It was mentioned in the Micra thread that maybe we should have a LM thread now that there's more than just one of us! A space to share photos/findings/tips/tricks and other observations about the joys of owning one of the frankly brilliant yet totally marmite machines. I'll start with a few things I've noticed after about 6 months of owning the Linea Mini. Firstly the joys of ownership haven't faded one bit. It's still an absolute pleasure to own and use. Coffee - It's so unbelievably forgiving. I'm not sure if it's the temp/pressure consistency or what but even shots that I fully expect to be terrible are often great. There's been times my tamper has had a drop of moisture on and ruined the puck but the shot still extracts fine. Build quality - Seriously, this thing is just so rock solid, no flex on the panels, everything feels robust and weighty and there's something special about the polished stainless PF over the chromed brass I've had before. I also really like having a machine that isn't chrome/stainless - no more fingerprints, smudges and smears! Warmup time - I have mine on a smart plug and it's steam ready in well under 10 mins, even less for just coffee. LM App - I've never used this or felt a need to. Steam - I set this to 1.5 and find it to be the perfect balance of power and ease of use for 2 flat-whites worth of milk. The factory setting is 2 I think and I found it a handful with smaller pitchers. Water tank location - It's really great to be able to leave the tank connected and just pour water in. I think because of the location of it, I've also never had the fishtank smell I've had on machines where the tank ends up at a higher ambient temperature due to it being closer to the boiler. Maintenance / cleaning - I never really minded the cleaning and maintenance of an E61 but it's definitely quicker/easier on the LM. Modifications - I bought the wood kit originally but ended up returning it and now just have the LM walnut PF handle. I think in it's standard guise, it's just a great looking machine and doesn't benefit from the wooden accents. It can look amazing if you go full [Specht](https://spechtdesign.com.au) but otherwise I think it looks great as it. Rotary pump - It's no quieter than the Bianca but still a huge plus. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/9dEiOWN.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/9dEiOWN.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/lDDfsQA.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/lDDfsQA.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Well as mentioned I ordered a grey/silver micra on Wednesday and it should be arriving Monday morning. The space is setup for it - though I am hand grinders only at the moment 😂 [URL=https://i.imgur.com/xcxyk69.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/xcxyk69.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Found this about differences in screens - (short answer not alot 😂) https://youtu.be/-gLbnSzDvEI

And a guide to changing your paddle etc on the micra - good videos if you want to see it taken apart. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKjP9MFOttsxnZLOWt14AehVGEk248_8

I hadn't seen that, not much difference at all! The LM screen is great and mine also looks new after 6 months. On that note, this is a really great little tool for making cleaning a little easier and quicker. Not at all crucial as a stubby screwdriver and group brush does the same job but it's a nice to have for sure! https://www.artpressodesign.com/product/espresso-machine-58mm-group-head-cleaning-tool/ I'd say give the stock screen and baskets a good go first. I've never quite understood it but there's a trend where people get a brand new machine and start changing the baskets and screens immediately. The standard stuff is very good in this case!

@"Ernie1"#164 In terms of upkeep/cleaning what schedule do you follow ? And if you are going away for a few days - do you do anything specific like emptying the boilers/tank as much as possible ? Cheers matt

@"MattH"#p42125 I've seen contrasting advice from LM on cleaning. I suspect the instructions might be aimed at commercial use as it advises flushes with cleaner every day... but my process is as follows - (I make about 2-4 espressos day and top up the water with Waitrose Lockhills once a day.) **Daily** - just briefly flush the group (not backflush) between shots and I'll rinse the PF under the group after the last shot of the day. Some people like to backflush with water each day but I've never seen the need or any negatives from not doing it. **Weekly** - Empty / wipe tank (whilst connected) with a damp cloth (no detergent). Remove screen/screw and wash with dish soap, also wash PF properly. Wipe group under screen and use brush to clean around the seal. Baskflush 4x 10 secs with water. Drain 500ml from steam boiler, run steam for 20 seconds and properly wipe down wand. We use oat milk exclusively so easier to clean wand. **Monthly** - Soak PF in Puly Caff (or LM cleaner), backflush with Puly Caff, remove water tank and clean with dish soap (NOT with Puly Caff!!), rinse everything properly and repeat weekly cleaning routine above. I'll also run a shot of espresso through and discard it after properly cleaning. **Yearly** - I haven't got to this point yet but I'll be replacing screen/gasket, removing lid to inspect, clean as above. Some more info here: https://au.lamarzoccohome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cleaning-procedure.pdf If I'm going away then yep, I just empty tank and drain boilers as fully as possible and then do a weekly style clean when I'm back.

@"Ernie1"#p42127 Thats brilliant 🤩 thanks.

'Nordic Edition' Mini announced. Nicely done! [URL=https://i.imgur.com/gVWJ73g.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/gVWJ73g.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/I1pTFpr.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/I1pTFpr.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/XEwGsfe.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/XEwGsfe.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I saw all the “live” streams on youtube and wondered what was going on as it seemed like a bunch of screensavers 😂 - makes sense now…. But 5.8k 🤩

@"MattH"#p42156 Yeah! Slightly odd way of revealing it but nice animation. Crazy amount of money but considering the regular mini with the maple parts is like £5100 I guess £700 for a good paint job and metal badges isn't too obscene.

La Marzocco Owners Chat (All welcome!)

John_Yossarian

I am no owner of LMLM but yesterday my wife and I came back from a week in the Big Apple, NYC. Everyone has seen on TV/streaming services the big jugs of coffee people get to drink there in the morning. I was looking for small coffee shops and indeed we found a few. In particular the one we liked very much was in, funilly enough, Washington DC at the Union Station. The best coffee shot (a double ristretto) I have had for years when going outside. All the berries in the world were in this and my wife’s cups. Freshly roasted (2 days old) coffee beans.
The common denominator across (NYC) was the coffee machines. Everywhere they were La Marzocco. No exception.

It seems La Marzocco are the king of the hill when it comes to coffee shops, I am sure there are other players in the market, e.g. Nuova Simonelli, La Cimbali, etc. but the dominance of this brand in NYC was massive.

I was really very impressed and there must be a good reason for that, the quality of craftsmanship LM deliver.
Congratulations on your choice.

Ernie1

John_Yossarian

Nice to hear!

I think aside from being rock solid workhorses, some of their prevalence is down to the service network and parts availability globally. A LM tech will never be far away and likely so for many years to come.

Both the Mini and the Micra (as I recently discovered) are officially commercially graded. If they’re approved to regularly make enough shots for a small coffee shop, chances are most home users will never come close to their operating limits.

The craftsmanship and build is no doubt second to none. You’ll often see users reporting their first niggles (leaks, valve issues) years after purchase. Unlike some machines which seem to develop issues after a few months which in my opinion just shouldn’t be acceptable when spending four figure sums.

MattH

Well in the current learning stage - milk frothing is an art of opposites. Not sure I have a repeatable process yet but the few things I have gleaned so far.

Even on setting 1 - it’s more than enough power for the 3-400ml jugs I use for 200ml drinks.

I am reaching the point where trying to stretch the milk on purpose is being replaced with just stick it in and it stretches very quickly and then settles as the milk rises… the small jugs and the 4 point wand just seem to get going.

Learning to maybe not wait so long before turning off the wand.. I am getting used to feeling temp by hand but I do seem to hang on a bit too long so its become a thicker consistency by the time I turn it off. The art (if you can call it that) works better /is thinner if I catch it a bit earlier.

And I have found pouring the milk into a 600ml jug does make it easier to get right in the cup before trying the misguided pattern of the day :)

Ernie1

MattH

To be totally truthful even at 1.5 I don’t really have the control to deliberately stretch then swirl. Literally just float the tip on the milk surface, full power and as the milk stretches (usually in a fraction of a second) the level rises enough to become more of a whirlpool.

Also be mindful of the ‘touch test’ being dependent on the gauge of metal in your jug. I switched recently from a Motta to a thinner one (for the narrower spout) and I’d definitely been overheating the milk before. You can use a thermometer but also the audio clues are there, once you get that deepening sound you’re pretty much there.

This might be unique to oat milk being a bit of a faff to steam but I also tend to pour the top bit of milk down the sink after tapping the big bubbles as it’ll ruin a pour due to being slightly too aerated.

Cuprajake

Ernie1 doing any sort of latte are is difficult, let alone with oat milk, i used to use to oatly barista stuff, but found it easier to just stop drinking milk lol

MattH

Right some help needed 😂

Now and again I get water drop slipping out over the portafilter (when my puck I assume is too fine and it chokes) Now I have then been able to pull a shot with the same grind without issue - could this just be from me tamping too hard ?

Tbh I did not know too hard was a thing ? It does not feel different when I tamp ?

Cuprajake

oh never mind, just seen the sig :(

Ernie1

Cuprajake

Been trying to limit my forum time lately as between this, HB and r/espresso I spend too much time browsing threads!

I find HB more active and diverse but a nicer bunch here and I’m way more active so maybe I should cut HB out!

And yeah, all milk is a faff to steam. YouTube videos be like ‘Oh hey I’m Johnny Barista and I’ve made 200 flat whites a day for 15 years, all you need to do is stick wand in milk and whirlpool and voila perfect milk, it’s so easy!’.

@MattH

Is your PF locked in fully? When I first got the Mini I had an embarrassing situation where the PF unlocked itself under pressure, and whilst recording a vid no less. I’ll try and dig it out.

When the gaskets are new they don’t lock all the way 90 degrees without some serious force and it’s easy to not fully lock them in.

Here you go:

Cuprajake

Ernie1 i totally understand that, forums are very addictive, i do often try ti limit myself, or pull away a bit,

i find hb very aggressive and quite opinionated at times, or at least in the treads i read which are not many, hb also seems to really protect manufactures in what you can say, ive been locked off a thread more than once.

im banned from one of the other uk forums and the other uk forum isnt super active with stuff that interests me really, i know we dont have loads of active users but i think most the time we tend to all get along and respect each others opinions.

MattH

I think my over eager tamping may have been also been an issue - next drink was fine 👍 (or maybe I had the portafilter fitted better as well !)

Cuprajake

You can’t really tamp too hard, it will only compress so far👍👍👍

Amberale

Cuprajake

Come on over to CoffeeSnobs if you run out of online content.
🤠

DavecUK

Amberale Come on over to CoffeeSnobs if you run out of online content.

It was the very nice people (their words) on the very nice forum (their words) who banned @Cuprajake ……for no valid reason at all.

MediumRoastSteam

DavecUK - Wasn’t CoffeeSnobs though was it? Or did Jake get banned from that one too?

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam Wasn’t CoffeeSnobs though was it? Or did Jake get banned from that one too?

It wasn’t, but I am sure he would have deserved it just for wearing a hood.

Cuprajake

MediumRoastSteam yep one man banning wrecking crew 🤣

Guilty by association

No, I’m still on the snobs as far as I know 😄

Apparently I’ve chosen a side, whilst allowing lies to be told about me, but feck it I have bigger fish to fry than letting a few people on the tinternet not be my friend.

Sad thing is as much as I was hated on the forum that banned me, I usually provided half their weekly posts 🤯 even if I never really got comments back.

Luckily you can block people these days on social media etc and your mobile, only bad thing is I let myself get eaten up about it, and was a bit of a bitch in the process. Should of been a stronger man, I’ve come to realise you can count your friends on one hand and most people want you for something other that you. Once your purpose is complete you are fucked off quite quickly.

I now have very little time people in general, call me jaded but through work and dealing with the general public, I’ve come to realise people on the whole just ain’t very nice.

Ernie1

Cuprajake I now have very little time people in general, call me jaded but through work and dealing with the general public, I’ve come to realise people on the whole just ain’t very nice.

I know what you mean. Hard not to get wound up by people online sometimes.

For all the benefits the internet has brought us, it’s also turned an incredibly large number of people into absolute t*ssers.

DavecUK

Ernie1 For all the benefits the internet has brought us, it’s also turned an incredibly large number of people into absolute t*ssers.

That gets a plus one from me….

Cuprajake

I can have my moments like a ynof us, but I try to bite my tongue, just hard when people are telling out right lies and things like forums protect them.

Anyways moving on.

MattH

@Ernie1 So thanks for the details you provided on the cleaning schedule - did my first month run with the cleaner etc. Now I have no experience of other machines but the usability on the LM is just great - everything is easily accessable and just works.

I did the purly backflush - a couple of water backflushes afterwards - then ran off water from the tank - did the steam purge - and cleaned the water tank (this is a nice tidy solution with just the single pipe to pull out to get full access).

TBH it was quite relaxing :)

Daves tip about letting the PF drain before tipping out the puck - brilliant. I have gone back to the pullman basket and it was much easier to empty out. This may show that the nanoquartz coatings are not really needed in a basket.

Now I also have the IMS nanoquartz shower screen. Removing this for cleaning (I did not purly wash that - I put back the LM screen for the backflush. Just in case the cleaner affects the coating) I found it had little coffee in or around it.

So even with the pucks hitting the screen its not retaining anything and staying clear of grounds - so that I think is a good buy (though not sure water flow makes any difference between that and the standard shower).

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