With new tech that blends the quality of a traditional machine with the convenience of automation, Nuova Simonelli enters a bold new era of the iconic Aurelia line.
The NUOVA Aurelia takes its name from one of Ancient Rome’s most famous trade routes. For more than 20 years, Nuova Simonelli has sourced inspiration from the Via Aurelia and continues to use it to inform its goal of connecting people, countries, and cultures through coffee.
Now, the brand believes it has created the missing link between traditional espresso machines and their fully automatic counterparts with the release of the new generation of the NUOVA Aurelia and its “game-changing” C-Automation and E-Milk features.
The new NUOVA Aurelia line, which was launched at Host Milano 2023, comes in five configurations. From the single-boiler Volumetric designed to offer standardisation and simplicity, to the MP produced to support a broader menu of coffee and milk-based beverages with top-tier control, all have been created to meet the market needs of different customers.
Virginie Sachs, Simonelli Group Sales Director, says different configurations of the NUOVA Aurelia are primed to perform in a variety of operations.
“We developed a wide range of solutions under the single NUOVA Aurelia platform, and that gives the customer access to the machine that best suits their needs,” says Sachs.
“Our machines are made for baristas, but they’re also made for shop owners, roasters, restaurants, or chains, and each of them have different requirements.
“It’s a continuous challenge to be able to create a machine that can please everybody and fit these different needs and requirements, but we have created this variety in configuration in order to respond to this challenge.”
Tradition, automation – or both?
The NUOVA Aurelia’s C-Automation is the flagship new technology. It’s not just a singular, individual feature though – it’s an integrated system that works across the machine and grinder.
According to Sachs, it has been created with the barista at the centre of the innovation. The aim of the function is to simplify workflow complexity and variability while ensuring customers can be confident in receiving the same standard of drink every time.
Nuova Simonelli’s Head of Coffee and Beverage Community Federica Parisi says the portafilter recognition aspect of the C-Automation feature is a never-before-seen application designed to make the barista’s life easier.
“Behind the counter, the barista is very busy and managing many tasks. When they’re busy like this, we want to make sure they can grind the exact quantity of coffee for a particular recipe, and then brew exactly the right quantity,” says Parisi.
“The portafilter has a special ID that can be read on the grinder, which then grinds the exact quantity of coffee needed for that recipe. The same ID can then be read by the machine for the brew. This means we’re going to have the perfect cup every time.
“It helps standardise the beverages, which becomes especially crucial for multi-site businesses. We’re not just offering one feature and one technology but a full range that can help them unlock the next level of their business.”
Parisi says when used to its full potential, the new technology is like having another member of staff behind the bar.
“C-Automation is like having a small barista inside the grinder and the machine,” she says. “That ‘small barista’ helps the actual barista be far more customer-focused while making consistent coffee.”
The addition of C-Automation to the NUOVA Aurelia is designed to blend some of the best aspects of traditional machines with the convenience of fully automatics.
The system can be integrated with E-Milk, Nuova Simonelli’s automatic milk frothing technology designed to simplify operations in the presence of untrained staff or during peak times. The system enables automatic steaming of milks and alternatives in line with nine customisable recipes. All that’s required of the operator is to push a button for the desired foam, without any training.
“For optimal frothing, it’s essential to consider the type of milk used (dairy or plant-based) and the specific beverage being prepared. That’s why E-Milk allows you to create up to nine different recipes, tailored to the milk type and the drink you’re making. Properly setting all parameters ensures fast, consistent, and high-quality results across a wide range of recipes”, says Parisi.
With E-Milk, there’s no need for additional tools to monitor quality: the system automatically controls the temperature to enhance workflow efficiency.
“This is a game-changer between the traditional machine and the fully automatic. Where you once had two methods to choose from in a machine, C-Automation and E-Milk in the NUOVA Aurelia introduce a third option,” says Sachs.
“It’s ideal for a shop that’s looking for a more traditional and personal coffee experience, but at the same time wants an automatic solution to help support the barista.”
Retaining heart and soul
Just because the NUOVA Aurelia is capable of being used more like a fully automatic doesn’t mean the skill and personality of the barista has been removed.
This evolution of the Aurelia was no accident, nor was it forcibly pushed. Instead, it’s the natural progression of a manufacturer that has always placed the needs of its customers at the heart of its innovation.
“In 2003, we introduced the Aurelia with an ergonomic solution to reduce the physical stress of the barista and to focus on the customer experience. In 2008, it was the first single boiler to outperform multi-boiler machines in the World Barista Championship (WBC) tests, so it became the official WBC machine from 2009
to 2014,” says Sara Gagliesi, Simonelli Group Communication Coordinator.
“In 2011, we introduced T3 technology to improve consistency and thermal stability of the machine and it changed the coffee industry. In 2023, we introduced automation with the NUOVA Aurelia.
“Since the beginning, our company has always looked first at the market to provide forward-thinking solutions. This is something that is part of our DNA and is very likely the reason we are continuously innovating a new solution to provide the right equipment for the customer.”
On the same team
Nuova Simonelli’s desire to more strongly align with its customers sees it evolve from solely being a machine provider to being what Sachs, Parisi, and Gagliesi call a solutions provider.
Parisi says the brand’s ability to provide more holistic support to its customers is done in the hopes of helping them thrive amid ongoing global industry issues.
“The market is so competitive, and many kinds of businesses – multi-site operators in particular – are facing cost increases in green coffee and bills. We need to consider the real situation in hospitality is that the shortage of employees is an issue. Our goal is to support our customers, because we know they are facing so many problems such as costs and operations,” she says.
“We can help them be more focused on their customers and be more competitive. We know the customers are looking for different drinks, experiences, and a new way of drinking espresso. We can help them give customers a full coffee experience that goes beyond the cup.”
A key part of that support, she says, is giving the barista the opportunity to thrive, which in turn creates greater opportunity for the business.
“Our goal at Simonelli Group is to be on the same team as our customers. It’s very hard for anyone who wants to be a barista to find a place in this industry. Being a barista is often seen as a secondary job, but that just isn’t true,” she says.
“When they focus on quality, they can really make a difference in the success of a cafe. We want to help them shine behind the counter.”
For more information, visit nuovasimonelli.com
