The La Marzocco Linea Mini is one of the best single-group espresso machines on the market. That much is certain. In terms of precision and power, no other machine can touch this small dual-boiler, which is modeled after the legendary Linea Classic. And yet, the Linea Mini falls short of being the perfect all-around machine.
This report, along with a short and a detailed review, summarizes the findings of our two testers, Michel Indelicato and Benjamin Hohlmann.
In the meantime, we have published a test of the successor model, the Linea Mini-R. The Linea Mini-R replaces the previous Linea. The "R" stands for "Restyle".
Disclaimer: In Switzerland, you can buy the Linea Mini from us. You should know that. Nevertheless, staying true to ourselves, we objectively highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the machine.
Built to Perform: Temperature Performance par Excellence
It’s a joy! Lever up, machine go, and the performance is spot on. The Linea Mini delivers temperature consistency both during the shot and from shot to shot. Because everything was running so smoothly, our tester Michel Aeschbacher didn't want to stop and pulled one shot after another. Following our classic temperature test protocol, the temperature consistency during extraction averaged a standard deviation of 0.39. We based this on seconds 5 through 25 of the extraction.
Such a low variance over 6 consecutive shots is really impressive! This allows any coffee to be brewed precisely. In our classic test protocol, we brew espresso every 60 seconds. After the Linea Mini performed so well, we wanted to know more and increased the frequency of the shots. But even with a shot every 30 seconds, the machine’s performance does not change. It remains constant.
Also good to know: the Linea Mini gets up and running much faster than most dual-boiler machines in our test series – although, of course, not as fast as a thermoblock. The Linea Mini is basically up to temperature in about 15 minutes.
Weight and Dimensions of the La Marzocco Linea Mini
The Linea weighs in at a considerable 32 kg, combining this with a width of 35.8 cm, a depth of 45.3 cm, and a height of 37.7 cm. The dual-boiler can be connected to the water mains, but it must be prepared accordingly. The steam boiler holds 3.5 liters and the brew boiler 0.17 liters. The water tank has a volume of 2.5 liters. The brew group is saturated. Both the boiler and the housing are made of stainless steel.
In the first hour of pulling espresso shots, the Linea Mini consumes 0.47 kWh of energy. That is quite a lot compared to dual-boiler espresso machines, which fluctuate around 0.3 kWh, or a thermoblock, which can sometimes come in under 0.1 kWh.
The very good temperature consistency despite the small boiler has structural reasons. The temperature control only kicks in during the shot. The brew water is preheated by passing through the steam boiler. The target is a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius, which is subsequently reached after longer periods of inactivity in the heat exchanger by mixing in cold water. At this temperature, the brew water enters the brew boiler, which is located directly above the brew group, and is brought to the final temperature there.
Steam Power for the Masses
If there were 1,000 guests in front of me and I could only choose one single-group machine to foam milk, the Linea Mini would be my choice. The steam power would likely not falter even for the very last cappuccino. A 0.6-liter pitcher can be foamed in just 15 seconds.
Since the steam power cannot simply be adjusted by the home barista, learning how to handle such force is necessary. For a barista accustomed to professional equipment, the Linea Mini will feel like business as usual. For beginners, there is a learning curve. However, you have to go through that anyway if a machine has too much power.
It is important not to create too much coarse foam when inserting the steam wand. This is otherwise difficult to fix later. On the other hand, the powerful performance of the Cold Touch steam wand is also suitable for a good rolling phase. This means nothing stands in the way of beautiful latte art.
Internet of Things and an Anachronistic Temperature Wheel
La Marzocco has arrived in the present with its new espresso machines. This means "Internet of Things," WLAN connectivity, and smartphone control. What is natively implemented in newly released machines feels like a compromise in the Linea Mini – an effort to make an older machine future-proof without too much effort.
Don't get me wrong: controlling the temperature via phone is a really good step that makes the Linea Mini better. Yet, the concept is not fully realized. The old temperature control wheel on the side of the machine does not move when the temperature is changed digitally, and therefore displays a different temperature than the phone. Accidental rotation of the temperature wheel overrides the digital setting. Adjusting the digital control overrides the manual wheel.
Clearly, two worlds are clashing here, and it is not yet clear in which direction things will go.
A very practical feature of the app, for example, is that the machine can be set to turn on automatically at specific times via a start timer, or even by remote control from bed.
Not all the app's potential is fully utilized either, but more on that now. Important: unlike what was said in the video review, the app itself includes a shot timer (not shot control).
The Missed Opportunity – A Machine for Small Gastronomy
Given the machine's amazing precision, its high consistency even under load—both when brewing and steaming—as well as the large cup tray and overall performance, we want to shout: the Linea Mini is perfectly suited for small cafés or restaurants with low coffee turnover that still demand quality. In principle, the Linea Mini can keep up with its big brother, the La Marzocco GS3, and for 2,000 Euros or Swiss Francs less.
But… for that, we would need water volume control and not an alibi lever.
Because no, the plastic lever on the front of the Linea Mini is not suitable for flow rate control or pressure profile management like the lever on the GS3 MP or the Lelit Bianca; it is simply for turning it on and off. Yes, it looks and feels like it should do more, but it is nothing more than an on/off switch.
And here, the app doesn't step in to give us the option of specific volume control, either. Not even a timer function is provided.
On the Linea Mini, that happens by hand, using a scale. That is fun when we do it for ourselves. There is a certain ceremonial satisfaction in this manual, nitty-gritty process. But I wish so much that an optional control feature would stop a shot. Something that simply shuts off after second X. But it is not meant to be. And because of that, the Linea Mini misses out on so much…
Conclusion
Testing the Linea Mini leaves me both enthusiastic and frustrated. The Linea Mini is a magnificent espresso machine that can brew perfect coffee and offers steaming capabilities from another planet. It has improved significantly through IoT, even if a lot of potential remains untapped in the current version. It consumes too much power and, because of its potential, is an overperformer for home use.
At this point, I am almost a little annoyed with La Marzocco. In our test, the Linea Mini performs so well that it can stand right next to the GS3 in terms of power. Maybe the GS3 has a bit more punch and endurance in terms of frequency, but that is negligible. For me, the big pro of the GS3 compared to the Linea Mini remains the volumetric water control. And I have to say, the price difference is just extreme!
