Beezer wrote:I really like everything about the Mini, except that I don't really understand why it doesn't have an easy way to plumb in. Anyone shopping for machines in this price range would expect to be able to choose plumbed in or reservoir as options. In fact, there are machines that cost half as much (like mine) that offer this feature in a very user friendly way. Hook up water line and flip switch. Done. Why can't LM make this feature available on the Mini? I can only hope this is something they address in later versions.

Other than this complaint, I can say that this is the one machine I'd seriously consider as an upgrade from my current machine.

Agree 100%. I can't figure this machine out. If It had an easy plumb-in option and line preinfusion, LM would have hit it out of the ballpark, even with the phony paddle and no digital temp adjustment. But this is a mystery. It's almost as if, sensing the growing popularity of home espresso (thanks, hipsters!), they've decided to make a strong inside move towards the cool-dude-wannabes-with-lots-of-disposable-income demographic (no offense intended to anyone on this site who purchased one or is thinking of doing so). Reminds me of the high-end hi-fidelity craze of the 90's when lots of dot.com thirty- and forty-year olds were fooled into spending thousands of dollars on turntables and vinyl records because they "sounded better." Did LM figure they could make a minimalist system with low production costs, jack up the retail price based on their name, and sell them like hot cakes to the latest fad-crazed junkies? I guess there's always a market for people willing to easily part ways with their money.

Hehe....home Barista got a shot Topics section now?

Incredible upgrade!

Vinyl does sound better, but keeping this to the Linea I struggle to see $4.5K of value in this machine (also no offence to those who bought one). Help me to understand where that $4.5K goes, other than the La Marzocco name and that in their view there were few machines in that price range.

Most of us here are handy enough to cobble something together to address any of these "issues", but I agree at the $4.5K they might ought to be there. With this, the first ver.1.0 to make it into a real house, the good people at LM will probably lay-back and see how it sells before they do too much retooling. I'm trusting that the LM Linea Mini will be up-versioned at some point in the future.....they might be silly not to.

+1 for direct plumb (feed & drain)

+1 for vinyl......it does sound better after all!

russel wrote:As far as taste is concerned, 1 degree F is sufficient for all users.

Does the dial have a detent at 200 so that you can set it there by feel alone? If it does, I think my GS3 may be on the outs.

Am I missing something? Why would you (or anyone) trade a GS3 other than aesthetics. I can't think of any other reason.

I can think of a reason to up (or down) grade from a GS3 to a linea: it is vastly less complex and therefore should require less and far less costly repairs.

Not that I mind fiddling around inside the GS3. But some people would find the added reliability welcome.

Would you mind sharing when you placed your order? I only ask out of general curiosity, if you were waiting to grab the phone at the break of dawn with a vendor, or if it's entirely coincidence? Awesome result either way.

It can be plumbed in, according to what Chris Tacy has observed, and from information shared from La Marzocco (although it's intended as a pour over). I believe it's an "accessory item" at this time and not part of the official rollout.

AssafL wrote:I can think of a reason to up (or down) grade from a GS3 to a linea: it is vastly less complex and therefore should require less and far less costly repairs.

Not that I mind fiddling around inside the GS3. But some people would find the added reliability welcome.

I can see that as a reason to purchase the linea instead of the GS3 but any maintenance savings would seem to be negated if you sell a used GS3 to buy a new linea.

Don't mean to mislead. It can be plumbed-in. It is not the primary water delivery mode out of the gate from the manufacturer. No need to avoid the mini just for this. Of course perceived value must always be left up to the individual consumer.

thm655321 wrote:Vinyl does sound better, but keeping this to the Linea I struggle to see $4.5K of value in this machine (also no offence to those who bought one). Help me to understand where that $4.5K goes, other than the La Marzocco name and that in their view there were few machines in that price range.

For starters you can read Chris Tacy's excellent and thorough review, which nicely sums up the value of this machine in this post: This is a barista's espresso machine.