When it comes to commercial espresso machines, there's one brand that stands head and shoulders above the competition: La Marzocco. And in my opinion, the La Marzocco Strada is the Italian manufacturer's flagship machine.
When it comes to commercial espresso machines, there’s one brand that stands head and shoulders above the competition: La Marzocco. And in my opinion, the La Marzocco Strada is the Italian manufacturer’s flagship machine.
During my time as a professional barista I used quite a few different commercial espresso machines. However, it was the Strada that really won me over.
In this La Marzocco Strada review I’ll discuss this extraordinary machine in detail. Along the way I’ll talk about my experience using the thing and I’ll even throw in some tips for getting the best out of it. Let’s do this!
Superb commercial machine
La Marzocco Strada MP
My favorite La Marzocco espresso machine
Beautiful design
Makes exceptional espresso
Independent group boilers
Dual steam wands
Great workflow
Very expensive
Overview: La Marzocco Strada Review
If you’re still reading this review it’s because you’re interested in purchasing one of the best commercial espresso machines on the market. And that tells me you’re either a cafe owner or wealthy enough to spend over $20,000 on a home espresso machine.
As the manufacturer tells it, the La Marzocco Strada was developed over the course of two years, with input from a team of 30 coffee professionals. This carefully assembled group of nerdy baristas was nicknamed the “Street Team,” and the machine was christened with the Italian word for street in their honor.
The result is one of the best Italian espresso machines I’ve ever seen. Everything about the Strada has been carefully designed to provide pro baristas with an exceptional experience.
For starters, the machine looks incredible. Thanks to a sleek, low profile, the machine doesn’t get in the way when you’re taking orders. Plus, the Strada offers a seamless workflow, thanks to its dual steam wands, adjustable drip tray and independent boilers for each group.
I mainly worked with the Strada EP, which offers a staggering array of programmable options for dosing and pressure profiling. However, for the purposes of this review I’ll be focusing mainly on the La Marzocco Strada MP.
While there’s also a digital screen on this model, the MP offers a more hands-on experience, thanks to its manual paddle system.
In tandem with individual pressure gauges, this system allows the barista complete control over espresso pre-infusion and extraction. Available as a two- or three-group machine, the Strada MP is fully loaded with premium features that truly set it apart from other commercial machines.
I’ll get into all the exciting stuff a little later, but first it’s time for a reality check. Let’s talk money.
How Much Is a La Marzocco Espresso Machine?
As we’ve already established, the La Marzocco Strada ain’t cheap. Then again, we’re talking about one of the most advanced and premium espresso machines on the market.
So, how much is a La Marzocco espresso machine like this one? Well, for the two group Strada MP you can expect to pay upwards of $23,000. And if you’re in need of a three group model, the price rises to almost $26,000.
Of course, you can save money by looking for a used Strada espresso machine, or by purchasing a different La Marzocco model. Heck, you could even consider buying a commercial espresso machine from a different manufacturer. Still, if you want the very best for your cafe, the La Marzocco Strada is where it’s at.
La Marzocco Strada Features
Now that we’ve established what we’re dealing with in this La Marzocco Strada review, let’s get into the good stuff. By the end of this section of my review, you’ll appreciate why this is one of the most coveted espresso machines around.
Size and Design
When it comes to describing the design language of the La Marzocco Strada, I’m having a hard time thinking of anything other than a super sexy Italian sports car. I know that’s kind of a cliche, but I’m fairly sure that’s what the manufacturer was going for anyway.
As I already mentioned, the Strada MP has an intentionally low profile, so the machine won’t dominate your coffee bar. With that said, it’s certainly going to draw attention thanks to its sumptuous retro stylings. What’s more, the Strada is all shiny chrome and stainless steel, with custom colors available for the side panels.
Of course, the La Marzocco Strada is a beast of a thing, with the two group model weighing 187 pounds (85 kilograms). Suffice to say, you’ll need a sturdy coffee bar to accommodate this magnificent machine.
Strada Espresso Machine User Interface
The La Marzocco Strada MP has been designed to give baristas ultimate control over their espresso extractions.
As such, the machine’s user interface features manual controls, including paddles for activating the brewing process and a prominent boiler pressure gauge. Even better, each brew group has its own periscope pressure gauge, meaning you can monitor group pressure as you’re working.
It’s not all old-school manual controls, though – there’s a digital screen front and center. Using the jog wheel, you’re easily able to adjust parameters, including coffee and steam temperatures. What’s more, the screen displays a handy shot timer.
Individual Coffee Boilers
What’s truly remarkable about the La Marzocco Strada is its separate 44-ounce ( 1.3-liter) coffee boilers for each group. This means baristas can set unique temperatures for each group if they so desire. What’s more, each group head maintains a superb level of consistency, seeing as it’s essentially a separate system.
When I was working on the Strada, there were times when two baristas would be working on the machine at the same time. We had burr coffee grinders situated at either side of the machine and were thus able to make two coffee drinks simultaneously. Trust me, when your cafe is super busy, it’s amazing to be able to work in such an efficient manner.
PID Temperature Control
It’ll come as no surprise to learn that the La Marzocco Strada features PID control for both the coffee and steam boilers. As I mentioned above, you’re able to adjust the temperature of each boiler electronically via the digital screen. This is especially valuable if you’re using more than one type of coffee in your cafe.
For example, one brew group could be used for an espresso blend, while the other could be reserved for pulling single origin shots. In that scenario, you’d be able to precisely dial in the ideal brewing temperature for each coffee. How cool is that!
La Marzocco Strada Steam Wand
I can confidently say the La Marzocco Strada steam wands are the best I’ve ever used. Thanks to a 277-ounce (8.2-liter) steam boiler, you’re never going to run low on steam power. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, you’re able to accurately adjust the steam boiler’s temperature.
Situated on either side of the machine, the steam wands are double-walled, so you won’t run the risk of burning your hands. Plus, their articulated movement makes it easy to find a comfortable position. Finally, you’re able to precisely control steam flow, thanks to the user-friendly levers with proportional valves.
Saturated Groups
The La Marzocco Strada features huge exposed group heads that are fully saturated for temperature stability. Water is constantly circulated through the group head, meaning it’s always ready to go. Just remember that the group head will be very hot to the touch, so be careful not to burn yourself.
Situated on top of each group you’ll find the La Marzocco Strada’s conical paddles. In combination with the periscope pressure gauges, these paddles offer a truly manual espresso-making experience, seeing as the barista controls every aspect of the extraction.
Adjustable Drip Tray
I absolutely love the fact that you’re able to adjust the position of the Strada’s huge drip tray. Personally, I always kept the thing at its lowest setting so I could pull espresso directly into larger latte cups. However, some baristas will prefer a shorter distance between the portafilter spouts and their espresso cups to prevent unnecessary splashes.
Speaking of espresso cups, I should mention the Strada’s impressive cup warmer, which is located on top of the machine. Surrounded by an elegant metal rail, the cup warmer is really effective, so you won’t need to worry about preheating your cups with hot water.
Incidentally seeing as this is a commercial machine that’s plumbed directly to a water source, the drip tray drains as it fills, meaning you won’t have to remove it during the day. Still, the drain does get clogged from time to time, so try to keep coffee grounds out of there.
Stainless Steel Portafilters
The La Marzocco Strada MP comes with stainless steel portafilters and precision 58mm filter baskets. The portafilters are spouted, meaning you can split shots into two cups if you wish. However, I’d recommend equipping the machine with bottomless portafilters instead.
In my experience, you’ll achieve more consistent results seeing as there’s less surface area involved. Plus, watching the perfect espresso pour like honey from a bottomless portafilter is one of life’s great pleasures!
La Marzocco Settings
As I told you at the start of this review, I worked on the La Marzocco Strada EP, which allows you to program multiple pressure profiles for each group.
However, the Strada MP is a different animal altogether. I will say that this machine is intended for experienced baristas who understand the ins and outs of espresso preparation. Still, that’s not to say that you won’t quickly get the hang of using the thing.
Before getting started, I’d recommend considering how you want to use the machine. Do you want each group to brew at the same temperature, or will one group be reserved for a different type of coffee? If so, you’ll likely want to experiment with individual brewing temperatures.
Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend
High-quality beans through direct trade
Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut
Easy on the stomach
Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn
Medium roast
As for pulling shots, it almost goes without saying that you’ll need to use a good coffee scale with this machine. Personally, I wouldn’t use anything other than the Acaia Lunar. Thanks to its superb response time and flow rate indicator, you’ll get valuable feedback on your espresso extractions.
Once you’ve dosed coffee into your portafilter and locked it into place in the group head, use the conical paddle to initiate the pre-infusion stage. Keep an eye on your pressure gauge and timer – I like to pre-infuse the coffee puck for around five seconds.
Next, move the paddle all the way to the left in a fluid motion. Again, monitor the gauge to see important feedback on your extraction. Ideally, the needle will hover in the 9 bar range, which is optimal for espresso. You’ll also need to keep an eye on the time and weight of your shot.
So, if you dosed 20 grams of coffee into your portafilter, you’ll be looking for a 40-gram shot of espresso with an extraction time of around 25-30 seconds.
La Marzocco Strada Cleaning
If you’ve invested over $20,000 in a commercial espresso machine, I’m fairly confident you’ll want to take good care of the thing. I won’t bore you with all the details in this review. Rather, I’ll leave it to the user manual to advise you on everything you need to do.
Still, I can tell you that daily maintenance is key to the Strada’s longevity. So, you can expect to spend time at the end of each day scrubbing filter baskets and dispersion screens, soaking steam wands and backflushing group heads.
Every six months or so, I’d recommend replacing rubber parts in the steam wands. And you’ll probably need to replace the rubber gaskets in the group head once a month, depending on usage.
For more in-depth maintenance, you’d be well advised to make sure you know an espresso machine technician who is familiar with La Marzocco machines. In my experience, things can go wrong from time to time, especially given the fact that your machine will likely see a lot of action on a daily basis.
La Marzocco Strada Specifications
| La Marzocco Strada MP | |
| Manufacturer | La Marzocco |
|---|---|
| Model number | MP |
| Product category | Manual espresso machine |
| Housing material | Stainless steel |
| Color options | Custom |
| Milk frother | Steam wand |
| User interface | Text display with buttons |
| App | |
| User profiles | Memo function only |
| Portafilter size | 58 mm |
| Tamping | Manual |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | N/A |
| Number of boilers | 2 |
| Pump pressure | 9 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 4.0 in / 10.2 cm |
| Grinder | N/A |
| Grind adjustment levels | N/A |
| Bean hopper capacity | N/A |
| Specialty drinks | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| 2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 4500 W |
| Weight | 72.0 lb / 32.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 19.0 x 30.0 x 26.5 in |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Notes | Included accessories: User manual, 2 x filter baskets |
| All specifications | |
La Marzocco Strada vs Other Espresso Machines
I’ve made it clear that the La Marzocco Strada is my favorite espresso machine of all time. Still, there are other models out there that might appeal to you. With that in mind, let’s see how the Strada measures up to a few of the manufacturer’s other offerings.
La Marzocco Leva vs Strada
Depending on your taste preference, the La Marzocco Leva will look completely ridiculous or super cool. I’ll refrain from expressing my opinion on that.
Designed as a modern take on the traditional lever machine, the two group version of this model will set you back around thirty grand. It features everything you’d expect, including independent boilers for each group and smart PID control. There’s also a cool screen to help guide you through programming pre infusion pressure, shot volume and more.
Personally, I’ll stick with the Strada. Then again, some folks will want a machine that’s impossible to ignore!
La Marzocco Strada vs GS3
Costing around $7,500, the La Marzocco GS3 is essentially a home version of the Strada. It shares many of the same features, including separate PID controllers for the coffee and steam boilers and a conical paddle for coffee brewing.
Available as a manual or automatic machine, the La Marzocco GS3 is incredibly popular, and for good reason. Seriously, if I could afford it, I’d be rocking one of these beauties in my kitchen!
La Marzocco Strada vs KB90
A newer machine, the La Marzocco KB90 is truly exceptional in terms of its workflow. Thanks to its superb ergonomics, locking the portafilter into place in the group head puts less stress on a barista’s wrist. Now that’s something to really get excited about!
Other features include redesigned dual wall steam wands and steam dials. Best of all, the ABR model includes a built-in scale that’ll stop the espresso shot based on its mass. Available as a two or three group model, the La Marzocco KB90 starts at around $25,000.
La Marzocco Strada vs Linea
The two group La Marzocco Linea has been around for decades. In fact, it’s one of the most popular and reliable commercial espresso machines of all time.
Featuring a clean, boxy design and timeless appeal, the Linea will serve you well in the busiest of cafes. Sure, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you’ll find on the Strada, but you’ll still be able to produce exceptional espresso and milk foam with this machine.
Plus, at around $10,000, the Linea represents really good value for money.
Related: La Marzocco Linea Mini Review
Verdict: La Marzocco Strada Review
Superb commercial machine
La Marzocco Strada MP
My favorite La Marzocco espresso machine
Beautiful design
Makes exceptional espresso
Independent group boilers
Dual steam wands
Great workflow
Very expensive
What more can I say? The La Marzocco Strada is an absolutely outstanding commercial espresso machine and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work on the thing.
If you’re looking to upgrade from an outdated machine to something that’ll really make your baristas smile, consider investing in the Strada. Trust me, it’ll change the game in your cafe, and customers will definitely notice the difference.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my La Marzocco Strada review. Have you worked with this espresso machine? I’d love to hear about your experiences, so go ahead and leave a comment below!
