La Marzocco
Italian high-end espresso-machine and coffee-equipment brand recognized for commercial reliability, thermal engineering, distinctive design, and deep ties to specialty coffee.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
La Marzocco is an Italian manufacturer of professional and domestic espresso machines, coffee grinders, and related brewing equipment. The company was established in Florence in 1927 by brothers Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi after they had produced their first coffee machine, Fiorenza, on commission. The name refers to the Marzocco, the heraldic lion associated with Florence and traditionally connected with the city’s strength and civic identity. The company built its reputation through a combination of hand-oriented manufacturing, engineering experimentation, and close relationships with working baristas. In 1939, La Marzocco registered an early patent for a horizontal-boiler espresso machine. Placing the brew groups in a row improved the operator’s workflow and made it easier for baristas to interact with customers. After the spread of lever machines in the postwar period, the company developed its own lever models and continued refining both mechanical systems and machine ergonomics. A particularly important turning point came in 1970, when La Marzocco patented its GS series of professional semi-automatic machines. The GS architecture used separate boilers for brewing and steam, together with saturated groups, helping improve thermal stability and consistency. Stainless-steel boilers became a continuing feature of the company’s machines from the 1970s onward. The GS family established an engineering foundation for later commercial models and helped make La Marzocco a reference point in specialty cafés. The brand’s international expansion was strongly influenced by the United States. In the late 1970s, Seattle-based coffee professionals led by Kent Bakke began importing La Marzocco machines after visiting the Florence factory. Their distribution operation later became closely associated with Starbucks, and in 1994 Bakke and partners acquired a majority stake in the company through La Marzocco International. La Marzocco machines were subsequently used extensively in Starbucks stores during the chain’s rapid specialty-coffee expansion, although Starbucks began moving to super-automatic equipment in the early 2000s. Product development accelerated under the Bambi family, particularly through the work of Piero Bambi. The Linea, later known as the Linea Classic, became one of the company’s most recognizable designs. Later products added electronic controls, dual-boiler systems, programmable dosing, pressure profiling, and consumer connectivity while retaining visual references to the company’s commercial heritage. The Linea PB, Strada, GS3, Linea Mini, Linea Micra, and newer Leva and Strada variants extend the brand across professional, prosumer, and home segments. La Marzocco has also played a visible role in coffee culture. It supplied machines for the World Barista Championship from 2001 through 2008, supported training and educational initiatives, and developed events such as Out of The Box. Its Songwa Estate Project was created as a nonprofit educational initiative connected with the specialty-coffee community. The company’s grinders, including Swift, Vulcano, Pico, Lux D, Swan, and other models, complement its espresso-machine portfolio. The company is now based in Scarperia near Florence and operates through international offices, distributors, training facilities, and showrooms. Ownership changed materially in the 2020s when La Marzocco International sold a majority interest to De'Longhi Industrial, followed by a transfer involving De'Longhi S.p.A. By late 2023, the ownership structure placed La Marzocco in a De'Longhi-controlled professional-coffee business alongside Eversys. La Marzocco remains an active premium equipment brand serving cafés, restaurants, hospitality operators, coffee professionals, and home enthusiasts.
History
La Marzocco began in Florence in 1927, when Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi established a workshop devoted to hand-crafted espresso machines. Their first machine, Fiorenza, had been built on commission. The founders named the new business after the Marzocco, the lion symbol associated with Florence. During the first half of the twentieth century, the company developed machines for Italy’s growing café culture. Its 1939 horizontal-boiler patent was an important design step because it arranged multiple brew groups in a line, improving barista efficiency and customer interaction. After Gaggia’s lever-machine innovations became influential in 1947, La Marzocco produced its own lever models. Piero Bambi joined the family enterprise in the early 1950s and later became a central designer. From 1964 to 1970, La Marzocco manufactured the Poker series, which used a steam-pressure-driven diaphragm mechanism rather than a conventional lever. In 1968, Giuseppe Bambi’s Vulcano grinder received recognition at the 14th Triennale di Milano. In 1970, the company patented the GS series, its first professional semi-automatic dual-boiler platform. Separating the brew and steam boilers, and pairing them with saturated groups, improved temperature management and extraction consistency. The GS/2 later received the Premio Andino de Fomento in 1982. Piero Bambi designed the original Linea in full by 1990. The machine became the Linea Classic and eventually one of the company’s most widely recognized commercial products. Anniversary models included the fiberglass-bodied FB/70 in 1997 and FB/80, produced in connection with the company’s eightieth anniversary and the 2006 World Barista Championship. La Marzocco also expanded into grinding; Swift received Best New Product recognition at the 2000 San Francisco SCAA conference for combining grinding, dosing, and automatic tamping. The United States became a major part of the company’s international story. In 1978, Kent Bakke and associates from Seattle’s Hibble & Hyde café were authorized to import La Marzocco machines. Their early promotion included a portable espresso cart at the 1979 Edmonds Arts Festival. Bakke’s company, later known as Espresso Specialists, became an exclusive La Marzocco supplier to Starbucks in 1988. In 1994, Bakke and partners acquired 90 percent of the company and formed La Marzocco International with the Bambi family. A Seattle manufacturing operation also produced machines for Starbucks. Starbucks used La Marzocco equipment extensively until it began transitioning to super-automatic machines in 2004. La Marzocco’s relationship with specialty coffee deepened in the 2000s. From 2001 to 2008 it sponsored the World Barista Championship as official machine supplier. In 2007, the company introduced the GS3 and launched the Songwa Estate Project, a nonprofit initiative intended to provide educational experiences for specialty-coffee professionals. In 2009 it presented pressure profiling, established a United States branch, relocated its Italian factory to Scarperia, and opened a showroom and training center. The Strada EP incorporated electronic pressure control, while the Strada MP offered a mechanical paddle configuration. The 2010s brought a broader product architecture. The Linea PB, named for Piero Bambi, introduced proprietary software for controlling brew time and volume. The Linea Mini translated commercial Linea concepts into a domestic dual-boiler machine and added app connectivity. The Strada family expanded through EE and AV versions, while grinders such as Vulcano Swift combined earlier grinding technology with updated industrial design. In the 2020s, La Marzocco extended its home portfolio with the Linea Micra, a smaller machine related to the Linea Mini. It also continued to sell commercial machines, domestic machines, grinders, and equipment from the Modbar portfolio. Ownership shifted toward De'Longhi: La Marzocco International sold a majority interest to De'Longhi Industrial in 2021, and by late 2023 De'Longhi S.p.A. had acquired a majority position in the relevant holding structure. The transaction created a professional-coffee business combining La Marzocco with Eversys. La Marzocco continues to operate from Scarperia and serve international café, hospitality, professional, and home markets.
- 2024
La Marzocco X Porsche edition
[1]A limited-edition Linea Micra is launched with Porsche-related design cues.
- 2022
Linea Micra launched
[1]The Linea Micra becomes the compact addition to La Marzocco’s domestic espresso-machine range.
- 2021
Majority ownership moves to De'Longhi Industrial
[1]La Marzocco International sells a majority of its shares to De'Longhi Industrial S.A.
- 2015
Linea Mini introduced
[1]La Marzocco enters a broader home-machine segment with a dual-boiler model derived from the commercial Linea.
- 2013
Linea PB introduced
[1]The Linea PB updates the Linea Classic with software-based controls for brew time and volume.
- 2009
Pressure profiling and Scarperia facilities
[1]The company presents pressure-profile technology, establishes a U.S. branch, and relocates its Italian factory to Scarperia.
- 2007
GS3 and Songwa Estate Project launch
[1]The GS3 is introduced and the company begins a nonprofit specialty-coffee education initiative.
- 2001
World Barista Championship sponsorship begins
[1]La Marzocco becomes official espresso-machine supplier for the championship through 2008.
- 1990
Piero Bambi designs the Linea
[1]Piero Bambi completes the design of the machine later known as the Linea Classic.
- 1978
U.S. import relationship begins
[1]Kent Bakke and associates receive authorization to import La Marzocco machines into the United States.
Products and positioning
Premium and professional espresso equipment combining Italian design, serviceability, thermal-control engineering, barista-oriented workflow, and specialty-coffee credibility.
Commercial espresso machine · 1990
Linea Classic
The Linea Classic is one of La Marzocco’s defining commercial platforms. Derived from the Linea designed by Piero Bambi, it uses the brand’s restrained stainless-steel aesthetic and is intended for cafés requiring a durable, familiar multi-group workflow. The platform has been offered in several group configurations and has influenced later products such as the Linea PB and Linea Mini.
Commercial espresso machine · 1970
GS series
The GS family introduced La Marzocco’s professional dual-boiler architecture. Independent boilers separate espresso brewing from steam production, while saturated groups support temperature stability. The platform became an important technical reference for later La Marzocco commercial equipment and helped establish the company’s reputation among specialty cafés.
Commercial espresso machine · 2009
Strada
Strada is a professional espresso-machine family centered on barista control and a contemporary interpretation of La Marzocco’s commercial design language. Versions include electronic-paddle, mechanical-paddle, semi-automatic, and newer generation configurations. The Strada platform is associated with pressure profiling and flexible control during extraction.
Commercial espresso machine · 2013
Linea PB
Named after designer Piero Bambi, the Linea PB modernizes the Linea Classic with a proprietary software platform that controls brew time and volume. It targets professional cafés seeking a recognizable La Marzocco appearance with programmable operation and commercial-scale capacity.
Prosumer espresso machine · 2007
GS3
The GS3 brings commercial-derived engineering to a smaller format for advanced home users and low-volume professional applications. It is associated with dual-boiler temperature management and has been offered in AV electronic and MP mechanical-paddle versions.
Home espresso machine · 2015
Linea Mini
The Linea Mini adapts the visual identity and core operating concepts of the commercial Linea to the home. Its dual-boiler configuration, compact footprint, and later app connectivity positioned it as a premium domestic machine for enthusiasts seeking commercial-inspired brewing.
Home espresso machine · 2022
Linea Micra
The Linea Micra is a compact domestic espresso machine positioned as a smaller companion to the Linea Mini. It extends La Marzocco’s home strategy toward users with limited counter space while retaining the brand’s recognizable styling and emphasis on espresso-focused operation.
Commercial espresso machine
Leva
The Leva line revisits the visual and mechanical character of lever espresso machines in a contemporary commercial platform. It emphasizes direct barista interaction with the extraction process while incorporating modern La Marzocco construction and control systems.
Coffee grinder
Swift
Swift is a grinder designed to combine grinding, dosing, and automatic tamping. Its integrated workflow was intended to improve consistency and speed in professional service, and the product received Best New Product recognition at the 2000 San Francisco SCAA conference.
Coffee grinder
Vulcano
Vulcano is a La Marzocco grinder family with historical roots in Giuseppe Bambi’s grinder design work. Later versions incorporated technology associated with Mazzer and were presented alongside updated espresso equipment and the company’s professional café portfolio.
Coffee grinder
Pico and Lux D
Pico and Lux D are compact grinder offerings supporting La Marzocco’s domestic and light-duty coffee-equipment range. They extend the brand beyond espresso machines by providing integrated or adjacent grinding solutions for home users.
Café equipment
Modbar equipment
The Modbar portfolio includes under-counter and modular equipment such as espresso, steam, and pour-over systems. These products are designed to reduce visual clutter on the café counter and allow operators to configure brewing and milk-steaming functions around a broader service concept.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024La Marzocco X Porsche
International consumer market
La Marzocco collaborated with Porsche on a limited-edition Linea Micra featuring design elements associated with Porsche’s automotive identity.
Outcome. Extended the brand into a design-led collaboration while promoting the Linea Micra.
- 2009Out of The Box
Italy · International coffee industry
The company inaugurated its Out of The Box event in Milan as part of a broader program around product presentation, training, and engagement with coffee professionals.
Outcome. Supported product education and direct interaction with the specialty-coffee trade.
- 2007Songwa Estate Project
International specialty-coffee community
La Marzocco launched a nonprofit joint initiative intended to provide educational experiences for people working in the specialty-coffee industry.
Outcome. Expanded the company’s role from equipment supplier to coffee-community educator.
- 2001World Barista Championship sponsorship
Global specialty-coffee market
La Marzocco served as official espresso-machine supplier for the World Barista Championship from 2001 through 2008, placing the brand directly in front of professional competitors and the international specialty-coffee community.
Outcome. Strengthened the brand’s visibility and credibility among baristas and specialty cafés.
Brand decisions
2023
Combine La Marzocco and Eversys within a professional coffee unitM&ABackground
De'Longhi was consolidating its professional coffee assets, including La Marzocco and Swiss super-automatic-equipment manufacturer Eversys.
Action taken
De'Longhi S.p.A. acquired a majority of the relevant holding-company shares, resulting in a business unit combining the two brands.
Aftermath
The new structure was reported as 61.4 percent controlled by De'Longhi S.p.A., 26.6 percent by De'Longhi Industrial S.A., and 12 percent by remaining La Marzocco shareholders.
2021
Transfer majority ownership to De'Longhi IndustrialM&ABackground
La Marzocco International’s ownership structure was being reorganized within the broader professional coffee-equipment sector.
Action taken
The majority of La Marzocco International shares were sold to De'Longhi Industrial S.A.
Aftermath
The transaction initiated La Marzocco’s integration into the De'Longhi group’s professional coffee activities.
2009
Commercialize pressure profilingProduct launchBackground
Baristas and specialty-coffee producers were seeking more control over extraction variables.
Action taken
La Marzocco presented pressure-profile technology and later incorporated it into the Strada EP.
Aftermath
The Strada platform became associated with direct control over pressure during extraction.
1994
Form La Marzocco International with majority outside investmentM&ABackground
U.S. importer Kent Bakke and partners had developed the brand’s American distribution and its relationship with Starbucks.
Action taken
Bakke and partners acquired a 90 percent stake and formed La Marzocco International with the Bambi family.
Aftermath
The company gained a stronger U.S. operating base and expanded its role in the rapidly growing American specialty-coffee market.
1970
Adopt the GS dual-boiler architectureProduct launchBackground
The company sought greater temperature control and consistency in professional espresso preparation.
Action taken
La Marzocco patented a professional semi-automatic series using independent brewing and steam boilers with saturated groups.
Aftermath
The GS architecture became a foundation for the company’s later commercial reputation and product development.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Porsche and La Marzocco launch limited coffee machine and grinder set[3]
Reported:
Porsche and Italian coffee-machine brand La Marzocco launched a limited co-branded set comprising the Linea Micra RS 2.7 espresso machine and Pico RS 2.7 grinder. The set is limited to 911 units worldwide; the grinder is priced at 12,800 yuan, the espresso machine at 48,200 yuan, and the combined set at 61,000 yuan.
La Marzocco introduces next-generation GB5 espresso machines[4]
Reported:
La Marzocco introduced the next-generation GB5 S and GB5 X commercial espresso machines, with updated technology and features. The machines were officially unveiled and were for sale and shipping at the time of publication.
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