La Marzocco has been building espresso machines by hand in Florence for almost a century. Its machines are known for stable temperature shot after shot, and the range covers everything from home setups to the busiest café bars.
This guide covers where La Marzocco came from, how its machines work, and every La Marzocco machine and grinder we stock at The Era Store, along with who each one suits.
- History
- How they work
- Home machines
- Café machines
- Side by side
- Grinders
- Which to buy
- Buying in the UAE
- FAQ
La Marzocco's History
1927. Brothers Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi set up their own workshop in Florence to build espresso machines by hand. They name it after the Marzocco, the lion that is the symbol of Florence.
1939. Giuseppe Bambi patents an espresso machine with a horizontal boiler, the first of its kind. Laying the boiler on its side made room for more groups in a row, and it went on to become the standard layout for café machines.
1970. La Marzocco patents the GS, the first machine with dual boilers and saturated groups. One boiler handles brewing and the other handles steam, so steaming milk doesn't disturb brew temperature.
1990. Piero Bambi, son of Giuseppe, designs the Linea, now known as the Linea Classic. It became one of the most widely used machines in specialty coffee.
2015. La Marzocco brings the Linea home with the Linea Mini, a dual boiler home machine derived from the Linea Classic.
How La Marzocco Machines Work
Dual boilers. Every La Marzocco machine we stock has separate boilers for brewing and steaming, so you can pull a shot and steam milk at the same time without either one affecting the other.
Saturated groups. The brew group is filled with water from the coffee boiler, so the metal around your coffee stays at the same temperature as the water. That's a big part of why the first shot of the day tastes like the fiftieth.
PID control. Digital temperature control holds each boiler at the temperature you set.
Paddle or volumetric. Paddle machines let you start and stop the shot by hand and, on some models, control the flow. Volumetric (AV) machines stop the shot automatically at a programmed volume, which keeps every drink consistent during busy periods.
La Marzocco Home Machines
Linea Mini R
The home version of the Linea used in cafés around the world, rebuilt with modern workflow features. It has dual boilers with PID, a semi-automatic paddle inspired by La Marzocco's 1970s machines, and a new two-valve pre-infusion system. Brew-by-weight stops the shot at your target yield, a built-in timer tracks every extraction, and you can adjust pump pressure to suit the coffee. It connects to the La Marzocco Home app.
For home baristas who want repeatable shots with modern controls in a compact body. See the Linea Mini R.
GS3 AV
A dual boiler machine with a 3.5 L steam boiler and a 1.5 L coffee boiler, a saturated group, and dual PID. It's auto-volumetric, so it doses each shot automatically. The built-in water reservoir makes plumbing optional, so it runs from a power socket alone. It has a Performance Touch steam wand, and it's handmade in Florence.
For homes and offices that want consistent shots at the press of a button, and plenty of steam. See the GS3 AV.
GS3 MP
The GS3 with a manual paddle. Its conical valve lets you control water flow and pressure progressively through the shot, for gentle pre-infusion and extractions you shape yourself. It has the same dual boilers and dual PID, plus an exposed saturated group and a preheating circuit for thermal stability.
For home baristas who want hands-on control over flow and pressure. See the GS3 MP.
La Marzocco Café Machines
Linea Classic S AV
The updated version of the Linea that has worked in cafés since the 1990s. Dual boilers, PID temperature control, saturated groups, and volumetric dosing, with an updated barista interface and engineering improvements for technicians. Built for high-volume cafés, roasters, and specialty coffee shops. See the Linea Classic S AV.
Strada S AV, 2 Group
La Marzocco spent two years designing the Strada with thirty coffee professionals, known as the Street Team. Strada means street in Italian, and the machine is named after them. The Strada S has a low profile that opens up the bar between barista and customer, programmable doses, Pro Touch steam wands that stay cool to the touch, and independent saturated boilers with PID. See the Strada S AV.
Café machines are usually plumbed into a water supply and need the right electrical setup. If you're planning a café, message us before ordering and we'll talk it through.
La Marzocco Machines Side by Side
| Machine | Made for | Brewing control | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linea Mini R | Home | Paddle with brew-by-weight | Adjustable pump pressure |
| GS3 AV | Home or office | Auto-volumetric | Plumbing optional |
| GS3 MP | Home or office | Manual conical paddle | Flow and pressure control |
| Linea Classic S AV | Café | Volumetric | Built for high volume |
| Strada S AV | Café, 2 groups | Programmable doses | Low-profile bar |
All five have dual boilers with PID temperature control.
La Marzocco Grinders
Pico
A home espresso grinder designed from the ground up for the home. It has 39mm conical burrs that grind an 18 g dose in under 10 seconds, a brushless motor with sound dampening for quiet mornings, and portafilter-activated dosing. Set your portafilter on the magnetic fork, tap, and it grinds your programmed dose hands-free. The hopper closes automatically when you remove it. See the Pico.
Jay
La Marzocco's commercial grinder. It has 68mm flat burrs that grind an 18 g dose in under five seconds, a grinding chamber angled at 45 degrees to keep retention under two grams, and a magnetic burr holder that comes out in seconds without tools for cleaning between roasts. Three physical buttons, an analog grind dial, and grind-by-weight connectivity. See the Jay.
Which La Marzocco Should You Buy?
A home machine with modern workflow features. The Linea Mini R.
Push-button consistency at home or in the office, no plumbing needed. The GS3 AV.
Hands-on control of flow and pressure. The GS3 MP.
A high-volume café. The Linea Classic S AV.
A café where the bar is part of the experience. The Strada S AV.
The grinder. The Pico for home, and the Jay for cafés.
Great espresso at home doesn't start at any one machine. If you're still comparing, our home espresso machine guide covers every type, and you can browse Sage and Lelit too. Whatever you choose, freshly roasted specialty beans make the biggest difference in the cup.
Buying La Marzocco in the UAE
Authorized retailer. We're an authorized La Marzocco retailer in the UAE, and every La Marzocco product we sell comes with an official one-year warranty, handled directly through the authorized service center.
Delivery. Free and fast delivery on every product, across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain.
Not sure which one? Send us a message with how you'll use it, at home or in a café, and how many drinks you make. We'll help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are La Marzocco machines made?
La Marzocco machines are hand-built in Florence, Italy, where the company was founded in 1927.
What's the difference between the GS3 AV and GS3 MP?
Both have dual boilers, a saturated group, and dual PID. The GS3 AV is auto-volumetric, so it doses each shot automatically. The GS3 MP has a manual conical paddle that lets you control flow and pressure through the shot yourself.
What's the difference between the Linea Mini R and the GS3?
The Linea Mini R is the home version of the Linea, with a paddle, brew-by-weight, adjustable pump pressure, and app connectivity. The GS3 comes in an auto-volumetric version (AV) or a manual paddle version (MP) with flow and pressure control. Both have dual boilers and PID.
Do La Marzocco machines need to be plumbed in?
The GS3 has a built-in water reservoir, so plumbing is optional. Café machines like the Linea Classic S and Strada S are usually plumbed into a water supply. Message us before ordering for a café and we'll talk it through.
Which La Marzocco grinder should I get?
The Pico is La Marzocco's home espresso grinder, quiet and compact with hands-free dosing. The Jay is its commercial grinder, built for speed and low retention at a busy bar.
Do La Marzocco machines come with a warranty in the UAE?
Yes. The Era Store is an authorized La Marzocco retailer in the UAE, and every La Marzocco product we sell comes with an official one-year warranty, handled directly through the authorized service center.
Do you deliver La Marzocco machines across the UAE?
Yes, with free and fast delivery on every product. We deliver across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain.
