Trevor and Miranda Graham started Sabbath Coffee Roasters in 2015 with a focus on making specialty coffee approachable. Says Trevor: “Whether you’re an avid coffee connoisseur who enjoys the meticulous art of brewing the perfect cup, or you’re just in need of a fresh daily driver to kickstart your day, we want to serve you.” So when their original espresso machine couldn’t keep up with the demand in their café, they made the call to upgrade their espresso machine to a La Marzocco Linea PB with scales. Trevor recently shared more about their decision to upgrade their espresso machine.
What made you decide to upgrade your espresso machine?
We opened with a used machine that we purchased from a cafe that was closing back in 2018. We had it on our bar since day 1 and ran countless shots through it but we were seeing an uptick in maintenance required and downtime. On top of that, we were finding the machine just wasn’t keeping up with our workflow and often was becoming a hindrance to the staff. When a tool becomes a stumbling block, my personal belief is to go find something better.
How long did you consider the upgrade before you decided to pull the trigger?
We had honestly been saving and thinking about it for a year.
What are some of the challenges that upgrading an espresso machine presents?
At least for us, it was really trying to figure out what machine would marry into our workflow seamlessly while improving some aspects. We spent a year thinking through various brands and machine capabilities. I think the biggest challenge for us was just really dialing in our blend to the new way of doing things. We went from a more manual control machine, where the barista is very hands-on throughout the whole shot-pulling process, to the Linea PB ABR, which is very much the opposite, and we couldn’t be happier.
What goals did you have for the espresso machine upgrade? Do the new machines offer anything that the current setup doesn’t?
We wanted to solve the problem of the staff feeling like the machine was in their way or limiting their ability to offer consistent and quick service. We also wanted to solve the problem of constant repairs—we wanted to find a machine that allowed us to do quick repairs during service times. Now, it’s not always feasible due to our shop only being 350 sqft, but that was a goal, and the Linea PB, for the most part, hides the bulk of fast tech work under 4 screws. We also wanted to have a little more tech built into the machine with fewer objects on the bar getting in the way. We opted to buy the ABR model, and having built-in scales is a huge time saver. The accuracy and consistency that La Marzocco has dialed into that system is astounding. For the past few years, we have also been installing Linea Classics for various consulting customers. Using the Bluetooth feature and tech app is always a fun tool for quick changes or diagnostic work.
What were the key things you were looking for in an espresso machine that made you want to upgrade?
A machine that offered consistency and reliability. Something to ensure an easy workflow for our crew. Something that looked great and knowledgeable service support if we were stuck in a troubleshooting situation. La Marzocco has answered all of those. We are honored and super proud to be a partner with them and we look forward to a fun-filled future filled with lots of tasty shots of espresso.
