DON'T BUY A LA MARZOCCO LEVA UNTIL YOU WATCH THIS. HANDS ON REVIEW BY A CERTIFIED LA MARZOCCO TECH.

Watch Sam and Calum play with the La Marzocco Leva Machine. Find out from this video if this machine is right for you.
Need sales or service for your La Marzocco Espresso machine? Reach out here: samjamescoffeebar.com/

[@randygrskovic]

Awesome, never seen one in action before, pretty crazy machine.

[@nicolaseisen7242]

Most modern lever machines have a lever protection.

[@therealmixedup]

Now I’m wondering what shop in Toronto is using a Leva! Would love to visit and try a shot!

[@MrFreemansers]

It's not a good idea to choose a machine based on a video. With the Leva, you really need to feel it before you buy it. If someone asks if they should buy a Leva, they should go to the nearest place and try it. The Leva is really tactile, so you need to be sure it's the right choice for you. I know a lot of people who, when it comes to such expensive machines, don't like the effort it takes to get ready. They'll probably go for the same Strada X or an alternative brand/model. As an owner, I can tell you some of the downsides:
1) The check valve system for cleaning the group is extremely stupid. I don't know what LM was thinking when they made such a stupid and ugly drain valve that they didn't think to put it right in the water tray. Here's how many steps you'll need:
- Take a screwdriver, unscrew the nut, insert the adapter (which is made of extremely poor quality plastic
- I don't understand why it's plastic at all, because of the temperature of the valve and the water. I melted it and had to order a new one), then insert the adapter hose into the water tray, clean it and very carefully unscrew the adapter (it should only be closed 1/3 so it doesn't melt), close the check valve with a nut.
Usually it takes about 15-20 minutes, because you need to be very careful with all this. If you're not careful, you can break the check valve.
2) The build quality of the aluminum for the front panel could be better. I like the new Strada X, I like the Synesso, I like the Slayer, but the Leva's design for assembling and disassembling the case is stuck somewhere in the 90s. All other similar ones are much better made and more convenient than the Leva. Leva: The shiny stainless steel scratches easily and you don't realize how poorly the bolts fit in this coffee machine or how flat the bolt heads are. It's not pretty for the buyer. If you want a Leva, the first thing you should do is find someone who will paint the front of it. It's a shame to give away a product like this. I can assure you that in just 3-4 months of use or 1 complete disassembly and assembly of the case, you will scratch it with random breaks of flat-head bolts that no one uses in expensive brands on the front side. 3) Working with the menu of version X is a real hassle. The developers decided that Leva X does not need an app. Working with the built-in menu is really unpleasant. For example, to change the temperature of the steam boiler, you need to go to the engineering menu.
- To change the shutdown period, you need to go to the engineering menu.
- To set up the eco mode, you need to go to the engineering menu.
- You need a separate LM support service to figure out how to enter the engineering menu. Oh, and here's an interesting fact: you can't enter the engineering menu unless you know the password. I'm not sure how custom this is for the APP versions, but for me it was the 3090. I was very careful with the password! Leva was released a long time ago. In my opinion, this coffee machine is great for espresso, but extremely boring in everything else. 4) Working with a steamer. This steamer is convenient because it is open, but that's where its advantages end. You will have to get used to the fact that after frothing milk, your entire apron, part of the coffee machine, and the space under the coffee cup will be constantly splashed with milk. The steamer tends to swallow some of the milk, so you have to be careful. I have never seen this in coffee machines before. The steam generator often holds about half a teaspoon, so every time you froth the milk and take the tube out of the jug, it will spit out a lot of foam at you. I haven't seen this on the LMLM, GS, Slayer, MVP, or Strada X. So every time you froth the milk, you're hoping the steam generator won't spit milk at you. It's annoying, it's infuriating, and it's just plain weird. I think it's because of the way the electronic valve and the short tube are connected. When you turn off the steam, it sucks back in, taking some of the milk with it. Or maybe I'm missing something. Not every machine can just spit out milk.
Bottom line:
- Try it for a day. It would be even better if you could rent it and decide for yourself if you want to buy it. After a year of use, I would probably choose something else. For example, the MVP or the new Slayer. And from the levers, I would most likely choose the new Speedster