$400 COFFEE Scale: La Marzocco x Acaia - Brew by Weight Review

[@itsxris]

Clarification (12/4/23): Response from Acaia: "To clarify on the hardware difference, the Brew-By-Weight has different Bluetooth hardcoded hardware in contrast to our scales. It was built to La Marzocco specifications and with their own Bluetooth communication protocol." Clarification (12/2/23): Some have pointed out that there is a chance it *might* be a hardware difference in the scale. However both responses I found and linked to and showed in this video only refer to a firmware update. I further found a comment from Acaia's e-commerce manager in the espresso Discord stating "The $400 is a custom Lunar. LM made completely unique firmware and *I guess there's a different BT module or something* that makes it completely distinct from the Acaia system". Which sounds like uncertainty if there is or isn't. Additionally, there are multiple people who have successfully added BBW feature to their existing Lunar without modifying the Lunar itself. Up until now, not a single comment from both LM or Acaia across both Instagram accounts that I have seen, have confirmed with certainty that it is indeed a hardware difference and not firmware. If someone can direct me to said statement that confirms this fact from a trustworthy or first person source, I will link it to this pinned comment. - Thanks to Cliff & Pebble for sponsoring this video! Use my link (shrsl.com/4bvcr) and code XRIS to get a free Acaia Lunar with any espresso machine purchase! Sorry about the wonky color grade throughout the video - still learning my new camera! - An updated list of what's currently on my coffee bar: www.itsxris.com/brew All the behind-the-scenes equipment I use to make my content: www.itsxris.com/store

[@optikalblitz]

For what it’s worth, I was informed by Acaia (customer service on IG) that it was strictly firmware difference in the scale and that LM is deciding which machines are compatible.

[@optikalblitz]

A-MEN, Xris. As a Linea Micra user with a brand new 2021 Lunar and older Lunar, finding out that brew by weight was coming was like the espresso endgame gods smiling upon me and my new Micra. Then to find out it’s only for the Mini feels like a completely gutless move from LM. In brief exchanges I’ve had with Acaia, it appears that it may have been a unilateral decision by LM. I’m left feeling very let down by LaMarzocco. Thanks for the video. I hope honest and fair minded videos like this can help LM to rectify this situation. Great review, per uze.

[@NoBody-bm9if]

They try to force a justification for the Mini as a machine after they have basically killed it with me Micra. If they add the brew by weight for the Micra as well they very well could let the Mini die for good. Yours sincerely, A likewise depressed Micra owner

[@EarthbendR]

Call ‘em out brother. Thanks for this 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Hueguh]

If I have my machine set to auto standby at 6:00. All I want is for the machine to not go into standby if I start my shot at 5:59 and it becomes 6:00 half way through.

[@itsxris]

does that actually happen!? haven't encountered that yet myself but its a good thing for me to test out for my full linea mini review

[@GonzaBloise]

Hey! Have you tried using the Acaia x LM scale with other apps such as Filtru and SE Profiler? Couldn’t find the answer anywhere and I’d like to know before purchasing since I use these apps with my Pearl S. Great video by the way. Thanks!

[@_Brewn]

Great video as always!

[@ihavetype1]

Is it connected to LM using Wifi or Bluetooth? I was thinking about using this for pop up. If connection only need Bluetooth than good otherwise not every pop up environment have Wifi. Sorta cheap version of GS3 volumetric feature .

[@robolver3851]

Having bought a brand new Micra just before this was bought out I’m disappointed they’re limiting it to the mini. If they want to sell a lot of those $700 (AUD) scales making it available on as many models as possible seems like the better move.

[@itsxris]

I can imagine that's very disappointing - hopefully they open it up for the Micra!

[@flug_rost]

I know it’s apples and oranges but with this LM x Acaia collab I can’t help but think about the contrast to the Meticulous. A 1500$ retail machine that has a fully integrated Acaia scale for flow profiling and brew-by-weight. Meanwhile, for 400$ you don’t even get a drip tray insert so it sits flush on the LaMarzocco.

[@itsxris]

My thoughts exactly - I'm suuuuuper interested in the Meticulous.

[@JerryCurl-wt8gb]

Instead of a scale with a $400 price tag (built in on the Meticulous, all you need is an electric water kettle so you can pull a shot of espresso the same day you turn on that Meticulous.

[@Sungjun05]

But, you don’t have the Meticulous.. or do you?

[@carlosandresramirezraigoza]

I have had a timemore básic that worked really good for the las 2 years the only downside its too big so I updated to the bomber mini 2.0 and iam amazed it has a lot of high end scale functions if not all of them is small accurate and really low cost now I haber one for dipper and the New one for expresso

[@dparad22]

I think a better way of explaining is that you're paying $150 extra for LM's software license since the BBW scale uses LM's IP.

[@TheAlexRosas]

The fact that my decent can connect to my 2018 acaia lunar with an android tablet for brew by weight… and LM/Acaia couldn’t update firmware of old units to work with these machines is WILD.

[@slimigan]

Couldn't? Nahh, just didn't want to.

[@optikalblitz]

Yeah practical evidence that the hardware is already there to perform this function further indicates to me that it is a gatekeeping choice made by LM.

[@ghas4151]

It really isn’t cool for this not to be compatible with the Micra. We are not exactly talking about a budget machine here and if anything it will make them lose out of potential customers. I don’t agree with the reasoning they give. Only my two cents.

[@timgerber5563]

This has really been a shit move from La Marzocco for multiple reasons: - So many Linea Mini or Micra owners already have Lunars - For small commercial settings the scale approach is actually less ideal than a brew by time function, because small commercial settings typically use grinders that can control coffee grounds output like the Eureka Mignon Libra, Mahlkönig e65s gbw or e80 gbw. These are so consistent that brewing by time should be enough and it would remove having to use scales from the workflow except for when the barista is dialling in the coffee entirely - For home users it makes a lot more sense to use scales as many people already single dose their coffee and use scales already. So why try to restrict your market? The only answer I have is that they weren’t able to build an in app store that would unlock the feature in their LM app and it wasn’t a viable option to have a store for the firmware. Overall, this move has been very disappointing and shows LM don’t understand what their customers need. They probably already underestimated how much demand they would get for the micra and that it killed their demand for the mini and thus now they needed to differentiate the mini.

[@itsxris]

Good points all around - hadn't considered in a commercial setting that brew by time would likely be dialed in 90% of the way with grinders like that, even more reason why this feature is oddly placed in the market. Though I guess the argument could be made that a commercial setting with a Mini is likely not running a high volume environment and could, potentially, be focusing on quality over quantity.

[@BigTrip23]

When companies do things like this it makes me not want to spend my money with them. A simple fee to upgrade the software would have been the way to go. It seems greedy and a form of a cash grab tactic. And the fact that this feature is only available on they're more expensive Mini version just solidifies that greed in my eyes. On another note, cool feature, ridiculous price. But what do I know, I just love coffee.....

[@ShalevAbuhatzeira]

This is how you poke your customer's eyes as a brand. what a joke.

[@MrGalaktick51]

Honnestly, it's a ridiculous move from Acaia, they could have offer this upgrade for 10 bucks and everyone would have buy it. The thing is someone gonna develop a similar firmware, for free, will post it because everyone is mad at them. Poor business decisions.

[@itsxris]

The details of the partnership between Acaia and La Marzocco are presumably private, but I would assume La Marzocco wouldn't want to do that given the $150 markup likely contributes to a huge profit margin. Regardless, I agree that I would personally happily pay X amount for a software update rather than a $400 new scale for one added feature.

[@MrGalaktick51]

@@itsxris Exactly, The worst part is that it's really an amazing feature, that we should have. For me (from Europe). My Acaia lunar cost 310€ shipped, I'm not too far from the 400 usd lol, I would have like this update.

[@noahguttell1953]

I’m ok with it, although I’m on the short term loosing end. I have to pay more for a scale…but the company makes more money. That’s a good thing if we want innovation and high-quality products. A healthy company is good for us, and it does take time and resources to deploy and implement this niche product that adds functionality and precision data. If this is something someone wants, then both companies to need profit enough to make it worth it to collaborate.

[@Pdubbcooking]

As a Decent owner, 😂. This is so obviously a LM tax.

[@abueloraton]

This is so weirdly insulting: such a high price for a tinny software feature

[@TheCoffeeField]

La Marzocco sucks for doing this but it doesn’t matter, people will still buy their crap

[@jivano]

What a bunch of cry babies! If you complain about $150, you either can’t afford to own a La Marzocco or you are so cheap that you shouldn’t buy it in the first place. Endorse Free Market Capitalism and applaud La Marzocco for making the initiative to bring innovation to their product line. Now for the OP, maybe it doesn’t make sense to you in a home environment because your thoughts are tainted by the price tag.

[@itsxris]

ok boomer