I have been debating a significant upgrade and have looked at the LM GS/3 but also looking at a 1 Group Linea that has been upgraded. Then I noticed a post from Marshall about the new LM Linea MP has continuous pressure profiling like the Strada and Slayer; where the GS/3 just has line pressure. So did the Linea just one-up all the other guys. Can you even get a 1 Grp Linea LM, even from the custom shop. Can an older Linea be hot-rodded to do something similar.

Thanks,
Jim

Before I bought my factory PID 1 group Linea I looked into a 1 group M.P. Linea. It was not available from the factory but E.P.N.W., an official L.M. modification facility, said they could make one for me. If I remember it added about $1800 or so to the price of the machine. I decided the basic Linea was enough for my home setup.
KDM

Another option is the Synesso Hydra, which they do make in a single group setup. It too has pressure profiling capabilities like the Strata. I believe it rings in at around $9,500.

^^Yikes^^

It's finally dawning on me that there really isn't a professional level commercial single group pump machine besides an Elektra out there that is available new for south of $3000. I do like my Duetto, but it can't bang out shot after shot all day. Plus, I've already had to swap out the PID, under warranty. I don't think they do well being so close to the heat of the boilers.

I dreamed of upgrading some future day down the line to a Slayer. Pipe dreams at those prices though.

TomC wrote:I do like my Duetto, but it can't bang out shot after shot all day. Plus, I've already had to swap out the PID, under warranty. I don't think they do well being so close to the heat of the boilers.

Unless you are opening a cafe, it's hard to imagine any normal home use that would overwhelm the Duetto's ability to continuously pull shots. Your issue with the PID controller isn't common.

I agree completely. I was referring to the fact that it's not commercial quality in reference to the first comment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the assumption that a person could use a Elektra in a commercial setting? It matters little in the home setting, I agree, but it goes to build quality IMO.

Yes, it goes to build quality and the quality of the parts in the machine. Prosumer machines are a compromise of parts somewhere between a home and commercial machine. That is why you even see a price jump between something like a GS/3 and a 1-group Linea or 1-group Synesso Cyncra. It is very comparable to the jump between a 1/2lb home roaster and a 1lb or 1kg commercial roaster. You all of a sudden jump from $1,000 to $7,000 or more. One is build with the option / intention of running all day and the other is simply not.

Not to steer off the original posters post too far away, but I have had one question in mind for quite a while. The best shots people get out of these pressure profiling machines seem to stick to the ramped pressure profile of a commercial lever, or any lever spring lever for that matter. Why pay so much more money for a machine that in the end is trying to mimic the pressure profile and cup of a commercial lever that costs 1/2 as much? Not to mention the added cost of parts if something were to go wrong with it?

Mark Barnett, the owner of Synesso, himself has actually said that he does not believe pressure profiling is going to be the next big advance in espresso, but since there is a demand for the machines he has followed it.

TomC wrote:It's finally dawning on me that there really isn't a professional level commercial single group pump machine besides an Elektra out there that is available new for south of $3000.

Not sure what you mean by "professional level", but the Spaziale Vivaldi is certifed for use in commercial establishments, and clocks in at close to $2K. Besides the Elektra, there are other commercial HX machines that you can find for less than $3K (Rancilio Epoca, for one).

Apologies for the OT response.

Warrior....I live down the road from you in West Chicago...

You are right, the prosumer machines are so-so in quality. I have had a few. They are good machines but I am looking for something better.

I have been looking closely at Lever machines and it's that style of pressure profiling that I am looking for. I guess I was surprised that the Linea had that capability. I did look at the Hydra, but it seems to digital for me. I just want a paddle, not a joystick and controller box.

I guess the lever vs. pump is another debate. But you are right about the Lever option. I just need to see if I have the headroom for a Lever.

I just wish the Athena came in a 1 group lever. So the Astoria Gloria is the next..

The Bezzera Strega seems nice, but it seems to be back at the pro-sumer level. Maybe the Izzo pompei.

Warrior372 wrote:Yes, it goes to build quality and the quality of the parts in the machine. Prosumer machines are a compromise of parts somewhere between a home and commercial machine. That is why you even see a price jump between something like a GS/3 and a 1-group Linea or 1-group Synesso Cyncra. It is very comparable to the jump between a 1/2lb home roaster and a 1lb or 1kg commercial roaster. You all of a sudden jump from $1,000 to $7,000 or more. One is build with the option / intention of running all day and the other is simply not.

Not to steer off the original posters post too far away, but I have had one question in mind for quite a while. The best shots people get out of these pressure profiling machines seem to stick to the ramped pressure profile of a commercial lever, or any lever spring lever for that matter. Why pay so much more money for a machine that in the end is trying to mimic the pressure profile and cup of a commercial lever that costs 1/2 as much? Not to mention the added cost of parts if something were to go wrong with it?

Mark Barnett, the owner of Synesso, himself has actually said that he does not believe pressure profiling is going to be the next big advance in espresso, but since there is a demand for the machines he has followed it.

Hello Jim,

I believe the other pictures on the Hydra page of Synesso's site are trying to show the potential configurations of their commercial machines that have an independent brew boiler for each group. In this instance it looks like they are trying to show that they can configure the machine with either all paddle controlled groups, all volumetric dosing groups, or a combination of both if the customer so chooses. I could be mistaken, but my understanding was that the pressure profiling on the Hydra was all done through the paddle. Is this not the case?

On the lever note, I happen to be a commercial lever machine hoarder / re-builder in my free time. Those close to me think I have a problem, but I am sure most of you think having 6-8 machines at any given time is fairly normal as you likely hoard some form of espresso / coffee equipment too .