Established in 1927 by Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi, La Marzocco originated in Florence, Italy: the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. This city, renowned for its rich artistic heritage, was home to legendary figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Filippo Brunelleschi, who created masterpieces that continue to be revered worldwide. The La Marzocco Linea Mini, itself, is a meticulously crafted piece of coffee art that is adored around the globe for its superior craftsmanship, commercial components, and its ability to seamlessly fit into any environment, be it a kitchen counter or a specialty cafe.
Maintaining almost 100 years of true Italian espresso heritage, each machine is handcrafted in Florence, and the most recent version of the Linea Mini unveils updated aesthetics, such as the Della Pietra Curve and soft touch accessories. It also boasts enhanced workflow features like Brew-by-Weight, a new pre-infusion system, and simple pump pressure adjustment, seamlessly blending traditional elements with innovative improvements. Designed as a tool for individuals aspiring to create the ultimate espresso experience, it serves as a trusted companion for both home and beyond, accompanying you on your coffee adventures.
What is Brew-By-Weight?
Seasoned baristas will be familiar with the Auto-Brew Ratio (ABR) system that can be found in high-volume, commercial cafes that utilize La Marzocco espresso machines. Now, that technology has made its way into the home and light-volume applications in the form of the Brew-By-Weight system. This cutting-edge technology allows for automated, mass-based brewing, taking precision and control to new heights. By automatically stopping the brewing process at your desired weight, it ensures consistent results and elevates the overall brewing experience. The Linea Mini allows for this by way of the newly released La Marzocco/Acaia Lunar scale and the La Marzocco Home app, where you can set the dose, or liquid espresso yield. Using a predictive drip algorithm, the machine and scale work together to stop the shot once your pre-set weight has been met, offering unparalleled precision from one shot to the next.
Pressure & Espresso Simplified
A long-awaited and highly-anticipated feature that has found its way to the updated Linea Mini is the ability to experiment with different brewing pressures and pre-infusion. In the machine’s previous iteration, a continuous 9-bar shot was standard, while the latest upgrade from La Marzocco allows you to sample extractions with varying degrees of pressure to discover your ideal espresso. When plumbed-in and connected to the La Marzocco Home app, you can now integrate a tailored introduction of water to your coffee before reaching full pump pressure. The goal of this feature is to fully saturate your puck of espresso for a far more even extraction, while bringing flavorful compounds to the forefront and helping to mitigate channeling during your shot. When running off of the internal water reservoir, a no pressure, pre-brew feature is programmable through the integrated app that gently saturates the top of your espresso for similar results. Both of these features are paired with a two-solenoid system and a self-cleaning flow restrictor to expand your machine’s lifespan.
More Features, More Upgrades
La Marzocco takes the espresso-making experience even further by adding a plethora of new features and upgrades that inches the Linea Mini ever closer to the machines used by professional baristas worldwide. An integrated shot timer simplifies the espresso-brewing process, allowing you to monitor each shot’s precision and consistency. It sits just above the new group cap that has been adopted from La Marzocco’s commercial espresso machines. New, soft-touch components enhance the tactile experience, offer a more premium feel than the parts found on earlier renditions of the Linea Mini, and lend themselves to a more delightful user experience. On the Cool-Touch steam wand, a polymer tip has been added to simplify cleanup and reduce the chances of steamed milk being left behind. Another polymer accessory has been added in the form of a double-spout that easily attaches and detaches from your portafilter, allowing you to seamlessly switch between bottomless and spouted portafilters. To help keep your shower screen and the inside of the group clean, a new, programmable rinse mode has been introduced, which can by activated by simply switching the group paddle off and on. Through the app, you can easily activate a standby mode, which turns the machine off after a preset time of not being in use, and an auto on & off feature can be configured to turn the Linea Mini off at night and then turn it on to be ready for you each morning.
The Linea Mini has a rich history that is closely intertwined with the early days of espresso, when innovators harnessed the power and convenience of espresso machines to bring their own dreams to fruition. The journey of the home barista is an extension of this legacy. From years of acquiring knowledge and honing skills, to the eagerly anticipated arrival of a new espresso machine at your doorstep, the thrill of pulling that first shot, and the countless weekends spent perfecting a routine and achieving a seamless flow—each step in this process marks the beginning of a new adventure. The Linea Mini was specifically designed as a tool for those who aspire to create the perfect espresso, not only for themselves but also for others. It was crafted to be a trusted companion on espresso-filled journeys, both within the comfort of one's home and beyond.
If you have any questions about the updated La Marzocco Linea Mini, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to talk all things espresso machines and we would be glad to address any questions or concerns that you may have.
Written by James Baxter