[jasonjei]

I love my La Marzocco Linea Micra. It’s exceptionally well-built and feels like an Apple product in its simplicity. The only downside is the app you have to use to use the programmed automated backflush.

But the user experience is remarkably simple. Turn the knob left to start the flow of water, turn the other way to stop. Move the dial to steam/froth milk. Fantastic default water pressure and even better tasting coffee. It’s a machine that will last a decade if not longer.

[jjulius]

>The only downside is the app you have to use to use the programmed automated backflush.

Goddamnit, why the fuck can't we just have a machine that fucking does everything we need it to, on its own? An espresso machine requires a fucking app? Goddamnit.

Yes, I realize nothing about this comment is constructive.

[dpark]

You don’t actually have to use the app to backflush. You can just do it manually. The app is more convenient than flipping the lever a dozen times though.

[jjulius]

If it's between harvesting my data and flipping a lever a dozen times, I'll flip the lever.

Why do we collectively continue to give up privacy to spare us the most innocuous of "inconveniences"?

[julianz]

What data do you think they're "harvesting"? If they're counting how many shots I pull and judging me by my choice of brew temp, I can live with that. The app adds a lot of convenience and saves having to have some sort of UI or manual control on the machine itself.

[dpark]

I understand the concerns with telemetry, but I can’t bring myself to care if La Marzocco can track how often I backflush my espresso machine.

But if it’s a principled thing for you, I get it.

[ssl-3]

Oh, it's fine.

I mean, my PSP from <20 years ago doesn't support WPA2 or 3 and therefore can't talk to my home wifi unless I made a hole for it.

But as we all know, Italian-made boutique home appliances are different. They have a rich history of having timely manufacturer-supplied technology updates provided as the decades press on.

We know this to be true, just as we know that sarcasm is a myth.

[skrtskrt]

They must have machines that are not app-enabled right?

I sort of understand why their consumer machines would have that crap but I imagine that plenty of commercial places buying a $20k+ machine for a cafe that's supposed to run for 40 years would not accept having an app involved in maintenance.

[lostlogin]

It’s bad.

Go into a service shop and see what they think of the computerised La Marsocco. Great coffee, amazing looking machine. But servicing…

I got awfully close to getting one then went for an e61. I’m very sure the coffee isn’t as good. I’m very sure the machine will have parts for a long time - it’s been 60 years so far.

[jareds]

I wasn't planning on buying one, but I'll add this to the list of app enabled coffee tech I refuse to buy. As someone who's blind I'm getting really tired of app enabled coffee equipment with no open source integrations or protocol documentation. Fellow also doesn't appear to make any effort to make there apps accessible. They have had there Aiden out for over a year and I still don't see any notes about accessibility in there app update. I'm not going to buy one and use the home assistant integration since that could break at any time. Luckily I'm more of a coffee drinker instead of espresso so the Ratio Four works well enough for single cups and half pots.

[Hikikomori]

Certainly like a apple in terms of price.

[phil_kahrl]

Just bought a La Micra last year. Big factor was knowing I can get parts and service for life. I had a lesser known brand machine for almost 15 years, but at some point I couldn't get parts or anyone to work on it, so it died when the pump gasket failed.

[sonofhans]

A decade seems good to you? We’re still just talking about heat and pressure, well-understood problems. There’s no excuse for a machine like this not to outlive the original owner. Anything else is planned obsolescence or a manufacturing defect.