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Ahead of the launch of the Nuova Aurelia in Australia, the team at Nuova Simonelli detail their mission to create a seriously smart coffee machine.
Simonelli Group‘s history dates back almost 100 years and is grounded in Italian coffee heritage. ‘Nuova’, which translates to ‘new’ in English, expresses the coffee machine manufacturer’s quest for innovation. It’s this constant exploration of new technologies and drive to optimise performance that has borne the new Nuova Aurelia, due for release in Australia in September 2024.
“Our mission is to create the smartest coffee machine, as well as the most intuitive to work with. Nuova Aurelia stands out as the masterpiece of our ideal machine for humans,” says Lauro Fioretti, Nuova Simonelli Product Manager.
When the first Aurelia model was launched in 2003, it represented the linking point of two centuries and marked a dramatic shift in coffee machine technology. According to Lauro, it was a machine of many firsts that elevated the standard quality of coffee right across the industry.
“It was the first machine to introduce certified ergonomics in order to create fluid workflow and make it as easy as possible to use, the first single-boiler machine to feature in the [2009] World Barista Championships thanks to its great thermal stability and consistency, and the first machine to introduce full control of extraction,” he says.
Building on the success of the family of intelligent machines, the latest addition blends the Aurelia’s tried-and-tested technology and bold design with automatic innovation and technical resolutions.
“Nuova Aurelia empowers establishments with a broader range of beverages that can be made automatically and intuitively thanks to an easy-to-use set of co-working technology solutions,” says Lauro.
The Nuova Simonelli technical team have developed a suite of new automatic functionalities in response to the rise in demand for coffee machines that optimise workflow and minimise staff training. These innovations include E-Milk, C-Automation, Maximum Performance (MP), and Autopurge technologies.
“To enhance foam quality, we’ve introduced E-Milk technology, which provides automatic texturing of milk or plant-based drinks at the preset temperature and dose. The barista can save up to nine recipes directly from the touchscreen display,” says Claudio Cingolani, Head of Research and Development and Technical Department at Nuova Simonelli.
“The sensors automatically activate the steam wand in the recipe selection directly from the steam knob display, without having to change the settings on the main touchscreen.”
The electronically controlled steam knob is made of aluminium to further speed up and simplify the operation. The steam is activated by a button, with the ability to adjust the purge manually or intuitively. The steam wand itself is crafted from a polymer that remains cool when in use, avoiding the risk of injuries for the user.
“The wand has a special milk sensor that can perceive when the wand is immersed in milk, automatically activating frothing with the preferred recipe. When the wand is in resting position, the automatic purge can be set,” says Claudio.
“These solutions are useful not only to speed up workflow, but to automatically carry out the cleaning procedures to ensure durability of the coffee machine.”
The C-Automation technology focuses on achieving consistency while increasing speed and reducing waste. Connecting Nuova Aurelia to Simonelli’s range of GX grinders, the system monitors every extraction and, if necessary, communicates to the grinder to adjust the grind to improve beverage consistency.
“This ensures the dose is always consistent without requiring adjustments from staff, maintaining high quality without stopping workflow,” Claudio says.
The MP system is also developed to deliver optimal consistency and reduce the energy consumption of the machine. It is designed to achieve maximum control and temperature stability in every coffee extraction.
“The MP technology requires less energy, allowing for smaller boilers since only necessary water is heated. The boilers are insulated with an innovative material that prevents heat loss and increases energy efficiency,” says Claudio.
“The process is efficient, but it is also simple: the barista only has to set the temperature from the display. The machine’s electronics do the rest, keeping the temperature stable during the entire dispensing phase.”
Another interesting feature is the Autopurge technology, which reduces maintenance and waste by automatically cleaning the group after the portafilter is detached.
Lauro believes Nuova Aurelia is the perfect fit for busy Australian cafés that don’t have lots of time to train staff but want to ensure its coffee standards remain high.
“Nuova Aurelia is a coffee machine designed for environments with high staff rotation. It is extremely intuitive, easy to use, and requires very little time for staff training,” he says.
He also thinks the machine is a great solution for non-coffee-oriented chains, roasters, restaurants, and hotels with a broader range of beverages.
Appia Life Timer. Image: Simonelli Group
Another versatile machine from Simonelli Group that provides a simple to use yet reliable solution for a spectrum of coffee-serving venues is the Appia Life Timer, which has recently become available in Australia.
“Appia Life Timer is a machine designed for those who need a product that’s trustworthy and simple to use, and enables less experienced workers to confidently serve excellent drinks,” says Lauro.
He highlights Appia Life Timer’s volumetric dosing and TFT (thin-film- transistor) display, which enables the user to control dispensing times for a consistent result without waste. Compared to its sister product, Appia Life Standard, this new model gives the user more control and information on metrics to ensure the quality remains high.
“Appia Life Timer is an intelligent machine that electronically manages all performance criteria: the brewing time, the milk froth temperature of its Easycream system, and all the performance measures of the telemetry mode,” says Claudio.
“The telemetry system is particularly useful for coffee chains. It visualises the machine’s performance and provides data and statistics to regulate peak times, making the organisation of the business much more manageable. It also helps to organise the warehouse and the orders, thus optimising investments and employee scheduling based on the daily brewing graphics the machines provide.”
The energy-saving features of the new machine enable venue owners to manage their energy use while still preparing quality drinks. Thanks to Drytex Thermal insulation encasing the boiler, the energy consumption of the espresso machine is 13 per cent less than previous Appia models. A Life Cycle Assessment of the Appia Life Timer confirms the machine has 20 per cent less environmental impact than the Appia II.
“This is the ideal machine for large companies, chains, and any setting where there’s a requirement to make excellent coffees, but with great attention paid to economic sustainability,” says Lauro.
For more information, visit nuovasimonelli.com
This article appears in the August/September 2024 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
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