It appears to be the same drip tray that was used on the GS3 looking single boiler machines, that were at the La Marzocco Out of the Box event. La Marzocco Out of the Box - NYC I know that I would much prefer this design over the current one on my GS3, it definitely can't be any worse.

yeah, you're right - one of those pics does show this tray. Actually I think it's pretty snazzy looking.

Ken Fox wrote:I don't know why people regard this as being very important. The remarkable feature of the GS/3 is its temperature stability in making straight espresso, something that no one is going to notice in a milk drink. ken

I'm always amazed when people make uninformed blanket statements like the one above. Ken, you don't drink milk based drinks, so how would you know? I predominantly make 6 oz cappas, and I can detect very subtle differences in the shots. When I get a new espresso and dial it in with the grinder and the temperature on the GS3 it is very easy to tell when I have it perfect.
Rob

Yep definitely. I drink shots and milk based drinks and I can taste shot to shot differences and nuances clearly in milk based drinks. Some "detail" does get lost but bad shot is bad shot even when you add 2-3 oz of milk to it.

rbh1515 wrote:I'm always amazed when people make uninformed blanket statements like the one above. Ken, you don't drink milk based drinks, so how would you know? I predominantly make 6 oz cappas, and I can detect very subtle differences in the shots. When I get a new espresso and dial it in with the grinder and the temperature on the GS3 it is very easy to tell when I have it perfect.
Rob

The point I was making, which has been misrepresented at least twice in this thread, is not that one can't taste the difference between a "good" shot vs. a "bad" shot in a milk drink. It is that FINE AND EASY TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT in espresso shots, which is to my mind really distinguishes the GS/3, is not going to be detectable in a milk drink. If you can detect it there, say the difference between the same coffee extracted at 198F vs. 200f, in your preferred 6 oz cappa then you have very fine taste buds, indeed.

My cappas are more like 4oz in total, and I can't detect that sort of difference, but perhaps you can.

ken

Ken,
I may have been a little harsh in my reply--sorry if it was.
I have been making espresso for over 20 years and have gone thru a number of machines. The last three were a Silvia, and then two different HX machines. I agree that the beauty of the GS3 is the temp control. My drinks are much more consistent and better with the GS3 than with the previous machines. I do not consider myself to have the most sensitive taste buds, but I can definitely can tell the difference between amazing, very good, average and bad espresso in milk based drinks--probably because I am used to drinking almost exclusively milk based drinks.
As far as steaming--with the full burn wand, the GS3 is a very good steamer, but not that much better than many HX machines. With the no burn wand, the GS3 was IMO a below average steamer. Microfoam was definitely difficult.
Rob

Rob,

I drink shots or americanos, but do steam milk for guests and family members. When I was steaming milk on the weekend, my son, who received SB training and worked at SB for about a year prior their transition to fully automated machines, bumped me off the steam wand uttering a kind comment like "out of the way, old man I'll show you how it's done". Well naturally I was tickled pink to get out of the steaming task, but it was apparent to me that his steaming was first rate. He commented delicately something like "holy s..., this thing steams like a ______", quite impressed with the steaming capability. We are both used to the previous machine, a Vetrano, which I thought was a pretty good steamer. What I am wondering is if this GS3 shipped with a different steam wand or tip. It is insulated and the tip has 4 smallish holes.

Ken

FlyingShot wrote:Thanks Jon,

I will give the wheel adjustment a try. This machine is # 1132 - it came directly from Italy rather than through a US based distributor. It is therefor possible that this specs out a little different from the US machines, perhaps closer to European spec (is there a diff?)? So it is hard to say if this drip tray grate is the new replacement for all GS3 machines, although you wouldn't think LM would want to bother with two designs.

Ken

Hi Ken,

my GS/3 Paddle is # 1131 (produced in July and delivered to Germany) and has the old design......

Torsten

To confirm, my GS3 MP is 1181, has the new drip tray as shown. US delivery straight from La Marzocco in Seattle, they confirmed all new machines have the new tray. Works great, I dump shots on it all the time, very practical.

As an aside, has anybody removed the "Espresso Italiano" sticker on the front? Looks a bit cheesy in my opinion, but I don't want to risk scratching the stainless by prying it off - wonder if there's a good, non-destructive method.