Mastering espresso with La Marzocco Linea PB AV: an insightful review
Delving into the world of home baristas, we find the La Marzocco Linea PB AV. Crafted in the name of Piero Bambi (PB) by a premium Italian company, this sleek machine is a masterclass in utility, aesthetics, and coffee crafting abilities. We'll be taking an up close and personal look at this coffee machine in this insightful review. What makes it tick? Why do coffee connoisseurs gravitate towards it? We'll uncover all these and more in this detailed review. Sit back, grab a cup of your favourite brew and let's explore the ins and outs of this espresso machine.
"The La Marzocco Linea PB AV is not just another coffee machine; it's an engineer's dream come true, and a barista's best friend. From its robust build to its seamless operation, it stands tall in a world of commercial-grade, home machines."
Table of Contents
- The most important features of the La Marzocco Linea PB AV
- Pros and cons
- The difference between La Marzocco Linea PB AV and La Marzocco KB90
- Maintenance and longevity
- What we at OR coffee Roaster think about the Linea PB AV
- Final thoughts on the Linea PB AV
The most important features of the La Marzocco Linea PB AV
The La Marzocco Linea PB AV espresso machine stands out for its sleek design, state-of-the-art features, and outstanding performance. It's the ultimate choice for coffee shops, restaurants, and specialty cafes aiming to elevate their espresso offerings.
Size and design
Crafted with La Marzocco's renowned polished stainless steel body, the Linea PB AV exudes a modern yet timeless charm. Its simplified lines and lower profile blend aesthetic appeal with practicality, seamlessly integrating into any space while providing ample workspace for baristas. Embracing more modern design elements compared to the Linea Classic S AV, such as the Piero group caps and sleeker lines, it offers a contemporary twist on the classic Linea design.
Efficient and easy to use
An easy to use digital display allows for efficient and user-friendly control over the machine’s many capabilities, providing real-time readings for coffee boiler temperature, group temperature, steam pressure, and more. Password protected USB firmware updates make this machine highly adaptable and keeps it at the edge of technology.
Precision with saturated groups
Equipped with saturated groups, the Linea PB AV guarantees thermal stability and precise temperature control with every espresso shot. This ensures consistent extraction, allowing you to deliver shots that are rich, aromatic, and bursting with flavor. Available in 2 configurations, you can choose between 2 or 3 groups, tailoring the machine to suit more specific needs and volume requirements. This machine is designed to fit seamlessly into any barista station while offering substantial capacity. These features, combined with Piero group caps that aid in thermal stability, supplement this machine's sturdiness while providing ample space to deliver an array of coffee options.
The boiler for the coffee group heads is a single one. If you would like to have independent boilers for each group head, we advise you to have a look at the La Marzocco KB90. It is an upgrade of the La Marzocco Linea PB AV
Dual boiler
The machine stands tall with a dual boiler system, a feature that perfectly balances the temperature for both brewing and steaming at the same time. This offers exceptional control, allowing you to deliver a superbly balanced espresso shot every single time. The innovative Piero group caps (designed by Piero Bambi) and saturated groups ensure unsurpassed thermal stability for consistent shots.
PID
The La Marzocco Linea PB AV doesn’t just stop at the dual boiler. What puts this machine on a pedestal is the PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control, a system that provides a precise and consistent temperature, crucial for an outstanding brew. This level of control ensures your coffee is always served at its optimal temperature, elevating the flavor to the next level.
AV
The AV feature allows baristas to program the amount of time or volume an espresso shot receives. The machine automatically dispenses the desired amount of coffee
steam wand
The machine comes with a normal steam wand that makes perfectly good, velvety milk foam, but you will have to watch out not to scald your hands by touching it while steaming milk, or after.
Eco-mode
Let's not forget about the ECO mode, an energy saver option that puts power conservation in your hands. It’s saving you money as well as being kind to the environment - a critical addition in our increasingly eco-conscious world.
Auto backflush & ruby flow restrictors
The Linea PB AV also comes equipped with auto backflush and ruby flow restrictors. Auto backflush simplifies the cleaning process, thereby minimizing downtime and keeping the machine at its optimum performance. Ruby flow restrictors prevent the impairment due to scale buildup and maintain stability, taking the maintenance off your plate.
Pros of the Linea PB AV:
- Superior espresso quality: The Linea PB is known for producing top-notch espresso quality that loyal La Marzocco fans love. With its advanced PID control and Ruby flow restrictors, brewing exceptional and consistent espressos is a breeze.
- High-tech features: Features like a digital display, USB firmware updates, and dual boiler system make the Linea PB user-friendly and digitally advanced. La Marzocco Linea PB's digital electronics significantly enhance component longevity and brewing precision.
- Durability and energy efficiency: The machine's reputation for durability is a significant advantage. Furthermore, its ECO mode takes it a notch higher, contributing to energy conservation.
Cons of the Linea PB AV:
- Learning curve: Despite being user-friendly, the advanced technology in Linea PB could be overwhelming to new baristas, with a steep learning curve to really make use of all its features.
- Cost: As a premium espresso machine, the Linea PB comes with an elevated price tag. The high-quality technology and durability could be worth the investment for some, but it might be a barrier to others with a more limited budget.
- Size: Its dimensions, although accommodating both a 2 or 3 group setup, could be cumbersome for smaller coffee shop spaces or home counters; accommodating it might require some planning.
The difference between La Marzocco Linea PB AV & La Marzocco KB90
If you have set your eyes on high-end espresso machines, you've inevitably come across the La Marzocco Linea PB AV and the La Marzocco KB90. Both celebrated within the barista community, these machines present fantastic coffee-making experiences with their own set of unique features and specifications. Let's delve into the nuances that make each one shine in its own right.
Essential art of coffee making
The Linea PB AV manages to trim down the workflow to the essential art of coffee-making. With its classic, linear aesthetic, it offers comfortable reliability, especially during peak hours. One of the standout highlights of this machine is its programmable volumetric control. This ensures a consistent caffeine kick for each cup, something you'll truly appreciate amidst the morning rush.
Moreover, the Linea PB AV features user-friendly screens, providing key information and reducing the time spent on machine adjustments. It also comes with a dual boiler system. The screens and scales make it easier for anyone to make perfectly balanced cups of cappuccinos and espressos, ensuring that your customers get precisely what they expect.
Portafilter design
On the other hand, the La Marzocco KB90, defines innovation in the coffee world. It is praised for its straight-in portafilter design, which drastically reduces the strain on the barista's wrists without compromising on the taste of the coffee. This design innovation is incredibly ergonomic, setting a new standard in the coffee industry.
Steam flush KB90
The KB90 also features steam flush technology. Post extraction, the group head automatically cleans itself, significantly reducing manual cleaning and recovery time. With the KB90, it's about giving baristas an unprecedented advantage in their day-to-day operations. For those aiming to expedite operations while preserving top-notch coffee quality, the KB90's workflow surpasses that of many other machines in the same category.
Whether you choose the Linea PB AV for its classic reliability or the KB90 for its innovative and efficient design, you can rest assured, knowing both machines deliver superior espresso with minimal effort. After all, both models stem from the robust lineage of La Marzocco's industry-leading Italian craftsmanship.
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the La Marzocco Linea PB AV is its massive potential to enhance and streamline a barista's workflow. The influence of this remarkable coffee machine on workflow cannot be understated.
La Marzocco Linea PB AV:
La Marzocco KB90:
Maintenance and longevity
When it comes to the maintenance and longevity of the La Marzocco Linea PB AV, this machine truly shines. Known for its reliability, the machine also prides itself on having improved component longevity, ensuring that it stays efficient and high-performing for years to come.
As a crucial backbone of your cafe, the Linea PB AV must be cared for properly. Regular cleaning is suggested for optimal performance. The machine provides an automatic back-flush cycle, making the cleaning process considerably easier for the barista. Additionally, a filter replacement alarm ensures the machine alerts you when it's time for a filter change, keeping your Linea PB AV in top shape.
All of these features are designed to help lengthen the lifespan of your machine, but additional attention is needed. Here are some tips:
- Daily Cleaning:
- Wipe down the exterior of the machine with a damp cloth to remove any spills or residue.
- Flush the group heads with water to remove any coffee grounds or oils.
- Clean the steam wand with a damp cloth and purge steam to remove any milk residue.
- Weekly Maintenance:
- Remove and clean the portafilters, screens, and baskets with a brush and detergent.
- Backflush the machine with a cleaning solution to remove any buildup in the group heads and valves.
- Check and clean the water reservoir and refill as needed.
- Monthly Maintenance:
- Descale the machine to remove mineral buildup in the boilers and plumbing system.
- Inspect and replace any worn gaskets, seals, or o-rings to prevent leaks and ensure proper sealing.
- Lubricate moving parts such as hinges and levers to prevent rust and corrosion.
- Professional Servicing:
- Schedule regular maintenance checks with a certified technician to inspect internal components and address any issues.
- Keep records of maintenance and servicing for reference and warranty purposes.
The La Marzocco Linea PB AV also offers a convenient auto on/off feature, giving you the option to let the machine manage its own power usage. This goes a long way in preventing unnecessary wear, reducing stress on the machine, and extending its life.
Let the machine be your dependable business partner. By showing it some daily care, your La Marzocco Linea PB AV will provide consistently great coffee, day in and day out.
What we at OR coffee Roaster think about the Linea PB AV
Decorating many coffee shops' countertops, the La Marzocco Linea PB AV is no stranger to us at OR Coffee Roasters. We value it for its modern yet enduring design, unsurpassed reliability, and its potent features that shore up its performance.
The dual boiler system stands out for efficiency, ensuring the machine maintains the optimal temperature for brewing the perfect cup of espresso. A digital display lets you keep an eye on every aspect of the brewing process. Even better, its energy-saver mode helps minimize your carbon footprint without compromising the coffee's quality.
We're particularly fond of the PID control, which eliminates guesswork from the brewing process and gives the barista more precision. The USB firmware updates are like a cherry on top: they make sure your machine keeps up with technological strides, owning the future.
Since its launch in 2013, the Linea PB has proven itself to be a game-changer in the coffee industry. The machine, named after its creator Piero Bambi, was designed with a key aim: to put the power in the barista's hands. We echo this sentiment at OR Coffee Roasters, and with every cup of coffee brewed on a La Marzocco Linea PB AV, we feel just that—empowered.
Final thoughts on the Linea PB AV
To conclude, the La Marzocco Linea PB AV brings forward not just an espresso machine, but a tool of ingenuity and precision. Its modern yet durable design seamlessly merges with impeccable functionality, which in turn betters its reliability and efficiency throughout its use. No stone has been left unturned when it comes to equipping this device with the best features, such as dual PID Control, Digital display, ECO mode, Auto backflush, Piero group caps, and Ruby flow restrictors.
The Linea PB AV is available in two sizes: a 2 Group machine with a coffee boiler of 3.4 liters and a steam boiler of 7.0 liters, as well as a larger 3 Group variant with a coffee boiler of 5.0 liters and steam boiler of 11.0 liters. Both variants assure power in performance and consistency in brewing times, resulting in perfect extraction every time.
The La Marzocco Linea PB AV proves to be a solid investment for a bustling coffee shop. Bringing this piece of Italian engineering into your space is not just about having a top-of-the-range coffee machine, it's about proudly being part of the La Marzocco heritage—a legacy of coffee-making excellence that dates back to almost a century.
