La Marzocco Linea Micra – experience report

As announced in the last post, I would like to share my thoughts on the new La Marzocco Linea Micra below.
My Micra arrived in mid-November and has been in use with me ever since. I deliberately took my time with this article to get a well-founded picture of the machine and not just send the first quick impressions out into the world. 

Since the Linea Micra was introduced, I have received many messages and emails with very similar questions: “Should I buy a Linea Micra or a Linea Mini?” “Should I exchange my Linea Mini for a Linea Micra?”, “Is the Linea Micra a downgrade compared to Linea Mini?”, “Will there be a needle valve kit for the Linea Micra?”
I will try to answer many of these questions and provide a comparison between the two machines. At some points I can well imagine that some readers will roll their eyes and dismiss these things as unnecessary or too fussy.

First impressions:

When I picked up the machine from the delivery person, two obvious things caught my eye compared to the Linea Mini - the weight and the compact size. This impression was reinforced when unpacking and setting up the machine. With dimensions of 35.7 cm x 37.7 cm x 45.5 cm (width x height x depth) and a weight of around 14 kg, it is really easy to move around on your own. (Don't worry, I won't go into all the technical data that you can already find in various other articles.)

I always place all the espresso machines that visit me in the same place. In addition to many Linea Minis, there was also a GS3 MP there. Both the GS3 and the Linea Mini fit well there, but with the rest of the accessories such as knock-off containers, tampers and mills it became very tight. Unlike the Linea Micra, the necessary accessories can easily be stored in the surrounding area. For me, this is a clear plus point for the Linea Micra. Especially if the machine is set up in the kitchen and there is not unlimited space available or the machine has to be placed under a wall cabinet, the Linea Micra has a clear advantage over the Linea Mini.

Although the Linea Micra is significantly smaller than the Linea Mini, I think it continues the look of the Linea Mini well. Of course, some compromises have to be accepted when reducing the size.  Especially with the tank and the drip switch, I was worried that the reduced volume would bother me in everyday life.
This is not the case with the tank. Especially when the machine is used more for espresso, I don't have to refill it too often. I had to adjust my behavior a bit when it came to the drip tray. Over the years, I've gotten into the habit of rinsing the portafilter again with water from the brew group after using it. With the Linea Micra, the drip tray is filled quite quickly. This wouldn't be a problem in itself, especially since the filling level is displayed with a red float. But as soon as it comes to frothing milk and draining off excess condensation beforehand, I made a nice mess the first time I tried it. However, a workaround will be found here or the machine can simply be connected to the wastewater.

I initially put my machine into operation without the app. The commissioning itself went smoothly. The preset temperature was also fine for me for the first few uses. When heating up, the Linea Micra takes advantage of the other boiler concept and reaches temperature really quickly. This led me to switching off the Linea Micra between the individual covers, just like on my home-made machine.

I was happy with the covers from the start. As expected, there are no surprises here compared to a factory Linea Mini. In comparison to a Linea Mini with the needle valve kit, it must unfortunately be noted that there was/was a huge difference in the taste of the beans tested in the balance of the covers. Less than a day after the machine was delivered, a needle valve was also given to it. I will address this in a separate post. In short, it can be said that the effect of the needle valve is also evident on the Linea Micra. I will therefore develop and offer a needle valve kit for the Linea Micra.

Linea Micra and milk drinks

If the focus is exclusively on drinks without milk, the following paragraph can safely be skipped. Now we come to the compromises I mentioned above. I've been using an Acaia Lunar with one for years Wooden milled plate to place two (cappuccino) cups on the scales to be able to. When I use this setup with the Linea Micra, I have no worries at all with espresso cups. These fit wonderfully under the portafilter with 2 spouts. There is also space for a cappuccino cup under the bottomless portafilter. However, when it comes to using two cappuccino cups on the scale in conjunction with the double spout, you unfortunately reach the limits of the installation space under the balcony of the machine. So you either have to do without the scale - or you have to thread the two cups between the scale and the spout.

I also have to say that for me the compact design of the steam wand  is very unusual. A wonderful, fine-pored milk foam is achieved. However, the handling is less pleasant for me than with the Linea Mini. The above-described evaporation into the drip tray and the slightly lower steam power represent a compromise for me. I'm happy to admit that I'm spoiled here, but when the focus is on making lots of milk drinks in conjunction with the double spout and large cups , I see the Linea Mini as clearly ahead.

Espresso only – working with the steam boiler deactivated

A function that has always been missing from the Linea Minis and which I have implemented in my self-made machine is deactivating the steam boiler. In my own machine, I drastically increased the heating output of the brewing boiler. Due to the new boiler concept of the Linea Micra in conjunction with the adapted water flow in the brewing boiler of the Micra, I have to say that I am satisfied with it from a perspective perspective. There are also temperature measurements from other people. If I have visitors and several covers are being made in one go, I would always turn on the steam boiler to preheat the water. Which brings us to the only point that really bothers me about the machine

The APP and why you need it

So far I've only been able to complain about details that only marginally bother me. For me (as of November 29th, 2022) the app is something that doesn't fit into the positive overall picture of the machine. With the Linea Mini, I have often used machines without IOT and therefore without an APP. If the machine had IOT, the app was used once to ensure that the factory “PreBrew” was disabled.  The fact that various other things could be set there had no relevance to my workflow.

The temperature wheel on the Linea Micra has now disappeared, so I had to grab my cell phone and reactivate the app. The machine was found straight away and the core functions were immediately shown to me. Unfortunately, I discovered that although you can set the exact temperature in the app, it doesn't show me the actual values, only the set TARGET temperature. In my opinion, potential is being wasted here. In this situation, I have to say that I would have liked a setting on the machine better. Although I personally rarely change the temperature and can therefore live with the app solution

The app is also used for the settings on the steam boiler. This can be switched on/off and there are also 3 different levels available. For me, setting the level is similar to adjusting the presostat, something that is rarely done. But what I have to turn on and off every day is the steam boiler. For me, this is a function that must be operable directly on the machine without an app. Because even if you have your cell phone with you, I unfortunately have to say (as of November 29th, 2022) that I often didn't turn off the steam because the APP had a connection problem with the machine. the app wanted to log in again or simply responded very slowly.

When displaying the subscription period via the app, the timer also hung up a few times. So I stick to the fact that neither my cell phone nor a tablet plays a role in my workflow.

The new portafilter

One component that is being hotly debated is the new portafilter. I think it's great that the Micra has also taken new approaches to reducing the heating time. I also find the concept with the removable base very interesting. What bothers me personally are the following other things

1. The material of the base body. I'm a big fan of the stainless steel La Marzocco portafilter. These are easy to clean and still look like new even after years. Unfortunately, the included portafilter for the Linea Micra is made of chrome-plated brass, similar to the bottomless portafilter from La Marzocco. Especially since only one portafilter has to be included, I would have thought it would be nice if the base body was made of stainless steel.
2. The bayonet wings: In addition to the material, the thickness of the wings of the bayonet lock is unfortunately also different. This meant that, similar to the bottomless portafilter from La Marzocco, the portafilter can be clamped differently. For example, if you want to clamp a La Marzocco stainless steel portafilter, it has to be turned a little further.
3. Tamping with the mounted 2-way outlet: I always tamp on the tamping station in my EK43. With the stainless steel portafilters from the Linea Mini, the portafilter stands securely. Unfortunately, with the new design this turns out to be a lot more wobbly.

Processing quality of the Linea Micra compared to the Linea Mini

When it comes to build quality, I can of course only speak of my machine with a very low serial number.
I would describe the surface of my black machine as fine. Unfortunately, what I immediately noticed negatively was that some of the slotted screws that hold the housing parts have strong blemishes and grooves. There is no emphasis on proper work during assembly. 

In the course of developing the needle valve kit, I also discovered that some silicone hoses inside my machine were unnecessarily routed in such a way that they were kinked. In some cases, measures have been taken to prevent buckling. However, this was not consistently implemented.
Unfortunately, I also discovered that various sheets of metal were not deburred on the machine and therefore have sharp edges and that the cup grid on my machine arrived very warped. Especially with a machine in the higher price segment, I find a certain degree of caution when screwing the machine together (keyword: screw heads) to be a quality feature.

I consider the large number of plastic brackets and molded parts inside the machine to be completely value-neutral. I think that these contribute to the machine being able to be produced more cost-effectively. I hope that the components retain the required mechanical properties even after many years inside the machine. However, especially with plastic hose connectors, I fear that they will have to be replaced in the long term. (If you are interested, I can provide an exchange set for this)

What I personally don't like at all is the fixation of the brew group cover. Unlike the Linea Mini, the cap is no longer screwed on, but rather just clicked into place. On my machine this ensures that the cap does not rest flat against the front of the machine. For my part, I have to say that I don't really like both the paddle and the brewing group cover. Here I am definitely testing a different shape in conjunction with wood on my machine.
I also installed stainless steel feet with a height of 25mm on my machine, which I really like in this configuration. 

Who is the Linea Micra the right machine for?

I've read a lot lately that because of the lower price of the Linea Micra, no one will buy a Linea Mini anymore. Personally, I am convinced of the Linea Micra and very few things bother me about it (see “Disadvantages of the Linea Micra” below). After converting my Micra to the needle valve, I am also thrilled with the quality of the covers.

For me, the Linea Mini still has its right to exist. In the last few years I have had a lot of Linea Minis open and a lot of kits were installed. All these machines run, run and run. I find the older machines without the IOT module to be very robust machines. I can also well imagine that used prices for the Linea Mini will go down a bit, so that you can get a Linea Mini for a fair price.

When deciding which machine from the La Marzocco portfolio is the right one, I would approach the matter using the exclusion process:

1. In my opinion, it makes no sense to operate a GS3 (regardless of whether AV or MP) in a private environment. (For me, the space requirement and also the power consumption are a clear knockout criterion.)
2. If only/many milk drinks are consumed, I would personally definitely choose a Linea Mini. (I would also be happy to use it and without an IOT module.)
3. In all other cases and especially when starting out with La Marzocco, the Linea Micra is the method of choice.
4. Personally, I would prefer the Linea Micra to any E61 machine.

Briefly and concisely summarized

Matches between both machines

• "Low energy consumption
• In conjunction with the needle valve, it is on par with the flagships on the market.
• Lots of potential for customization