La Marzocco GB5 X Espresso Machine - Dual Boiler + ABR Scales

Timeless Design Meets Advanced Performance

The GB5 X is a true testament to La Marzocco's commitment to blending timeless European style with cutting-edge technology. Designed for locations that value classic aesthetics without compromising on top-tier performance, the GB5 X stands out with its distinctive white logos and intricate lily designs. This machine is equipped with La Marzocco's advanced proprietary electronics and industry-leading hydraulic systems, ensuring consistent, high-quality results with every shot. The independent boilers allow for precise control of brewing temperatures, while the hot water economiser and dynamic pre-heater further enhance temperature stability, delivering exceptional performance for even the most demanding environments.

Elegance and Innovation Combined

In its ABR configuration, the GB5 X is La Marzocco's most elegant offering, incorporating patented scale technology that improves longevity and reduces maintenance. As the first in the brand’s line-up to feature a water sensor, the second-generation GB5 allows users to track the conductivity and hardness of incoming water. This real-time data provides a valuable advantage, enabling operators to monitor water quality and verify filtration effectiveness without the need for additional tools.

La Marzocco GB5 X Espresso Machine Brochure

Included for Free when you purchase the La Marzocco GB5 X through Prime Coffee Suppliers:

• Free! Delivery (Worth £95): 4-7 working days handling and delivery time.
  
• Free! 12 months parts warranty.
• Free! Installation & Water Filter (Worth £520)
  
• Free! 3KG of MONT58 Organic Coffee Beans (Worth £135): Start your journey with premium beans on us.
• 5 trees planted with every order of the GB5 X!

Features

Dual Boilers: Separate boilers for optimized espresso brewing and steam production.

ABR Only, Integrated Scales - Precision scales integrated in the drip tray provide an improved level of consistency.

Piero Group Caps – AV, ABR: Re-engineered water path and flow-meter positioning for better temperature stability.

Dual PID (Coffee and Steam): Electronic control of coffee and steam boiler temperatures.

Insulated Boilers: Reduce energy consumption and improve temperature stability.

24V Electronics: New-generation electronics for improved reliability and diagnostics.

Independent Saturated Boilers: Separate boilers for each group head for optimized temperature control.

Pro Touch Steam Wands: High-performing steam wands that stay cool to the touch.

Digital Display: Intuitive programming for easy adjustments to machine parameters.

Hot Water Economizer: Fine-tune tap water temperature for tea.

High Legs – Special Order: Easier access beneath the machine.

Easy Rebuild Steam Valve: Front-accessible valve for easier servicing without removal.

USB: Capability to update firmware.

Dimmable Barista Lights: 3-stage customizable LED light intensity for Eco, On, and Brewing modes.

Eco Mode: Programmable stand-by mode for improved energy efficiency.

Cup Warmer – Special Order: Keeps espresso and cappuccino cups at the proper temperature.

Personalized Colours – Special Order: Customizable colours based on the RAL colour system.

Pro App Compatible: Connectivity with La Marzocco Pro App.

Specifications of GB5 X

ABR Scales

The Auto Brew Ratio (ABR) is a set of scales built into the drip tray of the La Marzocco Linea PB and some other models such as the KB90, GB5s and Strada AV. They allow the barista to create a higher level of consistency with each brew. This integrated scale platform is incorporated into the machine's electronic system and is designed to take the rigours of daily café use, being released only after extensive research done by La Marzocco. The ABR comes in 2 modes:

Ratio Mode - Place the loaded portafilter on to the drip tray scale, allowing the machine to weight the amount of coffee grounds, then you can select an appropriate brew ratio and the machine will stop the shot automatically when the ratio has been achieved.

Mass Mode - The barista has the option to activate the brew group by selecting one of the programmed beverage mass buttons, once the correct mass has been achieved the scale sends a signal to the brew group to shut off and stop the brew.

How to operate the GB5 X?

What's new with GB5 X: The La Marzocco GB5 X espresso machine has a water sensor for quality monitoring and Pro App compatibility for barista control of dose, temperature, and usage.  It uses 24v electronics.

How does it work: Enquiry about the workings and operation of the latest La Marzocco GB5 espresso machine.

GB5 S AV vs. GB5 X: Precision, Flexibility, and Independent Group Control

Image: London Coffee Festival 2025 - Prime Coffee Suppliers CE

The La Marzocco UK GB5 series is dedicated to those who appreciate classical European aesthetics paired with the highest level of modern espresso performance. Both the GB5 S and the GB5 X are second-generation models (with the AV denoting Auto-Volumetric dosing as standard), ensuring shot-to-shot consistency in busy UK café settings.

However, the GB5 X offers a significant step up in internal thermal engineering and control compared to the GB5 S, making it the choice for the most technically demanding coffee programmes.

The Critical Distinction: Boiler Configuration

The most important difference between the GB5 S and the GB5 X lies in how the water for the espresso shot is heated and controlled. This directly impacts your ability to switch between different coffee temperatures.

Technology and Performance: A Deeper Dive

Both machines are engineered for superior temperature stability, but the GB5 X is built for the absolute highest degree of precision and flexibility.

GB5 S: The Flagship Dual Boiler

The GB5 S carries forward the reliable architecture of the previous GB5, delivering exceptional stability through a powerful dual boiler system.

• Dual Boiler System: This uses separate boilers for the steam and for the brew water. However, the brew boiler is shared by all group heads.

  • This provides fantastic, stable temperature control (via Dual PID) but means all group heads must operate at the same brewing temperature.

• Aesthetics: The machine features red accents and a beautifully curved, stainless steel body, maintaining the elegant Florentine heritage.

• Key Shared Features (with the X):

  • Piero Group Caps: Re-engineered water path and flow meter positioning for high volumetric accuracy.

  • Water Sensor: An innovative sensor that measures the conductivity and hardness of the incoming water, enabling baristas to monitor filtration effectiveness and protect the machine from scale.

GB5 X: The Independent Multi-Boiler System

The GB5 X elevates the GB5 architecture by adopting a Multi-Boiler system, sharing the same hydraulic principles as La Marzocco's top-tier Strada model.

• Independent Saturated Boilers (Multi-Boiler): Each group head has its own dedicated, small coffee boiler. This is the key technical difference.

  • This allows the barista to program a different, precise brewing temperature for each group head. For example, Group 1 can be set to 93°C for a light-roasted single origin, while Group 2 is set to 91°C for a traditional espresso blend.

• Dynamic Pre-Heater: This additional layer of thermal stability ensures the water entering the independent boilers is already at an extremely stable temperature, reducing the heating load and enhancing consistency even during peak service hours.

• Hot Water Economiser: Standard feature, allowing the flow and temperature of the water from the hot water tap to be precisely adjusted, ideal for high-quality tea service or Americanos.

• Aesthetics: The machine is identifiable by its premium white accents on the lilies and logos.

Key Considerations for Purchasers

1. Deciding on Thermal Control: Why Choose One Over the Other?

• GB5 S Cost Efficiency & Simplicity: The GB5 S delivers exceptional thermal stability at a lower initial cost. It is the ideal choice if your café primarily runs one consistent espresso blend and you do not require different brewing temperatures simultaneously. Its shared coffee boiler system is highly reliable and simpler internally.
• GB5 X Temperature Flexibility & Precision: You should choose the GB5 X if your café frequently changes its menu to include single-origin coffees or light roasts that require different optimal extraction temperatures at the same time. The independent group boilers and Dynamic Pre-Heater offer the highest degree of fine-tuning and thermal stability available.

2. What about the AV (Auto-Volumetric) feature?

• Both the GB5 S AV and the GB5 X AV are high-precision volumetric machines. The barista starts the shot, and the machine stops it based on the pre-programmed volume of water.

• Crucially, both models are also available in the ABR (Auto Brew Ratio) configuration, which adds patented scales into the drip tray to stop the shot based on the weight (mass) of the espresso output, offering the ultimate consistency.

3. What are the shared electronic advantages?

Both machines benefit from La Marzocco UK's next-generation electronics:

• Digital Display: Intuitive interface for programming doses, auto-cleaning, and monitoring vital machine functions.

• Water Sensor: A highly valuable feature that helps monitor the performance of your water filtration system in real time, preventing costly scale damage.

• Eco Mode: A programmable standby mode that reduces boiler temperatures during quiet periods to improve energy efficiency.

About La Marzocco

Known worldwide as the pioneer in Coffee Extraction and Espresso machines, La Marzocco, born in 1927 has been a constant innovator in the coffee industry producing the finest machines possible born on the manifesto of incorporating qualities that are rarely accepted by the present day industrial culture:  intuition, sensitivity, and a desire to accept managed risk as an essential part of their work.

La Marzocco has always focused on the values of integrity, impact, curiosity, courage and celebration. This is what has allowed them to continually innovate and persevere in the manufacturing of the finest in class specialty coffee equipment.