La Marzocco GB5 S Commercial Espresso Machine AV

A Sharper, Bolder GB5

The GB5 from La Marzocco cut unique curves into the corners of the straight-forward Linea shell, bringing it into the 21st century under a new name. That was over 15 years ago (2005), though, and style changes, as did the Linea itself with the introduction of the PB line. La Marzocco created the GB5 S to effectively modernize its former nod to Giovanna Bambi, replacing Donatello's Marzocco lion on the corners with Florence's fleur de lis, sharpening the lines, and bringing the internals up to date with the cutting-edge Luminaire electronics found on the Linea PB, Strada, and KB90. The S is also bolder than its predecessor, with red accents on the buttons and branding. As with any La Marzocco machine, the materials are premium, including the AISI 316L stainless steel boilers, which, more than other substances, prevent heavy metals from being dissolved into the water.

Classic Meets Contemporary

As expected on a La Marzocco machine, the GB5 S is outfitted with temperature-stabilizing features, such as saturated groups, dual PIDs, re-engineered (more efficient) water pathways, and ruby flow restrictors that resist scale. Some of La Marzocco's very recent innovations are included, too, such as easy-rebuild steam valves, accessible in seconds, on the vacuum-insulated, double-walled steam wands; easy-access flow restrictors on the brew solenoid; an automatic backflush program; and, on the AV and ABR models, dimmable LED barista lights. The GB5 S provides the barista control over boiler temperature, brewing volume, hot water tap dose, automatic cleaning cycles and more, and, because it is a connected machine, the parameters can be adjusted in the app. This machine is Cropster Cafe ready! Cropster is a monthly subscription that allows cafe owners to remotely analyze brew parameters and consistency between shots, track the number of shots brewed per day, and even add or update recipes and assign tasks from your phone.