La Marzocco facts for kids

La Marzocco is an Italian company that makes really good espresso coffee machines. It was started in 1927 in Florence, Italy, by two brothers, Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi. Today, their main office is in Scarperia, Italy, but they have offices all over the world.

A La Marzocco GB-5 machine

Special controls on a La Marzocco machine

La Marzocco espresso coffee machines in use

The Story of La Marzocco

The Bambi brothers made their first coffee machine, called Fiorenza. After that, they started their own company in 1927. They focused on making espresso machines by hand. They named their company La Marzocco after the Marzocco. This is a lion statue that is a symbol of victory for the city of Florence. The company chose this symbol to represent their brand.

As more and more people in Italy started drinking coffee, La Marzocco kept inventing new technologies. They made their machines easier to use for baristas (people who make coffee). They also created tools that became standard in the coffee industry.

How Did La Marzocco Machines Change Over Time?

1939: The Horizontal Boiler

In 1939, La Marzocco was the first company to get a patent for an espresso machine with a horizontal boiler. Before this, boilers were vertical. The new horizontal design made it easier for baristas to work and talk with customers.

1947: New Designs

After lever machines became popular, La Marzocco started making their own models. They always thought about how the machine would look in its setting and how it fit the times.

1950s: A New Family Member Joins

In the early 1950s, Piero Bambi, Giuseppe's son, joined the family business.

1964: The Poker Series

From 1964 to 1970, La Marzocco made the Poker series. These machines used steam pressure from the boiler to move a part called a piston. This was different from the older lever machines.

1968: The "Vulcano" Grinder Wins an Award

Giuseppe Bambi designed a coffee grinder called "Vulcano." In 1968, it won a special award at the Triennale di Milano exhibition for its design.

1970: The "GS" Machine and Dual Boilers

In 1970, La Marzocco patented its first series of professional semi-automatic machines called "GS." These machines had two separate boilers. One boiler was for making coffee, and the other was for making steam. This design made sure the water temperature was very stable, which made the coffee taste much better. The "GS" machine won an award in 1971.

From the 1970s onwards, all machine boilers were made from stainless steel.

1982: The GS/2 Wins an Award

In 1982, the GS/2, which was a new version of the GS model, won the Premio Andino de Fomento prize.

1988: Partnering with Starbucks

An American company, ESF (later called Espresso Specialists, Inc.), led by Kent Bakke, became the main supplier of La Marzocco machines for Starbucks. This partnership lasted for 16 years. Kent Bakke had started bringing La Marzocco machines to the United States in 1978.

1990: The "Linea" Machine

Piero Bambi designed his first complete machine in 1990. It was called the "Linea" (later known as the "Linea Classic"). This machine was very easy for technicians to fix and maintain.

1994: La Marzocco International

In 1994, a formal partnership called La Marzocco International, LLC. was created. It included the Bambi family and a group of American coffee lovers and Italian partners, led by Kent Bakke.

1997: The FB/70 Celebration Machine

The FB/70 coffee machine was launched in 1997 to celebrate La Marzocco's 70th anniversary. "FB" stands for Fratelli Bambi, meaning "Bambi Brothers." This machine was a special version of the Linea model with a unique fiberglass body.

2000: The "Swift" Grinder

The "Swift" grinder won the Best New Product award at a coffee conference in San Francisco. It was the first patented grinder that could grind coffee, measure it, and press it automatically.

2001: Supporting Baristas

La Marzocco started sponsoring the World Barista Championship in 2001. They did this for 8 years to help baristas become better at their job and connect with coffee fans around the world.

2005: The GB/5 Machine

The GB/5 machine was introduced in 2005. It was named after Piero's wife, Giovanna Bambi. This machine had a computer board and better temperature control because it used "PID" technology.

2006-2007: Anniversaries and Giving Back

The FB/80 was made for the 2006 World Barista Championship to celebrate the company's 80th anniversary. The GS/3 model was introduced in 2007. That same year, La Marzocco started the "Songwa Estate Project." This project helps educate people in the coffee industry and teaches them about how coffee goes from a bean to a cup. It also supports local charities.

2009: New Technologies and Locations

In April 2009, the company showed off its new pressure profile technology. This allowed baristas to control the water pressure during coffee extraction. Soon after, La Marzocco opened a branch in the USA. The Italian factory moved to a new location in Scarperia, which included a showroom and a training center.

La Marzocco also held its first "Out of The Box" event in Milan. At this event, they introduced a redesigned Vulcano grinder. They also showed the new Strada EP (electronic paddle) machine, which included the pressure profile technology. The Strada MP (mechanical paddle) was also on display.

2013: The Linea PB

The Linea PB model, named after its designer Piero Bambi, was introduced in 2013. This machine was a new version of the Linea Classic. It had new software that controlled how long and how much coffee was brewed. The Vulcano Swift grinder, which combined Swift technology with the Vulcano design, was also introduced.

2014: The Strada EE

The Strada EE (semi-automatic) machine was introduced in January 2014.

2015: Coffee for Your Home

The Strada AV prototype was introduced in 2015 (and launched in 2016).

The company also launched the Linea Mini for people to use at home. This machine was inspired by the larger Linea Classic. The Linea Mini has two boilers and a special system for stable temperature. It also has a pre-programmed feature for pre-infusion (wetting the coffee before brewing). It's perfect for home use because it has a built-in water tank, uses standard electricity, and fits on a kitchen counter. You can connect the machine to the La Marzocco Home app using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to change its settings. The Linea Mini won awards in April 2015.

2021: A New Partnership

In early 2021, La Marzocco sold most of its shares to De'Longhi Industrial S.A. (which is the parent company of De'Longhi SpA). By late 2023, De'Longhi SpA bought even more shares in La Marzocco. This led to a new business group that combines La Marzocco with Eversys, a company that makes automatic espresso machines. This new group focuses on professional coffee machines.

2022: The La Marzocco Micra

In November 2022, the company released a new espresso machine called the La Marzocco Micra. It's smaller than the Linea Mini but looks similar. The Linea Micra has two boilers and a special part called a convertible portafilter. This lets you easily switch between different ways of holding the coffee, while still making great coffee like the Linea Mini. This machine can also connect to the La Marzocco home app.

2024: La Marzocco X Porsche

In October 2024, a new coffee machine was created through a partnership between Porsche and La Marzocco. This special, limited-edition model is called La Marzocco X Porsche. It's based on La Marzocco’s Linea Micra but has design elements inspired by Porsche cars. It's made for coffee lovers who also appreciate luxury design.

How La Marzocco Machines Are Used

For many years, La Marzocco Linea machines were used in almost all Starbucks coffee shops.

From 2000 to 2008, La Marzocco was the official sponsor and supplier of espresso machines for the "World Barista Championship."

La Marzocco Products

Espresso Machines

Commercial Espresso Machines

• FB80
• GB5
• KB90
• Leva
• Linea Classic
• Linea PB
• Strada

Most commercial machines are available in 2 or 3 groups (parts that brew coffee). The Linea Classic also comes in 1 and 4 groups. The Linea PB, GB5, and FB80 also come in 4 groups. The Strada EP is also available in 1 group.

Home Espresso Machines

• GS3
• Linea Mini
• Linea Micra

Coffee Grinders

• Swan
• Vulcano
• Swift
• Lux D
• Pico

Historical Models

La Marzocco FB70 espresso coffee machines

• Fiorenza
• Marus
• Eureka
• National
• Mondial
• Rondine
• Aurum
• Alba
• Olimpia
• Crema-espress
• Etruria
• Comet
• Poker
• GS
• GS/2
• SMALL
• FB/70
• Mistral

See also

In Spanish: La Marzocco para niños

• Bialetti
• Cimbali
• De'Longhi
• Elektra (espresso machines)
• Faema
• FrancisFrancis
• Gaggia
• Rancilio
• Saeco
• List of Italian companies