La Marzocco is an Italian maker of espresso machines, and its machines are consistently considered in the top rank, particularly since the introduction of the dual-boiler GS series in 1970, and its machines are widely used in specialty coffee shops. It was founded in Florence (Firenze), Italy, in 1927, by Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi.
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In 1927 the Bambi brothers founded "Officina Fratelli Bambi" to produce espresso coffee machines. The company's earliest machines were branded "Fiorenza" (Florence). Shortly thereafter, the name "il Marzocco" (the heraldic lion of Florence) was adopted and the crest "a seated lion with the crest of the Florentine Lily", the synonym of victory and conquest, became the company's logo. On the 25th of February, 1939, Gluseppe Bambi proposed the first espresso machine with a horizontal boiler, where the groups of boiling chamber could be arranged in a line , which simplified the movements and operations for the barista. After WWII, the quality and character of La Marzocco became more distinctive among other coffee machines.
In 1970, La Marzocco produced the first professional semi-automatic machine in the world made with two boilers, called the “GS Series” (GS means Gruppo Saturo - Saturated Group). Because the two main functions of espresso machines are the brewing of espresso and steam production, which both require different temperatures, having just one boiler producing two different heat levels affects the thermal stability of the machine. So, in the “GS Series”, the circulation of water is separated into two specialized circuits, each with its own boiler. This separation is a key factor in making top quality coffee. With this method, the “quantity of steam in the machine its readily available at the desired temperature, which doesn’t interfere with the water used for espresso production, thus enabling a more thermostatic device” (La Marzocco). Introduction of the “GS” onto the market was an immediate success, and is still widely appreciated in the most avant-garde coffee shops in the world.
In 2007 La Marzocco introduced a machine designed for the US home market, the GS/3, which has been received very positively by espresso aficionados: it features professional-level brewing quality (temperature stability), but is small (1-group) and can run on 110 V power, which is the standard voltage in the US, thereby removing the need for wiring a 220 V outlet.
La Marzocco Linea machines were used at almost all Starbucks locations for many years.
From 2000 to 2008, La Marzocco was the official sponsor and supplier of espresso machines for the "World Barista Championship".