There is a specific kind of gravity that comes with unboxing a La Marzocco. Even in its smallest form factor to date, the Linea Micra carries the weight of its heritage. At roughly 220,000 pesos on the Yardstick Coffee website, it sits about 100,000 pesos cheaper than its big brother, the Linea Mini. It is, for all intents and purposes, a “mini of the mini.” But don’t let the footprint fool you: this is still very much a hand-built Italian sports car designed for your kitchen counter.

I’ve had the Micra in the studio for about a week, courtesy of the Yardstick Coffee Club. While my time with it was short, it was long enough to realize that this machine isn’t trying to win the “features per dollar” war. Other machines at this price point offer more bells and whistles. The Micra, however, offers something else: the peace of mind that comes with a machine that just works.

Small Footprint, Big Performance

The primary tradeoff for that smaller size is the boiler capacity. While the Mini can churn out 20 to 25 cups back-to-back, the Micra starts to feel the strain after six or seven. You’ll still get nine bars of pressure every time, but you might notice the temperature dipping slightly once you hit that seventh guest in a row.

That said, context matters. In Metro Manila, plenty of small cafes only serve 25 cups in an entire day. If you’re pulling three shots in the morning and three in the afternoon, the Micra can absolutely handle the workload of a tiny boutique operation.

The heat-up time is where the Micra truly shines for the home user. It’s ready in five to ten minutes, steam boiler included. The integrated brew boiler is connected directly to the group head, ensuring that the temperature you set is exactly what hits the puck.

The Software Soul

Much of the Micra’s “smarts” are hidden behind its traditional exterior. The app connectivity is excellent. You can program a daily boot-up schedule, meaning the machine is at temperature the second you walk into the studio.

I even found myself using the remote boot-up while stuck in traffic. Being ten minutes away from the studio and knowing my machine was ready to go the moment I stepped inside was a genuine luxury. It is the ultimate “set it and forget it” workflow for a high-paced morning.

The app also unlocks “pre-brewing,” which uses pump pressure to saturate the puck. If you take the time to plumb the machine in, you get the added bonus of true pre-infusion at line pressure. It’s a level of control that feels sophisticated without being overwhelming.

The Design Quirks

The compact nature of the Micra does lead to some ergonomic challenges. Because the group head is tucked inside the body, you lose some vertical clearance. The steam wand features a specific bend that limits the size of the pitcher you can use. I found that even the pitcher provided with the machine felt a bit too deep for the amount of milk you’d typically steam for a cappuccino.

Then there is the convertible portafilter. It is a new, 3-in-1 design that allows you to swap between a single spout, double spout, or bottomless mode using plastic inserts. While the plastic heats up quickly and retains heat well, the double-spout attachment sits quite low. Getting a standard cup underneath it can feel like a game of Tetris. Personally, I’d stick to the bottomless mode. It’s the best way to diagnose your distribution and improve your craft.

The Verdict: A Premium Necessity?

The shots coming out of the Micra taste exactly like those from a professional Linea. They are consistent, classic, and high-quality. In fact, the espresso is indistinguishable from what I pull on my 700,000 peso La Marzocco Strada.

You aren’t paying the premium for a revolutionary new way to make coffee. You are paying for the engineering, the hand-built Italian construction, and the brand. It is a machine for the person who wants the best results without the hobbyist headache of tinkering with every single variable.

It is 100% pure machine engineering. It is 100% fun. If you want to wake up every day feeling like you’re driving a Lamborghini while you’re just making breakfast, the Micra is exactly where you want to be.