Did you know that the United States consumes nearly 27.6 million 60kg bags of coffee per year? That means that there should be a great machine to use to consume all that coffee so we’ve done the work with our review of the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II.
The Nuova Simonelli Oscar ii has a very unique and quality steel design, and the brand takes pride in making sure that they only use the best materials in the construction.
The design and build are specifically chosen to make sure that the machine lasts a lifetime. Unlike many other espresso machines in the same range, the Nuova Oscar II can brew and steam at the same time without affecting the overall taste of the coffee.
This espresso machine stands out in its category because of its fine Italian craftsmanship, you’re able to enjoy commercial-grade coffee in the comfort of your own home and is the perfect option for the home barista.
Nuova Simonelli has been manufacturing espresso machines since 1936 with a specific focus on reliability and innovation.
Thanks to this, they have won world recognition for the first ergonomic espresso machine, the Official World Barista Championship, and the Compasso d’Oro for design innovation.
Let’s jump into our Nuova Simonelli Oscar review.
Pros
- Provides excellent espresso taste and aroma
- Scratch and fingerprint resistant
- Minimal and simple user interface
- Froths milk in 10 seconds flat
- Includes steam wand with high steam power
Cons
- Espresso grinder, tamper, and carafe are not included.
- Replacement parts are rare and expensive.
Things to consider before buying a Nuova Simonelli Oscar II
Before making an investment in a semi-automatic quality espresso machine, you have to take a few things into consideration.
Semi-automatic espresso machines allow you to manually operate the extraction pump so you can control the water quantity in your brew.
These types of espresso machines are also perfect for home use, depending on how picky you are with your coffee. It’s the same reason why many cafes prefer this more commercial machine as it gives the barista the freedom to change the type flavor saturation as needed and it provides a wide range of services in a compact size.
They also only require manual work for some aspects of the brewing process, while the bulk of it is completed by the machine for super consistent and quality espresso shots.
This is perfect for someone that’s looking to be able to customize their coffee without having to manually manage the whole process.
If you don’t have ground coffee, and prefer a machine that has a built-in grinder, the Simonelli is not the espresso machine for you. You could purchase the Nuova Simonelli Grinta Grinder that will definitely add to the already expensive cost of the Nuova Oscar espresso machine.
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Features & Benefits
Heat Exchanger System
The brewing unit on the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II is temperature compensated which means that you’re assured of getting consistent and quality extractions every time.
Thanks to the temperature stability of the machine and the heat exchanger system inside the copper boiler, it produces a high steam power capacity for the perfect cappuccino, thanks to the built-in steam wand. Hot water is drawn directly from the boiler. Connecting the water tank and brew head is a copper tube that passes through the boiler.
The timer programming included is also very useful for getting consistent results. The machine also works to extract as much flavor from the beans as possible and has built-in programming to prevent burning.
The Nuova Simonelli Oscar was made to be used in cafes so you can be assured that the taste of your brew will always be highly aromatic and professional.
Brewing Capacity
The Nuova Simonelli Oscar comes with a water tank capacity of 71 fl oz which equates to about 11 shots of espresso.
You can only make one or two shots of espresso at any given time though. If you’re using the machine in an office space, or at a cafe, you would need to run multiple cycles that can eventually become time-consuming which may lead you to look at getting another machine that has a larger brewing capacity.
You can also create some beautiful latte art with the Nuova Simonelli Oscar!
Professional Looking
The Nuova Simonelli Oscar is a semi-automatic machine and therefore does require some knowledge of brewing coffee in order to operate it successfully.
Nuova Simonelli Oscar has designed this machine to look and feel super professional thanks to components like the filter holder, the temperature compensated group and the high productivity steam wand.
This paired with the technical and ergonomic features to automate much of the brewing process, make for a very good-looking machine that is sure to be an excellent talking point at your next dinner party.
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Compact and Sturdy Construction
The Italian-made espresso maker is made from stainless steel that adds to the eye-catching design and serves to enhance the machine.
Thanks to the scratch and fingerprint resistant stainless steel, you can be sure that this espresso maker will always look brand new. At only 12.5” wide, you can rest assured that this machine will fit into any space seamlessly.
User Friendliness
The minimal UI included in the Nuova Simonelli Oscar is perfect for those who don’t like super complicated designs in their coffee maker.
The build of the machine including the 4 buttons on top of the coffee dispenser, the milk frothing wand, and the espresso dispensing machine is very streamlined.
This means that this coffee maker will not be an eyesore in any kitchen, and makes it easy to use for any skill level of the home barista. The Oscar comes standard with a 3l hot water reservoir and drip tray so it would be perfect for your next dinner party.
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Social Proof
To give you a wider understanding of what others are saying about the Nuova Simonelli Oscar, we scoured the internet to find some reviews.
Many users have said that the machine was easy to use in the office, home, and cafe settings and that their brew was consistent and delicious every time.
There were some who mentioned that the price point and the overall lack of included features such as a built-in burr grinder made them reconsider their purchase.
Alternative Coffee Machines
DeLonghi EC860
The DeLonghi EC860 is probably the most comparable espresso maker to the Oscar with some notable differences. The EC860 provides a very similar taste profile to the Oscar, except for the very notable lack of care toward making sure that the beans don’t burn.
It also only has a brewing capacity of 4 cups, when compared to the monster 11 cup capacity of the Oscar. The EC860 is made of stainless steel and has a chrome-plated brass finish.
Rocket Appartamento
The Rocket Appartamento is no doubt, a very attractive machine. The Appartamento provides a very balanced taste, but there have been some reviewers that said there is a slightly metallic taste to the brew.
It compares very closely to the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II in brewing capacity, as it can brew 10 cups. The machine is easy to descale and has a cool-touch steam wand so there’s minimal risk of scalding when creating your latte art.
Expobar Ruggero Leva Coffee Machine
The Expobar Ruggero Leva is another exceptionally good looking espresso maker. The company allows you to design your own machine to fit your design needs so you can choose the color that is best suited to your decor.
It has a manual lever control that allows for easy hands-on control over each shot. The 1.5l boiler allows you to pull shots and steam milk at the same time that cuts downtime spent on brewing.
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Loking for commercial espresso machines? We have tested and compared 10 different commercial espresso machines, considering price, performance, and capacity. This guide will help you decide on the best machine for your business.
Learn MoreFinal Thoughts
We don’t have enough good things to say about the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II espresso machine. We definitely think that although the price point is somewhat high, as with most things, you definitely get what you pay for.
The superior craftsmanship of the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II machine means that you can get that commercial-grade coffee from the comfort of your home, or in the office for that needed pick me up.
If you own a cafe, this would be a good addition as it will allow you to keep your customers happy with a customized taste profile according to their preferences.
Check it out here:
We hope you enjoyed our Nuova Simonelli Oscar II review. Let us know if you agree in the comments below.
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