The new La Marzocco Linea Mini-R isn't new, but it features many improvements. It's not just an update of the previous Linea Mini , but a replacement. We had the opportunity to test the Linea Mini-R before its international launch. As always, we purchased this machine and aren't shy about our opinions.
La Marzocco knows this and nevertheless embraces it, without influencing the results of our test. Sometimes the feedback is positive, as with the Linea Micra, for example. Sometimes it's mixed or even negative, as with the La Marzocco Pico.
We appreciate that La Marzocco lets us know about testing a machine before its market launch. This way, you know what we think about it right from the start. And it's an honor for us to be among the first in the world to test a machine.
What has changed with the La Marzocco Mini R?
La Marzocco remains true to itself with the Mini-R line. The machine builds on the strengths of the old machine and reworks some features and, above all, the design.
- Shottimer : The machine now has a display of the reference length, which is located in the front above the paddle.
- The feel and design of the paddle and knobs have been redesigned. They are now matte black, which creates a more premium look and feel.
- The metal plate behind the brewing group on the front is the same color as the entire machine . This looks much more harmonious, fits the overall look of the machine, and previously had to be purchased separately from other suppliers as a custom job.
- The machine is prepared to be connected to the La Marzocco Acaia scale and offer brew-by-weight .
- The pressure of the rotary pump can now be adjusted from above using a screwdriver. The adjustment is integrated into the cup holder.
- Completely redesigned pre-brewing function , even without a permanent water connection. Described in more detail below in the article.
- Modifiable portafilter with plastic spouts, as seen and discussed on the Micra.
- Revised app and functionality without internet or wifi connection once calibrated with app.
- The temperature dial on the side has disappeared.
And what else? The Linea Mini remains the Linea Mini. The main internal changes are the pre-brewing function, some modifications to the pump area, and a resulting reduction in noise. Removing the drip tray and water tank has also been redesigned, based on the Micra's functionality, and is now easier.
Buy La Marzocco Linea Mini-R
The following specialist retailers sell the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R, and we recommend purchasing it from them. All offer the option of adjusting the machine's offset.
Germany:
We search for specialist partners for you who we know offer good work and excellent service, and we maintain close contact with the retailers mentioned. The links are so-called commission links. If you order through one of these links, you won't pay a cent more – however, we receive a small commission, which we invest directly in new test equipment.
We are still looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
Who is the Mini R suitable for?
The Linea Micra shifted the logic of the single-group machine range. While the Linea Mini was previously the entry-level espresso machine from La Marzocco, theMicra now presented a genuine La Marzocco for significantly less money, yet still with good value.
The Micra heats up quickly, has relatively low energy consumption, and has everything it needs to deliver good espresso and milk foam. Besides its lower price of under €3,500, it differs from the Linea Mini in that it has significantly less horsepower under the hood.
For the quality-conscious home barista, the Micra is a welcome entry into the world of La Marzocco espresso machines. The Linea Mini, with a price tag of over €5,000, suddenly found itself in a vacuum. Who is this machine actually suitable for?
Those who truly desire power and performance from a single-group espresso machine often dig deeper into their pockets and invest an additional €1,500 to own a La Marzocco GS3. With this machine, the home barista has truly arrived in the realm of restaurant-quality coffee.
The introduction of Acaia scale integration opened up a clear distinction for the Linea Mini from the Micra (which will therefore never officially be retrofittable with a scale). With the scale integration, the Linea Mini brews via weight detection. This feature was introduced last year and was already available as an upgrade for the previous Mini. With the Mini-R, the integration is not only native but also improved.
And what is the positioning on the market now?
The Linea Mini-R isn't just intended to be the espresso machine for home baristas; with its integrated scale, it also serves as a single-group espresso machine for the hospitality industry. This is a common use case for the Mini in many smaller specialty coffee shops, especially in Asia.
In our test, we therefore extensively tested whether the Mini-R can meet this requirement.
- Is it also, especially with the revised pre-brewing , the perfect espresso machine for brewing sophisticated light roast specialty espresso?
- And last but not least: has La Marzocco, with the Mini-R, now arrived in a time where lower energy consumption is playing an increasingly important role for many home baristas?
Espresso performance and temperature consistency
The quality of espresso is what every espresso machine must be measured by. The most important criteria are temperature consistency , even across multiple shots, well-implemented pressure performance , and easy pressure adjustment. Other criteria include the included sieves and even distribution of the brewing water .
Temperature and heating time with steam boiler
Let's start with temperature consistency and readiness. It's impressive how quickly the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R reaches temperature. Testing temperature readiness takes us several days, as we let the machine cool down completely between each test cycle and only check again the next day to see if a faster heat-up is possible. With the Linea Mini-R, we measured a heat-up time of 10 minutes. We recommend rinsing the portafilter for 20 seconds after 10 minutes to ensure it's thoroughly warmed up. The brewing boiler signals readiness after just 8 minutes. However, waiting an additional two minutes is recommended.
After 10 minutes, the KM temperature protocol and then the WBC protocol were measured. With the KM temperature protocol, five shots are drawn at one-minute intervals immediately after heating up. With the WBC protocol, 14 shots are measured according to the World Barista Championship protocol after one hour of standing time with the machine running. The "idle" time, i.e., the time between shots, is progressively shortened. Despite the small boiler, the LM Mini-R achieved very good results with the KM protocol, with a standard deviation of 0.74 and 0.76 degrees, respectively, with the steam boiler switched on.
The WBC protocol has a frequency that simulates the highest possible espresso performance in a café. Working faster isn't possible with a single-group machine. In terms of temperature consistency, the La Marzocco Mini-R is therefore suitable for any high-volume processing scenario.
Pressure and espresso quality
The same can be said for pressure consistency. The machine showed no significant abnormalities across all brews. This was reflected in our test results in very good espresso brews that left nothing to be desired. We brewed various espressos, tested different recipes, and, by using a good espresso grinder and careful puck preparation, were able to achieve excellent espresso results.
Thanks to the relatively small brewing boiler, which is located directly above the brewing group, the brewing temperature can be adjusted quite quickly. To do this, the temperature is adjusted via the app. Water should be drawn for about 20 seconds to stabilize the temperature, before brewing at the adjusted temperature.
Steam boiler off causes problems
To be absolutely clear: The function for deactivating the steam boiler proved useless in our tests. We're pointing this out so clearly because the option is available in the app. Yes, the Linea Mini-R can, in principle, only be operated with the brewing boiler. However, we didn't reach the target temperature after 10 or even 20 minutes. In fact, we had to set the temperature 3 degrees higher to even reach brewing temperature. However, this was by no means as constant as the temperature of the brewing water with the steam boiler switched on. At both 93 and 96 degrees, the temperature dropped significantly.
At the end of the article, see also the graphic of the espresso extraction with the steam boiler switched off at 96 degrees.
Foam until the doctor comes
While the brewing boiler, with only 200 ml, achieves a surprisingly constant brewing temperature and shows that La Marzocco can be 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 shoots out of the lance. We're actually big fans of high pressure and set the steam boiler to the highest possible setting. With the La Marzocco Mini-R, setting 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 could stand up to the "hot chocolate" demands of Carnival. And what can I say? Give me a Mini-R and drop me off in the middle of the procession. I'll deliver.
Why anachronistic?
We've also seen good steam performance from machines with significantly smaller boilers and, above all, lower energy consumption. The La Marzocco Linea Mini-R falls into the category of power-hungry machines. With a power consumption of 0.38 kWh for 5 double shots, including preheating, it is one of the poorer espresso machines in terms of energy consumption. It only gets significantly better if we omit the steam boiler. 0.13 kWh is used for the shots, including preheating. However, due to the performance issues mentioned above, this good value can hardly be considered a benchmark. The machine simply lacks the crucial three degrees of temperature needed to meet our requirement for a preheated machine.
Design and value
"Finally," you might exclaim. 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 redesigned paddle, the twist grips on the milk lance and water supply are not only visually harmonious , but also convey quality .
I was always bothered by the shiny look of the controls on previous La Marzocco Linea Minis. They felt a bit cheap and cold. The matte finish and slightly rough feel provide a pleasant touch.
The water tank and drip tray can now be easily removed while retaining their large capacity. The drip tray has a float on the plate, which was introduced in the Micra and is familiar from many cheaper espresso machines. This makes it easy to see when 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 that long until it's full. With its enormous capacity, the drip tray becomes more of a habitat and a mosquito nest before it's full.
The stainless steel flow regulators now used in the pre-brew area of the machine are a welcome update and promise less calcification inside the machine.
And then there's the shot timer , which now displays the duration of the espresso brew on the machine. La Marzocco has finally responded to the community and created a beautiful display for the espresso brewing time. The look is similar to the numeric display on the La Marzocco Pico . It's simple, reduced to the essentials, and its understated display fits well into the overall appearance of the machine.
Modular portafilter
But let's get to the elephant in the room: the portafilter. While we found it a harmonious addition to the concept of the La Marzocco Micra, with its extremely short heat-up time and good energy performance, it feels rather alien on the Linea Mini-R. This is partly due to the fact that the plastic of the first and second spouts visually resembles the plastic of the previous control elements. It's glossy. However, the machine has now completely switched to a matte finish as a design and color element.
For those unfamiliar with portafilters, whether they were or aren't familiar with them today: La Marzocco has previously shipped two high-quality stainless steel portafilters with the Linea Mini. One was designed for single-cup brewing, the other for double-cup brewing. Instead, there's now the Micra portafilter, which saves on material, comes with two plastic twist-on attachments, and can also be used as a bottomless portafilter without the attachment. The latter is smart, and it's also smart in principle that the portafilter doesn't take as long to heat up because less material is used and the plastic is barely conductive. This means that little heat is lost to the plastic spout.
However, the Linea Mini-R, with its ambition to also play a role in gastronomic setups , seems to be incorrectly equipped with the modular portafilter. Even the good 14-, 17-, and 21-gauge ports, as well as the single-serve ports, that are also included in the scope of delivery, don't improve this. If I really need to pull a lot of shots, I don't want to tamp on the plastic portafilter, but rather use a powerful and durable stainless steel portafilter like before.
For home use, the modular portafilter is also a nice feature on the Mini-R. Of course, the stainless steel portafilter can be purchased separately. Which brings us to the accessories section of 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 key addition to the La Marzocco Mini that it should really be a standard part of the package. Even if you already have an Acaia scale, you'll need a new one to take advantage of the Mini-R's full range of features. (Unfortunately, this is the case because only the LM Acaia scale can be integrated into the app and Linea Mini.)
The scale connects to the app and, through it, to the espresso machine via Bluetooth. Connecting is generally straightforward, unless there are any issues. For us, it worked reliably on the first day; on the second day, the app started acting up and kept crashing during the connection process; and on the third day, performance was good.
Once the scale is connected, the dispensed quantity can be entered as a weight value via the app. It's great that the scale communicates with the machine even when the app isn't activated. The last entered weight selection is recalled by the machine when the paddle is operated.
When a new scale is first connected to a machine, or when switching from one espresso to a significantly different one, the accuracy of the scale's control system fluctuates considerably. However, after a few extractions, the scale settles down and then delivers the correct amount of espresso to within approximately 0.5 grams. This is good precision.
However, a good flow meter is also capable of achieving such precision. The scale should, in principle, be more powerful when working with pressure profiles or different flow rates. However, these functions are not provided for the La Marzocco Mini-R.
Criticism of the integration of the scale
The integration of a scale into the Linea Mini workflow is therefore only half-convincing for me. I like the idea in principle. However, compared to a good volumetric system, I'm not convinced by it on the Linea Mini-R.
- The weight selection can only be changed via the app, not directly on the machine. On the GS3, I simply press the 1- or 2-portion button to select a different volumetric setting.
- The accuracy of the scale is not superior to the volumetric one, at least with our pre-release firmware and software.
- The workflow with the scale is a workflow with the scale. While the scale tares well and precisely shortly after the cups are placed and the brewing process begins, the scale must first be positioned and the cups placed.
And now we come to the drip tray, which was provided to us by the manufacturer. (We purchased the machine and scale.)
The drip tray and the rinse drain
The scale drip tray has a recessed slot for the scale. And honestly, we would never buy it! While using the scale on the regular drip tray is almost second nature from working with other espresso machines without volumetric technology, removing the scale from the slot feels like finger acrobatics. On the regular drip tray, we slide it left or right, with or without cups. Done.
Yes, both La Marzocco and Acaica confirm that the scales can withstand the temperature during rinsing. But we, at least, can't bring ourselves to rinse a 400-euro scale with 90-degree hot water. It just feels wrong!
And this is where I get hung up on the whole scale and "brew-by-weight" issue. In my opinion, La Marzocco missed a great opportunity with the Mini-R to integrate the scale into the drip tray's mount, just like we know from grind-by-weight grinders or espresso machines with integrated scales.
The scale drip tray and the scale, which can be connected via Bluetooth using the app, also feel like they were tacked on later in the Mini-R, as was already the case with the La Marzocco Mini without the R.
The gastro process with the scale
For me, good volumetric or brewing quantity programming is a prerequisite for an espresso machine to make sense in the restaurant industry. That's why, in the past, I've recommended the GS3 from La Marzocco when looking for a single-group espresso machine.
The integrated scale complements the machine sensibly , making it ideal for use in a café environment. Of course, a café can also operate without volumetrics and with manual pause. However, I've experienced too many times myself, especially when working alone in a café, that guests or other tasks prevented me from pausing for 25 seconds before the espresso was pouring. As a result, I may have missed the moment when I should have manually paused the espresso.
The scale now helps me do exactly that with great precision. However, in the 15 years I've built and managed cafés and coffee houses, another criterion for an espresso machine has emerged. I want espresso machines for my cafés that are easy to use and require no additional manual intervention, especially under high frequency. Cafés only really make money when the frequency is high. That's when it really matters. Then we cover the high costs incurred in the hours spent cleaning, getting the café ready in the morning, and closing in the evening. That's why I choose espresso machines that perform precisely at that moment. And that's why I would continue to choose the GS3 over the Linea Mini-R for a gastronomic context without hesitation. Because the process of using a scale, balancing the espresso cups on the scale, and pushing them aside again for rinsing, are simply too many micro-steps for a quick and reliable process under stress.
If the scale were integrated below the drip tray (like the Decent Stand) or into the suspension, the Linea Mini-R would be an interesting alternative.
The Paddle - Style or Heavy Heritage
Yes, I like the paddle too. By the way, I think the new paddle is really elegant, and the changing angle of the paddle is also impressive. And yet, I'm also unsure whether the paddle really makes sense in the overall design of the new Brew-By-Weight espresso machine. Because it doesn't retract. While the brewing process stops cleanly via the scale control, the paddle remains in the left position. Because we didn't stop the brewing process with the paddle.
Let's put it this way: if La Marzocco had designed a truly new espresso machine, considered new features, and designed everything from scratch, I doubt the La Marzocco Lina Mini-R would look exactly the same as it does today. If it had a paddle, it would automatically retract the moment the machine stopped. Or the different weight settings would be equipped with buttons à la GS3.
Or would the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R then destroy the GS3's market position just as the Micra did for the Mini? That may be the case. After all, what could the GS3 do better than the Linea Mini-R, considering how good the Mini-R's temperature consistency under frequency and its foaming performance were.
Let's take this idea a step further: The Linea Mini-R would have an integrated scale beneath the drip tray, or the scale would be sensibly integrated. This would put the GS3 under considerable pressure. So the question now is, what would distinguish the GS3 in the future? What would it be, for example, with advanced flow rate control, storable pressure profiles, or adaptive control? We could certainly think of a few things for the La Marzocco GS3.
App control and connection
The La Marzocco app ranks among the better espresso machine apps among numerous rather poor ones. The LM app doesn't offer any major breakthroughs either, but what it offers, depending on the machine, is solid. For the Linea Mini-R, it's temperature adjustment in tenths of a degree increments, three pressure levels for the steam boiler , a pre-brew, and a pre-infusion (both described in the next chapter).
You can also program the espresso machine's start time . Perhaps you want the machine to start earlier on Mondays and not until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays. However, this function is probably more relevant for models like the GS3. The Linea Mini-R, with its short heat-up time, gets up to speed quickly.
If the scale is connected to the app and machine via Bluetooth, the app interface also allows you to save the scale's volume in 0.1 gram increments on two programmable virtual buttons. Once the scale, machine, and app have become proficient, the interaction between the scale and machine will work even without the app. The last set dosage will then be reproduced.
The Linea Mini-R's rinsing function can also be adjusted. If the paddle is briefly activated, the espresso machine rinses for a defined period of time. This is a handy feature for reducing the time needed for flushing.
The app's transfer to the machine is rather slow. It takes about half a second for settings like changing the temperature or volume to be transferred. This feels a bit nostalgic in times of instant program responses, like command prompts in Windows XP, but it's manageable. The login and account requirements are more annoying. Yes, you heard right.
To use the app and thus the espresso machine, you first need a La Marzocco user account. This is created either via an email address or a Google account. This was incredibly annoying in the past and still is today. At least the machine now works without Wi-Fi once configured. This is definitely a good development step for the app!
Pre-brewing and pre-infusion
If the Linea Mini-R is connected to the mains water supply, which is possible, as is the installation of the wastewater pipe, the pre-infusion option is activated. When pre-infusion is activated, the coffee is pre-wetted using the water pressure, which in many households is around 3 bar. This means the pump is not activated, thus applying full brewing pressure to the coffee. The pre-brewing time can be selected. This promotes a more even extraction, especially with poor puck preparation or grinders with pronounced clumping.
Pre-brewing is a variation of pre-wetting and is implemented slightly differently on the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R than on other espresso machines. Pre-brewing essentially involves activating the pump for a definable period of time. This builds up full pressure and delivers it to the coffee cake. A pause time can then be set. For example, we could deliver water for 3 seconds, then pause for 6 seconds, and then deliver brewing water again at pump pressure.
What's special about the Linea Mini-R's design is that the integrated second solenoid valve prevents the pre-brew water from being released. We'll examine the precise flavor implications of this in a separate series of tests. The espressos we've had so far, both with and without pre-brew, have been excellent.
Conclusion La Marzocco Linea Mini-R
With the Linea Mini-R, La Marzocco has strived to find a good place between the Micra and the GS3 in the machine portfolio. And the Linea Mini-R has turned out to be a truly excellent espresso machine. I would definitely recommend it to many other espresso machines on the market because it performs so well, is powerful, and also looks great. And not just because La Marzocco is on the front (see also the article on the acquisition of La Marzocco by Delonghi ).
Taken on its own, there are many things that are really 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 WiFi (once connected), etc.
And yet, the missed opportunities are significant. While legacy issues like the temperature dial have now been eliminated, others prevent a complete overhaul of the machine. While that wasn't the goal, the superficial integration of the scale or the steam boiler activation function seems like they were added later, without delving deeply into the design. The workflow with the scale could be so much better if it were neatly integrated below the drip tray. While the steam boiler can be turned off, thus saving energy, the temperature performance of the La Marzocco Linea Mini-R suddenly becomes second-rate. However, if an elite manufacturer suggests to me that this function is possible with the "Steam Boiler Deactivation" function, then we expect performance there. We already sharply criticized this with the first version of the Baby T Plus, and it must be addressed just as clearly here. Ascaso responded at the time and revised the coupling of the steam boiler and thermoblock. Let's see where things go with La Marzocco and the Linea Mini-R.
In any case, we will now play around with the pre-brewing process a bit and add to this article again in due course.
