The debate over buying used espresso machines vs new ones

I bought a used La Marzocco Linea from 2018 for $3,500 last month, but my friend spent $6,000 on a new machine from a dealer in Austin. The used one needed a new pump after two weeks which cost $200 to fix, but the new one has had zero issues so far. Do you think buying used cafe equipment is worth the risk, or should owners always go with new gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_miller2418d ago

My used Gaggia lasted 3 years before it just stopped heating one morning.

mark_thomas18d ago

Used to think Gaggias were bulletproof, but stories like yours make me question that reputation. I've seen a few other owners mention the heating element going out after 3-4 years, common failure point. Your mileage may vary, but that's a pretty short lifespan for any espresso machine.

park.abby18d ago

Yeah, "bulletproof" is definitely not the word I'd use for Gaggias either. I had a used Classic Pro that was supposedly "well maintained" and it crapped out on me after about 18 months, same heating element issue. I got maybe 500 shots out of it before it just stopped getting hot one morning. Total letdown, especially since everyone online acts like they're tanks. I think a lot of those old stories about Gaggias being indestructible come from people who had the really old 90s models, not the newer ones. The newer ones seem to have a bad run with those heating elements, and buying used just makes it a bigger gamble.