The Linea PB AV backflushes its own groups: at closing, the auto backflush program cleans them while the team cleans the rest of the bar. Around that sits what made the Linea a café standard, a dual boiler with saturated groups, plus Piero group caps, a digital display with shot timers, boiler temperatures and alerts, eco mode and a hot water economizer.
It is the step up from the Linea Classic S for a café that wants to see what the machine is doing and wants a shorter routine at the end of the day. It comes with 2 or 3 groups, and it is the only machine in our range that takes Smart Auto Steam.
In this review
Our baristas’ verdict
- Best at: a busy café that wants information on a display and an automatic backflush at closing.
- Right size for: a coffee bar with 2 groups, or a big counter with 3.
- Pick another model if: you need a 1-group or the simplest machine (Linea Classic S), a separate brew temperature per group (GB5 X), or less wrist strain at very high volume (KB90).
- Plan for: the height. At 53.3 cm the PB is taller than the Classic S, and the 2-group is 71 cm wide.
Strengths and weak points
Strengths
- Auto backflush program.
- Digital display with shot timers, boiler temperatures, a flow pulse counter and alerts.
- Piero group caps, saturated groups and dual PID.
- Eco mode, pre-heating of incoming water and a hot water economizer.
- Barista LEDs as standard; scales in the drip tray (ABR) and Smart Auto Steam as options.
Weak points
- One coffee boiler for all groups, so one brew temperature. A boiler per group is the GB5 X.
- Taller than the Linea Classic S: 53.3 cm.
- From 61 kg and 71 cm wide (2 groups).
- No 1-group version: for that, look at the Linea Classic S.
Options and how to combine them
Options are ordered together with the machine, so they are fitted before it is installed.
- Auto Brew Ratio scales: scales in the drip tray under each group; the machine stops the shot at the beverage weight you set. One set per machine, for 2 or 3 groups.
- Smart Auto Steam on the left steam wand. La Marzocco offers this option for the Linea PB only.
- High legs (Linea PB / KB90 kit, La Marzocco part C3007R): +7.5 cm above the counter on the Linea PB, according to La Marzocco.
- Powder coating in a standard RAL color or a custom RAL color, confirmed with the order.
- Water treatment: the Brita Purity C1100 XtraSafe filter can go on the same quote.
How to combine them: barista LEDs are already standard, so you do not add them. Take the ABR set that matches your number of groups; if several baristas share the bar, it is the option we would look at first, because the shot stops on weight whoever pulls it. High legs and color are one choice per machine.
Linea PB, Linea Classic S or GB5 X?
| Linea PB AV | Linea Classic S AV | GB5 X | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groups | 2 or 3 | 1, 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 |
| Coffee boiler (2 groups) | 3.4 L, shared | 3.4 L, shared | 2 × 1.3 L, one per group |
| Brew temperature | One for all groups | One for all groups | One per group |
| Controls | Digital display | Three buttons, espresso timers | Digital display |
| Scales in the drip tray (ABR) | Option | Not available | Option |
| Smart Auto Steam | Option | Not available | Not available |
| W × D × H (2 groups) | 71 × 59 × 53.3 cm | 69.3 × 58.5 × 44.5 cm | 77 × 64 × 47 cm |
| Weight (2 groups) | 61 kg | 59 kg | 70 kg |
| Power (2 groups) | 4,600 W | up to 5,670 W | up to 5,670 W |
For a very busy bar, the KB90 adds a straight-in portafilter and Steam Flush. Figures for the 2-group versions, from La Marzocco and our product pages.
Frequently asked questions
How many coffees a day can it make?
La Marzocco gives no cups-per-day figure for the Linea PB, so neither do we. The choice between 2 and 3 groups depends on your busiest hour and how many baristas work the bar at the same time. Tell us those numbers and we advise the size.
Does it need a water connection?
Yes. The Linea PB is connected to the water supply; it has no water tank. Tell us what is available on site and we check it before installation. A water filter can be added to your quote.
How much maintenance does it need?
The auto backflush program runs the backflush cycle on the groups for you; you still clean portafilters, steam wands and drip tray by hand. The ruby flow restrictors resist scale. Our product page gives a warranty of 3 years, if professional maintenance is done twice a year.
What does installation involve?
La Marzocco builds the Linea PB for 200 V or 220 V single or three phase and 380 V three phase, with a rated power of 4,600 W (2 groups) or 6,100 W (3 groups). Have your electrician check the connection first. We deliver within 2-3 working days and install by appointment.
Ordering through OR Coffee
Every Linea PB from OR Coffee comes with 12 kg of OR specialty coffee for espresso, a Full Barista Training for two people from your team at OR Academy, and full installation of the machine with OR coffee beans. Delivery takes 2-3 working days; installation is by appointment.
Ready for a quote? Request one on the Linea PB product page or mail us at webshop@orcoffee.be. Tell us the number of groups, how many drinks you make in your busiest hour and which options you have in mind, and we come back with a quote.
How we wrote this review
The specifications come from La Marzocco’s product page for the Linea PB and from our own product page; the options and the machines they fit come from our option pages. All checked on 23 October 2026. We have not published our own measurements; if we add them, we will mark them as ours.
Wouter – OR Coffee. Wouter advises cafés, restaurants and offices on La Marzocco machines at OR Coffee.