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, while the GS 3 and Linea Mini can certainly also find a place in the gastro context in terms of performance. This is also reflected in the price: the Linea Micra in the stainless steel version at around €3,330 is 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 not only supposed to be cheaper, but also bring additional features that make particular sense at home. Low power consumption is just as much on the wish list as fast heating behavior and compact dimensions.
In this test report, we take a close look at the Linea Micra and present the strengths and weaknesses of the newly launched machine. As always, there is an extensive test video as well as a summary of the video in shorter form.
Perhaps also of interest: in the meantime, a test of the new La Marzocco Linea Mini-R has appeared on our site.
(Article still in progress).
A milestone for boiler espresso machines
To be honest, we had written off boiler espresso machines. In terms of heating speed and power consumption, there had been little progress in recent years, while thermoblocks and thick-film heaters set new standards. Heating times of 5 minutes and power consumption reduced by a factor of five were quite a statement. Our eulogy for espresso machines with boilers had already begun.
With the Micra, La Marzocco dismantles our assessment and proves once again that in Florence, espresso machines are not cobbled together from an ever-identical assortment of components, but innovation is driven forward.
The La Marzocco Linea Micra promises a heating time of 5 minutes. In other words, this means: in the sixth minute after we turn on the espresso machine, the machine should be ready to use. And what can we say?! Yes, our tests with the Micra confirm exactly that.
And that's not all. The Linea Micra also takes the pole position when it comes to power consumption. After heating up, with five double espresso shots, the La Marzocco Linea Micra with the steam boiler switched off shows a power consumption of 0.07 kWh. This is the lowest value we have ever measured on an espresso machine!
In our new display, we show the energy consumption of the La Marzocco Linea Micra in even more detail. The consumption for one espresso with the steam boiler switched off is 0.038 kWh. For a cappuccino, 0.206 kWh is required. Switching on the steam boiler significantly increases energy consumption.
Cooperating boilers and temperature stability
An important role is played by the interconnected boilers, which can operate independently of each other. The Linea Micra is equipped with a 1.6 l boiler that is responsible for the steam power of the machine and can also support temperature stability over longer running 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 to the low power consumption is that the machine can operate without a steam boiler. While some manufacturers do allow the steam boiler to be switched off, they neglect the fact that via a heat exchanger it must provide essential preliminary heating of the brewing water. And then the equation simply doesn't add up if the control system doesn't pump sufficient power into the coffee boiler.
With the Linea Micra, this interplay works. The boiler and brew group achieve the necessary temperature on their own to bring the brewing water to our target temperature. The steam boiler is therefore not strictly necessary, but does contribute significantly to the machine's temperature stability at higher frequency. So if you want to make more espresso, it's advisable to turn on the steam boiler, even if no milk froth is to be drawn.
A heat exchanger is also the method of choice here. However, the still cold brewing water is not routed through the steam boiler, but spirals around the insulated stainless steel boiler.
Limits of brewing temperature
The limits of brewing temperature become apparent without the boiler at the 4th shot. The machine itself then also signals via an illuminated LED that it wants to reheat. The app also responds 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 approved at the World Barista Championship. Of course, these are espresso machines for professional use in gastronomy, but it's still interesting to investigate where and when an espresso machine reaches its limits.
With the Linea Micra, we were able to determine this in the transition to an idle interval of 30 seconds. Here the espresso machine could no longer maintain temperature.
A portafilter with concept
The portafilter of the La Marzocco Linea Micra can be flexibly converted from a naked portafilter to a portafilter with 1 or 2 spouts. To do this, a portafilter was developed that contains a receptacle for two polymer spouts. This high-tech plastic primarily serves one purpose: it does not absorb temperature and thus does not draw it from the espresso. Therefore, it does not need to be warmed up during the heating phase of the espresso machine.
In fact, portafilters are often the most sluggish when warming up espresso machines, since they are far from the heat source. With the solution chosen here, La Marzocco elegantly bypasses this problem - but harvests many discussions from metal purists among espresso machine enthusiasts as a result.
In the cup we have around 5 degrees more temperature when we compare the Linea Micra's portafilter to the classic La Marzocco portafilter.
Conceptually, the portafilter created this way is the logically further developed solution for a fast-heating espresso machine. If someone waits 25 minutes for their espresso machine, they can easily warm up a chunky stainless steel portafilter at the same time.
Compact, lighter and accessories
Weighing 18 kg, the new La Marzocco Linea Micra is 14 kg lighter 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 above all narrower and deeper than the Linea Mini (35.7 cm wide, 37.7 cm tall).
The smaller dimensions and especially the light weight make it possible for the machine to be shipped by UPS and not dependent on a freight company. 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 there to get started with the machine.
However, La Marzocco doesn't cover itself with glory with the tamper and the two baskets. The tamper is a bit too small to close flush with the baskets and above all, there is no modern 17-19 gram basket. 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 delivers immediate performance and consistent pressure. Consistent temperature in various operating ranges and that just minutes after starting the machine.
We have drunk many good espressos, from light specialty espresso to stronger darker espresso blends with 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 run pressure profiles. However, this is not the case. The paddle is merely an on and off switch. No room for tricks and thus no possibility to play with complex coffees by adjusting pressure or flow rate. The Linea Micra is not suitable for this.
A real drawback is that the Linea Micra also does not provide water quantity control and programming. The amount of espresso in the cup must be stopped manually and thus makes the use of a scale necessary. A shot timer is available in the app, but is missing from the machine itself.
Milk froth
The 1.6 liter steam boiler does its job solidly. The pressure gauge does show values of up to 2 bar, but froths with noticeably less punch than the sister models GS3 and Linea Mini. The performance is more than sufficient to bring all the milk to a boil even in a 0.6 liter pitcher. The milk wand is only a bit short and requires a fairly high milk fill level in the pitcher.
Comparison Linea Mini and Linea Micra
Compared to the Linea Mini, visually aside from the reduced size, mainly externalities stand out. The drip tray is also large on the Micra compared to many other espresso machines. A nice upgrade is that the 1.6 liter water tank behind the drip tray can be easily refilled without having to be pulled out. This is possible because a part of the tank protruding forward is recessed into the drip tray.
The Linea Micra is the first La Marzocco machine to have a float in the drip tray to warn against overflow. Inside the machine there are some differences; the steam boiler at 3.5 liters is almost double that of the Micra. The heat exchanger runs through the boiler and is not wrapped around it.
The temperature of the Linea Micra is controlled via the La Marzocco Home App.
App requirement
If you want to use the app, you must first register. Why I should provide an email address to the manufacturer to use my espresso machine is not entirely clear to me. At least this ensures that I correspond with the machine and not my neighbor.
The app works well in itself and connects easily via Bluetooth. The machine is then integrated into the WLAN, receives new updates, instructional videos and FAQs.
In addition, you can adjust the brewing temperature, pre-brewing and pre-infusion, as well as various other things. 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. You can also start a cleaning program via the app - nice.
Sales strategy and availability
The Linea Micra is initially only sold via direct sales from La Marzocco and through La Marzocco subsidiaries. The machine can be viewed in corresponding showrooms. In Germany, there are three of them, namely in Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart. In Austria, the machine can be viewed in Vienna. In Switzerland, there is no such opportunity. According to the La Marzocco website, online purchase in Switzerland is also not currently possible.
Direct sales certainly has advantages when it comes to selling price. After all, no reseller margin needs to be planned in. Nevertheless, online sales and sales at only a few showrooms and stores contradict what we recommend to espresso machine buyers. In regions where local dealers do good work 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 beginning of a partnership with a local dealer who remains a contact person for service and questions about the machines. A local dealer can also help assess the temperature of your own machines and may also be the right contact for home barista courses.
When buying a machine online, it's often forgotten that an espresso machine only makes good coffee if the person in front of it and the machine and grinder form a well-rehearsed team. A local dealer can provide valuable help in mediating between the three.
La Marzocco relies on sales through its own operating 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 dealers. 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 Swiss specialized retail
The La Marzocco Linea Micra is now available in Swiss specialist retail. It can be viewed and purchased on-site in various locations. The Swiss importer Kialoa has negotiated a good deal for Switzerland that matches the special structure of Swiss specialist retail.
