Three weeks with the GS3

I have had the GS3 for almost four weeks now. Time really has gone quickly. So how are things? How is the GS3?

I have to say that I am impressed. My coffee has gotten and keeps on getting better. The feedback given by the machine is certainly a large part of this. For example, the combination of the Chronos -function (essentially an elapsed shot time display) and the brew pressure gauge immediately gives me an indication on how close my parameters are to the ideal.

The shot was too slow? Ok, adjust the grind. Shot time, volume and brew pressure were spot on and the shot also looked nice, but tasted bitter? Ok, just dial down the brew temp a notch or two. This is just so easy to do with the GS3 and it also turned out to be a very useful feature over the last couple of weeks when I have been trying seven different blends of varying roast degrees. Great!


However, I have noted that at least with the current pre-infusion settings I have, the GS3 is a tad less forgiving of sloppy distribution technique than my Andreja. I will keep on trying different settings here, but I think that this machine also reveals the small distribution issues that the Mazzer Mini-E grinder has (the particles of different sizes are not spread equally into the filter basket). So, one just has to take a bit more care in his/her barista technique, which is not a bad thing. Having said this, I have been researching grinder upgrades for quite some time now and I am closing in on a decision. It's not that the Mazzer Mini is a bad grinder, but I want something that is of the same caliber as the GS3...

I reported earlier that I have had some problems in steaming milk. I hear that La Marzocco is addressing this issue and I am keenly awaiting news on this front. My latte art still isn't as good as it was with the Andreja, but I am not yet sure if it is a wet steam issue or just down to me needing more practice (it took me a good few months to get it right with the Andreja).

In the meantime, Kaffecentralen in Finland kindly sent me a selection of steam tips that I could try and it turns out that a couple of them actually do a very good job. Of the tips pictured the three and five holes ones in the bottom row are the ones that currently work best for me. I like the five hole tip because it is easier to keep clean, but the three hole tip produces slightly better microfoam. I'm hoping to get one of the LM three hole steam tips soon.

So in short, I am already very happy with the GS3. I hear that the last minor niggles are in the process of being sorted out in the near future, in which case I believe the GS3 will live up with the very high expectations that people have put upon it. Thank you La Marzocco for building the GS3 and thank you Risteriet for getting me my machine!

By the way, La Marzocco has updated the GS3 product pages, which now look pretty impressive. Also added is a Q&A section that will help other thick amateurs like me to setup their machine : )