Nuova Simonelli Coffee Machine Repair Dubai

Overview

A Nuova Simonelli is a familiar sight behind the counter in cafés, restaurants and hotel lobbies. The Appia, the Aurelia, the Oscar and the Musica are professional machines: a boiler, one to three groups, a steam wand and, on most, a built-in water softener. They are built to run all day, which is also why small faults hurt. A steam wand that will not purge, a group that drips or a cup count that drifts slows the whole bar.

This page is for owners and managers. It covers what goes wrong on a Nuova Simonelli, what the maker's manuals say about it, what a steam wand rebuild involves, what the water supply has to be like, and when to stop and call a technician. We do not invent alarm codes.

Our technicians come to your café, hotel or office, normally the same day. You hear the fault and the price before a part is fitted, and we repair on site wherever the machine allows.

Nuova Simonelli repair in Dubai: what we fix and what it costs

The call-out is AED 100 plus 5% VAT and pays for finding the fault. If you go ahead, most Nuova Simonelli repairs cost between AED 80 and AED 400, depending on the part and the time the job takes. The price is agreed before anything is fitted.

Same-day attendance in most cases. Give the model and the symptom when you ring.

Genuine parts, quoted together with the labour.

Cafés and hotels with a machine down are put first in the diary.

One month of cover on the parts and work we do.

Where a machine has to go to the workshop, we collect it. On-site repair is the first aim.

JobWhere it sits in the range

Steam wand tip, valve seal or knobLower end

Steam wand rebuild (valve, seals, wand and insulating rubber)Lower to middle

Group gasket and shower screenLower end

Portafilter and basket checkLower end

Water inlet hose and filterLower end

Softener regeneration and resin checkLower to middle

Solenoid valveMiddle

Pump or motorMiddle

Flow meter or doserMiddle

Level probe or pressure sensorMiddle

Heating element or temperature sensorUpper end

Control board or displayUpper end

The first rows are wear parts that should be replaced in turn. The last rows are what you are left with when wear parts are left too long.

Which Nuova Simonelli do you have?

Nuova Simonelli is the commercial brand of Simonelli Group. We service the ranges below. Send us the model name on the front and the nameplate on the back or inside the cabinet.

RangeWhat it isManuals covered on this page

Appia (Appia, Appia II, Appia Life, Compact)Group espresso machines with steam wand, many with a softenerSafety pages and the contents of the manual, including a resin and softener regeneration chapter.

Aurelia (Aurelia II, Wave semi-automatic and Digit)Larger group machines, with volumetric dosing on the DigitAurelia Wave and Wave Digit handbooks, Aurelia II maintenance and function-message pages

Oscar and Oscar IIOne-group machinesSafety pages and the water specification.

MusicaA model on our listNot stated

Other Nuova Simonelli machinesOlder and newer modelsSend the nameplate photo

The ranges share a way of working: a water supply with a softener, a boiler, groups with solenoid valves, a steam wand and a drip tray. Faults follow those parts.

Who looks after your Nuova Simonelli in the UAE?

Simonelli Group has a Middle East branch in Dubai. Trade press reported it in 2023 and 2024 as a regional hub for sales, technical and educational services, with a managing director named in those reports. Call it to find out.

The manuals say the same thing from the other side. The Oscar II manual states that maintenance and repairs must be done by the distributor or a licensed partner and that unauthorised repairs void the warranty. The Aurelia and Appia pages say that only qualified personnel, or an authorised centre using original spare parts, should repair the machine.

Your machineWho to call first

Under warrantyThe distributor or the Simonelli Group branch, with the invoice

On a supplier's service contractThe supplier named in the contract

Out of warrantyUs

Bought second-handUs. Send the nameplate photo and say how long it has been in use

Imported from another marketCheck the voltage on the nameplate first (see the power section), then us

We are an independent repair company. A repair by us does not renew a maker's warranty. If your machine is covered, call the distributor first.

Aurelia error messages: what the manual says

The Aurelia II manual does have a page of machine function messages for the Aurelia Digit. Check it against the manual for your serial number.

MessageDiagnosis in the manualEffectRemedy given

Control unit (EPROM) faultThe system detects a fault in the control unit memoryThe machine will not heat and all functions are blockedSwitch off, then on again. Functions should return

Delivery errorA delivery reaches the 120 second limitThe display indicator and the continuous key for that unit flash. The delivery is blockedPress the continuous key or one of the keys to clear it

Doser errorThe doser does not send its commands in the first three seconds of a deliveryThe indicator flashes and the pump is switched offNot given. Message us if it repeats

Level errorThe water level is not restored after 90 secondsThe indicator flashes and the pump is switched offNot given. Check the water tap and the inlet, then message us

Temperature or pressure errorBoiler temperature above 130 degrees CelsiusThe heating element and all functions stopThe system resets once the temperature falls below 130 degrees. The boiler has a manual reset safety thermostat. If the element does not come back, call a qualified technician

The manual page gave remedies for the EPROM, delivery and temperature entries. The suggestions for the doser and level errors are ours.

What the machine does when it finds a fault itself

Both Aurelia handbooks say that if self-diagnostics report a fault, the operator must not intervene and should call the Service Centre.

The Diagnostics menu (section 7.8.4 in the Wave handbook) shows the status of the pump, the valves, the flowmeters, the pressure sensors and the temperature sensors. A flowmeter reads Signal detected, Signal not detected or Disabled group.

An alarm history (7.8.2.1) lists past alarms, and a maintenance alarm (7.8.2.2) can be set by the number of cycles or by date.

A washing alarm (7.4.3) appears after a set number of hours. You can mark the washing as done or start it.

When you message us, read out the alarm history. A flowmeter that shows Signal not detected on one group while the others show Signal detected tells us which part to bring.

Steam wand repair and rebuild

A steam wand is the hardest-worked part on a café machine. It is knocked, wiped, blasted and left in hot milk. When it fails the symptoms are easy to see.

When a wand needs attention

Steam is weak, or only one hole of the tip is working. This points to a blocked tip or a partly closed valve.

The wand drips steam or water when closed. A valve seat or seal is passing.

The knob or lever is stiff, loose or will not close fully.

The wand will not hold its position or swings loose at the joint.

Water runs from the wand into the milk jug before steam starts. This is the condensate the manuals tell you to purge.

What a rebuild covers

The tip, which we replace if its holes are blocked or distorted.

The valve seat and seals, which wear in any steam valve.

The wand tube and its joint. The Oscar II parts legend lists a steam wand and a separate insulating rubber, and we replace the rubber when it has split.

The knob, lever or handle where it is cracked.

A test. steam on and off, a purge, and a milk jug test on site.

A rebuild of the valve and seals is a bigger job than a new tip, and it costs more. We say which one the wand needs after we look at it.

What the manuals tell operators to do with the wand

Purge condensate for at least two seconds before use (Aurelia handbooks).

Never put your hands under the wand and never touch it right after use.

For a cappuccino, immerse the nozzle about one third into the milk, then wipe the wand with a soft cloth.

Wipe after frothing milk, with a soft cloth, carefully. Milk dried onto the wand is how tips block.

The Oscar II manual says to use the protected rubber handle, because the wand and the steam are hot.

Our technicians repair a steam wand with the machine cold, and with the water supply closed. Do not try to dismantle a hot wand.

Water: the specification and the softener

Nuova Simonelli puts the water supply into the installation chapter, and then makes it a condition of the warranty. The Aurelia handbooks say that water outside the specification voids the warranty, and that the installer must confirm the water meets it.

ItemSpecification in the manuals

Total hardness50 to 60 ppm. The safety section gives a maximum of 3 to 5 degrees French, which is 60 to 85 ppm

Cold water inlet pressure2 to 4 bar

Minimum flow200 litres per hour

FiltrationLess than 1.0 micron

Total dissolved solids50 to 250 ppm (Aurelia) or 50 to 100 mg per litre (Oscar II)

Alkalinity10 to 150 ppm

Chlorine or chlorideBelow 0.5 mg per litre

pH6.5 to 8.5

InstallationA mesh filter, a softener and a 50 millimetre drain

The two TDS figures differ because they come from different manuals, so check yours. If you are not sure your water meets the table, ask the installer or a water-treatment supplier for a test. We do not test water ourselves.

Regenerating the softener on an Appia or Aurelia II

The softener removes the hardness that would form scale in the boiler and the heat exchangers, and it does that with ion-exchange resin that needs regenerating with salt. The manuals set the interval by the amount of coffee dispensed per day and the hardness of the water, and refer to a diagram for approximate times, so there is no fixed schedule.

Switch off

Turn the machine off and place a container of at least 5 litres under tube E.

Open the levers

Turn levers C and D from left to right. Unscrew the knob to take off the cap.

Add the salt

Pour in 1 kg of normal kitchen salt.

Close the cap and drain

Replace the cap and move lever C to the left. Tube F discharges salty water. Leave it for about half an hour, until the discharged water runs fresh.

Return lever D

Move lever D to the left.

The page ends at step 3. Your own manual may have further steps, and the lever letters differ between models. We do the regeneration on a visit if you prefer, and we check that the water coming out is not salty before the machine goes back to work.

The manual's reason for regenerating is to prevent scale in the boiler and the heat exchangers.

Group washing and the group head

The Aurelia handbooks do not use the word backflush. They describe a group washing cycle, set in the machine menu, that lets you choose a washing water quantity and a rinse water quantity for each group. Three rules appear in the Appia and Aurelia pages.

Follow only the cleaning instructions in the manual.

Once the group washing has started, do not interrupt it. The manual says detergent residue may stay in the dispensing unit.

After repairing or replacing any part that touches food or water, run the washing procedure again before the machine is used.

The Aurelia also has an optional automatic group purge that runs when the filter holder is removed. Its purge time is set from 0 to 8 seconds and its delay from 0 to 5 seconds. A boiler purge can be enabled or disabled.

What goes wrong at the group

SymptomWhat we checkTypical repair

Water drips from the group when idleThe group gasket, the shower screen, the solenoidGasket or screen replacement, solenoid seal

Water leaks round the portafilterThe gasket and the portafilter earsGasket replacement

Espresso runs too fast or too slowlyThe grind and the basket, then the pump pressure and the screenScreen clean or replacement, pump adjustment

A group will not deliverThe solenoid, the flowmeter, the doserReplace the part that does not respond

Uneven shots between groupsThe screens, the gaskets and the flowmetersRebalance with new gaskets or sensors

Delivery stops by itselfThe 120 second limit, the doser and the flowmeterClear the error, replace the sensor

Gaskets and screens are consumables. Replace them on a schedule and the group stays predictable.

When there is no steam, no heat or no water

The Oscar II service manual's chapter titles name the same symptoms we are called to: water lack light, heating element light, coffee delivery, steam delivery and heater.

SymptomFirst things to checkThen a technician checks

Water lack light or level errorThe mains tap, the inlet hose, the filter and the softener linesThe level probe, the fill valve and the pump

No heat, or heat takes very longThe power supply and the breakerThe heating element, the safety thermostat and the temperature sensor

Pressure is low or unstableThe inlet pressure of 2 to 4 barThe pump, the pressure sensor and the expansion valve

Steam is weak or absentThe wand tip and the knobThe steam valve, the boiler pressure and the heater

Coffee will not come outThe basket, the grind and the filter holderThe solenoid, the flowmeter and the doser

Hot water is coldThe tap valve and the mixerThe heat exchanger and the mixing valve

Machine trips the breakerIs another appliance on the same circuit?The element and the wiring, with the power off

Do not keep resetting the boiler safety thermostat. The Aurelia manual calls it a manual-reset device and says to call a qualified technician if the heating element does not return. Repeated trips point to a fault that needs finding.

Power and voltage

Dubai supplies single-phase mains at 230 volts and 50 hertz. The Oscar II service manual lists three supply versions: 120 V 60 Hz with a tank or a waterline, 230 V 50 Hz with a tank or a waterline, and 230 V 60 Hz with a waterline.

The nameplate shows which version you have. Match it to the supply.

The Oscar II manual says the warranty expires if the power supply does not match the nameplate.

The same manual says the machine must be earthed and the installation needs a circuit breaker.

It also says not to use extension cords or adapters.

A 120 V machine in a 230 V kitchen is a fault in waiting. Do not switch it on. Message us with the nameplate photo.

The Oscar II manual lists a power of 1200 watts. Each machine's own nameplate gives its figure, so check the circuit before you buy a machine for a new counter.

Looking after a Nuova Simonelli between visits

The Oscar II service manual's chapter list includes daily, weekly, yearly and two-yearly maintenance. The routine below is our suggestion, built around what the manuals do say, and your distributor's schedule comes first.

WhenJobWho

Every steamed drinkPurge the wand for at least two seconds before use, and wipe it after milkBarista

Every dayWash the groups with the group washing cycle, clean the filter baskets, empty the drip trayBarista

As the washing alarm asksRun the group washing, and mark it done on the machineBarista

WeeklyCheck the shower screens and gaskets for coffee oil and wearBarista or technician

By volume and hardnessRegenerate the softener, as the manual describesTechnician

Quarterly or by the maintenance counterGaskets, screens, wand valve, flowmeter and level checksTechnician

YearlyBoiler, safety devices and electrical checksTechnician

Set the maintenance alarm in the machine menu by cycles or by date. The Wave handbook says you can, and an alarm is cheaper than a breakdown at the weekend.

Parts we fit on Nuova Simonelli machines

PartWhat it doesSign of wear

Group gasket and shower screenSeal the portafilter and spread the waterDripping, uneven extraction, leaks round the portafilter

Steam wand, tip, valve and rubberDelivers steamWeak steam, dripping, stiff knob, split rubber

Solenoid valvesOpen and close each group and the hot waterDripping, no delivery, humming

Pump and motorPushes water to the groupsLow pressure, loud pump, no pressure

Flowmeter and doserMeasure the water per shotWrong volume, stopped deliveries, flowmeter shows Signal not detected

Level probe and fill valveControl the water in the boilerWater lack light, level error

Pressure sensorReads boiler pressureUnstable pressure reading

Heating element and thermostatsHeat the boilerNo heat, over-temperature error, tripping

Softener valves and resinSoften the incoming waterScale, salt in the water, slow flow

Control board and displayRun the machineBlank display, EPROM fault, wrong messages

Parts are genuine. If a part is no longer made for an older machine, we tell you before we quote.

Before you blame the machine: faults that are not the machine

A call-out for a problem the grinder or the barista caused is money spent on nothing. These are general barista checks, not quotes from the Simonelli manuals, and they take a few minutes.

What you seeCheck this firstIf it does not change, message us

Shots run fast or slow on every groupThe grinder setting, the dose, the tamp and the basketPressure is low or unstable on a gauge or the display, or only one group is affected

One group differs from the othersThe basket and the portafilter used thereThe shower screen, the gasket or the flowmeter on that group

Milk will not textureCold milk, a purge before steaming, a clear tipWeak steam with a clean tip, or a leaking steam valve

Water drips from the wandIs the knob fully closed?The valve seat or seal is passing

Espresso tastes burnt or sourGrind, dose, beans and how long the groups have been idleThe temperature reading is wrong or changes between shots

Hot water is not hot enoughThe tap setting and the machine's temperature settingThe heat exchanger, the mixing valve or the element

Display shows a messageRead it out and note when it first appearedAnything in the Aurelia table above that comes back after a restart

If the problem moves when you change the basket or the grinder setting, it was not the machine. If it stays put, message us.

Installing or moving a machine: the checks in the manuals

A new counter, a refit or a machine that has been moved is when most installation faults begin. These points come from the Appia, Aurelia and Oscar II manuals.

CheckWhat the manuals say

Water supplyThe installer must confirm the water meets the specification (see the water section). Fit a mesh filter, a softener and a 50 millimetre drain

HosesUse the new hose set supplied with the machine and do not reuse the old set (Appia)

PositionEven, stable surface, indoors. Leave 15 centimetres from walls and other equipment (Oscar II)

Room temperatureThe Oscar II manual gives +5 to +35 degrees Celsius. The Aurelia handbook gives +5 to +30

NoiseThe Oscar II manual puts the level below 70 dB

ElectricalSupply matching the nameplate, earthed, with a circuit breaker. No extension cords or adapters

CordDo not use the machine if the cord or plug is damaged. Keep the cord away from hot or sharp items

FireCut the power at the main switch first. Never use water while the machine is powered. The Oscar II manual names a carbon dioxide extinguisher

Dubai kitchens run hot. A machine under a counter next to a fryer or an oven may sit above the room temperature range in the manual, so measure the spot before you commit to it.

Closing for a long weekend or a holiday

The Appia manual says that if the machine will be left unattended for a long time, you should close the water inlet tap. The Oscar II manual says to switch off and unplug it when it will be unused for a long time, and to unplug it by the plug, not by pulling the cord.

Run a group washing first, so coffee oil does not sit in the groups.

Switch off, close the inlet tap and unplug.

Empty the drip tray and the milk jugs.

On return, open the tap, check the hose and the fittings for leaks before you switch on, and wait for the machine to reach temperature.

If something looks wrong, switch off and message us before service.

The Oscar II manual adds that the machine should not be used where temperatures fall below freezing, because some water always remains inside.

Questions to ask any technician who quotes a repair

Which part is faulty, and can you show it to me?

Is the replacement part genuine, and what is the part called?

Will you run a group washing and check the water afterwards? The manuals say the washing procedure should run after any part that touches food or water is repaired or replaced.

What warranty comes with the part and with the labour?

If the repair does not hold, what happens?

Ask us the same questions. We answer them before you agree the price.

What a Nuova Simonelli repair visit includes

We ask about the symptom, the alarm history and the last service, and what the water supply is.

We check the water inlet, the pressure and the softener first.

We check the power supply against the nameplate.

We test the part the fault points to with the machine isolated.

You get one price before we fit anything.

After the repair we run washing on the groups, take shots from every group, test the steam and the hot water, and show you the diagnostics menu.

One month of cover applies.

If the machine has to go to the workshop, we tell you why and for how long before we take it.

Repair or replace a Nuova Simonelli?

A professional machine is made to be repaired. Compare our quote with a new machine in the same class. Around half or more of that price is when to think about replacing it.

FaultOur usual adviceReason

Steam wand, tip or valveRepairStandard wear parts

Group gaskets and screensRepairConsumables

Solenoid, pump, flowmeterRepairStandard parts

Softener and resinRepairA service item

Heating element on a good machineRepairA fraction of a new machine

Control board on an old machineCompare the quoteCheck the age and the supply of boards

Boiler scaled up for yearsCompare the quoteLook at the quote for the boiler and the heat exchangers

If replacing is the better move, we say so, and you pay the call-out only.

What to tell us when you book

The model and the nameplate photo.

How many groups, and whether it has a softener.

What happens. no steam, no heat, a leak, an error on the display.

The alarm history, if the display shows it.

When the groups were last washed and when the softener was last regenerated.

If a service is due, say when the last one was.

If you have already tried something from this page, say what, and we begin from there.

While you wait for the technician

If water is leaking from the machine or from a connection under it, close the water supply valve to the machine and switch the machine off at its isolator or socket. A machine that has been heating holds hot water under pressure, so leave the boiler cap and the panels alone.

Photograph the error on the display before you switch off, so we see what you saw.

Do not run a group washing cycle or a softener regeneration to test the machine. We would rather see it in the state it stopped in.

Keep the floor around the machine dry. A wet floor next to a mains-powered machine is a hazard for your staff.

Tell your staff which group or function is out, so nobody keeps trying it and flooding the drip tray.

Nuova Simonelli repair near me: areas we cover

We repair Nuova Simonelli machines in Dubai Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, JLT, Downtown, Business Bay, Jumeirah, Al Barsha, Dubai Hills and Deira. Elsewhere, message us and we will say what is possible.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Nuova Simonelli repair cost in Dubai?

The call-out is AED 100 plus VAT, and most repairs cost AED 80 to AED 400. Nothing is fitted before you approve the price.

Who repairs Nuova Simonelli machines in Dubai?

Simonelli Group has a Middle East branch in Dubai for warranty questions. We repair out-of-warranty machines at cafés, hotels and offices, normally the same day: +971 55 209 9785.

What does a steam wand rebuild include?

A new tip where the holes are blocked or distorted, the valve seat and seals, the insulating rubber where it has split, and a steam test with a milk jug. We tell you whether the wand needs a tip or a full rebuild.

How often should I purge the steam wand?

The Aurelia handbooks say to purge condensate for at least two seconds before use and to wipe the wand with a soft cloth after frothing milk.

What water does a Nuova Simonelli need?

The Aurelia handbooks give total hardness of 50 to 60 ppm, cold inlet pressure of 2 to 4 bar, a minimum flow of 200 litres an hour, filtration below 1 micron and a pH of 6.5 to 8.5. Water outside the specification voids the warranty.

How do I regenerate the softener?

The Appia and Aurelia II manuals describe adding 1 kg of kitchen salt through the cap and letting salty water drain for about half an hour until it runs fresh. The frequency depends on daily coffee volume and water hardness.

What does a delivery error mean?

On the Aurelia Digit, a delivery that reaches the 120 second limit is blocked. Press the continuous key or one of the keys to clear it. If it repeats, message us.

My machine says level error. What now?

The Aurelia Digit manual says the level error appears when the water level is not restored after 90 seconds, and the pump is switched off. Check the water tap and the inlet, then message us.

Why does my machine stop heating?

The Aurelia manual says a boiler temperature above 130 degrees Celsius stops the heating element until it falls below that, and that the boiler has a manual reset safety thermostat. If the element does not return, call a qualified technician.

Can I run a 120 V machine in Dubai?

No. Dubai's supply is 230 V. The Oscar II manual says the warranty expires if the supply does not match the nameplate. Send us the nameplate photo.

Should I interrupt a group washing cycle?

No. The Appia and Aurelia manuals say that once washing has started it must not be interrupted, because detergent residue may stay in the dispensing unit.

Is it worth repairing an old Nuova Simonelli?

Usually yes for the wand, the groups, the pump and the softener. For a board or a scaled boiler on an old machine, compare the quote with a new one.

Book a Nuova Simonelli repair

Message us on WhatsApp at +971 55 209 9785. Give the model, the nameplate photo and the fault. If service is running and the machine is down, tell us first.

Nuova Simonelli Coffee Machine Repair in Dubai: Appia, Aurelia, Oscar, Musica and Steam Wand Rebuilds