Are you wondering whether or not you should get the Nuova Simonelli Musica for your home or business? No one could blame you if you were drawn to this espresso machine. It’s certainly one of Nuova Simonelli’s most beautiful budget models.
We’ll help you determine if it’s a good investment for you by diving into it in this Nuova Simonelli Musica review. This is what you can expect to learn about the machine:
- The Musica’s most noteworthy features and what makes them noteworthy.
- Potential alternative machines to the Musica.
- A brief overview of the manufacturer’s history.
- Information regarding the costs of the machines in this review.
Let’s take a closer look…
Quick Summary
One of the first things most people notice about the Musica is how exquisite its appearance is. Nuova Simonelli specializes in producing elegant machines, and this one is a testament to that skill. Looks aside, this is a powerful and quick machine with an ergonomic design that you or your employees will love using.
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Key Features and Why They Matter
Automatic Machine Type
An espresso machine’s most important quality is its basic type. One of the first questions you should ask about one is whether it is automatic or semiautomatic, as this will greatly affect your daily use of it.
The Musica is an automatic machine. This means it’s programmed to end the brew cycle at the correct time once you initiate it. It does so through volumetric dosing, which means it measures the amount of espresso that has been brewed.
A semiautomatic espresso machine will not automatically end the brew cycle for you. Because of this, automatic machines are much more user-friendly, making them excellent for beginners.
Read Also: Nuova Simonelli Appia II vs Musica
Manual Dosing Button
There are plenty of baristas who actually prefer using a semiautomatic machine to an automatic one. The reason for this is that a semiautomatic machine gives them the ultimate degree of control, as they can start and stop the brew cycle whenever they please.
If you’re interested in that challenge, the Nuova Simonelli Musica can offer it to you. It has a manual button that you can use to start and stop the extraction phase whenever you want. Aside from being more challenging, this is excellent for those times when you want to pull extra-long ristretto shots.
Backlit Buttons
Have you ever tried to use an appliance with buttons in dim light? If so, you may recall having to struggle to make out what each button says, pressing wrong ones on accident.
It should be obvious why you wouldn’t a barista to accidentally press the wrong buttons in the course of their work. You don’t want your customers to end up with a subpar drink.
That’s why the Musica has backlit buttons. Since the buttons are lit up, you can easily see what each one is for, preventing accidental button pushes.
Further Reading: Nuova Simonelli Musica vs Oscar II
Programmable Hot Water Nozzle
Does your business sell Americanos or hot tea? Do you often make these drinks for yourself at home? Then you’ll need access to hot water in order to build those popular drinks properly.
Unless you’re prepared to meticulously measure every single dose of hot water, there’s likely to be variations in quality from one drink to the next. This doesn’t have to be the case with the Musica’s programmable hot water nozzle.
You’re able to program the exact amount of hot water you need in advance. Then the nozzle will dispense precisely what you need when you need it.
Indicator Lights
There’s a lot that goes on inside complex appliances like espresso machines. When something isn’t performing the way we want it to, it can therefore be frustrating to figure out what the cause is.
Much of this guesswork is taken out of operation when it comes to the Nuova Simonelli Musica. It has indicator lights that will come on when certain things are occurring inside the machine. As an example, lights will come on when the water level is low, prompting you for a refill if you choose the pour-over version.
Thermo-Compensated Brew Group
The Musica’s thermo-compensated brew group is there to protect your espresso from unexpected dips in quality. Temperature is crucial to making coffee and espresso. If it fluctuates randomly, it can impact the flavor of your beverages.
That’s what makes the thermo-compensated brew group so useful. It’s even more stable than many competitors’ brew groups, promoting consistency in all the drinks you create.
Related Article: Best Espresso Machines Under $3,000
Push-Pull Steam Lever
If you’ve ever had to twist a knob repeatedly, then you’ll understand how tiring the motion can get for your wrist. You wouldn’t want yourself or your employees to feel this way while operating your espresso machine.
Nuova Simonelli has innovated a new steam control design specifically to keep users totally comfortable. Many of their machines, including the Musica, have an effortless push-pull steam lever rather than the traditional valve.
To turn on the steam, simply push the lever up. It’s as simple as applying a slight pressure.
Reverse Mirror
The Musica’s backplate has a highly reflective surface. At a glance, you might think that was only for aesthetic purposes, but it actually has some practical use to it.
You can use the reflective backplate as a reverse mirror for keeping an eye on your espresso. Because you can keep track of your shots from all angles, you’ll know right away when something is wrong and you need to make corrections.
Pre-Infusion
Pre-infusion is the Musica’s hidden weapon for crafting the perfect shots time and time again. Not sure what pre-infusion is? Don’t worry – we’ll explain.
Pre-infusion is sort of like a step zero in the extraction process. Before applying the full pressure of extraction, the machine automatically runs a light stream of water through your portafilter. This erases any irregularities caused by improper tamping technique and all but guarantees a balanced extraction.
Additional Resource: Best Espresso Machines for Catering
Comparable Alternatives
Part of the appeal of the Musica is that it’s so petite. You won’t struggle to find room for it on your counters, and you won’t struggle to find room for the La Spaziale S1 Mini Vivaldi II, either.
As the “mini” in its name implies, the Mini Vivaldi II has a tiny footprint. To be precise, it measures at 16.50 inches wide, 16.50 inches long, and 15 inches tall.
You’re still getting a lot of brewing power for this small size, though. It has a robust dual boiler design and automatic dosing system that makes it a snap to use.
These are some other impressive features the Mini Vivaldi II has:
- A no burn steam arm that allows you to safely touch it at any time.
- An impressive output of up to 20 espresso per hour.
- Self-diagnostic system that tells you when there’s an issue with the machine.
- An ergonomic lever-style steam valve that keeps your wrists comfortable.
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The Nuova Simonelli Appia II is another excellent option for you if what you want is an espresso machine with a small footprint. In its single-group configuration, the machine measures at 16 inches wide, 21 inches deep, and 22 inches tall.
It comes with some especially appealing features for novices, too. For one thing, it has a cool touch steam wand that will never burn you or your employees. Even better, it has an automated cleaning system that you can use to clean the machine for you at the end of every day.
Here are a few other highlights for the Appia II:
- Reverse mirror backplate that you can use to monitor your espresso.
- Raised group heads to fit tall cups beneath the group head.
- A manual dosing button that’s perfect for skilled baristas wanting to experiment on-the-fly.
- Soft infusion to protect the flavor of your drinks from improper tamping.
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About the Brand
Nuova Simonelli is one of the best espresso machine manufacturers out there. This probably comes from the fact they’ve been around for almost a century, building up their experience.
After almost a hundred years of steady innovations to the espresso machine industry, they’ve become a company you can trust. They have a well-earned reputation for top-notch quality.
Ideal Machine Applications
There are a couple different configurations for the Musica, and each one would be a good fit for different situations.
For instance, the pour-over version of the Musica could be excellent for small coffee shops or homes. It’s not connected to a water line, so you’ll need to refill its water tank by hand, but this shouldn’t be a problem in places with low espresso order volume.
On the other hand, the direct-connect variation of the Musica is likely better for small businesses, including restaurants and cafes. It will refill its water tank automatically as necessary since it has to be hooked up to a water line.
What Customers Say
The Nuova Simonelli Musica is a fairly popular model, so it’s not surprising to us that the things customers have said about it are good. What we’ve heard about the Musica is that it’s a top-notch machine that often exceeds user’s expectations.
Since it comes from Nuova Simonelli, that’s fitting. Trust this manufacturer to make a reliable machine, whether it’s compact or large.
Pricing Information
The Majesty Coffee store has the most competitive prices online for the best coffee and espresso gear. We’re including the machines mentioned in this review in that statement.
The Nuova Simonelli Musica is available in our store for $2,245-$3,240 depending on whether you get it with LED lights and whether you want it as a pour-over or direct-connect machine. Our Nuova Simonelli Appia II is available for $4,275-8,865 depending on how many groups you choose. Finally, the La Spaziale S1 Mini Vivaldi II is in our store for $1,895.
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Tony Barlow, with over a decade of experience in the coffee industry, is the go-to technical sales expert at Majesty Coffee. He's passionate about helping businesses find the right espresso equipment for their needs.
