Cutaway of La Marzocco saturated grouphead
- HB
- Admin
Often you'll hear the term "saturated group" bandied about, usually in the context of explaining the advantages of dual-boiler designs like La Marzocco's. But a picture is worth a thousand words:

"Gooseneck" extends the grouphead away from the boiler to the service area

Closeup of the grouphead itself; notice the copper water inlet
Thanks go to the folks at Counter Culture Coffee who use this cutaway as part of their barista training course.

"Gooseneck" extends the grouphead away from the boiler to the service area

Closeup of the grouphead itself; notice the copper water inlet
Thanks go to the folks at Counter Culture Coffee who use this cutaway as part of their barista training course.
Dan Kehn
- malachi
Fantastic photos.
Keep in mind that this is the semi-auto version...
Keep in mind that this is the semi-auto version...
"Taste is the only morality." -- John Ruskin
- barry
what's the difference between the one shown and the full-auto version?
--barry "btw, it's missing the diffuser"
- malachi
Hunh
Actually... now that I look at the picture more carefully I don't think there is any difference.
The differences are all independent of the group I guess.
I stand corrected.
Are there any differences between the old, bolt on and the new, welded on groups?
Actually... now that I look at the picture more carefully I don't think there is any difference.
The differences are all independent of the group I guess.
I stand corrected.
Are there any differences between the old, bolt on and the new, welded on groups?
"Taste is the only morality." -- John Ruskin
- malachi
Does the diffusion block just screw into those threads?
"Taste is the only morality." -- John Ruskin
- malachi
Oh... and I think now folks can see why:
1 - I prefer this design to the E61,
2 - Why I loved (in theory) the Hybrid group,
3 - and why that Hybrid group was (as Barry says) a total PITA to service.
1 - I prefer this design to the E61,
2 - Why I loved (in theory) the Hybrid group,
3 - and why that Hybrid group was (as Barry says) a total PITA to service.
"Taste is the only morality." -- John Ruskin
- barry
i just wanted to be sure i wasn't missing anything.malachi wrote:Actually... now that I look at the picture more carefully I don't think there is any difference.
The differences are all independent of the group I guess.
I stand corrected.

apart from the stainless? i don't think so. i had someone tell me there was a change in the banjo tube/bolt interface, but they weren't able to describe it as anything other than "a change" and no one i've talked to who has a welded group has been able to verify that change. ask bill c.Are there any differences between the old, bolt on and the new, welded on groups?

- HB (original poster)
- Admin
For those who joined late in the discussion, below is an excerpt from Lino's E61 Group Espresso Machine: Detailed Interior Schematics:malachi wrote:Oh... and I think now folks can see why... I prefer this design to the E61.

Cross Section, lever and valves in brew position (courtesy Verna Design Inc., please do not copy)
Comparing the two, you can see that the grouphead and indeed the backside of the La Marzocco dispersion block works as a direct extension of the boiler (hence why they call it "saturated"). In contrast, the E61 relies on circulation tubes leading to/from the boiler to bring water heated by the steam boiler to the grouphead and return cooler water (hence why it's called a "thermosyphon" and forms part of the HX circuit). The low-level details were covered in E61 Group Espresso Machine: Is its reputation justified?
That said, Chris will readily admit the La Marzocco design isn't without its own compromises. Ask him about the flowmeters on the automatics. Go ahead. I dare you.
Dan Kehn
- barry
or the solenoids on either.HB wrote:That said, Chris will readily admit the La Marzocco design isn't without its own compromises. Ask him about the flowmeters on the automatics. Go ahead. I dare you.
--barry "working on a cure"
- barry
yes, with a gasket between.malachi wrote:Does the diffusion block just screw into those threads?