Would the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar be a match for your business? In this review, we're going to inspect all the details of this machine so that you'll know whether it's the right fit.
You'll be learning about...
- How the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar's key features support your business.
- What types of operations benefit the most from this machine.
- Which Prontobar configuration is appropriate for your professional needs.
- How the Prontobar compares to a similar espresso machine model.
- Some background on the brand and its reliability.
Let's get started...
Quick Summary
Nuova Simonelli Prontobar
Capable of fully automating espresso drink production for your cafe, restaurant or hotel, this super-automatic machine reimagines espresso service for the highest levels of efficiency and quality consistency possible. With six programmable drink buttons and the power to create perfect lattes and cappuccinos from start to finish at the touch of a button, it's the perfect choice for medium-sized businesses that need total beginners to be able to dive into the job within five minutes of training.
Key Features And What They Mean
Super-Automatic Design
A super-automatic machine is the pinnacle of efficiency. The Nuova Simonelli Prontobar utilizes the most cutting-edge technology to create a totally new kind of automation. At the push of a button, the Prontobar crafts a finished espresso drink with intelligent design.
There's nothing else that even comes close to the super-automatic machine's advanced technology.
On a traditionally automated machine, coffee dosing, grinding, proper tamping and milk steaming depend on the skill of the barista. With the super-automatic machine, all of these variables are controlled by the barista through the touch pad. It's a hands-free experience for the user.
The benefits the Prontobar provides business owners are diverse. Espresso training is minimized from weeks to minutes, production is made faster and easier than ever, and 100 percent consistency is achieved in every drink made.
All of this amounts to money saved, time better used for customer service, increased sales and a reputation for a quality product that never wavers.
Read Next: See our main guide at MajestyCoffeeSchool.com on the top commercial espresso machines.
User-Friendly LCD Display
Because the Prontobar is operated through the LCD display, Nuova Simonelli has made sure that it's incredibly intuitive for the user.
The display is equipped with six programmable drink buttons for a variety of beverage options. It's also a breeze to reassign buttons and change up your beverage program.
Programming dosing, tamping force, brewing temperature, steam options and group temperature is straightforward and easily monitored through the display. There's even an automated cleaning option that everyone appreciates at the end of a long day.
If you're concerned about having to spend precious weeks to months training new baristas on an espresso machine, the Prontobar is a dream as new users can be trained in minutes.
Dual Hoppers and Grinders
With two hoppers, you can equip this machine with two different espressos at once. There are also separate grinders made with specialty steel for greater durability that are built right into the machine.
That means that making decaf and regular lattes will require not two or three pieces of equipment, but one—the Prontobar.
The coffee beans from the hoppers are fed directly into the grinders when you start the extraction process. Part of the Prontobar's elegance is how advanced, yet simple its design is, so unsurprisingly, you can easily tweak the grind.
Automated Milk Steaming
Getting the perfect milk texture during the milk steaming process takes no small amount of skill.
Because milk steaming is automated in the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar, that silky microfoam that makes the perfect latte or cappuccino is achieved no matter what the operator's skill level is.
Since baristas aren't tied up in the milk steaming stage, their time can be better utilized multitasking for greater efficiency or interacting with clientele, creating personal connections that will drive business.
And for those without barista training who work in a busy office environment, a truly masterful cup of coffee is guaranteed. The Prontobar has all the training you need.
Temperature Stability
The metal thermo-compensated delivery group in the Prontobar ensures that temperature is controlled with total precision.
High-quality espresso machines will generally have some type of mechanism designed to keep the temperature stable. The reason temperature control is so important is that even minor fluctuations can ruin the espresso by interfering with the extraction process.
The Prontobar's innovative thermal system is a guarantee against temperature variability, offering customers consistent excellence in your product.
Energy Saving
Especially in the height of a busy season, espresso machines can take up a lot of energy, causing electricity bills to climb.
The Prontobar is outfitted with an on/off time setting and standby function, converting your hard-working espresso machine into an energy sipper. This is not only great for saving money, it's also kind to the planet.
Different Configurations
Nuova Simonelli Prontobar Super Automatic 1 Step
This is the super-automatic Prontobar model that crafts your beverage by itself from start to finish.
The user selects the beverage type desired through the menu. The machine then dispenses the milk (in milk-based drink types), froths it according to programming and dispenses it into the cup.
The espresso is also extracted at the push of a button and blended with the milk for a finished product that the user created entirely through the control panel.
For businesses that otherwise struggle to keep up with demand, this is crucial. No time and money lost on a high-turnover staff, no more quality variability from barista to barista, and only the most efficient production.
*If you want the fully automated single-step Prontobar, select the milk cooler add-on upon purchase.
Nuova Simonelli Prontobar Super Automatic 2 Step
The Prontobar Super Automatic 2 Step leaves more manual control for the barista. Instead of one step to drink making, this configuration generates a two-step process between espresso brewing and milk steaming.
The barista pours the milk into the steam pitcher and chooses the desired steam option, allowing for greater manual control.
Once the milk pitcher is set in place and the steam mechanism is triggered, an internal pump injects air and articulates the milk. The end result is smoothly frothed milk with perfect microfoam.
Latte artists can select the perfect milk type for their art and office employees can enjoy an expertly made cappuccino.
Comparable Alternatives
Another super-automatic machine that has many of the same attributes as the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar is the Nuova Simonelli Talento.
The Talento shares these features with the Prontobar:
- One-step and two-step configurations
- Two hoppers and built-in grinders
- User-friendly display
- Programmable drink buttons
- Fits into areas with limited space
The Talento is the more expensive machine, but it's rated for higher volumes of business. It comes with 10 progammable drink buttons and two digital pages that the user can set with 20 different drink options.
As it's designed for fast-paced but medium-sized locations, the Prontobar has six programmable drink buttons.
If you own a large business, the Talento will likely be well suited to your needs.
Truthfully, the Franke A600 FM CM isn't exactly like the the Prontobar. However, as one of the most user-friendly superautomatic espresso machines we have in the Majesty Coffee store, it's worth mentioning.
As an illustration, consider its display. The machine is operated entirely by a sleek touchscreen. Your employees will have no issues figuring out how to control the machine - especially if they've ever used a smartphone before.
Furthermore, the screen is populated with full-color icons. With the easy-to-understand pictures, anyone can make tasty drinks on the Franke A600.
Although it's not an exact match for the Prontobar, it does share some similarities with it:
- Two hoppers and long-lasting grinders.
- Easy-to-understand display.
- Automatic pre-infusion to round out the flavor of each shot.
About the Brand
The brand Nuova Simonelli was born in 1936. Since then, it has been one of the leading innovators of espresso machine designs. Having earned the official machine of the World Barista Championship title, the company is well respected in the espresso community.
Nuova Simonelli's goal is to match advanced technology with intuitive simplicity. You'll find the same standard of excellence in its other models, such as the Musica, the Oscar II and the Aurelia Wave.
Ideal Machine Applications
The Nuova Simonelli Prontobar is perfect for medium-sized businesses that see high numbers of espresso drink orders. However, the different configurations of this machine will be most advantageous in particular settings.
Coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and offices will all find great value in either configuration, but the Prontobar 1 Step is especially suitable for an establishment with baristas of all different levels, including those who are totally new to the job.
Usually, this encompasses high-turnover coffee shops and restaurants. For hotel and office employees, absolutely no knowledge or manual training is required, which cuts down on confusion and erroneous usage.
The Prontobar 2 Step (or the 1 Step) is best utilized in a cafe, restaurant or coffee shop atmosphere where it's easier to train everyone on manually filling the milk pitcher and selecting the milk steaming specifications.
What Customers Say
Our customers frequently return to give us positive feedback on our Nuova Simonelli machines. Professional equipment with this level of technology is bound to impress.
The combination of user-friendless, functionality and beauty in Nuova Simonelli's designs is always highly praised.
Price
We formulate our pricing system to offer advanced equipment at affordable prices.
Both configurations of the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar are available at a 10-percent discount, bringing the cost down to $9,855.
Check out any of the machines mentioned in this review by clicking on the links below:
Have any questions about these machines? Reach out to us at (888) 978-5224 and our team will be happy to answer any questions you have.
