For home baristas everywhere, a vital rite of passage is the selection of a home espresso machine. This is the machine you’re going to trust with your morning cup of coffee for years to come. Suffice it to say, it’s a big decision.
If you’re here, you’ve likely narrowed your choice down to either the Linea Micra or the GS3. The former is a home-style version of our well-loved commercial Linea Classic S, while the latter is a home espresso machine with the internals of a commercial-grade Strada. In other words, both are excellent choices.
It all comes down to how you would like to make your coffee. To help you make the call, the La Marzocco team is unpacking the fundamentals of each machine. We’ll explore what makes both the Linea Micra and the GS3 standouts in the industry, give you a bit of insight into the history of each model, and break down what might attract you to each machine.
Linea Micra: The Best Espresso Machine for Simplicity
First, let’s get to know the Linea Micra.
This machine takes the moniker ‘small, but mighty’ seriously. This is a café-quality piece condensed into a countertop-friendly footprint, so you can feel good about it taking up residence in your kitchen.
As we mentioned earlier, this is essentially a scaled-down version of the Linea Classic S, which has gained a reputation all over the world as the perfect training ground for starter baristas. When building this machine, we went for clean lines and a timeless aesthetic so that it would always have a place in your home.
If the Micra were to be known for just a single thing, it would be simplicity. A 5-minute heat-up time, streamlined setup, and built-in app capability so you can control your machine from anywhere there’s Wi-Fi; these qualities make a top-notch espresso machine for the budding home barista.
The Micra is for you if: you just want to drink a great shot of coffee every day – or multiple times per day – without needing to hit the pavement. You value simplicity, ritual, and the down-to-earth feeling of making a delicious cup of coffee your way.
GS3: A Premium Espresso Machine for Control and Craft
Next, we graduate a little bit in complexity to meet the GS3.
Technically, there are two models, each one with a set of unique qualities that we will dive into soon. But both the GS3 AV and the GS3 MP sit under the same umbrella, with ancestral internal mechanics the La Marzocco engineers harvested from one of our most notable café workhorses, the Strada.
Note that the GS3 models both share the Linea Micra’s temperature stability, featuring dual insulated boilers and pinpoint PID control to manage both the flow and steam with aplomb. The addition of several other features and a greater amount of control over each factor is what sets the GS3 apart from the Micra, inviting advanced baristas to make space for this premier machine on their countertops.
If this model is calling your name, then we have to contend with a fundamental question: which one is for you?
The GS3 AV
The GS3 Auto-Volumetric is for the at-home barista who approaches coffee-making with the heart of a scientist. The built-in, conical paddle valve system ensures you can balance your extraction and pre-infusion either together or on their own. Not only that, you’re able to capture these settings so you can replicate them again and again.
The AV is for you if: you thrive when you can tweak things to your heart’s content. You want a digital machine that lets you get down into the real mechanics of coffee making, engineering each brew to suit a unique time, place, and mood.
The GS3 MP
On the other hand, the GS3 Manual Paddle model is for the caffeine-driven artists out there. Everything is still up to you, as it is with the AV, but the hallmark difference lies in the execution. Rather than relying on digital replication, the GS3 MP gives you the chance to feel out each cup of coffee as you make it. Thanks to the sturdy mechanical pour and precise preheating system, no cup will go unattended.
The MP is for you if: coffee is a romantic thing for you. The physical act of brewing a shot is like moulding clay, and you want that ability to sense the perfect pressure, temperature, and flow through your tactile intuition.
The choice between these two fantastic machines can be a tough one, but consider this: you’ll make the right call when you think about how you want to feel.
If you’re seeking the ritual and simplicity of a morning brew, the Micra might be for you. On the other hand, the mad brewers out there who delight in experimenting with their coffee will find freedom with the GS3 series.
Both are machines we are proud to produce, and each model carries a long line of high-quality La Marzocco craftsmanship into your kitchen. So, the only question that remains is…
What will you brew first?
Find your dream home espresso machine with La Marzocco.
Join a long line of satisfied home baristas with any of the precisely engineered models from our at-home range. If you’re unsure which model is for you, don’t hesitate to consult with our team for further guidance.
