TL;DR: The La Marzocco GS3 is a dual-boiler, saturated-group espresso machine for home or office. The GS3 AV runs programmable volumetric shots; the GS3 MP gives manual flow profiling.

The La Marzocco GS3 brings the engineering of La Marzocco's café machines to a home or office bench. Both versions share dual boilers and a saturated group, so brewing and steaming each draw on their own boiler. Where they part ways is control: the GS3 AV automates shot volume with programmable volumetric controls, while the GS3 MP puts the flow of water through the coffee in your hands. Both sit within our wider La Marzocco range.

What sets the GS3 apart

Most dual boiler coffee machines solve one problem: brewing and steaming at different temperatures without waiting on a single boiler. The La Marzocco GS3 adds a saturated group, a design that draws on La Marzocco's commercial heritage and the Strada in particular, aimed at keeping the group at a stable temperature shot after shot.

Pressure, and who controls it

Espresso is conventionally brewed at around 9 bar, with water roughly between 90°C and 97°C, and simpler machines hold that pressure for the whole shot. More advanced machines let you vary it: a gentle, low-pressure pre-infusion in the manner of a lever machine, then a ramp up to full pressure. Some measured testing has even found shots taste better nearer 7 or 8 bar than at 9.

That is the territory the GS3 MP opens up. On La Marzocco's Strada MP, a paddle mechanically controls water flow through an internal valve, and manual pre-infusion can produce a rounder, softer shot with more brightness and sweetness. The GS3 MP builds on the same idea, offering full manual flow profiling alongside PID temperature control. The GS3 AV keeps things repeatable instead, with programmable volumes you set once.

Most of the machines and grinders we sell are bench-tested in our Pagewood workshop before dispatch.

GS3 AV or GS3 MP: choose by how you like to brew

Both machines share the same foundation: dual boilers, a saturated group and a compact footprint sized for a kitchen bench or an office. The decision comes down to controls.

La Marzocco GS3 AV: programmable volumetric controls. Set a shot volume once and the machine repeats it. It suits offices where several people pull shots, and homes where consistency matters more than experimenting. If automated volumes are your priority, you can also compare other volumetric coffee machines.

La Marzocco GS3 MP: full manual flow profiling with PID temperature control. You decide how water meets the coffee across the shot, which suits the home barista who wants to explore pre-infusion and pressure with different beans.

Questions to ask before you buy

Who will use it? A shared machine usually does better with the AV's repeatable volumes. A machine with one dedicated user can take full advantage of the MP.

How much do you want to adjust? Manual profiling rewards attention: every new coffee becomes something to work out. If you would rather set it and enjoy it, the AV is the calmer choice.

Where does it sit? The GS3 is flagship territory for home espresso. If you are weighing it against other La Marzocco home machines, compare the Linea Mini and the Linea Micra.

What about water? Boilers and valves last longer on treated water, so plan for water filtration from day one.

What habits help? Leave the portafilter locked into the group between shots so it stays hot. A cold portafilter pulls heat out of the brew.

A GS3 is only half the setup. Pair it with an espresso grinder that can resolve small adjustments, such as the La Marzocco grinders we carry. Add Precision baskets for even extraction, a calibrated tamper for repeatable pressure, and a milk jug sized to your drinks. Keep the group and baskets clean with espresso machine cleaning chemicals.

If you asked me to choose, I'd first ask who's making the coffee. For an office, or a house where everyone pulls their own shot, I'd take the AV: set the volumes once and the coffee stays consistent. The MP is for the person who wants to feel a shot change as they move the flow, and who enjoys chasing a coffee until it's dialled in. Neither is the wrong answer. They're two ways into the same well-made machine.

— Pedro Lara

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the La Marzocco GS3 AV and MP? +

Both have dual boilers and a saturated group. The AV adds programmable volumetric controls, so it repeats a set shot volume automatically. The MP gives full manual flow profiling with PID temperature control, so you control how water flows through the coffee during the shot.

Which version suits a home or an office better? +

Both are sold as home and office machines. The AV's repeatable volumes usually suit offices and shared kitchens, where several people make coffee. The MP rewards one attentive user who wants to experiment with pre-infusion and pressure.

How much does the La Marzocco GS3 cost? +

Prices change, so we keep them on the product pages rather than in this guide: see the GS3 AV and the GS3 MP. As a guide, both sit at the flagship end of home espresso.

Is there a manual for this machine, and is the MP the 'manual' one? +

Searches for a manual version usually mean the MP, which offers full manual flow profiling rather than programmed volumes. If you need the operating manual for your machine, contact our team and we'll point you to the right document for your model.

Can I get spare parts for both versions? +

Yes. Our spare parts catalogue has separate sections for the GS3 and the GS3 MP, so you can find parts matched to your version.