NUOVA SIMONELLI MUSICA ESPRESSO MACHINE REVIEW: INCREDIBLE!

Interested in an easy-to-use commercial-quality espresso machine with a unique design? Here’s one!

The Nuova Simonelli Musica is a do-it-all espresso machine — compact enough for a home kitchen but with the quality and capacity for a small cafe or catering business. 

Will it fit in your life? Let’s find out. 

In this Nuova Simonelli Musica review, I’ll look at everything this little workhorse has to offer, from its brewing capacity to its futuristic style. I found plenty to love about this machine, and I expect you’ll feel the same way.

Where To Buy The Nuova Simonelli Musica Online

It’s important to find a trustworthy distributor when buying something as complex and expensive as a commercial-grade espresso machine. The Home Brews Coffee team has worked extensively with the sellers below and has always found them knowledgeable and reliable.

	Retailers
	Majesty Coffee	Price matching 2-year warranty Free latte art mastery video course included	CHECK PRICE
	Seattle coffee gear	Free shipping Price matching 1-year warranty	CHECK PRICE

A Full Review Of The Nuova Simonelli Musica

The Nuova Simonelli Musica is so versatile that it’s hard to classify. The compact footprint and user-friendly features make it an appealing choice for home use, while its capacity, commercial-grade components, and NSF rating make it equally viable for a small business. 

In this review, I’ll dig into the details so you can decide how and if it will work for you. No matter the context, great espresso is guaranteed!

How I Rated It

• Brewing Capacity
• User Friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Cleaning and Maintenance

3.9

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A Quick Rundown Of The Brewing Capacity

The Nuova Simonelli Musica is a heat exchanger espresso machine with a 2-liter copper boiler. You can make espresso and steam milk at the same time, and it has no issues making multiple drinks in a row. 

The vibratory pump is a little on the noisy side, but it keeps this machine small and affordable, for which I’m willing to trade a few extra decibels.

The 58-mm group head is not the common E61, but it uses a similar thermosiphon strategy to circulate hot water from the boiler through the brew group. 

If you’re looking for the additional temperature control of a PID, you won’t find it in the Musica. But personally, I don’t consider this a huge loss with a heat exchanger machine.

Automatic Volumetric Dosing

The major difference between the Musica and the less-expensive Nuova Simonelli Oscar II is the volumetric controls. There are three soft-touch buttons on the group, which you can program to deliver a set shot volume, plus a manual option.

This is especially useful for efficiency in a commercial setting, but even at home, I find it nice to let the espresso take care of itself while I concentrate on steaming milk (1).

Another notable upgrade from the Oscar II is a steam pressure gauge on the front of the machine. While it’s a useful way to monitor boiler pressure, I’d really like to have a brew pressure gauge as well – something that is not uncommon at this price point.

Soft Infusion System

The Musica includes the same Soft Infusion System found on Nuova Simonelli’s higher-end commercial coffee machines. This low-pressure pre-infusion stage settles the ground coffee before extraction, limiting channeling even if tamping and distribution aren’t perfect. The result is a richer and more flavorful espresso shot with less room for human error.

Accessible OPV

A final nice feature to note is that the current version of the Musica has a much more accessible over-pressure valve than previous editions. You can adjust the pump pressure without a tool kit and an hour of spare time.

What To Expect When Using The Musica

Espresso machines with heat exchange boilers all require a bit of a learning curve because cooling flushes are needed to manage the temperature. The Musica is no more difficult to use than any other, and in fact, its programmable volumetric controls go a long way to simplifying the workflow.

One example is the angled mirror above the drip tray that lets you view your shot from the bottom without leaning over or craning your neck. Another is the angled handle on both the single and double spout portafilter, which ensures the filter sits flat on a surface for tamping.

Cleaning and Maintenance

This Nuova Simonelli espresso machine has two versions. The Direct Connect is designed to be plumbed to a water line, and the Pour Over houses a 3-liter water tank in the back. I suspect most home baristas will appreciate the flexibility of the water tank, while heavier users will prefer the efficiency of direct plumbing. 

Personally, I wish they made one machine with the option to switch between the two water systems. Plenty of other models offer this functionality, so the technology is well-established.

Maintenance is the same as any prosumer model. Keep things clean, use filtered water, and backflush regularly. The Musica doesn’t have an automatic cleaning cycle, but the process is easy to perform manually. I’ve been backflushing once a week as a light home user, and it takes less than 5 minutes.

The internals are a bit chaotic, so if you need maintenance, it’s a complicated machine to work on yourself. And because Musica doesn’t use the industry-standard E61 group head, it can be a bit harder to find skilled technicians and spare parts. I definitely recommend buying it from a dealer with some expertise.

Tons Of Steam Pressure For Latte Lovers

Nuova Simonelli is known for its high-end frothing systems (2). Indeed, this brand is the official sponsor and machine provider for the World Barista Championships, and you can find the same competition wand and steam tip on the Nuova Simonelli Musica.

The four-hole steam tip paired with the 2-liter boiler can yield so much steam pressure that it may overwhelm a novice barista. If this is your first experience with a prosumer espresso machine, I’d even suggest swapping in a two-hole steam tip while you learn. On the other hand, if you’re used to commercial espresso machines, you’ll be thrilled to find nearly the same power in this little home-focused model.

The milk steaming control is push-pull, and while it’s pleasantly ergonomic, I didn’t find it offered much fine control (3). It’s essentially just an on-off switch, with no easy way to produce shorter bursts of steam or slow down. There is also a separate hot water outlet for preparing tea or Americanos.

Durable Build And Unique Aesthetics

The obvious starting point when discussing the build of the Nuova Simonelli Musica is its divisive futuristic design. They designed it to mimic a harp, hence the name Musica, but in my opinion, it has a modern aesthetic that would fit right in on a Star Trek set. How you feel about it comes down to personal taste. It is certainly unique.

There are two styles, one with black edges and the more expensive Lux, which has lights running down the sides. In either case, the interface is attractive. The soft-touch buttons are back-lit for easy visibility, and you can even adjust their brightness.

Subjective aesthetics aside, the build quality of the Musica is objectively fantastic. Unlike the half-plastic Oscar II, the outside is entirely high-quality stainless steel. Inside, the Musica features mostly commercial-grade components befitting its NSF rating. Designed to withstand the rigors of commercial use, it feels hefty and durable compared to a typical home espresso machine and will last much longer. 

Bear in mind that it’s also larger than a standard domestic model. At 17″ tall, it won’t fit comfortably under upper cupboards, especially if you need to access the water reservoir or want to take advantage of the cup warmer up top.

There are a few misses. The drip tray is surprisingly difficult to remove, which is frustrating if it’s full of dirty water. And it comes with a useless plastic tamper, which is common practice, but I find it increasingly disappointing when buying more expensive machines.

The Price, The Value, And The Worth

I think we’ve established that the Musica is an excellent espresso maker, but does it offer excellent value? There, I’m a little more on the fence. 

The Musica retails for $3300, though you’ll often find it on sale. That’s hefty for a heat exchanger with very few features beyond programmable dosing. And remember that an expensive espresso machine needs to be paired with an equally premium coffee grinder.

For comparison, the Profitec Pro 500 has a 2-liter heat exchange boiler, lever-operated E61 group, PID temperature control, and optional flow profiling – for about $1000 less. If you’re going to get your money’s worth out of the Musica, you need to really value the automatic controls and unique style.

Don’t Buy The Nuova Simonelli Musica If…

• You don’t need volumetric shot controls: If you think you’ll mainly be using the manual button, you’ll find many alternatives offering better value for money. For just a few examples, take a look at the Profitec Pro 500 I already mentioned, the ECM Technika Profi V, or the Rocket Espresso Cronometro.
• You want a higher-volume commercial machine: The Nuova Simonelli Musica is best suited for low-volume commercial environments, like an espresso cart. If you’re running a mid-sized coffee shop, think about the Nuova Simonelli Appia instead.
• You don’t like its space-age style: This is a big espresso machine that will likely be the focal point of your kitchen, so don’t buy it if you don’t like its distinct look. There are other great heat exchanger options with less divisive designs, like the Rocket Appartamento or Lelit Mara.

The Verdict

Whether you’re looking for a sturdy commercial-level machine for your home or a compact brewer for your small business, the Nuova Simonelli Musica fits the bill. It stands out thanks to its unique futuristic design, but it’s the perfect espresso, steam power, and ease of use that will really impress.

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