Short answer: choose the Linea Classic S EE if your baristas start and stop shots by hand and you want the simplest machine to run and service. Choose the Linea Classic S AV if you want programmed shot volumes so every barista pulls the same drink. Choose the Linea PB if you want to set boiler temperatures, brewing volume and hot water dose from the machine itself, with optional scales that stop the shot by weight. If your bar is busy enough that portafilter handling is slowing people down, look at the KB90 instead.
La Marzocco builds four machines for commercial service: the Linea Classic S in semi-automatic and auto-volumetric form, the Linea PB, and the KB90. All run on 220V and all are direct plumb. What separates them is how the shot is dosed, how much you can adjust from the machine, and how the bar moves during a rush.
La Marzocco commercial espresso machines compared
| Linea Classic S EE | Linea Classic S AV | Linea PB AV | KB90 AV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dosing | Semi-automatic | Auto-volumetric | Auto-volumetric | Auto-volumetric |
| Group options | 1, 2, 3 group | 1, 2, 3 group | 2, 3 group | 2, 3 group |
| Shots per hour | 50 to 150 | 50 to 150 | 100 to 150 | 100 to 150 |
| Boiler | Dual boiler | Dual boiler | Dual boiler | Independent boiler |
| Dual PID | Yes | Yes | Boiler temps set at interface | Set at interface |
| Saturated group heads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Brew Ratio scales | — | — | Optional | Optional |
| Straight-In portafilter | — | — | — | Yes |
| Voltage | 220V | 220V | 220V | 220V |
| Positioning | Mid range | Premium | Premium | Premium |
Linea Classic S: the workhorse, in two configurations
The Linea Classic has been in cafés, roasteries and chains for over three decades. The Classic S is the current version, and it comes two ways.
Linea Classic S EE, semi-automatic
The Linea Classic S EE is a dual boiler, semi-automatic machine. The barista starts and stops each shot, so shot volume comes down to the person behind the bar rather than a program. That suits shops where the staff are experienced, where the menu changes often, or where you would rather have fewer electronics in the machine.
It carries an integrated dual PID for electronic adjustment of both boilers, saturated group heads to keep water circulating and group temperature steady, and half-turn steam knobs that reach full steaming pressure with less wrist movement across a shift.
Linea Classic S AV, auto-volumetric
The Linea Classic S AV is the same machine with programmed shot volumes. You set the volume, the barista presses a button, and the machine controls how much water passes through the group head. On a team with mixed experience levels, that is the difference between drinks that taste the same all day and drinks that depend on who is working.
It shares the dual PID, saturated groups and half-turn steam knob with the EE, and adds buttons designed for better tactile feedback.
Pro App on both
Both Classic S configurations connect to La Marzocco's Pro App. From the app you can change coffee and steam boiler temperatures, view usage reports, and see how close the machine is to scheduled maintenance. La Marzocco updates the app over time, so the machine gains features through software rather than replacement parts.
Linea PB: control from the machine interface
The Linea PB was the first full technical and stylistic update to the Linea in nearly 25 years. It keeps the brushed stainless steel body with simplified lines and a lower profile, and adds electronics that put boiler temperatures, brewing volume and hot water tap dose under the barista's control at the machine.
Day to day, that shows up as a temperature display, shot timers and a flow pulse counter on the machine rather than on separate gear on your counter. A standby eco mode drops boiler temperatures to lower set points when the machine is idle.
Auto Brew Ratio
The PB can be ordered with Auto Brew Ratio, an optional add-on that builds precision scales into the drip tray and stops extraction based on mass rather than volume. It uses an algorithm called Drip Prediction to account for what is still in the basket when the pump stops. If you currently sit a scale on the drip tray and watch it, this replaces that.
KB90: built around the portafilter
The KB90 is an evolution of the Linea PB form, aimed at the busiest bars. Its defining feature is the Straight-In portafilter, which simplifies the motion needed to engage the group and reduces strain on the barista's wrist across thousands of repetitions. In a high-volume shop, that is a staffing and injury question as much as a coffee one.
Each time a portafilter is removed, the KB90 runs a burst of steam and a hot water flush through the group, so the group is cleaned without the barista doing it manually. It also offers Auto Brew Ratio with Drip Prediction, and runs an independent boiler system.
How to choose
- Small shop, experienced staff, hands-on: Linea Classic S EE. Fewest electronics, simplest to service, available as a single group.
- Team with mixed experience: Linea Classic S AV. Programmed volumes keep drinks consistent regardless of who is on bar.
- Busy shop that adjusts often: Linea PB. Boiler temps, volumes and hot water dose all set at the machine, with optional scales.
- Very high volume: KB90. Straight-In portafilter and automatic group flushing built for pace.
- One group needed: Classic S in either EE or AV. The PB and KB90 start at two groups.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AV and EE on a La Marzocco?
AV is auto-volumetric. You program a shot volume and the machine delivers it. EE is semi-automatic. The barista starts and stops the shot by hand. Everything else on the Classic S is shared between the two.
Is the Linea PB better than the Linea Classic S?
Not better, different. The PB gives you more adjustment at the machine and the option of scales that stop the shot by weight. The Classic S is simpler to run and to service, and is the only one of the two available as a single group. Both are dual boiler machines with saturated group heads.
Which La Marzocco machines can brew by weight?
The Linea PB and the KB90 both offer Auto Brew Ratio as an optional add-on, with precision scales integrated into the drip tray and Drip Prediction to improve accuracy. The Classic S does not offer it.
How many groups can I get?
The Linea Classic S is available in 1, 2 and 3 group. The Linea PB and the KB90 are available in 2 and 3 group.
Do these machines need 220V?
Yes. All four are 220V and direct plumb. If your space only has standard 120V service, these are not the right machines and you should ask us about other options before you build out.
What is the Straight-In portafilter on the KB90?
It changes how the portafilter engages the group, so the barista pushes it in rather than twisting it into place. The goal is fewer repetitive stress injuries and faster movement during a rush.
Still deciding?
Group count, volume and voltage narrow this down quickly once someone looks at your space and your drink counts. Reach out through our contact page, or call or text 720-734-6257.