Not brand new, but with many revisions, the new La Marzocco Linea Mini-R is here. It is not just an update to the previous Linea Mini, but actually replaces it. We had the opportunity to test the Linea Mini-R before its international market launch. As always, we bought this machine ourselves and aren't holding back our opinion.
La Marzocco is aware of this and yet still agrees to it, without influencing the result of our test. Sometimes the feedback is positive, such as with the Linea Micra. Sometimes it is mixed or rather negative, as with the La Marzocco Pico.
We appreciate that La Marzocco informs us so we can test a machine before its market launch. This way, you know from the start what we think of the machine. And for us, it is an honor to be among the first worldwide to test a machine.
What has changed with the La Marzocco Mini R?
La Marzocco stays true to itself with the Linea Mini-R. The machine builds on the strengths of the old model and revises some functions and, above all, the design.
- Shot timer: The machine now features an extraction time display, located on the front above the paddle.
- The haptics and design of the paddle and knobs have been revised. They are now matte black, which looks higher-quality and also feels better.
- The metal plate behind the group head on the front is color-matched to the rest of the machine. This looks much more cohesive, fits the unity of the machine, and previously had to be purchased as an additional, customized part from third-party providers.
- The machine is prepped to connect to the La Marzocco Acaia scale to offer brew-by-weight capabilities.
- The rotary pump pressure can now be adjusted from the top with a screwdriver. The adjustment is integrated into the cup tray.
- Completely revised pre-brewing function, even without a direct water connection. Described in more detail below in the article.
- Modular portafilter with plastic spouts, as seen and discussed with the Micra.
- Revised app and functionality without internet or Wi-Fi connection, once calibrated via the app.
- The temperature wheel on the side has disappeared.
And otherwise? The Linea Mini remains the Linea Mini. The essential internal changes are the pre-brewing, some modifications in the pump area, and an associated reduction in volume. The removal of the drip tray and water tank has also been revised, based on the Micra's design, and is now easier to handle.
Buy the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R
The following specialty shops sell the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R, and we can recommend purchasing from these companies. All of them offer the option to adjust the machine's offset.
Germany:
We are searching for specialty partners for you whom we know provide good work and good service, and we are in close contact with the mentioned retailers. These links are so-called commission links. If you order via one of these links, you won't pay a cent more — but we receive a small commission that we invest directly back into new test equipment.
We are still looking for competent partners in the DACH region for you.
Who is the Mini R for?
The Linea Micra shifted the logic of the single-group machine lineup. While the Linea Mini used to be the entry-level espresso machine from La Marzocco, the Micra now presents itself as a true La Marzocco for significantly less money, while still offering a good price-performance package.
The Micra heats up quickly, has a relatively low energy consumption, and has everything to deliver good espresso and milk foam. Beyond the lower price of under €3,500, it differs from the Linea Mini in that it has significantly less power under the hood.
For the quality-conscious home barista, the Micra is a rewarding entry into the world of La Marzocco espresso machines. The Linea Mini, with a price of over €5,000, was suddenly caught in an argumentative vacuum. Who is this machine actually the right one for?
Because anyone who truly wanted power and performance on a single-group espresso machine often dug deeper into their pockets and invested another €1,500 more to call a La Marzocco GS3 their own. By this point, the home barista has definitely arrived at the level of gastro-quality at home.
The introduction of the Acaia scale integration opened up a clear distinction for the Linea Mini from the Micra (which is why the latter will never officially be retrofittable with a scale). By connecting the scale, the Linea Mini brews via weight recognition. This feature was presented last year and was already available as an upgrade for the previous Mini. With the Mini-R, the connection is not only native but also improved.
And how does it position itself on the market now?
Today, the Linea Mini-R doesn't just want to be an espresso machine for the home barista; with the integrated scale, it also performs as a single-group espresso machine in a gastronomic setting. In many smaller specialty coffee shops, especially in the Asian region, this is a common use case for the Mini.
In our review, we have therefore tested extensively whether the Mini-R can live up to this claim.
- Is it also, especially with the revised pre-brewing, the perfect espresso machine for brewing sophisticated, light-roasted specialty espresso?
- And last but not least: has La Marzocco, with the Mini-R, finally arrived at a time when lower energy consumption plays an increasingly important role for many home baristas?
Espresso performance and temperature stability
The quality of espresso is the yardstick by which every espresso machine must be measured. The most important criteria for this are temperature stability, even over multiple shots, well-implemented pressure performance, as well as easy pressure adjustability. Further criteria include the included baskets as well as an even distribution of brew water.
Temperature and heat-up time with steam boiler
Let's start with temperature stability and readiness. It is impressive how quickly the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R reaches temperature. Our test of temperature readiness takes several days, as we let the machine cool down completely between every measurement cycle and check the next day if a faster heat-up is possible. For the Linea Mini-R, we were able to determine a heat-up time of 10 minutes. We recommend flushing the portafilter for 20 seconds after 10 minutes to ensure it is thoroughly warmed through as well. The brew boiler signals readiness after just 8 minutes. However, waiting two additional minutes is recommended.
After 10 minutes, the KM temperature protocol and subsequently the WBC protocol were measured. With the KM temperature protocol, five shots are pulled at one-minute intervals immediately after heating up. With the WBC protocol, 14 shots are measured after one hour of idle time with the machine running, according to the World Barista Championship protocol. The "idle" time, i.e., the time between shots, is increasingly shortened. Despite the small boiler, the LM Mini-R showed a very good result with the steam boiler switched on, with a standard deviation of 0.74 and 0.76 degrees respectively in the KM protocol.
The WBC protocol has a frequency that simulates the highest possible espresso performance in a café. You can't work faster with a single-group machine. In terms of temperature stability at least, the La Marzocco Mini-R is therefore suitable for any mass-processing scenario.
Pressure and espresso quality
The same can be said for pressure stability. The machine showed no noteworthy irregularities across all shots. This was reflected in our test in very good espresso shots that left nothing to be desired. We brewed different espressos, tested various recipes, and were able to achieve very good espresso results by using a good espresso grinder and careful puck preparation.
Thanks to the relatively small brew boiler that sits directly above the group head, quite rapid adjustment of the brewing temperature is also possible. To do this, the temperature is changed via the app. About 20 seconds of water should be flushed to stabilize the temperature before using the new temperature.
Steam boiler off causes problems
To be perfectly clear: the function to deactivate the steam boiler proves unusable in our tests. We point this out so clearly because the option exists in the app. Yes, in principle, the Linea Mini-R can be operated with only the brew boiler. However, we did not reach the target temperature after 10 or even 20 minutes. In fact, we had to set the temperature 3 degrees higher just to reach the brewing temperature. This was, however, in no way as consistently stable as the temperature of the brew water when the steam boiler is switched on. Both at 93 and 96 degrees, the temperature dropped significantly during the shot.
See the end of the article for the chart of the espresso shot with the steam boiler turned off at 96 degrees.
Frothing until the doctor comes
While the brew boiler, with only 200 ml, delivers a surprisingly constant brewing temperature and shows that La Marzocco can do smart, the steam boiler is more of a testament to power and an anachronistic attitude.
Yes, the machine delivers 1.9 bar and the steam just blasts out of the wand. We are actually big fans of high pressure and set steam boilers to the highest possible level. With the La Marzocco Mini-R, level 3 is almost too powerful even for professional barista Michel Indelicato. A few seconds are enough to heat the steam and rotate it.
In Basel, we measure steam power performance by whether a machine would stand up to the "hot chocolate" demands during Fasnacht. And what can I say? Give me a Mini-R and drop me off in the middle of the procession. I will deliver.
Why anachronistic?
We have also seen good steam performance from machines with significantly smaller boilers and, above all, lower energy consumption. The La Marzocco Linea Mini-R joins the ranks of power-guzzling machines. With a power consumption of 0.38 kWh for 5 double shots including heating up, it belongs to the worse espresso machines in terms of energy consumption. It only gets significantly better if we leave the steam boiler off. 0.13 kWh is recorded here for the shots including heating. However, because of the performance difficulties mentioned above, this good value can hardly be used as a metric. The machine simply lacks the crucial three degrees of temperature to meet our demands for properly heated machines.
Design and value
"Finally," one wants to shout. With the lower front panel, the entire machine is now designed in the style of the color variant. What Specht-Design or Deon previously had to retrofit is now part of the machine. And the revised paddle, the knobs for the steam wand, and the water tap are not only visually consistent but also convey a sense of quality.
In earlier La Marzocco Linea Minis, the shiny look of the controls always bothered me. They felt somewhat cheap and cold. The matte look and slightly rough texture provide a pleasant touch.
The water tank and drip tray can now be removed easily and retain their large capacity. The drip tray has a float on the plate, which was introduced with the Micra and which we know from many cheaper espresso machines. This makes it easy to see if it's time to empty the drip tray. However, the drip tray of the LM Mini-R is so large that hardly anyone will wait until this large tray is full. Before the drip tray is full, its enormous capacity makes it more likely to become a biotope and a mosquito nest.
The now used stainless steel flow regulators in the pre-brewing area of the machine are a welcome update and promise less calcification inside the machine.
And then there is the shot timer, which now shows the duration of the espresso shot on the machine. La Marzocco has—finally—responded to the community and created a nice display for the espresso shot time. The look resembles the digit display of the La Marzocco Pico. It is simple, reduced to the bare essentials, and fits well into the machine's image with its discreet display.
Modular portafilter
But let's get to the elephant in the room: the portafilter. What was a coherent addition to the concept—at least for us—in the La Marzocco Micra with its extremely short heat-up time and good energy performance, seems more like a foreign object on the Linea Mini-R. The reason for this is also that the plastic of the single and double spouts visually resembles the plastic of the earlier controls. It is shiny. But the machine has now completely switched to matte as a design and color element.
For those who aren't familiar with the portafilter from before or now: La Marzocco has previously supplied the Linea Mini with two high-quality stainless steel portafilters. One was intended for pulling single shots and the other for double shots. Instead, there is now the Micra portafilter, which saves on material, comes with two plastic spout attachments, and can also be used as a bottomless portafilter without an attachment. The latter is smart, and in principle, it is also smart that the portafilter doesn't have to heat up for as long because less material is used and the plastic is hardly conductive. So, little temperature is lost to the plastic spout.
However, the Linea Mini-R, with its aspiration to also play a role in gastronomic setups, seems wrongly equipped with the modular portafilter. The good 14g, 17g, and 21g baskets, as well as single-portion baskets, which are also included in the scope of delivery, don't make that any better. If I really have to pull many shots, then I don't want to tamp on the plastic attachment, but rather on a powerful and robust stainless steel portafilter like before.
For home use, the modular portafilter is a nice thing even on the Mini-R. Of course, the stainless steel portafilter can be purchased additionally. Which brings us to the accessories in this article.
An Acaia scale changes the Mini
The most important and best upgrade for the Mini is the Bluetooth scale adapted by Acaia for the Mini. The scale is such a central addition to the La Marzocco Mini that it should actually be a fixed component of the package. Because even those who already have an Acaia scale today will need a new one to use the full functionality of the Mini-R. (Unfortunately, that's just how it is, as only the LM Acaia scale can be integrated into the app and the Linea Mini.)
The scale is connected via Bluetooth to the app—and thereby to the espresso machine. Connecting it is actually without issues, if there are no issues. For us, it worked reliably on the first day, on the second day the app was temperamental and kept dropping the connection, and on the third day the performance was good.
When the scale is connected, the output amount can be entered as a weight value via the app. A very good feature is that the scale also communicates with the machine when the app is not activated. The last weight selection entered is recalled by the machine when the paddle is operated.
When a new scale is connected to a machine for the first time, or when switching from one espresso to a significantly different one, the accuracy of the scale control has larger fluctuations. After a few shots, however, the scale settles in well and then delivers the amount in the cup with an accuracy of approx. 0.5 grams of deviation. That is good precision.
However, a good flowmeter is also capable of achieving such precision. The scale should, in principle, have strengths when working with pressure profiles or different flow rates. These features, however, are not intended for the La Marzocco Mini-R at all.
Critique of the scale integration
The integration of a scale into the Linea Mini workflow is therefore only half-convincing to me. In principle, I like the idea. However, compared to good volumetrics, it does not convince me on the Linea Mini-R.
- The grammage selection can only be changed via the app, and not directly on the machine. On the GS3, I simply press the 1-cup or 2-cup button to select a different volume setting.
- The accuracy of the scale is not superior to volumetrics, at least with our pre-release firmware and software.
- The workflow with the scale is a workflow with the scale. Although the scale tares well and precisely shortly after the cups are set up and the shot is started, the scale must first be positioned, and the cups must be placed.
And now we come to the drip tray, which was provided to us by the manufacturer. (We bought the machine and scale ourselves.)
The drip tray and the flushing process
The scale drip tray has a recessed indentation for the scale. And honestly: we would never buy it! While the workflow with the scale on the normal drip tray is almost habit-forming from working with other espresso machines without volumetrics, digging the scale out of the indentation feels like finger acrobatics. On the normal drip tray, we push to the left or right with or without cups. Done.
Yes, both La Marzocco and Acaia confirm that the scale should withstand the temperature when flushing. But at least we can't bring ourselves to flush 90-degree hot water over a 400-euro scale. That just feels wrong!
And this is where I get hung up on the whole scale and "brew-by-weight" topic. For me, La Marzocco misses a great opportunity with the Mini-R to integrate the scale into the suspension of the drip tray. Just as we know from grind-by-weight grinders or even espresso machines with integrated scales.
The scale drip tray and the scale that can be connected via Bluetooth via the app also feel a bit tacked on in the Mini-R, just as was already the case with the La Marzocco Mini without the R.
The gastro-workflow with the scale
Good volumetrics or brew amount programming is, for me, the prerequisite in the catering industry for an espresso machine to make sense. That is why I have recommended the GS3 from La Marzocco in the past when it came to a single-group espresso machine.
The integration of the scale usefully complements the machine, so that it is in principle well usable in a café environment. Of course, one can also work in a café without volumetrics and with manual stopping. However, I have experienced too often myself, especially when I was working alone in a café, that guests or other work prevented me from standing in front of the espresso as it flowed out for 25 seconds. Accordingly, I might have then missed the moment when I should have stopped the espresso manually.
The scale now helps me to carry that out very precisely. In the 15 years in which I have built and managed cafés and coffee houses, however, another criterion for an espresso machine has been added. I want espresso machines for my cafés that, above all, manage easily and without additional hand movements, even under highest frequency. Only at high frequency do cafés really earn money. That is precisely when it counts. That is when we cover the high costs that arise in the hours of cleaning, preparing the café in the morning, and evening closing. That is why I choose espresso machines that perform at exactly this moment. And that is why I would continue to prefer the GS3 without hesitation over the Linea Mini-R for a gastronomic context. Because the workflow with the scale, balancing the espresso cups on it, and pushing it back to the side for flushing are simply too many micro-steps for a fast and reliable workflow under stress.
If the scale were below the drip tray (like on the Decent stand) or integrated into the suspension, the Linea Mini-R would be an interesting alternative.
The paddle - style or heavy legacy
Yes, I like the paddle too. By the way, I think the new paddle is really elegant, and the changing angle of the paddle also adds something. And yet, I am also unsure about the paddle whether it really makes sense in terms of the overall concept in the new brew-by-weight espresso machine. Because: it does not return. Although the shot stops cleanly via the control of the scale, the paddle remains in the left position. Because we didn't stop the shot with the paddle.
Let's put it this way: if La Marzocco had designed a truly new espresso machine, thought about new functions, and designed everything from scratch, then I doubt the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R would look exactly the same as it does today. If with a paddle, then it would automatically return to the starting position at the moment the machine stops. Or the different weight amounts would be equipped with buttons à la GS3 immediately.
Or would the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R then ruin the market position for the GS3 just as the Micra did for the Mini? That may be. Because what could the GS3 do better than the Linea Mini-R, if we keep in mind how good the temperature stability under frequency and the frothing performance of the Mini-R were?
Let's take the thought a step further: The Linea Mini-R would have an integrated scale below the drip tray or the scale meaningfully integrated. It would thus put the GS3 under strong pressure. So now the question is, what would distinguish the GS3 in the future? What about, for example, advanced flow rate control, storable pressure profiles, or adaptive control? We could certainly come up with quite a few things for the La Marzocco GS3.
App control and connectivity
The La Marzocco app ranks as one of the better espresso machine apps next to numerous rather poor apps. The LM app doesn't make any great leaps, but what it delivers depending on the machine is solid. With the Linea Mini-R, it is the setting of the temperature in tenth-of-a-degree increments, 3 pressure levels of the steam boiler, a pre-brewing, as well as pre-infusion (both described in the next chapter).
It is also possible to program the start time of the espresso machine. On Mondays, the machine should perhaps turn on earlier and on Tuesdays not until 10:00 AM. However, this function is probably more interesting for models like the GS3. The Linea Mini-R with its short heat-up time is, after all, quickly up to speed.
If the scale is connected via Bluetooth to the app and machine, the volume of the scale can also be saved on two programmable virtual buttons via the app interface. Once the scale, machine, and app have synchronized, the interaction between scale and machine also works without the app. The last set dosing amount is then reproduced each time.
The flushing function of the Linea Mini-R can also be set. If the paddle is activated briefly, the espresso machine flushes for a defined time. A nice feature to flush with some time reduction.
The app has a rather sluggish transmission to the machine. It takes about half a second until settings like the temperature change or change of the volume amount are transmitted. That feels nostalgic in times of immediate reaction of programs, like giving commands on Windows XP, but is tolerable. The mandatory login and account requirement is more annoying. Yes, you heard me right.
To be able to operate the app and thus also the espresso machine, you first need a La Marzocco user account. That is created either via an email address or via a Google account. What has already annoyed tremendously in the past still annoys today. At least the machine works today even without Wi-Fi once it is configured. That, at least, is a good development step of the app!
Pre-brewing and pre-infusion
If the Linea Mini-R is connected to the direct water line, which is possible just like mounting the wastewater pipe, the option of pre-infusion is unlocked. With activated pre-infusion, the coffee is pre-wetted with the water line pressure, which is around 3 bar in many households. So, the pump is not activated and thus the full brewing pressure is not applied to the puck. The pre-brewing time can be chosen by oneself. In this way, a more even extraction is supported, especially with poorer puck preparation or grinders with more pronounced clumping.
Pre-brewing is a variation of pre-wetting and is solved slightly differently in the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R than in other espresso machines. Pre-brewing consists in principle of activating the pump for a definable time. So, full pressure is built up and delivered to the coffee puck. Subsequently, a pause time can be set. As an example, we can deliver water for 3 seconds, set a 6-second pause, and then subsequently deliver brew water again with pump pressure.
A special feature of the construction of the Linea Mini-R is that due to the integration of a second solenoid valve, the pre-brewing water is not relieved. What exact flavor implications that has, we will investigate in a separate review series. The espressos we have pulled so far with and without pre-brewing were in any case excellent.
Conclusion La Marzocco Linea Mini-R
La Marzocco has made an effort with the Linea Mini-R to find a good middle ground in the machine park between the Micra and the GS3. And the Linea Mini-R has also become a really good espresso machine. I would prefer it to many other espresso machines on the market because it performs so well, is powerful, and also looks good. And not just because it says La Marzocco on the front (see also the article on the acquisition of La Marzocco by Delonghi).
Taken by itself, much is really very good about the Linea Mini-R.
- Very good steam performance
- Very good temperature stability
- After calibration, good consistency of volumes when using the scale
- Improvements such as integration of a shot timer, use without Wi-Fi (once connected), etc.
And yet the missed opportunities are weighty. While legacy issues like the temperature wheel have now been resolved, others prevent a complete overhaul of the machine. Although that was not the goal, the superficial integration of the scale or the function of turning the steam boiler on or off still seems like it was added later, without deep integration into the design. The workflow with the scale could be so much better if it were neatly integrated below the drip tray. The steam boiler can be switched off and thus energy saved, but the temperature performance of the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R then suddenly becomes second-class. However, if an elite manufacturer suggests to me with the "Steam Boiler Off" function that this function is possible, then we also expect performance there. We already criticized this sharply with the first version of the Baby T Plus and must also address it just as clearly here. Ascaso reacted at that time and revised the coupling of the steam boiler and thermoblock. Let's see where the journey with La Marzocco and the Linea Mini-R goes.
In any case, we will now play around with the pre-brewing a bit more and will add to this article in due course.
