Why We WON'T Sell The La Marzocco Linea Micra

[@joshaebischer]

Hats off to you guys for standing behind your brand and putting customers first

[@Coffeeinthusiast1]

Good for you for standing up for the customers. I heavily considered this machine, but opted in for ECM Synchronika with flow control. For each their own, glad I chose ECM!

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Good choice!

[@shadowbroker1]

Definitely a better machine. The clearance from group head to tray blows (especially if you have a scale). Awkward steam wand.. and lack of shot timer is just a no go on the Micra.

[@baba98052]

Saw your review about connectivity problems. I just purchased this machine and was concerned about this because of review. The problem with app is, if you don’t allow location services set on all the time, the app does not work. Love the micro, no issues with connectivity

[@mryoyo7741]

Yeah most issues with allowance

[@brianschwellinger7851]

I purchased one for our office and the experience wasn’t perfect. We needed a technician to connect water and help get things set up. After the bumps, this machine is amazing and one that can be repaired down the road. The problem with many other brand’s is that getting them repaired requires shipping the machines at great expense and then waiting months for the work to be completed. This machine can be repaired just like the professional machines at good coffee shops. And, the repair company in our area can get the parts because La Marzocco carries parts for their machines. These machines are well built and will last a lot longer for sure. And, this machine makes a great shot and steaming is amazing!

[@stratmad]

Respect to you guys for putting your customers first.

[@russb3n]

I own the Micra for about two months zero issues rock solid. On my days off I wake up grab my phone turn on the machine 5-7 minutes later it’s ready to go or leave off the steam boiler if I only want an espresso having that flexibility what I want it to do is worth the price. But I completely understand what they went through to help their customers I would do exactly what they are doing not sell a machine that the company does back up.

[@ecscoffeeinc]

The machine is great! Overall we would love to sell them if it were not for the distribution model.

[@echike]

Really solid review! Thank you for taking the time to walk us through it! I just ordered one lol so this was great as I wait for it to arrive :D

[@VinegarAndSaltedFries]

I totally understand from your perspective…that said as someone who did order it directly from La Marzocco this machine is FREAKING INCREDIBLE. Pulls incredible shots. Switching from a Profitec E61 and upgrading to a LaMarzocco was THE SINGLE best decision I made. E61 is just to inconsistent in terms of heat. Maybe for most people who only make one drink a day it would be fine but if you like to enjoy multiple drinks a day LaMarzocco is the right machine for you. Had zero issues after now a year of ownership. Did have the whole app issue and it turned out it was on my end not an issue with the app so I’m confident it was also on that customers end. It will occasionally disconnect and K need to reconnect it after they run an update but it reconnects perfectly.

[@MangiTengri]

how do you like that drip tray and a tiny steam wand?

[@silverdroid]

Other than temperature, what differences do you see vs. an E61?

[@robocobrabot]

In the US it appears the machines are only available direct from La Marzocco, and they are bench tested in Seattle Washington before shipping to customers.

[@sucka231]

They are shipped from Ft. Wsyne, IN. Bench tested is questionable.

[@lukepetro123]

The machines also ship from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

[@josodoc1891]

where did you get the white/brown combo linea micra?

[@loriosterweil982]

Good for the two of you. Honest review!

[@silasketgaskets8709]

i been involved with espresso machines for 3 decades, have owned many, both commercial, home, prosumer, both pump and lever. always hear about LM build quality, etc etc etc. for that (over) price it should be perfect without issues upon arrival. looking at the internals of the mini or micra comparing them to other quality machines even costing less i fail to see the "build quality" difference.

[@1061shrink1061]

yeah i mean, everyone has different experiences. I got mine in 2023, and it was faultless. The machine and app have been perfect since day one. If people are having spotty app connectivity, they may need to consider if there are issues with their home network. It may be nothing to do with the machine itself. I know at least 4-5 other people that have a micra and have had no issue, and ditto with the 10 or so LM mini's that I know are out there. One video with a small number of experiences does not represent a complete data set, or a full picture of how these machines are to own.

[@ginoderango2516]

what kind of annual maintenance might someone have to do on this machine? What might you suggestion as a competitor to this machine that is very easy to use and very good. Breville/Sage?

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Look at Lelit Bianca. We did a comparison

[@ngc35ster]

Very grateful to this video, and it confirms one of my personal experience, don’t put too much faith in big brands or “made in Italy”. Manufacturer is manufacturer and they make and will make mistakes for sure. I got my GCP in 2023, shuu in ch is also made Italy. I know the coated boiler issue ahead of time, so I prepared and replaced it right after I got it. Then, an issue after another, the leaking steam valve. The dripping tray profile is too high. They are all known issue and requested to be changed by customers for decades. But none of them have been changed and the company still insists on the distributor model and it makes repair and replacement a nightmare. Either you DIY and fix yourself or wait for a few weeks to get a replacement.

[@domenicozanre2026]

I appreciate your honesty and candour, Neil and Rebecca. Something needs to be tweaked in the thinking at LM HQ. As you say, they have a great reputation, and their machines are known for their reliability and build quality all over the world (though I believe in the new LM R, the SS housing is of a thinner gauge, and there is more use of plastic). Like Rebecca, I am not keen on having to use an app if I want to alter temperatures. I WAS considering the new LM, but am seriously considering a Synchronika, or Pro 600/700 - on which I can add a flow control device, if I wish (included in the 'Drive'). I would still be saving well over $1,500.. a new grinder, perhaps?!

[@jonathanl2748]

I keep hearing that the grinder is more important than the espresso machine and to put the bigger money toward a high end grinder. Any thoughts on that?

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Many would agree that the quality of the grinder matters just as much. At the end of the day it is like a recipe for a fine meal. A good chef can make something great with any set of tools and ingredients. It takes practice. You can always upgrade each piece as it makes sense to you.

[@RGreenappleS]

I own a small coffee cart business and I use this machine daily. Haven’t had a problem since I got it but I did buy directly from la marzocco so who knows.

[@ecscoffeeinc]

It's a great machine overall. Our issues were really minor. We just feel the distribution model is a mess

[@klasholmertz7351]

You can adjust the steam power in the app, I've mine at the lowest which is plenty for me as I do usually cortados and that is a couple of seconds on lowest setting, can't imagine what it would be on highest setting. But similar distribution issues here in Europe, it seems they are built to order if you do anything but stock chrome, I had to wait a couple of months for my red one.

[@roady43]

Why would a Marzocco brew Caffè better than any other high level Portafilter machine? Sure the results with a Marzocco will be great depending on correct handling the brew procedure, but why better than with a stable E61, ECM, Bezzera, Rancilio...?

[@ronaldsantosjapan]

Wow. What a quality company! (And I'm not talking about La Marzocco)

[@ecscoffeeinc]

We appreciate the comment. It was a hard video to make as we love the machine. Unfortunately many of the European companies do not have the best support in Canada at this time. We hope that will change as we are a great market!

[@m.f.8752]

Thanks for the honest review.

[@ecscoffeeinc]

You are welcome

[@JimmyHuynhdesign]

As a product designer and developer, they likely wanted to provide only the bottomless portafilter since they know thats what most enthusiasts desire but there are always those few people that will complain about spraying or it being not conventional....Hence the solution to add the plastic caps to satisfy those people (which was actually a smart idea by the inventor). Of corse it would have been nice to make them all metal but build cost is major factor base on profit margins (especially for more budget, entry level products). Provide the option for spouts but intensionally designed to use as bottomless. Things like this happen all the time when developing products.

[@frmosess]

I use my Linea Mini every day and love it. When there was an issue with the pump, La Marzocco Home took care of me with lightning speed and the machine has been solid ever since. I much prefer the La Marzocco Linea Mini to any E61 machine I've ever used. It's just more consistent and a joy to use.

[@jonathanl2748]

Did a repair tech come to your home to do the repair or did you have to mail the unit to LM? Thanks.

[@frmosess]

@@jonathanl2748 The technician was sent to my home by La Marzocco Home.

[@shrt64]

Thank you for the instruction at 4:42

[@ecscoffeeinc]

You are welcome!

[@jettav88]

Great review, what would you buy instead if this was your dream machine as well, Thanks!

[@ecscoffeeinc]

The Lelit Bianca or the ECM Synchronika are also awesome options!

[@jettav88]

@@ecscoffeeinc Thank You!

[@JT-zy2ft]

The Bianca is a good machine. If you’re looking for slightly cheaper alternative the Mara x is also a good option. Been using it for almost a year and really like it.

[@jettav88]

@@JT-zy2ft Thank You!

[@doozlamuller7887]

I have one and it’s great. 👍

[@OscarMedina-l5z]

Appreciate your honesty

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Thank you. Great machines but something needs to change.

[@azamatnogoev3611]

I have one for over a year now. So far so good. Sorry to hear you had to go through all this. I guess it was a lemon.

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Things happen. They are great machines but we need confidence in the distribution network and it is just not there yet :)

[@scottscottsdale7868]

@@ecscoffeeinc Just as a consumer. This video really makes you look bad. I thought you would like some honest feedback.

[@ecscoffeeinc]

@@scottscottsdale7868 Hi Scott and thanks for the feedback. KZbin reviews are tough sometimes as the intent is perceived differently by different people. We have been accused of being "paid" at times for reviews and while one person wants one thing, someone else sees it completely different. In all of our reviews we try to be fair and balanced but if there are improvements to be made we will point them out. In this case, we love the machine and the brand. But as a company at the end of the day, we are not here for KZbin reviews. We are here to service our customers. If we believe that the customer experience buying from us is not going to meet our standards then we will not carry a machine. We turn down many vendors for that reason. Our standards are very high. This is why we are one of the only retailers in North America that is a warranty centre for all of the major brands. By launching this review we are actually sending business away from us and to others competitors if someone wants the machine. We are hopeful things will change and Delonghi (the parent company) will get involved in the retail home distribution so that the concerns we have will be addressed going forward.

[@HansvanMale]

The La Marzocco Linea Micra is worth every penny! It delivers exceptional espresso, is beautifully designed, and fits perfectly in smaller spaces without compromising performance. The powerful steam wand makes frothing milk effortless. While all espresso machines can have calibration or pressure issues, I’ve had no problems with the Linea Micra. Alsoo no connecting problems with my Iphone. I realy can not find any similar machine that can match this machine and I did really searched a while just to be sure the price was worth it. Still not dissapointed after five months. The plastic cups was alsoo a compromise to hold a good tempature and the plastic was made special for using in a esspresso machine. **Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@ecscoffeeinc]

It's a great machine!

[@davidhunternyc1]

You understand, as a business, that things happen out of the box. La Marzocco, however, has NO excuse. People buy the La Marzocco for the analog experience, to prevent software and digital dysfunctions. That's not the case here. What's the solution? Keep it analog. Keep it simple. Buy an Olympia Cremina.

[@tangoomaas2828]

I have had mine for 8 months and have had constant problems with scaling, despite using zero sodium water. Once this happens it means taking it to a service centre which is a waste of my time and super annoying. It’s under warranty so not costing me right now to have it fixed, but when it does I’ll lose my mind given the original price point. The app is fairly clunky and not useful for brewing. Beautiful machine and makes coffee shop grade coffee, time will tell on maintenance costs. Make a video on preventative maintenance and descaling please.

[@tonda2zu]

Hm interesting. Hope La Marzocco hears this. On the other hand it may be their strategy to be the only distributor C2C

[@ryanshaw3931]

Rebecca may as well get the white one, given the circumstances 😁💁🏻‍♂️

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Rebecca agrees with you! lol!

[@madllama]

I'm surprised that you don't bench test each machine before sending it out to your customers. As you said they are expensive and things can become loose in shipping

[@ecscoffeeinc]

La Marzocco bench tests their machines, and customers are not always thrilled when their machine arrives used

[@iggyman83]

Should absolutely be benched. Standard in Aus. So many things happen with big box sellers, particularly in transit.

[@jean-baptiste3524]

The truth is that the Micra cannot be sold by official dealers. It is only available on the La Marsocco website or in corporate shops. The distributors have a very bad opinion of it, and denigrate the latest model, on which they can't take their percentage. I've just come from the showroom in Paris, where they have 2 people who look after the after-sales of pro and home machines. I wanted to talk about this reality in the field.

[@OMGz1122]

I looked at the ECM Synchronika and the La Marzocco Linea Micra, I just don't see how and why they are charging at that price point for what it is. After this video, I must say that La Marzocco is getting out of touch.

[@ecscoffeeinc]

They are in high demand and great machines but there is something amiss with the distribution model

[@RoryJanke]

l

[@JimOHora-x4d]

"Cheap-y" Good humor.

[@johngilman760]

Not working out of the box for spending thousands is simply not acceptable! Shame on La Marzocco!

[@jack.smith2958]

Someone please timestamp the reason.

[@fabricesadde4476]

29:34

[@loriosterweil982]

Why didn’t drink the espresso? I don’t pull a shot just to smell it.

[@MangiTengri]

Recently bought this machine and very disappointed. Already ran into a problem of water tank not refilling water consistently. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Very frustrating experience. On top of all, this machine is very poorly finished. Drip tray is plastic and has thin layer of stainless steal around it that already caved in under the heat. The seams are finished horribly. Can't believe I am saying this, but this machine feels cheap and more like an appliance if comparing to my old Profitec Pro 500. The steam wand is so tiny that forces you to use more milk than needed or use the world smallest milk pitchers. The only benefit is a quick heat up time and ability to schedule turn on/off through your phone and rotary pump is smooth and consistent (so far).

[@OrangeChickenMoto]

The unwiped milk on the wand 😭

[@ecscoffeeinc]

We always wipe and maintain our machines. Not to worry:) They are cleaned after every video thoroughly

[@SpencerLupul]

Italian customer support vs Canadian customers 😅😅😅

[@JT-zy2ft]

For the money the Bianca sounds like a much better buy.

[@silvioliker4252]

Bianca have E61 group and LM have sacurated group. Temperature stability is the main problem with e61.

[@roady43]

​@@silvioliker4252 The Bianca is one of the most stable E61 machines, although not having a saturated grouphead and therefore of course not as economical. Not worse than any LaMarzocco. The Bianca programming possibilities and the included assesories are outstanding, specially for the price you pay.

[@Adeishvilii]

Yeah, I stopped the video when you steamed the milk and left the wand like that

[@ecscoffeeinc]

Don't worry we cleaned it :)