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La Marzocco vs Nuova Simonelli: Which Brand Should You Buy?

La Marzocco vs Nuova Simonelli

Many of the best espresso machines in the world are made by Italian manufacturers. The reason why they’re so good is that these manufacturers typically have decades of experience.

So how do you decide between two seasoned Italian companies like La Marzocco and Nuova Simonelli?

We’ll give you the scoop on these famous manufacturers to help you choose.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • An overview of the history of La Marzocco and Nuova Simonelli
  • What each brand is particularly known for
  • Things to consider before you choose an espresso machine
  • Our choices for the best models from both companies

Let’s jump in.

History

La Marzocco

This is an Italian manufacturer with almost 100 years of experience designing luxury espresso machines.

Since their founding in the late 1920’s, La Marzocco has been an innovator in their field. They were the first company to create an espresso machine with a horizontal boiler, for instance.

Nowadays, they continue to strive to propel the world of espresso into the future. You can delve deeper into their past here. 

Nuova Simonelli

Nuova Simonelli is a world-renowned company that has created machines used in barista championships.

They were born in 1936. Throughout their lifespan, their goal has been to incorporate innovation, beauty, and ergonomics in every espresso machine they make.

Espresso truly is their passion – and not just espresso machines, either. They also craft sophisticated espresso grinders treasured by enthusiasts around the world.

Click here if you want to dive into Nuova Simonelli’s history. 

Brand Specialties

La Marzocco

When you purchase something from La Marzocco, you’re typically getting a sophisticated piece of equipment.

Within most of these machines, you’ll find ingenious modern espresso technology. Usually, you’ll have temperature controls and powerful boiler systems built to steam and brew at the same time.

There’s a pretty distinct La Marzocco look, too. Their products are usually constructed from gleaming stainless steel with tasteful accents for a rather classical feel.

Nuova Simonelli

Championship-level ergonomic machines well-loved by baristas everywhere are a specialty here.

 Nuova Simonelli tends to think about brewing from a barista’s perspective, so you’ll find all kinds of features for keeping you comfortable on their models. For instance, a common feature on one of these espresso machines is brilliant steam switches that can be moved with a gentle push or pull.

Like La Marzocco, you’ll also find a particular aesthetic with Nuova Simonelli machines. They tend to convey an air of elegance, with shining cases and soft curved edges.

Which one should you buy?

As they both have so much history, either of these brands will offer you a wide variety to choose from. Deciding which one to buy from could be pretty tough.

One of the biggest differences between them is their look. Given that espresso machines are quite an investment, it’s not at all frivolous to take appearance into consideration.

If you like all things vintage, you’ll most likely love the look of La Marzocco models. Alternatively, if you prefer something a little more artistic or modern, Nuova Simonelli will no doubt have something perfect for you.

You may also want to factor in how ergonomic a machine is. If you or your employees will be putting in long hours on the machine, look for features like cool-touch steam wands that come standard on most Nuova Simonelli models.

Price is another thing you should think about. Nuova Simonelli tends to have a wider price range in their machines, with a few home models that suit those who don’t want to spend as much.

However, if your budget allows for it, La Marzocco machines generally come packed with high-end qualities like PID temperature control or cutting-edge dual boiler systems.

In short, there’s a lot to love with either of these beloved companies. Your decision will likely come down to personal preference.

Top La Marzocco Espresso Machines

La Marzocco Linea Mini

La Marzocco Linea Mini

Looking for a home espresso machine that will have you making drinks like a pro? Then the La Marzocco Linea Mini is a strong pick.

Its unique paddle brew operation will give you complete power over the brew cycle. By moving the paddle back and forth, you get to choose when to start and stop extracting.

Further upping your ability to customize beverages is the Linea Mini’s temperature wheel. No matter which blend you use, you’ll be able to find the right temperature to brew by turning the wheel on the left side of the machine.

  • Best Use: Home
  • Machine Type: Semiautomatic paddle
  • Boiler System: Dual
  • Dimensions: 15 inches tall, 14 inches wide, 21 inches long
  • Plumbing: Pour-over
  • Rotary Pump: Durable and also quiet, so you can brew drinks at home without disrupting anyone – yourself included.
  • Stepped Temperature Wheel: Find the ideal temperature to brew any blend by simply turning the user-friendly temperature wheel.
  • Pre-Infusion: Protects each shot from improper tamping by settling your grounds with a stream of water.
  • Integrated Brew Group: Increases thermal stability to prevent temperature fluctuations from ruining an otherwise perfect shot.
  • Barista Lights: Bright barista lights by the group head make it easy to visually monitor the quality of your espresso.

If you want a machine like the Linea Mini for your home, we're proud to offer the La Spaziale S1 Mini Vivaldi II as an alternative. Like the Linea Mini, it's designed to be small enough to find space for on your home counters  and it gives you the power to tweak the temperature.

La Marzocco Linea PB

La Marzocco Linea PB

Coffee shops, offices, or restaurants that need an espresso machine that can keep up with demand should definitely consider the Linea PB.

With two group heads, you’ll be able to soar through your rushes. Double steam wands on either end of the machine allow two people to work on it comfortably at once.

Beyond speed, the Linea PB is one smart machine. Its eco mode will help reduce your utility bills by letting the boiler temperatures drop to set points during periods of inactivity.

  • Best Use: Coffee shop, office, or restaurant
  • Machine Type: Automatic
  • Boiler System: Dual boiler
  • Dimensions: 21 inches tall, 28 inches wide, and 23 inches long
  • Plumbing: Direct-connect
  • Ruby Flow Restrictors: Protects the lifespan of the espresso machine by resisting scale buildup.
  • Digital LCD Display: The crystal-clear LCD display puts crucial information like boiler temperatures and system alerts right at your baristas’ fingertips.
  • Two Steam Wands: Double the steam wands and double the group heads means twice the output. You could even have two baristas working on either side of the machine at the same time.

Want a machine as speedy and beautiful as the La Marzocco Linea PB? We suggest you take a look at the Victoria Arduino Eagle One, which will also give you multiple group heads and double steam wands to speed through drinks with. 

La Marzocco GS3 MP

Fans of milk-based espresso drinks like the ever-popular latte will love what this machine is capable of.

The La Marzocco GS3 MP has an incredible 3.5-liter steam boiler that packs a real punch. You won’t get left high and dry by the GS3 when you’re making back-to-back drinks.

The stainless steel construction of its boiler is also long-lived. This is one machine you can safely depend on for a long time.

  • Majesty Coffee Price: $7,500
  • Best Use: Small restaurant or office, home
  • Machine Type: Mechanical paddle
  • Boiler System: Dual boiler
  • Dimensions: 17.50 inches tall, 16 inches wide, 21 inches long
  • Plumbing: Pour-over or direct-connect
  • Cool Touch Steam Wand: Keep yourself or employees safe from painful steam wand burns during long days of use. Additionally, the wand reduces time spent on maintenance since milk won’t stick to the end.
  • Hot Water Spigot: With a hot water spigot attached to the machine, you won’t need to spend money buying an extra hot water tank for Americanos or teas.
  • Periscope Manometer: Your or your employees will be able to tell if the brew ratio needs to be adjusted by checking the pressure on the manometer. This ensures that each shot is the best it can be.
La Marzocco Strada

The luxury standard employed by La Marzocco is unmistakably prominent in the Strada.

A group of espresso experts was consulted when this machine was designed, and the results speak for themselves. Its brilliant dual PID allows you to effortlessly adjust temperatures in the coffee and steam boilers to accentuate each blend.

Its drip tray can also be adjusted so that taller cups can fit beneath the brew cups. That way, you can offer larger drinks to your customers without having to transfer the espresso by hand to a bigger cup.

  • Majesty Coffee Price: $20,400
  • Best Use: Commercial
  • Machine Type: Semiautomatic
  • Boiler System: Dual boiler
  • Dimensions: 19 inches tall, 32 inches wide, and 27 inches long
  • Plumbing: Direct-connect
  • Adjustable Drip Tray: Need to make a larger drink? Adjust the drip tray to accommodate cups of just about any size.
  • Dual PID Temperature Controller: Cultivate the perfect flavor profile for any blend with a precise PID controller that lets you adjust steam and coffee boiler temperatures.
  • Insulated Boilers: This insulation reduces the machine’s energy consumption, as it won’t need to work as hard to stay up to temperature.

Top Nuova Simonelli Espresso Machines

Nuova Simonelli Musica

Nuova Simonelli Musica

Make top-notch espresso in style on the Nuova Simonelli Musica.

Softly rounded edges, a lustrous face, and optional LED lights make this machine a sight for sore eyes. It could easily be the crown jewel on home or business countertops alike.

Beyond a beautiful design, you’ll also get the power of an energy-efficient heat exchange boiler. Not only will the Musica heat up quickly because it only has one boiler, but the copper material of that boiler is naturally antimicrobial.

  • Majesty Coffee Price: $2,245 (Pour-over without LEDs), $2,515 (Pour-over with LEDs), $2,925 (Direct-connect without LEDS), or $3,240 (Direct-connect with LEDs)
  • Best Use: Home, small office/café/restaurant, coffee cart
  • Machine Type: Automatic + manual dosing
  • Boiler System: Heat exchange
  • Dimensions: 17 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and 13 inches long
  • Plumbing: Direct-connect or pour-over
  • Reverse Mirror: Aside from looking impressive, the back plate is reflective enough to function as a mirror. You or your employees will be able to carefully watch each shot from all sides.
  • Push-Pull Steam Lever: Days spent with sore wrists from repeatedly turning a valve are over on the Musica. The ergonomic steam lever and be operated with an easy push or pull that keeps users comfortable.
  • Programmable Hot Water Nozzle: Save a little time by programming the amount of water you need for popular drinks like tea into the nozzle. Afterward, you’ll get the same dose of hot water every time without having to measure or estimate.
  • Indicator Lights: Lights on the Musica will tell you if the water tank needs a refill or if the heating is on. That way, you’ll never be caught off guard by an empty tank if you’re using it as a pour-over machine.
Nuova Simonelli Oscar II

The Oscar I was a classic espresso machine – and the strong foundation it laid was built upon with the Oscar II.

You can make room elsewhere by storing some of your mugs right on top of the machine. This space is actually a cup warmer that, in addition to being a shelf, keeps your cups nice and toasty.

An extended steam arm was also added to the design. With this steam wand, you’ll be able to reach further into milk pitchers so that milk is steamed more evenly.

  • Majesty Coffee Price: $1,295
  • Best Use: Home, small coffee shop/restaurant/office
  • Machine Type: Semiautomatic + timed dosing
  • Boiler System: Heat exchange
  • Dimensions: 16 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and 12 inches long
  • Plumbing: Pour-over
  • Cup Warmer: The flat space on top of the Oscar II keeps your cups warm so your drinks stay hotter longer.
  • Extended Steam Arm: Make smoother microfoam for those creamy cappuccinos with the improved longer steam wand.
  • Programmable Timed Dosing: Program the timing for single and double shots into your Oscar II. This saves you time down the road as you won’t have to focus on the duration of the extraction yourself for every shot.
Nuova Simonelli Prontobar

Ever wished you could get the perfect espresso at just the push of a button? That dream comes true with the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar.

As a superautomatic machine, the Prontobar is as easy to use as they come. With the 1-step configuration, all you need to do is press the appropriate drink button and let the machine handle the rest.

On the 2-step configuration, you’ll have to foam your milk yourself. But the Prontobar will still freshly grind your beans and brew your espresso for you.

  • Majesty Coffee Price: $9,855
  • Best Use: Medium cafes, medium-large restaurants/offices
  • Machine Type: Superautomatic
  • Dimensions: 24 inches tall, 13 inches wide, 21 inches long
  • Plumbing: Direct-connect
  • Built-In Dual Grinders and Hoppers: Two hoppers and grinders built right into the machine save you the trouble of having to buy a grinder yourself. It also allows you to store two different blends inside the Prontobar so everything is in one place.
  • Quiet Pump: Using the Prontobar won’t disrupt your customers or employees due to its quiet pump.
  • Automated Cleaning: Hate cleaning? No problem – this machine comes with an automatic washing program that will take care of the cleanup for you.
  • Programmable Drink Buttons: With 6 programmable drink buttons, you can basically teach the Prontobar how to make different drinks. Once they’re programmed in, just choose the button for the drink you need and let the machine take it from there.
Nuova Simonelli Aurelia 2

The Aurelia 2 is a polished example of a barista championship-level machine.

Its humongous heat exchange boiler gives it the power to steam back-to-back drinks for as long as you need it to. No need to stop and rest here.

Meanwhile, its soft infusion system will help you make delectable espresso even if you’re a beginner. It settles the coffee grounds in the portafilter, reducing the margin for human error in tamping.

  • Majesty Coffee Price: $10,125 (2 groups) or $12,082.50 (3 groups)
  • Best Use: Medium to large cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, or barista competitions
  • Machine Type: Automatic
  • Boiler System: Heat exchange
  • Dimensions: 23 inches tall, 23 inches wide, and 33 inches long (42 inches on the 3-group model),
  • Plumbing: Direct-connect
  • Raised Group Heads: Transferring espresso to a tall cup by hand can disturb the delicate crema on top. With the raised group heads on this model, you can brew right into your tallest cups, preserving that silky crema.
  • Surface LEDs: LED lights built into the Aurelia 2 will allow your baristas to visually monitor the quality of each espresso without having to strain their eyes.
  • Soft Infusion System: The quality of your tamp can really affect the resulting shot. With the Aurelia 2, it doesn’t have to hold you back – the machine’s infusion will erase any tamping errors.
  • Automated Cleanings: Your employees will be able to focus on more important tasks than cleaning the group head. Simply choose which group you want the Aurelia 2 to clean, and it will wash the group head for you.

Need help picking out the right espresso machine for you? Feel free to give us a call at (888) 978-5224 or use the live chat in our store.

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