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Permalink Reply by Brady on March 29, 2011 at 7:33am

Here's a link to the brochure on the Nuova Simonelli website. The chart near the end has a pretty good rundown on the different features.

There are 4 configurations of the Aurelia:

S = semiautomatic

V = volumetric (automatic)

Digit = digital control

Competizione = total badass

 

Differences between the S and the V model come down to having the option of programmed water dose. There are some other feature differences too, but that's the big one.

 

Looks like the Digit model takes the V model and adds digital temperature control in place of the mechanical pressurestat used on the other models. This gives you better and more easily adjusted boiler water temperature control. It also gives you a third auto-steam wand.

 

The competition model adds some other nifty tweaks and removes the volumetric control option... giving you a WBC-caliber machine.

 

See this recent discussion on the merits of volumetric control.

 

Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by BUNA on March 30, 2011 at 8:11pm

Thank you Brady for the response.

I was wondering for a new coffee shop owner with some experience in Starbucks machines, which of the two would be ideal for consistent serving.

Brady said:

Here's a link to the brochure on the Nuova Simonelli website. The chart near the end has a pretty good rundown on the different features.

There are 4 configurations of the Aurelia:

S = semiautomatic

V = volumetric (automatic)

Digit = digital control

Competizione = total badass

 

Differences between the S and the V model come down to having the option of programmed water dose. There are some other feature differences too, but that's the big one.

 

Looks like the Digit model takes the V model and adds digital temperature control in place of the mechanical pressurestat used on the other models. This gives you better and more easily adjusted boiler water temperature control. It also gives you a third auto-steam wand.

 

The competition model adds some other nifty tweaks and removes the volumetric control option... giving you a WBC-caliber machine.

 

See this recent discussion on the merits of volumetric control.

 

Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Duncan on March 30, 2011 at 8:45pm

Buna,

 

Both of these models are going to require manual operation by the barista - the digit will just have more easily controlled variables than the s or v.  If your baristas are coming off the use of super auto machines, I'd save a few bucks and go with the v.  The v will allow you to set volume..

 

Anyway, that's my two cents!

BUNA said:

Thank you Brady for the response.

I was wondering for a new coffee shop owner with some experience in Starbucks machines, which of the two would be ideal for consistent serving.

Brady said:

Here's a link to the brochure on the Nuova Simonelli website. The chart near the end has a pretty good rundown on the different features.

There are 4 configurations of the Aurelia:

S = semiautomatic

V = volumetric (automatic)

Digit = digital control

Competizione = total badass

 

Differences between the S and the V model come down to having the option of programmed water dose. There are some other feature differences too, but that's the big one.

 

Looks like the Digit model takes the V model and adds digital temperature control in place of the mechanical pressurestat used on the other models. This gives you better and more easily adjusted boiler water temperature control. It also gives you a third auto-steam wand.

 

The competition model adds some other nifty tweaks and removes the volumetric control option... giving you a WBC-caliber machine.

 

See this recent discussion on the merits of volumetric control.

 

Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by Brady on March 31, 2011 at 4:27am

OK. As Jason pointed out, both machines will be significantly different from what you're used to. You probably already knew this. Compared to that giant leap in involvement vs the superauto, the differences between these traditional machine models is minimal. Neither machine will allow you to train yourself or your staff less in order to make good espresso though.

 

Yours is very much a question of philosophy and approach, rather than machine merits. There are some benefits of the Digit, but in my mind these are secondary to the decision about overall approach. Here is a recent discussion on the drawbacks and benefits of using a programmed button, like the Digit and the V that you should check out if you haven't already.

If we are splitting hairs, in the hands of a good, properly-trained barista, you will probably get more consistently good espresso from the Digit (or Competizione), due to the better temperature control. HOWEVER, the Digit does require slightly less barista involvement to operate. As a downside, this leads some to believe that they can put less-well-trained baristas on the bar. Not at all true.

BUNA said:

Thank you Brady for the response.

I was wondering for a new coffee shop owner with some experience in Starbucks machines, which of the two would be ideal for consistent serving.

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Permalink Reply by BUNA on March 31, 2011 at 4:36am

Thank you guys.

I am aware of the main difference between the super, auto and semi-auto machines and I am not planning to go the super way even though I had the expereince with it. Therefore I am planning to take training on making good espresso.

 

However what I want to clarify is that , is the digit a semi or super or auto machine , or somewhere in between ?

 

As for the debate on programmed button, I been following it and it is interesting.

 

Thank you again for your help.

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Permalink Reply by Brady on March 31, 2011 at 5:29am

OK, I can clarify that.

 

All of the Aurelia machines are traditional pump machines... no supers or levers in the lineup. The differences in the models are controls and internal plumbing.

 

The Digit and V are both volumetric machines, which can also be called "Automatic" (though I've found that doing so can create more confusion, so I prefer the term volumetric). They have flowmeters, multiple buttons per group, and will dispense a pre-programmed amount of water for each button.

 

The S (and Competizione) is a semi-automatic machine. No flowmeter, a single button per group. You manually start and stop shots.

 

Difference between the Digit and V are in the other features - the display board, programming method, digital vs mechanical temp control, etc.

 

Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by BUNA on March 31, 2011 at 5:52am

Thank you Brady

I think I prefer the semi-automatic machine.

Do you know any authorized dealer/reseller in Canada

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Permalink Reply by Brady on March 31, 2011 at 6:04am

Don't know anything about them, but looks like Zuccarini sells Nuova Simonelli in Toronto.

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