La Marzocco FB80 (Automatic)

Mechanically very little. La Marzocco describe the FB80 as the GB5's technology in a new frame, and publish a single service manual covering both. What the FB80 adds is a body built to be finished in colour. If you want the GB5's engineering as a visual centrepiece rather than in classic stainless, that is the FB80.

No, and it is worth being clear because the specification is often written that way. The FB80 has two boilers: one for coffee and one for steam. A two group runs a single 3.4 litre coffee boiler. Separate boilers per group head belong to the GB5 X, the KB90 and the Strada.

Coffee and steam boiler temperatures are each set and held electronically rather than drifting around a set point. Combined with the pre-heating system, brew temperature stays put through heavy milk work instead of sagging when the steam boiler calls for heat.

Incoming water is brought up to temperature before it reaches the coffee boiler, so the boiler is not recovering from a cold inrush during service. It is where a lot of the FB80's shot consistency actually comes from.

Two groups covers the great majority of cafés. Three suits busy sites with more than one barista on the bar. Four is for the highest-volume and institutional settings. The electrical supply differs meaningfully between them, so check the configuration table before you commit.

A mains water connection, drainage and a dedicated electrical supply sized to the configuration — 20 A for a two group, 32 A for a three, 40 A for a four. Have a licensed electrician confirm your supply and a qualified technician handle installation.

An unused machine as current production, with its full service life ahead of it. On a platform built to be serviced and kept running for decades, that matters more than it does on most equipment.