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ECM Synchronika (with flow control) vs La Marzocco linea mini with needle valve mod

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  • ECM Synchronika (with flow control) vs La Marzocco linea mini with needle valve mod

    First timer poster, long time reader. I have been given the all clear to significantly upgrade my coffee setup and have narrowed it down to 2 vastly different price tags. I have read endless reviews on both the ECM Synchronika and the LMLM (what a wonderful problem to have) The reason I am asking for further advise is I am lucky enough from my extremely understanding partner to be given the all clear for a modified linea mini. We both absolutely love the work of specht design and one in particular is her dream machine from an aesthetic point of view. I also love that same modified machine but understanding the stats internally between a stock linea mini and a ecm Synchronika fitted with flow control aside from a larger boiler on the LMLM the flow control Synchronika offers better value for money.

    My drama comes in as I have managed to convince the missus that if we went with the specht modified linea mini we have to get it internally modified as well through the wizardry of Rick Bond with a fitted adjustable needle valve thus turning the linea mini into a machine with the same functionality of the slayer. Obviously these modifications increase the price quite a bit and now the fully modified LMLM is double the price of the ECM Synchronika with flow control fitted.

    Are we crazy to justify that spending compared to the ECM?

    Any advise from synchronika owners, flow control owners, LMLM owners, and needle valve owners (coffee machinist modified owners or slayer) much appreciated.

    I am right into getting the most out of the machine and getting the most out of each shot. I do feel that the missus would have an easier time handling the needle valve mod connected to the linea mini paddle based on its 2 stage operation compared to the e61 flow control and in turn repeatability from that aspect alone is easier to achieve. That being said the absence of a timer on the LMLM brings repeatability back to a 2 horse race. *I know you can get them externally fitted or modified with display timers on the LMLM but we are aiming to preserve the minimalist aesthetic of the stock machine and any more mods wouldn't be justifiable cost wise and to be honest I'm not a fan of the overtly digital aftermarket look.

    For background info I currently have a rocket appartamento paired with a Eureka atom 60 and a mahlkonig e65s grinder grinder

    To help fund these purchases we will sell the rocket to fund the ECM and we will sell both the rocket and the Eureka to help fund the LMLM.

    The machines initially will be tank water supply only but both may be upgraded to mains water or flow jet on a coffee cart in the future.

  • #2
    Check out the Rocket R91

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    • #3
      https://youtu.be/Gu1oPwP8--c

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      • #4
        Originally posted by level3ninja View Post
        Check out the Rocket R91
        Yeah I quite like them especially for the functionality with pressure profiling etc. Problem is the missus doesn't like the look of them and I don't like it as much either when compared to the LMLM and ECM. Probably the larger digital display that is the turn off for me as I like the cleaner classic look. The ecm PID/shot timer is nice due to the silver finish but large screens and multiple colours don't do it for me. Kind of silly I guess but it will definitely be a statement piece so we want to love the look as much as the quality/functionality

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Budgiesmuggler View Post
          Thanks for the link. I know people love the decent but I'm not really a fan

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          • #6
            If i had the same budget to splurge on a coffee machine, It'd be ECM over the LMLM any day, or R91 as ninja suggested, In my opinion LMLM is overrated. For nearly $7k it does not even give you pre-infusion, the steam boiler temperature is controlled via a cheap Mater pressure stat (https://youtu.be/TyxCuFJheNw?t=232), the only other DB i know which does that is the Expobar Minore.

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            • #7
              There's the new Elektra Verve.
              https://elektracoffee.com/products/verve

              I don't understand why we don't hear more about this machine. It's one of the most modern release; dual boiler, saturated group, PID, rotary pump, custom pre-infusion, mobile app (the machine acts as a web server). It's also a stunner visually.

              The price is half of a Rocket R91.

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            • #8
              I've owned my mini since 2016 and I went all in at the time and haven't regretted the decision. The silver boxes look nice and have some good internals and offer good value for money but make sure you are buying what you really want as it's too much money to 'settle'...

              If you decide to go down the linea mini path, you could always buy the machine and do either the external or internal this time around then do the remaining one in a year or 2 after you've lived with it and still consider further modifications desireable.

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              • #9
                Originally posted by Pretzal View Post
                I've owned my mini since 2016 and I went all in at the time and haven't regretted the decision. The silver boxes look nice and have some good internals and offer good value for money but make sure you are buying what you really want as it's too much money to 'settle'...

                If you decide to go down the linea mini path, you could always buy the machine and do either the external or internal this time around then do the remaining one in a year or 2 after you've lived with it and still consider further modifications desireable.
                Thanks that's good advise. If I go down that path it's definitely a viable option. I'm in Sydney and both those modifications are down in Melbourne so I was considering getting it all done once rather than going down back and forth or risking delivery back and forth twice.

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                • #10
                  Originally posted by sacsnob View Post
                  If i had the same budget to splurge on a coffee machine, It'd be ECM over the LMLM any day, or R91 as ninja suggested, In my opinion LMLM is overrated. For nearly $7k it does not even give you pre-infusion, the steam boiler temperature is controlled via a cheap Mater pressure stat (https://youtu.be/TyxCuFJheNw?t=232), the only other DB i know which does that is the Expobar Minore.
                  There lies my problem, I completely agree in terms of the benefits of the ECM over a stock linea mini. I also understand the benefits of the linea in terms of steam pressure and workload ability (have thought about a little coffee cart business). The linea I would go for wouldn't be a stock linea mini though I would opt for the needle valve mod thus turning pretty much into a slayer. My responsible self says go the ECM but my upgradeitus self (and the missus surprisingly) says go the LMLM

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                  • #11
                    Everything you write says you're heart wants the LMLM and you're trying to talk yourself out of it. Just get it, in 5 years you'll have forgotten the cost and either machine will still be going strong. But you'll have had to look at one of them every day.

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                    • level3ninja
                      level3ninja commented
                      Editing a comment
                      Also think about getting a 0.6mm gicular put it. Am yet to hear a bad report about it and most people rave about the difference from stock.

                  • #12
                    Yeah I may be wrong but I believe the .6 restrictor comes as part of that mod. If not I would get that too. Does anyone have much experience with the e61 flow control devices? Wondering if they're any good.
                    I've seen on YouTube a flow control style mod fitted to the linea mini in the same style as the PID temp wheel but on the other side. Would the 2 stage needle valve (coffee machinist mod) and the flow control wheel mounted on the right side (same position as the PID wheel) be possible? That would be epic

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                    • #13
                      Originally posted by MJV View Post
                      Yeah I may be wrong but I believe the .6 restrictor comes as part of that mod. If not I would get that too. Does anyone have much experience with the e61 flow control devices? Wondering if they're any good.
                      I've seen on YouTube a flow control style mod fitted to the linea mini in the same style as the PID temp wheel but on the other side. Would the 2 stage needle valve (coffee machinist mod) and the flow control wheel mounted on the right side (same position as the PID wheel) be possible? That would be epic
                      https://youtu.be/D0izIBlJbJ4

                      This with the 2 stage paddle 😍

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                      • #14
                        "Are we crazy to justify that spending compared to the ECM?" I think you are actually.

                        Just my two penn'orth. In a two horse race and you can't decide which one to chose, best thing is not to bet. Unless you feel lucky, well are you lucky?

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                        • #15
                          Originally posted by Erimus View Post
                          "Are we crazy to justify that spending compared to the ECM?" I think you are actually.

                          Just my two penn'orth. In a two horse race and you can't decide which one to chose, best thing is not to bet. Unless you feel lucky, well are you lucky?
                          Honestly I agree with you, I'm a coffee nerd as I assume we all are hence the presence on this page. I would love to have such a highly spec'd linea mini that operates like a slayer and the missus loves it as well (specht design). BUT I love the ECM just as much (missus isn't as much a fan as I am and is really only invested in the aesthetics and not the machine itself) she is therefore lost when I mention serviceability, internal quality, standard features etc etc. The reviews on the ECM are 99% fantastic and all for half the price. Will take more discussion with the other half but when all things considered value for money has to be a significant factor in our decision.

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