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Nuova Simonelli Musica vs Rocket Appartamento

In this guide, we're going to compare the Rocket Appartamento vs Nuova Simonelli Musica. You'll find all of the crucial information here to help you pick the right espresso machine.

NUOVA SIMONELLI MUSICA VS ROCKET APPARTAMENTO

Here's what you'll discover...

  • The main features the Nuova Simonelli Musica shares with the Rocket Appartamento.
  • Key differences between these machines and how they translate in everyday use.
  • Guidance on which machine to choose based on your unique requirements.

Quick Summary

Nuova Simonelli Musica

nuova simonelli musica

With LED lights, pre-infusion, and multiple dosing options, this gorgeous espresso machine has sophistication and functionality in spades. Pick this machine if you want to make high-quality espresso at home, in the office, or in a small cafe or restaurant.

Rocket Appartamento

Rocket Appartamento Espresso Machine

For a home espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento doesn't skimp on design inside or out. If you want commercial quality features and a bold look in a home machine, this is the right model for you.

Read next: See our favorite commercial machine picks on this guide.

Similarities

1 Group

The Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento are single-group espresso machines for individuals and professionals who want to focus on making quality espresso drinks one at a time.

single brew group on musica

If you're shopping for a home machine, a one-group machine is really the perfect match for your needs.

Even small cafes and shops might opt for a single-group machine if they're making a limited number of espresso drinks a day.

It's best to assess how many espressos you'll need your machine to generate each day when choosing the number of brew groups. If one group is for you, the Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento are great options to compare.

Stainless Steel Construction

With a stainless steel body, the Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento are built to last. 

Stainless steel is sturdier than plastic, which means that your investment is likely to go further with these machines.

A particular benefit is that it's much easier to keep stainless steel clean and polished, which will elevate any environment and show off the beautiful design.

Pre-Infusion

Like many other high-end espresso machines, these come with pre-infusion for better espresso extraction.

Before the full brew cycle kicks in, the coffee bed is fully saturated in the group head to distribute the water evenly and prevent channeling.

This ensures even extraction and preserves the nuances of the coffee. If you want to experience the full potential of the espresso, pre-infusion helps.

A handy advantage of pre-infusion is that it will prevent improper tamping from interfering with the extraction process, like a built-in correction system.

Heat Exchange Boiler

heat exchanger espresso machine - how it works

The Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento feature a powerful heat exchange boiler.

The heat exchange system stabilizes brew and steam temperatures, allowing you to brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. 

In these machines, there's a boiler with an isolated compartment inside and a copper tube that siphons the water to the group head, heating it to optimal brew temperature.

This guarantees that the correct temperatures for brewing and steaming will always be achieved.

Read Also: Espresso Machine Boiler Types

Boiler Size and Makeup

In addition to the heat exchange system, the Nuova Simonelli Musica and Rocket Appartamento share a similar boiler size and makeup.

There's a 2-liter copper and brass boiler in the Musica and a 1.8-liter brass and copper boiler in the Appartamento.

Copper is an excellent heat conductor, adding to the thermal stability of the boilers in these machines. This equates to energy conservation, ultimately saving you a little on your energy bills.

Hot Water Spigot

With a hot water spigot, you'll be able to make Americanos (and teas) directly on the espresso machine without needing a separate hot water tank.

Plus, if you want to get a cold cup warm as quickly as possible, you can fill the cup from the hot water spigot for fast heating while you prep the espresso.

Hot water spigots are particularly nice in home espresso machines since they're ultra convenient. No need to boil water separately.

Boiler Pressure Gauge

pressure gauge musica espresso machine

The boiler pressure gauges on the Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento will help you monitor the pressure in the boilers.

The major function is to show you when the machine is ready for brewing and steaming. It's a helpful device that makes working with these machines more of an exact science. 

Key Differences

Style

There's no question that these machines are as impressive on the outside as they are on the inside.

The Nuova Simonelli Musica is a sleek model with polished curves that give it a refined appearance and stately elegance. 

There's distinctive sophistication to the Rocket Appartamento's boxier shape. With its circular cutout panels and futuristic appeal, it's a statement piece to add to your decor.

Either one of these machines will help you cultivate your desired atmosphere with two very different aesthetics.

Size

One of the great things about both of these machines is that they're pretty compact, though the Rocket Appartamento is the smaller of the two.

The Rocket Appartmento is approximately 14 inches high, 10 inches wide and 17 inches deep, making it plenty small enough to fit into limited spaces without overcrowding.

At 17 inches high, 13 inches wide and 16 inches deep, you'll need slightly more clearance for the Musica's height. That being said, it's still a petite machine for those looking for a manageable option.

Steam Power

Nuova Simonelli created the Musica with plenty of steam power so you can froth milk in a relatively short amount of time.

The Rocket Appartamento takes a little more time to steam, which could be beneficial if you're not used to the steaming mechanism yet.

Either way, both of these machines will get the job done, but the extra steam power in the Nuova Simonelli Musica makes it faster.

Pour Over vs. Direct Connect

As a pour-over machine, the Rocket Appartamento requires you to closely monitor the 2.25-liter water tank and refill it when it starts to get low.

The Nuova Simonelli Musica does come in a pour-over model with a 3-liter reservoir, but if you prefer a plumbed espresso machine, you can opt for the direct-connect Musica.

The direct-connect Musica plumbs into a water supply so that you never need to worry about an empty reservoir.

It also makes hooking up a water filter or softener simple, helping to improve water quality and remove heavy minerals that can quickly generate scale buildup and break the machine.

Volumetric Dosing vs. Manual Dosing

There are big differences between manual and volumetric dosing. With manual dosing, you'll be controlling the brew cycle by starting and stopping it. You determine the time and volume whenever you pull a shot.

The Rocket Appartamento works by manual dosing, which means that you'll need a certain amount of training in order to know when to stop the machine. On the other hand, you'll be able to adjust your shots by hand every time you brew.

The Nuova Simonelli Musica has both manual and volumetric dosing. If you use the volumetric brew buttons, when you start the brew cycle, the machine will automatically deliver the correct amount of water per programmed shot volume.

Both machines let you gain more control of the brew process, but the Nuova Simonelli Musica adds the volumetric dimension to make brewing simpler and more consistent when you want it to be.

Boiler Insulation in the Nuova Simonelli Musica

An insulation layer around the boiler in the Nuova Simonelli Musica adds thermal protection and results in lower energy consumption.

The boiler in the Rocket Appartamento isn't insulated, which doesn't mean that it won't regulate temperatures. It just means that it's not as energy efficient.

No Burn Steam Wands and Water Spigot in the Rocket Appartamento

Steam wands and water spouts on espresso machines get hot...really hot. That's why the no-burn wands and spigot on the Rocket Appartamento are great additions to the machine design.

The steam wand and water spout will remain cooler than average (though you'll still want to be cautious with them), making them more comfortable to operate.

Because the steam wand is cooler, milk won't be sticking to it like with typical steam wands, which will make them much easier to clean after use.

Push Pull vs. Twist Valve Steam Trigger

Ergonomically designed, the Nuova Simonelli Musica has a push-pull steam mechanism that turns the steam wand on and off with a gentle tap.

There is a traditional twist valve on the Rocket Appartamento that controls the steam wand by twisting into the on and off positions.

If you prefer a gentler machine, the Nuova Simonelli Musica was designed for you. But if this isn't a big deal to you either way, the Rocket Appartamento steam valve definitely won't cause any issues.

Reverse Mirror in the Nuova Simonelli Musica

reverse mirror on musica nuova simonelli

A reverse mirror on the Nuova Simonelli Musica will show you all the angles of the espresso as it brews.

This is advantageous for monitoring the espresso for good color, crema and other signs of a properly extracted espresso.

The reverse mirror is part of the back plate of the machine and angled for the most effective visual monitoring.

Surface LEDs in the Nuova Simonelli Musica

This feature is one of the distinguishing characteristics that the Nuova Simonelli Musica is admired for.

LEDs are placed around the machine to light up your work area and allow you to see what you're doing in great detail.

LED lights on nuova simonelli musica

But there's also something to be said for their enchanting effect. The subtle glow is striking even from a distance.

*Note: Only the Lux configuration of the Nuova Simonelli Musica comes with LEDs. There is also a configuration with black details in place of the LEDs. 

Price Considerations

Both of these machines come in economical options for the power and functionality they deliver. 

The Rocket Appartamento is available at Majesty Coffee for between $1,700 and $1,750, depending on whether you choose the White or Copper circular cutout embellishments on the side panels.

With advanced and diverse technology, the Nuova Simonelli Musica ranges in price. We offer the Black detail Musica in the pour-over version for $2,245 and in the direct-connect version for $2,925.

The pour-over Lux with LEDs is priced at $2,515 and the direct-connect Lux is available for $3,240.

So Which Should You Buy?

If you're looking for a machine to use in any commercial capacity, you'll want to go with the NSF-rated Nuova Simonelli Musica. 

With its combined volumetric and manual dosing and its powerful steaming, it's fully capable of serving a small coffee shop or office at about 60 espressos per day.

If you're trying to find the perfect machine for your home espresso setup, you'll find both the Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento to be stellar choices. It just depends on what you prefer.

First, there's dosing to consider. Are you searching for a manual machine, whether you're a trained barista or a prosumer leveling up your game? If so, the Rocket Appartamento may be what you're looking for.

Of course, the Nuova Simonelli Musica does come with manual dosing, too, but it's the higher cost machine (as it comes with additional features, like volumetric dosing).

If you think you'll enjoy the automated consistency and efficiency the volumetric dosing offers, consider the Nuova Simonelli Musica.

Aesthetic is another important aspect to think about. Do you prefer the futuristic look of the Rocket Appartamento or the curvier shape of the Nuova Simonelli Musica?

As you can see, there are many personal preferences to sort through when choosing a home machine, especially when it comes to picking between two professional machines like these.

We should also touch on the direct-connect and pour-over models. If you have more time and patience both for operating and maintaining the machine, you might enjoy the pour-over type with a manually refilled reservoir. Just remember to descale frequently.

If this sounds laborious to you, stick with the direct-connect model. It's definitely the easier of the two.

So, to sum up:

The Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento both make great home espresso machines, though which one you buy really comes down to the functionality and aesthetic you prefer.

But if you need a machine for a small business, the Nuova Simonelli Musica is the option for you.

For the best prices online, check out the Nuova Simonelli Musica and the Rocket Appartamento here on Majesty Coffee...

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