Linea Micra

Two weeks in and happy with it. I was originally eyeing on the Mini way before the Micra came out but could not afford it at that time. And when the Micra came out, I was still a bit hesitant getting it initially but for the price it is the sweet spot (still expensive compared to other brands though but I really wanted a LaMarzocco) but I am only making average of 2-3 milk drinks per day so it is more than enough for my use. I like the fast heat up time (which I also can control on the app), and the easy, straight forward workflow. I started with the Breville Barista Express which introduced me to this rabbit hole and have used it for nearly 5 years. Coming from the BBE, the Micra’s a huge upgrade and will cure the upgrade itch in the coming years. 😆

I have a Micra and it's far from my first machine. Shitty Krups > Shitty DeLonghi > Gaggia Classic > Silvia > Appartamento > Micra, over the course of about 20 years.

I had a ton of electrical issues with mine. It was constantly tripping the high temp sensors even after rewiring it. I was swapping out pressure stats like it was going out of style. The machine was a fight for a long time, but once I got it in good consistent working order I couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. My dad has an Appartamento that has been bulletproof. I had also always wanted a LM Machine based on the cafe heritage and the Micra came out shortly before bonus season for me so I took the plunge.

Micra hands down! If you change your mind or upgrade resale will still be great!

I think it’s a no brainer- White Micra / Allground Sense combo. Close to budget, both great quality and built to last. White Zerno Z1 if stuck on single dosing but I’d personally only have GBW as my main grinder.

Don't get a GS3 AV. It's a waste of money and will not give you any better espresso than a Mini or Micra.

Avoid 4 if you care about easy repairability. I personally don't like anything too high-tech. I own a Mini with the BBW scale, and even that annoys me since I have to use their app to modify the target weights. I agree with a lot of the comments about getting a lever machine - that's going to be my next upgrade after the Mini - but since you're not looking for lever machines, the Micra, Mini or ECM Sync II are all great options.

In a back-to-back scenario, you really want better reliability and, more importantly, thermal stability. The Linea Mini delivers superior thermal recovery after each shot, has larger boilers, and a powerful steam. Also, I once spoke with a local La Marzocco rep who mentioned that the Micra tends to struggle after about 5 consecutive shots. He wouldn’t recommend it for anything beyond home use, like making coffee for yourself and maybe one other person. I understand that you may be working within a budget, but I wouldn’t recommend using a machine in an environment it wasn’t designed for. If budget is a concern, you might want to consider other manufacturers outside of La Marzocco that are better suited for commercial needs at a lower price point.

I’m in the Toronto area and have a similar use case. Just upgraded from the ECM TECHNIKA V (which was a very solid machine) to a Micra. Very happy with that decision because of simplicity, consistency and endgame stature. I don’t do bells and whistles - just simple excellence. Go for it!

I recently upgraded from a Profitec GO to a Linea Micra, and couldn't be happier. The single boiler workflow was getting very annoying, even with the GO being quick. I got the Micra for $5600 CAD. It's expensive, but I'm sure it's going to last a very long time. They don't offer any flow control, which is not an issue for me since I was looking for an easy workflow that produces good coffee. The Micra delivers that for sure.