iDrinkCoffee.com Comparison - Slayer Espresso Single Group vs La Marzocco GS3 MP

A comparison of two of the most coveted machines, the Slayer Single Group vs the La Marzocco GS/3 Mechanical Paddle. We go over the similarities and differences between these machines and do a taste test.

[nod]

He really Needed to have weighed the espresso to have had any chance at all of comparing the two brews.... otherwise one ratio might be 1:2 and the other 1:3! This would be a much bigger factor to explain any difference in taste than the machine or length of pre infusion....

[johncanalese]

I have just recently bought a LM GS3 MP. Could not justify the extra $3000 price premium for the Slayer here in Australia. Still in learning phase but loving the quality an ease of use of the GS3. La Marzocco have been around for 90+ years so they know something about espresso and spare parts are no problem.

[cupcoffeeroasters]

Looks like the GS3 is also capable of a long pre-infusion.  Not sure why apples to apples wasn't compared.

[connessidiversi]

For the audience, go and try both of them side by side, with the right grind settings and a single origin, medium/lightly toasted coffee.
You'll be surprised by the thickness of the body of espresso from Slayer and the amazing variety of flavours from the needle valve settings - so called flavour profiling.
I found it amazing.

[danjv]

Thanks Slawek, I like to see these machines the same way I like to see Ferraris and Maseratis.

[philipv]

Marzocco is like Porsche for espresso! Never will I buy anything else for my coffee.

[NANA-gyyx]

Great vid!


Please dial each have all other factors the same (water profile, temperature, grinder..etc) and do a blind test and have your staff try them! That would be the greatest vid ever! Heck why not even throw in a prosumer HX machine and a double boiler! That would be the most interesting video ever ;)

[Waffulz]

The GS3 wins hands down on hand movement efficiency. As a barista you want to make the most minimal hand movements possible and the huge lever and movement you have to do on the Slayer is so much more inefficient compared to the joystick and placement of the steam knob on the GS3. Your hand has to move inches compared to maybe a foot or two back and forth with that Slayer lever.

[rgockel]

Why do they always go full throttle after the first drop? You can do that with a fixed water connection and a E61 head at 2k budget. Just let the line pressure push first, then start the pump by shifting the lever further. Have done this for 15 years with a Rocket Cellini (fixed water no tank) and it works easy in case you just need these two phases. But these tested machines can do PROFILES. Don't use the paddles just as switches, run a smooth pressure profile also after preinfusing and at the end of the shot. Otherwise these machines are not what you need. I have an R9 but don't want to compare and promote it here but what really helps me every day is the flexibility. Switching from a double shot to the single portafilter sometimes causes probs since grinding, amount etc. are never the same and compatible (not even speaking about different coffees). In these cases - mostly it's single shot running relatively slow/tight - I can push a bit more and not ruin the shot. I therefore run the double regularly with a bit less pressure, 7-8 bar, for regular operation to have a little "room" for pushing in case it runs too slow. To be honest, this is also not the intended use of a variable pressure machine but I am happy to have that option. I always run manual, never save profiles (except at parties where "dummies" should be able to pull standardized shots automatically without me operating the machine ;))

[simonheddle-baker]

Great video, and I really like the detail presented. Outta my price range though 🙁

[Gramayr]

Wonder how the Slayer compares to the KVDW Speedster? The Speedster has line pressure pre-infusion, but it's a soft start with zero pressure at the group.

[saramarquart]

I would go for the La Marzocco, always! Higher quality and better manufactured.

[DJaquithFL]

People must have insane amounts of money. I thought I was nuts looking at $4K machines. Nonetheless great information and thanks for sharing! 👍😎

[blzt]

Stir your shots before drinking them or else you're not getting the full taste

[jackbeynon]

Not trying to sound like a prick or anything but the espresso from the gs3 was left sitting meaning it would've lost some of its crema and flavour giving it a disadvantage in this comparison

[mindgames]

Question: The Slayer have a internal rotatoty pump like the GS3?
Thanks!

[rottiejakeluke]

Will Slayer be adding the Bluetooth capability to control there machine by an app? I am looking between these two machines, so it’s funny you are doing a comparison. I like them both and wonder which YOU would recommend and why? If the Slayer had the app feature, it would not be a question.

[gusmank]

I still confuse to decide both of this machine.

Questions: How do the LM valve works? Is it restrict/control both Pressure & Flow? I know that Slayer only have 2 pressure (line & 9bar).

How far is this feature effect your drink, compared to a standard machine like Linea?

FYI i drink mostly milk based coffee. So Small difference in espresso taste wont be effect much. Should i just buy Linea Mini? 😅

Thank you in advance for your info.

[Iceman-xejo]

If money was no option which one would you buy? To me from the aspect of aesthetics the slayer beats the GS3. But I’m more referring to the functionality.

[laurencegoldman]

Looked like Slayer grind based on time and full pressure flow was too fine. Slayer only way to adjust pre-infusion time is to adjust grind or needle valve. GS3, you can manually change pressure on the fly. You shouldn’t compare based on undialed shot.