I have been trying to make decent espresso on some entry level thermoblock machine for a couple of years. Never really got anywhere due to the excessive need to dial in every single day… temperature stability was a nightmare.
I always wanted to know if it’s the machine or my lack of skill 🫣 so a couple days ago my wife almost forced me to buy my very own Linnea Mini R in white. It’s a dream: visually, the performance and the stability. Every extraction just works, every shot tastes great.
For now I am enjoying my espresso / cappuccino and the hassle free nature of my setup. In a few weeks I will start experimenting a bit with different recipes or coffee.
Do you have a La Marzocco and any tips or tricks for me that one only learns after a time playing around with it?
by tralir
18 Comments
Get a smart plug that can also work as a load limiter. Set up your machine to turn on when you need it.
Might want to move it away from the window. I might see it
Very solid machine, I have the same one in red. My favourite thing about it is that I can turn it on and have my espresso in five minutes.
Is a $6k machine objectively that much better than a 1200-1500 machine? I do have gripes about my barista pro but I still get a better shot than 95% of my trips to Starbucks.
I see the wife has good taste in machines.
I had no idea what was a “thermoblock” espresso machine, and I can’t speculate what your consistency issues were with that, but I suspect that there are many options inbetween what you had and a $7000 espresso machine that should be equally satisfying and consistent at coffee extraction for all those looking for options😆.
Enjoy your coffee !
What’s a good stepping stone from a bambino plus to this?
Congratulations! 5 years ago we made the move from Aeropress and Bialetti to a Linea Mini. Saved for years. We’ve never regretted the decision. Daily cups of joy. Enjoy the journey. It’s gonna be loads of fun
The Linea Micra at half the price would do exactly the same thing as the Mini for home espresso purposes though, right? I think the salesman really upsold you based on your lack of research.
Yup. It is my longing love too.
What’s your grinder? I hope your wife’s taste in grinders matches her taste for espresso machines.
How is cleaning it? I’d like to get away from E61 groupheads, they seem overly complicated when there are more modern alternatives.
You could’ve gotten an equally consistent Maschine for half the price imo
I could be your neighbor, where are you living? Exact gps coordinates would als suffice and when are you not at home… you know, I don’t want to ring your bell while you are not in /s
Your wife forced you to buy it. Suuure she did. 😏
Biggest tip, get a planetary/spirographic WDT tool. Don’t waste your time with any other distribution tool.
There’s others, but this one is solid.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1592290998/planetary-gear-spirograph-espresso-wdt?ls=r&external=1&ref=pla_similar_listing_top-1&pro=1&content_source=5af8c07053c153f2f7e8c072edc9137b%253ALT277e10ab9b97380e92b89360453a93634317026b&logging_key=5af8c07053c153f2f7e8c072edc9137b%3ALT277e10ab9b97380e92b89360453a93634317026b
Also, bottomless portafilters (LM shipped these stock w Micra, so you may have one) are highly recommended so you can actually see if your extraction is even
If you do a bunch of light roast, might be worth checking out high flow baskets, but it’s not a necessity. I’m having good results with the normcore high flow basket.
If you fall down a rabbit hole, you’ll see a bunch of folks fussing over filter papers and puck screens… honestly I think that shit’s just a waste of time. I have one high flow basket where the holes clog and so you have to use filter paper to prevent that, but the filter papers, if they aren’t perfectly placed and moistened (takes way too much time and nearly impossible) cause channeling around the perimeter of the basket. So yeah, I don’t use that basket.
Where’s the grinder? And what *is* the grinder?
Probably the colour but looks like an industrial meat grinder to me