A. Give it its own socket rather than sharing one with a kettle.

Do high-speed ovens need an extraction canopy?

No, neither of these does. Both are ventless. The CiBO uses a catalytic converter to remove smoke and fumes once it is above 240°C. The CiBO+ listing also says no extraction canopy is needed.

How fast does the Lincat CiBO cook?

Lincat says most food takes 2-3 minutes. Its default programs list an open toasted sandwich at 1 minute 10 seconds and a fresh thin-crust pizza at 3 minutes 25 seconds. Baked goods such as croissants take about as long as in a good fan oven.

Can the TurboChef CiBO+ cook a 12-inch pizza?

Yes. The CiBO+ chamber takes a 12-inch pizza. Its ContactBase browns the underside, so the base stays crisp rather than soft.

Which oven is better for a small coffee shop?

For most small coffee shops, the Lincat CiBO is the better fit. Toasties, paninis, bagels and pastries are what it does best, and it costs £2,170 less. Choose the CiBO+ only if pies, lasagne or jacket potatoes are core to your menu.

Can I use a Lincat CiBO in a food van?

It can work, but it needs a supply that delivers a full 13A socket. A 13A socket gives roughly 3kW (our own sum: 13A x 230V). Your generator or hook-up has to cover that on top of your fridges, lights and coffee machine.

What warranty does the Lincat CiBO have?

Lincat’s manual gives the CiBO a 2 year UK mainland warranty. It does not cover consumables such as the door seal, filters and glass, or the clock battery. Damage to the catalytic converter is not covered either.