The La Marzocco Linea Micra is the third single-group dual-boiler espresso machine from La Marzocco. With the Linea Micra, La Marzocco is targeting the home espresso bar, whereas the GS 3 and Linea Mini definitely also have a place in the catering context in terms of performance. The price also reflects this, as the Linea Micra in the stainless steel version is around €3,330, almost €2,000 cheaper than the Linea Mini (€5,271 in stainless steel) and more than €4,000 cheaper than the La Marzocco GS3 (€7,675).
But the Micra is meant not only to be cheaper, but also to bring additional features that make particular sense at home. Low power consumption is on the wishlist, as are fast heating behavior and compact dimensions.
In this review, we take a close look at the Linea Micra and present the strengths and weaknesses of the newly launched machine. As always, there is a detailed test video as well as a summary of the video in shorter form.
Perhaps also interesting: in the meantime, a review of the new La Marzocco Linea Mini-R has been published by us.
(Article still in progress).
A milestone for boiler espresso machines
To be honest, we had written off boiler espresso machines. In terms of heat-up speed and power consumption, there has been hardly any progress in recent years, while thermoblocks and thick-film heaters set new standards. Heat-up times of 5 minutes and power consumption lower by a factor of five were a clear message. Our swan song for espresso machines with boilers had already begun.
With the Micra, La Marzocco dismantles our assessment and proves once again that espresso machines in Florence are not cobbled together from the same assortment of components, but that innovation is being driven forward.
The La Marzocco Linea Micra promises a heat-up time of 5 minutes. In other words: in the sixth minute after we turn on the espresso machine, it is supposed to be ready for use. And what can we say?! Yes, our tests with the Micra confirm exactly that.
And not just that. The Linea Micra also takes pole position in power consumption. After heating up, with five double espressos pulled, the La Marzocco Linea Micra with the steam boiler switched off shows a power consumption of 0.07 kWh. That is the lowest value we have measured for an espresso machine so far!
In our new presentation, we show the energy consumption of the La Marzocco Linea Micra even more precisely. The consumption for an espresso with the steam boiler switched off corresponds to 0.038 kWh. 0.206 kWh is used for a cappuccino. Switching on the steam boiler significantly increases energy consumption.
Cooperating boilers and temperature stability
The interconnected boilers, which can, however, operate independently of each other, play an important role. The Linea Micra is equipped with a 1.6 L boiler responsible for the steam power of the machine and which can also support temperature stability over longer operating times. In addition, a 0.23 L coffee boiler together with a saturated brew group is responsible for the temperature of the brewing water.
Crucial for the low power consumption is that the machine can operate without the steam boiler. Although some manufacturers allow switching off the steam boiler, they neglect that it must provide essential advance performance for heating up the brewing water via a heat exchanger. And then the math doesn't work out if the controller does not pump enough power into the coffee boiler.
With the Linea Micra, the interaction works. The boiler and brew group reach the necessary temperature on their own to bring the brew water to our target temperature. In principle, the steam boiler is not necessary for this, but it contributes significantly to the temperature stability of the machine at higher frequencies. Anyone who wants to make more than one espresso is well advised to turn on the steam boiler, even if no milk foam is to be pulled.
A heat exchanger is also the means of choice here. However, the cold brewing water is not led through the steam boiler, but in a spiral around the insulated stainless steel boiler.
Limits of the brew temperature
The limits of the brew temperature are shown without the boiler from the 4th pull onwards. The machine itself then also signals via a flashing LED that it wants to reheat. The app also reports this accordingly.
With the steam boiler switched on, we maintain performance for much longer. For this purpose, we subjected the La Marzocco Linea Micra to the WBC temperature test, which was developed for espresso machines that are approved for the World Barista Championship. These are, of course, espresso machines for professional use in the catering industry, but it is nevertheless exciting to investigate where and when an espresso machine starts to falter.
With the Linea Micra, we were able to observe this in the transition to an idle interval of 30 seconds. Here, the espresso machine could no longer maintain the temperature.
A portafilter with a concept
The portafilter of the La Marzocco Linea Micra can be flexibly converted from a bottomless portafilter to a portafilter with a 1- or 2-spout nozzle. For this purpose, a portafilter was developed that contains a mount for two polymer spouts. This high-tech plastic primarily fulfills one task: it does not absorb temperature and thus does not extract it from the espresso. Therefore, it does not have to be heated up during the warm-up phase of the espresso machine.
In fact, portafilters are often the most sluggish when heating up espresso machines, as they are far from the heat source. With the solution chosen here, La Marzocco circumvents this problem in an innovative way - but harvests many discussions from metal purists among espresso machine lovers for doing so.
In the cup, we have about 5 degrees more temperature when we compare the portafilter of the Linea Micra with the classic La Marzocco portafilter.
Conceptually, the portafilter created in this way is the consistently further thought-out solution for a fast-heating espresso machine. Anyone waiting 25 minutes for their espresso machine can easily heat up a thick stainless steel portafilter there as well.
Compact, lighter and accessories
The new La Marzocco Linea Micra weighs 18 kg, 14 kg less than the La Marzocco Linea Mini. A width of 28.8 cm, a depth of 46.5 cm, and a height of 33.5 cm make the Micra primarily narrower and deeper than the Linea Mini (35.7 cm wide, 37.7 cm high).
The smaller dimensions and, above all, the low weight make it possible for the machine to be shipped by UPS and not depend on a freight forwarder. An important factor, considering the direct sales strategy that La Marzocco has chosen for the Micra.
Also included in the delivery are a 14 g and a 17 g basket, a tamper, cleaning powder, and a 0.35 L milk pitcher as well as a blind basket. In principle, everything is included to get started with the machine.
However, La Marzocco does not exactly cover itself in glory with the tamper and the two baskets. The tamper is a little too small to sit flush with the baskets, and above all, a modern 17 - 19 gram basket is missing. We immediately optimized the machines with a corresponding basket from IMS.
Espresso quality
The La Marzocco Linea Micra has everything that makes good espresso possible. A rotary pump that is immediately up to speed and delivers constant pressure. A constant temperature in different areas of application, even just a few minutes after starting the machine.
We drank many good espressos, from light specialty espresso to stronger, darker espresso blends with a Robusta content.
Important to note: with the paddle on the front of the machine, one might get the impression that the Linea Micra can also perform pressure profiling. But that is not the case. The paddle is merely an on/off switch. No room, therefore, for gimmicks and thus no possibility to play with complex coffees by adjusting pressure or flow rate. The Linea Micra is not suitable for that.
A real downside is that the Linea Micra also does not provide water volume control or programming. The amount of espresso in the cup must be stopped manually, making the use of a scale necessary. A shot timer is available in the app, but missing on the machine itself.
Milk foam
The 1.6-liter steam boiler does its job solidly. The pressure gauge does indeed show values of up to 2 bar, but it feels like it foams with slightly less oomph than the sister models GS3 and Linea Mini. The power is easily sufficient to stir up all the milk even in a 0.6er pitcher. Only the milk wand is a bit short and makes a quite high milk fill level in the pitcher necessary.
Comparison Linea Mini and Linea Micra
Compared to the Linea Mini, the external appearance is particularly noticeable alongside the reduced size. The drip tray is also large on the Micra in relation to many other espresso machines. A nice upgrade is that the 1.6-liter water tank behind the drip tray can be easily filled without having to be pulled out. This is possible because a part of the tank that protrudes forward is embedded in the drip tray.
The Linea Micra is the first La Marzocco machine to have a float in the drip tray, which is intended to warn against overflowing. Inside the machine, there are some differences; for example, the steam boiler holds 3.5 liters, almost double that of the Micra. The heat exchanger runs through the boiler and is not wrapped around the boiler.
The temperature of the Linea Micra is set via the La Marzocco Home App.
App compulsion
Anyone wanting to use the app must first register. Why I should provide an email address to the manufacturer for the use of my espresso machine is only partially clear to me. At least this ensures that I am corresponding with the machine and not my neighbor.
The app works well in itself and connects via Bluetooth without any problems. The machine itself is then integrated into the WLAN, thus receiving new updates, learning videos, and FAQs.
Furthermore, the brew temperature, a pre-brew and pre-infusion as well as all sorts of other things can be set. A morning start and stop time can be defined as with the other IOT-capable espresso machines from La Marzocco.
The steam boiler can also be switched on via the app. A cleaning program can also be started via the app - nice.
Sales strategy and availability
The Linea Micra will initially only be sold via direct distribution by La Marzocco as well as by La Marzocco subsidiaries. The machine can be viewed in corresponding showrooms. In Germany, there are three of these, namely in Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart. In Austria, the machine can be viewed in Vienna. In Switzerland, such an option is missing. So far, according to the La Marzocco website, no online purchase is possible in Switzerland.
Direct sales naturally have advantages in terms of the selling price. This way, no reseller margin needs to be planned. Nevertheless, online sales as well as sales to only a few showrooms and shops contradict what we advise espresso machine buyers. In regions where local retailers do a good job and have also contributed to making the La Marzocco brand present in the markets, sales should always take place locally.
We also see the purchase of a machine as the start of a partnership with a local retailer, who remains the point of contact for service and questions about the machines. A local retailer can also help to assess the temperature of your own machines and is perhaps also the right address for home barista courses.
When buying a machine online, it is often forgotten that an espresso machine only makes good coffee if the person in front of it forms a well-coordinated team with the machine and grinder. A local retailer can provide valuable help in the mediation between the three.
La Marzocco is relying on sales through its own company structure also because feedback for a completely new machine arrives directly and unfiltered at the parent company. After six months, it is planned for some markets that the machine will also go through other retailers. Let's hope that this also applies to Switzerland.
Work in progress. Article will be supplemented.
Update development La Marzocco Linea Micra
August 12, 2023: In the Swiss specialist trade
The La Marzocco Linea Micra is now available in the Swiss specialist trade. It can be viewed at various locations and purchased on-site. The Swiss importer Kialoa has obtained a good deal for Switzerland, which corresponds to the special structure of the Swiss specialist trade.
