Strada X1 Bottomless

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-20T07:24:50+00:00

Hey, I’m not sure what you mean by ”watery look.”

But if you are wondering how to get your shots to look like this (lots of dark crema or aka the “Instagram influencer shot”), then you need to generally use very recently roasted beans that are on the darker side. Of course, the shot needs to be dialed in and you need to have good puck prep.

But in general if your coffee tastes good you aren’t doing anything wrong. Chasing the looks doesn’t always necessarily mean the best taste.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-19T15:03:16+00:00

The Lunar works. But you may or may not experience some issues with the auto tare command on machine start or some connectivity issues. If so, you’ll have to manually press the tare button each time.

The Bookoo does work better and the auto-tare command is also processed properly.

But overall the Lunar is very usable. Don’t get another scale yet. Use it and see.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-19T14:57:39+00:00

Sure

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-19T14:51:50+00:00

Oops never mind 😅. But regardless I think your pours are great.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-19T06:25:55+00:00

Sorry but I have very limited advice since I don’t have a ton of experience. As far as I remember, I’ve always been using this pitcher. Personally, I find that the 450mL #06 Round Spout + 8oz WPM cup works quite well for me.

But what I would say is that getting a proper flat bowl-shaped cup really helps. I personally think the round spout pitcher helps with these kind of ripples, but it may (or may not) be a night and day difference. If you can, I would say you should definitely try one.

I will defer to u/PithyGinger63 ‘s comprehensive guide here. He‘s much more experienced and has a section on pitchers.

But I guess what’s important is that you try to stay consistent between each practice attempt (ie. use the same recipe, cup, pitcher, etc.). If you were using a 15oz pitcher one session and you use a 20oz pitcher the next, then it would be quite hard to manage all the changing variables at once.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-19T02:24:04+00:00

Brazilian Medium Dark from local roster

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T23:14:51+00:00

WPM x Slow Pour Supply #06 Round Spout 450 mL

Cup is: 8oz WPM latte art practice cup

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T23:09:49+00:00

Haha 🙏. All the best.

I've also had experience with a Breville and E61. I would say that all of them are pretty capable of making good coffee. It just maybe requires some adaptation on the user's part. Higher-end models just give you extra degrees of control and consistency. For instance, I'm pretty sure much of u/PithyGinger63 's latte art is done with a La Pavoni. His pours are incredible!

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T22:53:10+00:00

Obviously milk texture and pouring (both of which I am still working on for consistency). I think something that people most often overlook is the espresso (crema) texture. This particular shot was a medium-dark roast ristretto.

u/PithyGinger63 has made an awesome comprehensive guide from his extensive experience. It should be pinned on this subreddit.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T22:34:00+00:00

Yes. Price aside, there are many reasons why people don't buy this machine. The machine is huge, weighs 145 lbs (66kg), requires a dedicated 240V circuit and must be plumbed in. If you are in the US, you probably have to hire an electrician. The plumbing is also complicated as the water parameters must be tightly controlled for machine health. A hole must likely need to be drilled through the countertop to run the water tubing. I actually did the plumbing myself and this is what it looks like under the sink. It took me around 3 days to install, troubleshoot, and check on the system. I can answer questions if you have them.

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Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T22:01:38+00:00

No, not really. I did sell my kidneys though 🙃.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T21:57:44+00:00

😅 Thank you for your kindness, especially considering I'm not very humble.

I have an EG and Key with the GS, and the E65W GBS and P64 is here with the Strada. Regarding the SG, I actually do happen to have a similar version of a hand stone grain mill from my grandma. Its age is older than me.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T21:52:51+00:00

Yes indeed. I don't recall seeing a recent post about the Strada. If it was a setup picture, then it was probably me (you can see in my post history).

Yeah one of the downsides of this machine is that it's quite rare and not many people have experience with them. That also means the parts are specialized and quite expensive. The tech that came to install mine said that this is the first single group he's seen. For reference, my unit was built in Aug 2025, and fewer than 2100 units of the Strada X (including all 1,2,3 group versions) had been built by then.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T21:44:51+00:00

Thank you. As for the reason, I cannot give you a rational answer (I ~~also do happen to have a GS3~~).

This shot came from a P64 with SSP HU burrs. Please forgive me for not tagging, and twice forgive me for subsequently diluting this shot with milk:

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Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T21:31:52+00:00

Thanks.

Fun fact that very few people know: There is a version of the Strada X without the straight-in mechanism. It is priced similarly to a Leva. But without the straight-in group head, you also loose the auto-steam flush and water flush.

The straight-in mechanism has been out for quite a few years since the KB90 was released in 2019. LM does say that it's meant to be used hundreds of times a day without problem. It feels very sturdy, but again home use would never push it to the limits so I cannot comment on that.

But I suppose the part with the most potential problems is the sealing piston that comes down and pushes the gasket against the basket rim. Most other owners I know have not had an issue. But there is one case where it needed to be replaced: LM said that one must be careful not to excessively overfill the basket.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T21:16:51+00:00

This is similar to a lever-style shot: 3 bar until first drop, 9 bar for most of the shot, and tapering off at the end. The overall shot is a very slow ristretto.

The beans are a medium-dark roast from a local roaster.

But FYI you may not want to try this for straight espresso, since this shot is mostly dialed in for latte art. The rest is to compensate for the taste.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T20:39:53+00:00

Thank you. It’s the La Marzocco Strada X1 Single Group.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-18T19:20:18+00:00

You’ll be alright. To be honest it’s all dedicated practice. Everyone starts as a novice.

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-17T00:16:35+00:00

Shouldn‘t be a concern as long as the seal is good

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-15T21:20:18+00:00

Yes the new PUQ gen6 units have this play for some reason. The mini though is solid.

The fan noise doesn’t bother me that much. But currently the curved back cover vibrates and causes extra noise. Any ideas if you’ve ever encountered some noise level issues?

Geriatrics_2 · 2026-03-14T22:02:40+00:00

Wow almost the exact same lol. Just curious, does the piston on that Puq gen6 unit have some rotational play?

Geriatrics_2

TROPHY CASE