Comparing EVERY La Marzocco Home Espresso Machine

[@robotkiller99]

I've had a Linea Mini (OG) for the past 5 years and recently switched up to the GS3 AV. I have been very happy with the move. There are several advantages to the AV: First, the build quality on the GS3 seems better. The drip tray is a larger capacity and higher quality with a locking mechanism and heavier gauge grate. The water reservoir on the GS3 is also larger. Accessibility to the internals is very easy with the removable side panels. The headroom is greater on the GS3 - there is more space from the group head to the drip tray which can be useful if you are using a scale with taller cups. The steam wand on the right side of the machine with joystick is ergonomically superior to the LM - it is easier to get the pitcher in a good position and I've had better luck getting good texture with this wand. Articulation is also better. The hot water tap has a mixing valve which lets you adjust temp as opposed to the Linea Mini which sputters out steaming hot water. The Linea Mini also uses a thermablock group head which can be prone to issues with long term use, namely leaking. Personally, I really like the volumetric function of the AV - it's reliable and simplifies workflow. I'm not into experimentation - I want consistent and reliable operation. For that the GS3 AV has been a big upgrade. Finally, the lower deck height of the GS3 relative to the Linea Mini actually makes it easier to use under cabinets. All these machines are actually great, there are just some differences which may or may not be meaningful, depending on your use case/work flow. The biggest thing for me is being liberated from a scale. Between the Mahlkonig e65s GBW grinder and the GS3 AV, I can make coffee without the finicky measuring, taring scales and balancing cups on an Acaia. Now it's just consistent results every time without much fuss.

[@mmemb001]

Got the GS3 MP last year, best decision ever. A lot to play around with utilizing the MP. For me it came down to if i got the Mini, would i still be thinking about the GS3 MP, and the answer was yes so I went with that.

[@mopikozz]

Exactly! U made the right choice. I went with the mini 3yrs ago even after going to & fro with the gs3 choice then. Fast forward 3years, thinking about the gs3 again&agajn finally upgraded few mths ago. 😊

[@mmemb001]

@@mopikozz nice. How are you liking the GS3 since you upgraded from the mini?

[@mopikozz]

@@mmemb001 no regrets, it’s 1st class 🥰, thou paddle is slightly finicky

[@Goldenbrown.coffee]

This is spot on. My first few shots with the MP i was struggling, but after some play i couldn't get over the pressure profiling and completely changed some coffees that i've been brewing for years.

[@mmemb001]

@@Goldenbrown.coffee I love playing around w pulling a 3 bar, 6 bar, 9 bar or combo of all three of those pressure shots.

[@quickpost123]

2:40 old users can *still* get that function? it was first and foremost a feature introduced for the OG Mini

[@beardenbob6567]

Why isn't volumetric dosing included in the Mini/Micra? Even inexpensive Brevilles have that very useful feature.

[@Turkomundo]

Was holding off on the Mini until the new versions was released. Glad I did, brew-by-weight is an absolute game changer

[@slimigan]

Brew by weight is a feature with the specific LM Acaia scale and is something the "old" Mini does as well (not a "new" feature of the new Mini)

[@gregorious123]

Micra because of space footprint and because wife would assault me if I spent any more on a coffee machine.

[@mintchocchap]

I bought the Mini in 2020. One of my best decisions to-date. After learning about the new one a couple of weeks ago raised the question “Would it ever make sense to ‘upgrade’ to the newer mini?”. Sounds like it does have a lot of cool new features but if the new one is made of cheaper materials, then I’d be less drawn to the new model. Plus, would it really be worth the faff to sell my current one, raise a bit more money (not necessarily in this order) and then buy the new one? Probably not. Fomo is annoying sometimes 😅

[@mopikozz]

Not worth to upgrade to newer mini, bite the bullet & go for gs3 😂

[@slimigan]

No Strada X1? That's the real home machine we all want to see haha

[@TheArgetho]

Agree. I have Slayer 1 Group since 2018, really want to know 6 years different in technology or performance.

[@dejedejsson]

Can you youtubers stop with that damn expression in your thumbnails, no, nothing is mind blowing with these machines!

[@mikegurv1818]

What a mind blowing comment! I agree.

[@LaResistenciaEDC]

Plastic on a la marzocco is a great feature?.... alright alright

[@Conan_1997]

I bought the Linea Mini Nordic edition in November last year and I couldn’t be happier, the new model looks much cheaper

[@andrzejl713]

Piekne maszynn ale pozostane zmoja Dalla Corte Mina😊

[@none4398]

I’m highly disappointed with the Linea mini R. I had the previous version of the Linea mini for 6 years and it was great. Sold it and bought the Linea mini R. 3 machines, which were delivered had different issues. Either aesthetic issues (paint, dent) or technical issues with the steaming wand making quirky noises, or both. All 3 machines have one thing in common - every time you insert / remove the portaifilter from the group head, you hear a weird metal noise coming from the chassis. Never had it on the previous linea mini and it feels cheap and inappropriate for a machine at this price segment. I made a video of this issue and will send it to La Marzocco to see if that’s how they intended to design this machine… Now I’m waiting for 4th machine..

[@emadventures6975]

That sucks to hear that. I just place the order for one. Luckily they will make it right and hope it was just bad luck

[@mtpastor4546]

To me, the choice would be GS3MP only. Other machines can have something way cheaper alternatively. We pay much more for the brand name and atheistic in Micra/ Mini… Most of the top end E61 machine can match 90% of what Micra and Mini offering (under domestic usage). The advantage of saturated group does not quite justify the price when we are comparing with E61 machines.

[@orbit354]

The really short heatup time of the Micra and the design & build quality are a selling point though. Dual boilers are also very expensive normally!

[@OneIdeaTooMany]

I trained on the 3 group linea classic, and went from a Breville dual boiler to a GS3 AV at home and then used it on my coffee cart and i have to say the GS3 AV was my favourite of the lot. You can pump out a lot of coffees. The other machine i liked was the micra. I didn't like the old version of the mini as i think it's overrated but the new version adds a lot interesting features that make it enticing but for me, the GS3 AV is great. I tried pressure profiling on the Breville dual boiler but i just couldn't really get into it otherwise the MP would be a fantastic option.

[@deedscoffee]

So sick - I just got my micra and have been loving it!

[@bazzamctwine6798]

That was fab - now, lets do Micra colours pls 🤓✍🏼

[@Goldenbrown.coffee]

hahaha i would love to get my hands on those!

[@joshridgway]

Does anyone know where to buy the glassware used starting at the 2.08 minute mark?

[@Fluterra]

Great video!

[@jurgenzielmann1108]

A lot of plastic in the new Mini R, who knows how the plastic frame will age under the constant heat. I think the previous Mini was built like a tank where the new Mini R has thinner metals, more plastics inside, cheaper steam wand, overall a lot of cost cutting on materials! The steam boiler is 3.5l by the way. Nice video!

[@jeffdavis5961]

Plastic frame?!? Really?

[@jurgenzielmann1108]

Have a look at the parts diagram. Horrifying!

[@slimigan]

I'm happy with my V2 Mini

[@LaSombraa]

@@jurgenzielmann1108gotta maximize profits somehow

[@none4398]

@@jurgenzielmann1108 Very interesting. Do you have a link to the diagram, which is indicating the plastic parts? I had the Linea mini for 6 years and it was great. Sold it and bought the Linea mini R. 3 machines, which were delivered had different issues. Either aesthetic issues (paint, dent) or technical issues with the steaming wand making quirky noises, or both. All 3 machines have one thing in common - every time you insert / remove the portaifilter from the group head, you hear a weird metal noise coming from the chassis. Never had it on the previous linea mini and it feels cheap and inappropriate for a machine at this price segment. I made a video of this issue and will send it to La Marzocco to see if that’s how they intended to design this machine… Now I’m waiting for 4th machine

[@ginoderango2516]

I would choose the micra. I am struggling considering purchasing. Do you turn off your shot by sight or do you weigh them?

[@Goldenbrown.coffee]

I use a scale still on the micra. If you have the app it has an automatic shot timer that appears when you turn the paddle on. But i normally just use the scales timer

[@Myogeumdo_Yu]

스트라다X는 어디갔누!!

[@mohammadzakaria4940]

Can I have one please

[@jimmythefish]

Micra for me at home.

[@yellowwducky]

Can you not pressure profile on the Mini - move the paddle part way and adjust as desired and then use it kinda like flow control on other espresso machines? The paddle to me seems kinda like a all in one flow control device no?

[@Oliccino]

No, paddle on mini/Micra is basically an on off button

[@yellowwducky]

@@Oliccino Thanks!

[@ZahraO_O]

I really want one 🤩

[@Bowser558]

Is brew by weight possible with micra?

[@Goldenbrown.coffee]

Nah, just the mini. Gotta do it manually on the micra

[@djbedr00m]

80.

[@TheArgetho]

I didn't see Strada X1

[@Goldenbrown.coffee]

If someone lends me one i'll review it!

[@Leo790]

I would go for the tried and tested mini, for me the micra isn’t really endgame enough to justify spending that much money on an espresso machine

[@olivierdecoen5396]

2 years ago I changed my Linea Mini for the GS3 AV. Although the GS3 was a very good machine i recently changed it for the new Linea Mini R together with the Acacia Lunar LM scales and the Pico grinder. While the GS3 AV given me good and constant espresso shots I never had the feeling I could play with it like I can with the Linea mini and with the integration of the shot timer and brew by weight I can play even more with it. I can agree that the GS3 MP would be the better choice if you really wanted to play next level. But besides playing i’m also having days that’s just wants to make an easy espresso shot without thinking too much. Something I used to think about is that the GS3 AV is pricewise overkill when you just using it for home (3-4 espresso shot in a day). This is more a professional machine for a small business and using the machine the whole day with those constant espresso shot just using 1 button. Also when not using the machine for couple of hours the amount of water that’s collecting in the steam pipe is worth noticing. Also important to notice is that I don’t taste a difference between a shot from the Mini and the GS3. So overall, for me, changing back to the Linea Mini R isn’t a step back. I can play with it more then on the GS3 AV and I still can make easy espresso shots. The connectivity with the app is good and you can change a big amount of things (like steam power). Something I didn’t noticed with the new Mini R is the vibrating noise of any panels (was a problem on the original Mini). So I think they also did some improvements on the total chassis. I have taken the black Mini R and it’s so beautiful in real life. The mat black details and the mat black back panel on the Mini R are much more beautiful then how the original Mini looked. It’s also a color that stays much more clean. Never want a chrome color again because it just can’t stay clean. If anybody has a question about these models then just ask!

[@maribelrivera9115]

@olivierdecoen5396 So glad to hear you’re loving the black v2 Mini, hoping to be an owner soon, it’s an investment but I’m hoping it’s well worth it. It’s such a beautiful machine. Awesome that you’re loving it! ❤