Marshall wrote:This machine is not mainly aimed at hobbyists, although LM will be happy to sell to them.

Good point, so many are probably being sold for use in a light commercial setting - office, catering, small restaurant, cart, etc?

keno wrote:Good point, so many are probably being sold for use in a light commercial setting - office, small restaurant, cart, etc?

No, if light commercial was the target market would absolutely come with ability to plumb now not some nebulous oh it'll be available later.

+1 CCG.

/Uldall

Er, if the target market for the Linea Mini wasn't the home market, I doubt they would have created a website specifically calling out that segment in the name: home.lamarzoccousa.com.

keno wrote:Here is a user review video that recently appeared on YouTube...

I think the reviewer in this video represents the target market. A home user interested in great coffee at home with minimal fuss(other than the 4 Ms), and without turning your kitchen into an espresso lab. Someone who appreciates high quality, is affluent enough to afford said quality, and wants a sturdy compact machine. Some HB members will like it too. But LM isn't putting all their eggs in the Uber-hobbyist basket.

I think lack of line pressure preinfusion is not acceptable in this price range. Most people that can afford this can also afford to have it plumbed with filter in along with the rest of their fridge, water tap etc etc.
They went to great length to put faux paddle and adding plumbed in line pressure preinfusion wouldn't add too much cost to it.

When you consider how many baristas in the best shops depend on their Strada's gicleurs for gradual infusion, and use the paddles as an on/off switch and the preinfusion gauges as hood ornaments, you really have to question how important line pressure preinfusion really is (I certainly do, although I use it 3 times a day).

canuckcoffeeguy wrote:I think the reviewer in this video represents the target market. A home user interested in great coffee at home with minimal fuss(other than the 4 Ms), and without turning your kitchen into an espresso lab. Someone who appreciates high quality, is affluent enough to afford said quality, and wants a sturdy compact machine. Some HB members will like it too. But LM isn't putting all their eggs in the Uber-hobbyist basket.

But where would this person find the value of an LM Mini over something like the Spaziale Mini for half the price? The La Spaziale is also a compact, very high quality machine for affluent people.

Well I don't know about affluent!

Bluecold wrote:But where would this person find the value of an LM Mini over something like the Spaziale Mini for half the price? The La Spaziale is also a compact, very high quality machine for affluent people.

Not to belittle the Spaz, but I don't think that's a very fair comparison and I don't think that many (any?) shoppers would be considering both machines for their next upgrade. I've never known someone to be affluent and describe themselves as such, but I imagine anyone "affluent" would likely be shop espresso machines beyond $2000 USD. Doesn't matter, nor is it relevant to the Linea Mini - correct?

I wouldn't shop the Linea Mini against a Linea single group or Slayer single group as that's a $5500ish MAP jump - more than double the retail value of the lower priced machine. Similarly, I wouldn't shop the Spaz Mini against the Linea Mini; a $2500 difference in MAP and again more than double the retail of the lower priced machine.