La Marzocco · 1, 2 and 3 group
La Marzocco Strada X — PSSR examination & servicing
Strada X machines are used in specialty flagship bars, roasteries and high-profile hospitality sites nationwide. The engineer carries out the statutory PSSR examination, the front-end service and the water treatment on this model — a standalone examination is £295 + VAT, or £695 + VAT with the service included.
Quick answer
Does a La Marzocco Strada X need a PSSR examination?
Yes, if it operates in a workplace. It carries a single steam boiler with its own protective devices, which is the pressure system in scope. Steam is a relevant fluid under PSSR 2000 and steam systems are covered at any pressure and any volume, so the boiler must have a Written Scheme of Examination and be examined periodically by a competent person.
- Examination only
- £295
- With service
- £695
The machine
Why the Strada X matters to the La Marzocco owner
La Marzocco's flagship pressure-profiling machine — the most electronically complex machine in the range, and the one most often found in competition and showcase bars.
In practice you will find it in specialty flagship bars, roasteries and high-profile hospitality sites — which shapes what the examination looks like on site: how the machine is accessed, how long it can be offline, and how much scale it has accumulated.
On the day
- The steam boiler is drained and inspected internally with an endoscope for scale, corrosion and weld condition.
- The safety valve, anti-vac valve and fittings are checked and tested.
- The pressure gauge is verified against our calibrated test gauge, not against itself.
- A 3 group boiler holds more water than a 2 group, so the drain, refill and heat-up all take longer — allow the full appointment window.
- The Written Scheme of Examination names the vessel and the protective devices it covers.
Typical rates for this model
- Standalone PSSR examination
- £295
- Service + PSSR bundle
- £695
- Certified safety valve, if it fails
- £55 + VAT
- Water filter, fitted on a visit
- from £107
- Grinder calibration & deep clean
- £89
- If it does not pass
- Explained in writing
All prices exclude VAT. The additional drain and heat-up time a 3 group boiler needs. We confirm the exact figure on the call.
Filters are fitted on site by an engineer and are not posted out. The filter price applies when ordered with a PSSR examination, service, call-out or water test; booked alone it is charged at the standard call-out.
What we see on this model
- Pressure profiling adds a control layer, so diagnostics form a real part of the visit alongside the pressure vessel.
- The steam boiler and its protective devices are named in the Written Scheme.
- Genuine La Marzocco parts cost roughly double the generic equivalent — the certified boiler valve alone is about £36 before fitting — so parts are quoted at OEM cost rather than the standard rate.
- Released October 2023 (previous Strada line discontinued then). Saturated groups, one 1.3 L brew boiler and one pump per group, plus 8.2 L (2gr) / 11.8 L (3gr) steam boiler; 94 kg (2gr, 207 lb). 1gr and 3gr variants exist. Serial note: Strada from ST005891 has the SMA vacuum breaker.
- A one-off annual service on a traditional La Marzocco runs £350–£650 including the manufacturer kit — the engineer fee alone is £200–£350, and a 2-group front-end kit is around £120. Dealers sell annual support at £800–£1,100 for a Linea PB or Classic S and £1,200–£1,650 for a KB90 or Strada. Our published bundle covers labour and the examination; the kit is charged at cost with the visit.
Verified boiler data
What is actually inside this machine
| Configuration | Steam boiler |
|---|---|
| 2 group | 8.2 L |
Manufacturer's published boiler capacities. Where a maker publishes no figure we say so rather than estimate.
Service interval. LM USA checklists: 3/9 months replace diffuser screens A.5.095 and group gaskets/bumpers 1207, check auto-flush, jaw bushings, straight-in piston and water sensor; 6 months kit STRADA.S.6.x plus scale calibration and leak/flow checks; 12 mo
What a service covers
- ›Group heads overhauled — gaskets, diffusers and shower screens replaced
- ›Steam and water valves rebuilt, anti-suction valves cleaned and internal O-rings changed
- ›Water tested for total dissolved solids and the inline filter treatment renewed
- ›Level probes descaled, safety switches tested and boiler temperatures logged
Source: La Marzocco Strada X technical specifications, 2 group
Fault finder
What actually goes wrong on a La Marzocco Strada X
Owners usually call us with a symptom, not a diagnosis. This is what that symptom most often turns out to be on this machine, and what putting it right involves.
| Symptom | Usual cause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Water in the base, pressure dropping, visible seep at the pump | the Strada X uses gear pumps and LM names 'gear pumps for leaks' as a standing inspection item | reseal or replace the pump, check inlet fittings. |
| Water at the group with the portafilter out, and portafilters hard to lock | Straight-In piston carries four main seals, LM changed them from bronze-PTFE to pure PTFE because it dramatically reduces friction - so stiff locking was a real complaint | rebuild with kit 1205 / assembly SA292.0l and inspect under pressure. |
| Group does not register the portafilter or intermittently will not start a shot | group-cap microswitch, named on the Strada X and KB90 checklists | check adjustment and continuity, replace switch. |
| Water alarm or board faults | the Strada X has a leak sensor and the checklist requires checking the electronics box for water, a blocked drain backs up into the machine | find and fix the leak, dry the box, clear the drain. |
| Brew pressure sags or water appears under the group. | Group gear pumps and their seals wear; LM puts 'gear pumps for leaks' on the 12-month checklist. | Inspect both group pumps and the external pump at the 12-month service (kit STRADA.X.12.2/12.3); reseal or replace the pump. |
| Group does not respond or the paddle/button feel changes. | Group-cap micro switches wear. | Micro switches are a 12-month checklist item; replace the switch. |
| Shot weight drifts away from the programmed AV target. | Drip-tray scale calibration drifts, and flowmeter impellors foul. | Recalibrate with a 100 g weight and clean the flowmeter impellors (both on the 3/9 and 12-month lists). |
| Leak round the portafilter and loss of group pressure. | Group gasket and shower screen wear (A.5.095 screens and 1207 straight-in gaskets). | Replace screens and gaskets on the 3/9-month service. |
| Water/steam weep at the vacuum breaker. | Anti-suction valve scale; Strada moved to the SMA breaker. | SMA vacuum breaker B.2.029.01 (Strada from ST005891); current parts book lists L192.03 swivel-body breaker as the alternative. |
These are faults documented for this model, not a generic list.
Common parts
Common parts for the La Marzocco Strada X
The components most often replaced on this machine, listed by reference number, as a reference for engineers and owners identifying a part.
| Part no. | Description |
|---|---|
| #2102 | Parker 3 Way Grp Solenoid Valve 24v (Plus 3 housings in) |
| #2841 | Element Protection Thermostat - Original |
| #0398 | Lucifer 3 Way Grp Solenoid Valve 230v (Ruby) |
| #18281 | Parker 3 Way Solenoid Valve 24v |
| #0450 | PARKER 3 WAY GRP SOLENOID VALVE 230V (RUBY) |
| #23371 | PARKER 2 WAY INLET SOLENOID VALVE 230V |
| #29950 | PARKER 3 WAY SOLENOID VALVE 24V |
| #0020 | Pump Head Rotoflow |
| #0093 | Sirai Pressure Switch |
| #1497 | Parker Pressure Switch |
| #1578 | Solenoid O Rings Bag Of 100 |
| #1586 | Shower Plate 52 X 5mm |
Parts most often needed on this model
| Part | Number | What it fixes |
|---|---|---|
| Group gasket and anti-shock straight-in bumper | 1207 | 3/9-month replacement. |
| Coffee shower screen, logo, H3.8 | A.5.095 | 3/9-month replacement. |
| Diffuser screw M6x10 stainless | A.5.110 | Standard group screw. |
| Vacuum breaker with swivel body | L192.03 | Current catalogue breaker. |
| SMA vacuum breaker, G1/4 stainless FKM | B.2.029.01 | Long-life alternative; kit 1037. |
| Safety valve G3/8 1.8 bar | B.2.024.01 | 12-month pressure-safety item. |
Questions
Strada X questions, answered
How a boiler of this size is examined, how often, and who carries the duty — see the complete PSSR guide.
0208 037 9340
How much does a PSSR examination cost on a La Marzocco Strada X?
A standalone examination is £295 + VAT, because the additional drain and heat-up time a 3 group boiler needs. Combined with a front-end service it is £695 + VAT, which is what most specialty flagship bars, roasteries and high-profile hospitality sites choose, since the boiler has to be drained for the examination either way. The bundle on this range is higher than our standard ladder because its service parts are proprietary: a manufacturer service kit and an OEM safety valve cost several times the generic equivalents, and on some models there is no generic equivalent at all. We confirm the exact figure on the call.
How often does a La Marzocco Strada X need examining?
The Written Scheme of Examination sets the interval, and for a commercial machine used in specialty flagship bars, roasteries and high-profile hospitality sites it is typically 12 to 14 months. A 3 group boiler holds a larger volume of water, so scale accumulates faster than in a smaller machine on the same duty and the scheme usually sets the shorter interval.
How long does a La Marzocco Strada X examination take, and what happens on the day?
A 3 group boiler holds more water than a 2 group, so the drain, refill and heat-up all take longer — allow the full appointment window. The visit runs: the steam boiler is drained and inspected internally with an endoscope for scale, corrosion and weld condition. the safety valve, anti-vac valve and fittings are checked and tested. The gauge is then verified against our calibrated test gauge, the system is pressure tested and held, and the machine is re-assembled, refilled, heated and function tested. The Written Scheme of Examination, signed report and asset record follow within 48 hours.
Other La Marzocco machines covered
Call and we'll price your Strada X on the spot.
Same-week appointments nationwide, the Written Scheme of Examination issued within 48 hours of the visit, and a fixed price agreed before we travel.