Owning the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II Pour Over

Nuova Simonelli is revered on the barista championship circuit for its ultra precise commercial machines, and with the Oscar II they’re bringing that same precision straight into your home. The Oscar II comes in two versions: the Pour Over, available in black or red, and the Direct Connect, which we offer in black. The Pour Over utilizes a 3 L reservoir exclusively, while the Direct Connect eschews the water reservoir entirely, instead, connecting directly into a water line. Both versions feature a large 2 L copper boiler and copper plumbing, and, as a heat exchanger, it brews and steams simultaneously with ease. Nuova Simonelli incorporates many of their commercial components into the Oscar II. Our favorite of those features are the on/off steam valve in place of a knob, which offers significantly more control over the aeration of your milk, and the thermo-compensated group, which maintains temperature stability by circulating hot water through the heat exchange circuit. Our other favorite feature (because you can never have too many) are the single and double shot programmable buttons. These buttons can be personalized to dispense over a set time to deliver your perfect shot time and again. The Oscar II sports innovations galore, and Nuova Simonelli’s attention to design comes through in its sleek lines and chic curves.

Internally, Nuova Simonelli designed the Oscar II to be safety conscious, self sufficient, and smart. Measures are in place to ensure the machine powers off after 90 seconds of consecutive brewing to avoid overheating; it alerts you to low water in the tank or when the boiler is actively heating to brew temperature in the boiler; and its steam wand is outfitted with an anti-siphon valve, which prevents milk from being sucked into the boiler. Because of Nuova Simonelli’s commitment to quality components and design, the Oscar II is backed by an NSF certification. Meaning, it’s rated to perform in cafes, though, for high volume we’d recommend stepping up to one of their commercial offerings. With regular upkeep, the Oscar II is sure to be reliably looking snazzy and brewing consistently for years. Also available from Nuova Simonelli, are the Musica and Musica Lux which feature larger boilers and added programmability; if you really want to commit to the Art Deco design, check out the Musica machines (the Lux lights up!).

Programmable Timed Brewing

The Oscar II is equipped with a couple of individually programmable brew buttons that can be set to dispense water for a predetermined amount of time when pressed. Pressing either of the buttons a second time while brewing will cut the brew cycle for more manual control over the espresso extraction instead.

Commercial Push Steam Lever

The Oscar II's commercial push steam lever allows you to immediately open and close the steam valve rather than turn a knob. For more precise control, you can also lightly push on the lever to throttle steam manually. As an added protection, the Oscar II is equipped with an anti-siphon valve that prevents milk from being sucked into the boiler via the steam wand.

Heat Exchange Boiler

The Oscar II is outfitted with a 2 liter copper heat exchange boiler. Copper is known for its thermal conductivity and heat retention, making it an excellent choice as a boiler material. For rapid preparation of drinks, heat exchangers allow you to brew and steam simultaneously.

Thermo-Compensated Group

Temperature stability is maintained at the group head by a thermosiphon created within the heat exchange circuit. The constant circulation of hot water from the circuit prevents temperature loss when brew water reaches the portafilter.