Rocket Mozzafiato vs R58: Which Is Better?

Torn between the Rocket Mozzafiato and the Rocket R58?

This guide will help you decide by comparing the Rocket Mozzafiato vs R58. In understandable terms, we’ll advise you on the machines’ features and walk you through what considerations to make before you choose.

If you’re wondering which one you should invest in, keep reading and you’ll find out:

• Similarities between the Mozzafiato and R58 and what they mean
• Differences between these machines and why they’re important
• Considerations to make before you choose

Let’s begin. 

SIMILARITIES

SEMIAUTOMATIC MACHINE TYPE

The biggest thing the Rocket Mozzafiato and R58 have in common is their basic machine type, which is semiautomatic.

What does that mean for you? The best way to answer that question is to compare this type to automatic machines.

Automatic machines distribute pre-programmed amounts of water when the brewing is initiated. Once the barista starts it, the machine will end the cycle on its own once it’s complete.

Users enjoy more control with semiautomatic machines. As opposed to relying on the machine to end the brew cycle, you can let it go for as long or short as you like.

Basically, semiautomatic machines are more flexible for personalization. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this makes them pretty popular with veteran baristas.

Another fun feature on the Mozzafiato and the R58 is that they’re lever-operated. You’ll begin and end the brew cycle by pushing or pulling a lever, which gives these machines a captivating vintage feel.

OUTPUT CAPACITY

Simply put, an espresso machine’s output capacity is how many shots it can make in a given time.

This probably isn’t something you’re worried about if you’re planning to buy either of these machines for personal use at home, but it becomes more important in small businesses that serve espresso.

If that sounds like your situation, the ability of these machines to brew up to 20 espressos an hour makes them a real asset. Businesses that aren’t focused on espresso or have a low volume of espresso orders will find that this speed is usually enough to meet their needs.

Of course, as a home user, this means you’ll never need to worry about your espresso machine not being able to fulfill your demands – even if you’re serving multiple guests.

POUR-OVER MACHINES

The Mozzafiato and the R58 come as pour-over machines which means that they have water tanks which need to be filled as they empty.

By contrast, direct-connect machines have to be connected to a water line in order to function. 

As pour-over machines, the Mozzafiato and R58 are uniquely portable. Need to move them around to make room or clean their area? No problem.

If having to refill a water tank sounds tedious to you, you can rest assured that with spacious tanks in these machines, you won’t need to do it often. 

The R58’s reservoir can hold up to 2.5 liters, which means you won’t have to stop to add water often. At 2.9 liters, the Mozzafiato’s reservoir is even more massive.

Either way, you won’t find your machine running dry after only a few cappuccinos.

PID TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER

Maintaining the perfect temperatures is intuitive using the R58’s and Mozzafiato’s PID temperature controllers.

These controllers allow you to make changes to the temperature and then maintain the temperature for you. Unexpected fluctuations won’t affect your espresso here.

On the R58, you’ll find an external PID controller that attaches to the side of the machine. Once you’ve used the controller to alter temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, you’ll be able to remove it and store it elsewhere if you prefer the look of the machine without it.

With the Mozzafiato, the PID controller is smartly concealed to conserve the sleek look of the machine. Just take out the drip tray and you’ll find the controller.

E-61 COMMERCIAL GROUP

Quality of your espresso is directly influenced by the internal temperature of your espresso machine, so you’ll need it to be as stable as possible.

E-61 commercial group heads on the R58 and Mozzafiato bolster the stability of your temperature by an ongoing circulation of water from the group head to the boiler. 

An additional benefit to these group heads is their automatic pre-infusion. You might be wondering what that means and how that affects you.

Quite simply, automatic pre-infusion releases a gentle stream of water into the bed of coffee before the full pressure of extraction is applied. This smooths out any channels in the grounds and lets the water come through evenly. 

In a nutshell, it means you get delightful shots every time, regardless of whether or not the coffee was packed into the portafilter correctly. 

STYLE 

Rocket is well-known for an aesthetic that seamlessly combines an old-world feel with modern-day flair. 

You’ll notice this tasteful combination in both the Mozzafiato and the R58. In fact, so many classic Rocket design elements are used here, that these machines almost look like twins.

For one thing, they both have 304 stainless steel casing that gives them a clean gleam which could catch anyone’s eye.

Plus, they both have a bold and elegant R embellished on the front – proof that Rocket takes pride in these machines.

PRESSURE GAUGES

Pressure gauges function as convenient places to quickly confirm what the pressure levels are in your machine. 

Either of these Rockets come with both boiler and pressure gauges, so you have as much information as possible on your brewing conditions.

Through the boiler pressure gauge, you’ll be able to see if your machine is ready to brew or steam after you turn it on. That takes all of the guesswork out of determining if your machine is ready.

With the brew pressure gauge, you can see the pressure levels of the pump as you brew. You’ll know instantly if you need to adjust your brew ratio.

LOW WATER SENSOR

Because these machines use pour-over water tanks, you’ll have to keep an eye on them during use to make sure water levels don’t drop too low.

This may not be so easy to remember if multiple people use the machine, or if you’re just not familiar with its operation yet. 

You’ll know exactly when water levels dip too low with the flashing low water sensors on the R58 and Mozzafiato. As an added protection to your investment, they’ll cut the power when there’s not enough water, preventing the machine from running dry and being damaged.

CUP WARMER

Are you tired of your coffee or tea quickly becoming lukewarm?

One of the ways to preserve a hot drink for as long as possible is by pouring the drink into a pre-warmed cup. Of course, you could warm a cup by holding hot water in it until you put the drink in – or you could use the Mozzafiato’s and R58’s convenient cup warming shelves.

Simply place your cups right on top of either of these machines to keep them heated. When you’re ready for your drink, it will stay warmer much longer than if you had poured it into a cold cup.

If you’re concerned about the stability of placing cups on top of the machine, don’t be. A rail surrounds the edges at the tops of these machines to keep the cups in place should anyone accidentally bump them.

DIFFERENCES

DUAL BOILER VS HEAT EXCHANGER 

Boiler type is something you’ll need to pay attention to if you want a fast espresso machine.

The R58 uses a powerful dual boiler system. One boiler is used for steam-temperature water and the other is used for brew-temperature water.

Alternatively, the Mozzafiato uses a heat exchanger boiler (sometimes called an HX boiler). A tube runs through the boiler, carrying brew-temperature water to the group head and storing steam-temperature water elsewhere. 

What does this have to do with speed? Either one of these boiler systems allows you to brew and steam concurrently, so you don’t need to wait to do one or the other. 

Basically, you’ll be able to build your drink more quickly when you don’t have wait for your machine to get to steaming temperature after brewing or vice versa. 

Now: there are advantages and disadvantages to either boiler system.

Heat exchange boilers are a little more energy-efficient, because only one boiler is being heated. But you do need to flush the group head before shots to ensure the correct temperature water comes out for extraction.

Dual boiler systems generally have more steam power, but also take a longer time to warm up when you turn the machine on because two separate boilers are being heated.

STEAM POWER

This is where the R58’s dual boiler system really shines. It has a 1.8-liter boiler specifically dedicated to steaming, and it packs a lot of power into a small package, providing commercial-level performance.

The R58 won’t break a sweat steaming milk for drink after drink.

The Mozzafiato has notable steam power, too. Its 1.8-liter heat exchange boiler allows it to rapidly steam milk and generate silky smooth foam.

MACHINE SIZE

Owners of crammed countertops will want to know if these machines will fit in comfortably.

While the Mozzafiato and R58 are pretty similar in size, there are indeed small differences between them that may influence your decision.

With its cup guard, the R58 is 16.25 inches tall, 12.25 inches wide, and 17.5 inches deep. The cup guard is removable, though, and taking it off drops the height to 15 inches.

The Mozzafiato is a teensy bit smaller. It measures at 15.75 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and 16.7 inches deep. 

You likely won’t have a problem squeezing either of these machines onto your countertops.

ROTARY VS VIBRATORY PUMP

You’ve probably noticed that in many coffee shops, customers like to work or read while enjoying a soothing atmosphere.

Loud noises can disrupt these kinds of moods, and the type of pump in an espresso machine can make a difference in that regard.

A rotary pump is used by the R58, which is surprisingly quiet. It’s also very long-lived and won’t need to be replaced too soon.

The other option, a vibratory pump, is housed in the Mozzafiato. It’s a bit noisier than a rotary pump, but it shouldn’t be disruptive. 

Bonus: vibratory pumps are generally less expensive than their rotary counterparts.

To sum it up, though, either pump type makes great-tasting espresso.

ROCKET R58 DIRECT-CONNECT CONVERTIBILITY 

The R58’s ability to convert to a direct-connect machine is a fantastic feature. 

Should you ever decide that having to refill the water tank periodically is an annoyance, you have the option to connect the R58 to a water line.

As a direct-connect machine, the water tank will refill itself for you. No more having to watch out for the low water sensor.

The great thing about this feature is that you have flexibility. You can configure it whichever way you prefer.

If you like mobility, then you can use it as a pour-over machine. If the reduced maintenance of a direct-connect machine sounds tempting, then you can hook it up to a water supply.

Unlike the R58, the Mozzafiato can only be used as a pour-over machine.

ROCKET MOZZAFIATO ADJUSTABLE FEET

If you’re worried about how much room you have, the Mozzafiato comes with another feature that helps it fit right into just about anywhere: adjustable feet.

You can easily reduce the height of the machine by adjusting its feet. While this won’t lead to a drastic change, sometimes you just need that tiny bit of leeway. 

PRICING INFORMATION

At Majesty Coffee, we strive to have some of the best prices online without sacrificing quality.

These are both Rocket models with more similarities than differences, but those differences do add up to varying prices between them.

We offer the Rocket Mozzafiato Type V for $2,100 in stainless steel. Our Rocket R58 Dual Boiler, also in stainless steel, is in our store for $3,000.

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU INVEST IN?

Now that we’ve discussed the features of both these machines, it’s time to answer your original question:

Which one should you invest in?

It’s true that the Rocket Mozzafiato and Rocket R58 are actually more alike than they are different. 

One either one of them, users will have fun using levers to operate the machines. They’ll also get the thermal stability and automatic pre-infusion of the E-61 commercial groups on the Mozzafiato or R58.

With its direct-connect convertibility, though, the Rocket R58 is much better suited for businesses like small coffee shops, offices, or restaurants. In those kinds of situations, having to stop to refill the water tank every so often can become too much of an inconvenience.

The direct-connect convertibility may not be as important when you’re just looking for a machine for your own home. If that’s the case, the smaller cost of the Rocket Mozzafiato could be the reason you choose it.

Here’s the bottom line: 

Either of these espresso machines will help you craft delectable espresso. 

What makes one better for you than the other will depend on your budget, how many drinks you foresee yourself needing to make, and whether the option for direct-connect is important to you.

For more information on the Rocket Mozzafiato and the Rocket R58, as well as some of the lowest prices online, you can look at them in the Majesty Coffee store here:

R58 link: https://majestycoffee.com/products/rocket-dual-boiler-r58

Mozzafiato: https://majestycoffee.com/products/rocket-mozzafiato-type-v-espresso-machine