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La Marzocco

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Coordinates: 43°57′45″N 11°21′06″E / 43.9625048°N 11.351572°E / 43.9625048; 11.351572
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43°57′45″N 11°21′06″E / 43.9625048°N 11.351572°E / 43.9625048; 11.351572

La Marzocco
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryDomestic & Professional Espresso machines
FoundedFlorence, Italy, 1927; 97 years ago (1927)
FounderGiuseppe Bambi
Bruno Bambi
HeadquartersScarperia e San Piero,
Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Giuseppe Bambi
Bruno Bambi
Pierro Bambi
Giovanna Bambi
Kent Bakke
ProductsEspresso Machines
Number of employees
800
ParentDe'Longhi SpA
Websitewww.lamarzocco.com

La Marzocco, founded in 1927, Florence, by Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi, is an Italian company specializing in high-end espresso coffee machines.[1][2][3][4] It is based in Scarperia, with branch offices worldwide.[5]

A La Marzocco GB-5
"Paddle" style grouphead controls on a La Marzocco
La Marzocco espresso coffee machines

History

After the Bambi brothers manufactured their first coffee machine Fiorenza on commission, they established their own activity in 1927 specialized in hand-crafting espresso machines, and named it after the Marzocco – the city of Florence's symbol of victory and conquest and whose image and values were chosen to represent the company brand.

As coffee consumption increased in Italy throughout the 20th century, La Marzocco over the decades introduced technological innovations, improved ergonomics and barista tools, establishing industry standards.

1939

La Marzocco was the first to register a patent for an espresso machine with a horizontal boiler. In comparison to the previous vertical structure, organized the brew groups in a horizontal fashion, which provided efficiency for the barista and an opportunity to engage with customers.

1947

Following the introduction of the lever machines, La Marzocco began to manufacture its own models, keeping in mind design that would refer to the context of the environment and time.

1950's

In the early 1950s, Piero Bambi joined the business of his father Giuseppe and his uncle.

1964

From 1964 to 1970 La Marzocco produced the Poker series,[6][7][8] in which the piston, unlike lever machines, was lifted and pressed during brewing by means of a diaphragm, that was inflated by steam pressure generated by the boiler.

1968

Giuseppe Bambi's "Vulcano" grinder was awarded the Decorative and Industrial Arts Prize at the 14th Triennale di Milano exhibition.

1970

In 1970, La Marzocco patented its first series of professional semi-automatic, dual-boiler machines named "GS" (GS for Gruppo Saturo, or saturated group), winning the Qualità e Cortesia-Toscana prize in 1971. The two independent boilers separated coffee extraction from steam production thus, together with the saturated groups, ensured thermal stability and improved coffee quality in the cup since water now flowed through independent circuits.

From the seventies onward all machine boilers are manufactured in stainless steel.

1982

In 1982, the GS/2 - a redesigned GS model - won the Premio Andino de Fomento prize

1988

The American firm ESF (future Espresso Specialists, Inc.) run by Kent Bakke became the exclusive supplier of La Marzocco machines for Starbucks until the latter, after 16 years, transitioned to super-automatic machines. Kent Bakke began importing La Marzocco machines to the United States in 1978.

1990

Piero Bambi designed his first machine in its entirety, the "Linea" (later known as the "Linea Classic", which proved to be very technician-friendly.

1994

La Marzocco International, LLC., a formal partnership between the Bambi family and a team of American coffee enthusiasts and Italian partners, led by Kent Bakke, is established.

1997

The FB/70 coffee machine (FB for Fratelli Bambi) is launched to celebrate La Marzocco's 70th anniversary. This is a version of La Marzocco Linea models with a unique fiberglass body.

2000

The "Swift" grinder is awarded Best New Product at the San Francisco SCAA conference, being the first patented model to combine dosing, grinding and automatic tamping technologies.

2001

La Marzocco began the first of 8 years as sponsor of the World Barista Championship in its endeavor to boost the barista profession and engage with end customers as specialty coffee communities developed worldwide.

2005

The GB/5 machine (named after Piero's wife, Giovanna Bambi) is introduced, equipped with a CPU board and improved thermo-stability in light of the introduction of "PID" technology.

2006-2007

The FB/80 was manufactured for the 2006 World Barista Championship in Bern to mark the company's 80th anniversary, whereas the GS/3 model is presented in 2007. That year, La Marzocco also launched the "Songwa Estate Project", a non-profit joint venture aiming to provide educational experiences for members of the specialty coffee industry and convey increased awareness of the bean-to-cup cycle through local, charitable support and commitment.

2009

In April 2009, the company presented its pressure profile technology at SCAA on a prototype, which, for the first time, enabled the barista to have direct pressure control at any point during extraction. Soon after, its branch in the USA is established, the Italian factory is relocated to nearby Scarperia, with a showroom and training center, and La Marzocco's first "Out of The Box" event is inaugurated in Milan. The redesigned Vulcano grinder, with Mazzer grinder technology, is introduced on this occasion, and the pressure profile technology introduced earlier in the year is built into the newly designed Strada EP (electronical paddle). The Strada MP (mechanical paddle) is on display as well. The Strada EE (semi-automatic) is introduced in January 2014.

2013

The Linea PB, named after the machine's designer Piero Bambi model is introduced at the Boston SCAA conference. The Linea PB refashions the Linea Classic and is distinguished by a new proprietary software platform which controls brewing time and volume. The Vulcano Swift grinder is introduced as well and incorporates the Swift technology with the design of the Vulcano.

2014

The Strada EE (semi-automatic) is introduced in January.[9]

2015

The Strada AV prototype is introduced (launched in 2016).[10]

The company also launches the Linea Mini for the home. Born from the commercial espresso machine, the Linea Classic, the Linea Mini is equipped with a dual boiler, a thermal stability system,[11] a pre-programmed pre-infusion feature and is optimized for the home in light of a built-in water reservoir, standard appliance power needs and its countertop footprint. The machine can be connected to the La Marzocco Home app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing for the customization of specific features.[12] The Linea Mini was awarded Best New Product and the People's Choice awards at SCAA (Seattle) in April 2015.[13]

2021

La Marzocco sold the majority of its shares to De'Longhi Industrial S.A (the parent company of De'Longhi SpA), in early 2021. By late 2023, De'Longhi SpA had purchased the majority of its parent company's shares in La Marzocco.[14] This transfer of stock ownership resulted in the creation of a new business unit combining La Marzocco and Swiss Fully-Automatic espresso machine manufacturer Eversys (itself acquired by De'Longhi SpA in a process that started in 2017 [15]). This new entity, focused on the Professional coffee segment, is 61.4% controlled by De'Longhi SpA, 26.6% controlled by De'Longhi Industrial S.A, and 12% controlled by the remaining shareholders of La Marzocco.[16]

2022

In November, the company released a new espresso machine called the La Marzocco Micra. Its size is smaller than the Linea Mini, but the design is similar. The Linea Micra has a dual boiler and a unique convertible portafilter that enables easy switching between spouted and bottomless portafilters while maintaining the quality and performance of the Linea Mini. The machine can also connect to the La Marzocco home app. [17]

Use

La Marzocco Linea machines were used at almost all Starbucks locations for many years.

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

Products

Espresso machines

Commercial espresso machines

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

All commercial machines are available in 2, 3 except the Linea Classic (also 1 and 4); the Linea PB, the GB5 and FB80 (also 4); the Strada EP (also available in 1 group).[18][19][20]

Home espresso machines

  • GS3
  • Linea Mini
  • Linea Micra

Coffee grinders

  • Swan
  • Vulcano
  • Swift
  • Lux D [21]
  • Pico

Historical models

La Marzocco FB70 espresso coffee machines

[22][23][24][25][26]

  • Fiorenza [27][28]
  • Marus [29]
  • Eureka
  • National
  • Mondial
  • Rondine
  • Aurum
  • Alba
  • Olimpia
  • Crema-espress
  • Etruria
  • Comet
  • Poker
  • GS
  • GS/2
  • SMALL
  • FB/70
  • Mistral

See also

References

  1. ^ Book "Un caffè in Toscana" by Andrej Godina – Edizione Medicea 2016
  2. ^ "CoffeeGeek - la Marzocco withdrawing from Host in Milan 2009". Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  3. ^ "Spettacolo: News su cinema, serie tv, show, tv, musica | Sky TG24".
  4. ^ "La Marzocco, leggenda italiana: Macchine da caffè come Ferrari". 2018-08-05.
  5. ^ "La Marzocco: Il caffè del bar sale a casa". 2014-10-20.
  6. ^ Book "COFFEE-MACHINES FOR USE IN BARS
  7. ^ "History Book | la Marzocco". Archived from the original on 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  8. ^ Page 35, photos: number 19,20,21,22
  9. ^ "Barista Magazine - JUN-JUL 2014". Archived from the original on 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  10. ^ "La Curva: La Marzocco's New Concept Lever Espresso Machine". 2015-10-28.
  11. ^ "Linea Mini". La Marzocco USA. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  12. ^ "Linea Mini: La Marzocco Home App Set Up". support.clivecoffee.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  13. ^ "SCAA 2015 Best New Product Winners Announced | Specialty Coffee Association News".
  14. ^ "De' Longhi teams up with La Marzocco to boost coffee machine business".
  15. ^ "De'Longhi S.p.a.: Agreement for the acquisition of 40% of Eversys" (PDF).
  16. ^ "De'Longhi Creates a Hub of Global Coffee Standing in the Professional Coffee Machine Segment" (PDF).
  17. ^ "New Product Alert: La Marzocco Micra". Coffee Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  18. ^ "Crema Magazin".
  19. ^ Print copy of "Crema", Oktober/November 2016, pages 92-96
  20. ^ "Espresso Machines".
  21. ^ "La Marzocco Home and Mazzer Introduce Upmarket Home Lux D Grinder". 2015-01-12.
  22. ^ Book "Coffee Makers" by Enrico Maltoni
  23. ^ "Coffee Makers: An encyclopaedia of coffee makers by Enrico Maltoni | Collezione Enrico Maltoni".
  24. ^ Book "Espresso Made In Italy 1901-1962 - Collezione Enrico Maltoni, pages 132-125
  25. ^ Book "Coffee Makers, 300 years of art & design" by Edward & Joan Bramah
  26. ^ "History".
  27. ^ "GIUSEPPE BAMBI | Mu.De.To. - Museo del Design Toscano, Museo Design Toscana".
  28. ^ "LA MARZOCCO - semifinale cibc | Andrea Antonelli".
  29. ^ Freeman, James; Freeman, Caitlin; Duggan, Tara (2012-10-09). The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee: Growing, Roasting, and Drinking, with Recipes. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. ISBN 978-1-60774-119-0.
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