LUCCA A53 Pro Espresso Machine Overview
LUCCA's relationship with La Spaziale runs over a decade deep, a simpatico collaboration that has introduced you and your kitchens to commercial-style espresso machines. The fruits of this special relationship have wrought a reality in which build quality and performance, along with an intuitive user experience, are not exclusive to the cafe. Continuously pushing the boundaries of what's possible in home espresso is LUCCA's raison d'être. The LUCCA A53 Pro is proof positive that anything is possible with home espresso, and it's just the beginning. As an icon in both home and commercial markets, the A53 platform continues to evolve, with LUCCA relentlessly committed to innovation that makes your morning ritual that much sweeter.
The Rundown
The LUCCA A53 Pro is a mid-size dual-boiler with a 53mm semi-saturated group head and a quiet, smooth rotary pump. Clocking in at 15.25" and both 16.5" wide and deep, its low profile helps you fit the machine on any counter or espresso bar, especially under cabinets and other height restrictions. Best of all is the ample cup clearance on the drip tray. With a bottomless portafilter locked in, 5" gives you more than enough room so you can easily place your favorite mug (a large one, too!) on a scale without any extra fiddling.
- 53mm commercial portafilter: The debate around 53mm vs. 58mm is over in our view. Smaller-diameter, deeper portafilter baskets allow for more forgiving extractions, sweeter-tasting espresso, and much less channeling. We link to some of our testing at the end of this article.
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Rotary pump: A rotary pump is a significant upgrade over a vibratory pump in both longevity and functionality. Bonus points for being on the quiet side, too. Best of all, a rotary pump gives you water versatility—plumb your machine into a hard-water line or use the internal reservoir.
- Front-loading 2.4L water reservoir: Speaking of the reservoir, it's front-loading, whereas most home espresso machines are top-loading or have a door that adds height and frustration to refilling your machine.
- PID temperature control: This feature is imperative and allows you to control the temperature of your extractions down to the degree.
- Volumetric dosing: Volumetric dosing is a huge advantage for the home barista, especially in a multi-user household where coffee tastes vary. For baristas who are thinking about a coffee cart business, the two volumetric buttons help you get through a line of drinks with ease. Use one of the buttons as your repeatable dose, use the second as your auto-backflush option, or use the manual dosing button if you want to freestyle. The versatility and convenience are incredible. Set it and forget it.
- Wood customizations: The all-black and stainless look is sleek, but if you want to warm the machine up, we offer hardwood panels and touchpoints in either walnut or maple.
- Cafe-quality steam: The steam quality absolutely blows us away, but doesn't blow our milk out. That's exactly what you need: power enough to craft silky microfoam for lattes, whether it's one or 10 in a row, and the ability to control it.
LUCCA prides itself on its attention to detail in delivering what home baristas truly want day to day, so let's move on to what LUCCA added to the A53 platform that makes the A53 Pro stand out.
What's New
In more primitive times, our customers who fell in love with the A53 were forced to choose between a machine with a reservoir, the LUCCA A53 Mini, or a machine with a rotary pump, the Direct Plumb LUCCA A53. More often than not, the Clive team would be asked whether the A53 Mini could be upgraded with a rotary pump so they could plumb their machine in, and we, sadly, had to break the bad news.
No more! We decided that you shouldn't have to choose, so now the LUCCA A53 Pro is fitted with a super-quiet rotary pump, giving you a switchable water source and making it easy to plumb in right away, or whenever you're ready. Below are some more key upgrades that make your espresso-making experience much more intuitive.
- Control panel overhaul: Adjustable brew temperature down to the degree. We also added a manual shot button for versatility, along with indicator lights.
- Shot timer: Front and center is shot time, so you can time your extractions and build an espresso recipe.
- Barista lights: Bright lights will help you view your extractions in all their glory. Brilliant-looking, with the mirrored stainless-steel backsplash as well.
- LUCCA branding: Replaced La Spaziale branding with LUCCA branding for continuity.
- Programmable pre-infusion (plumbed in only): Get better, more even extractions with reduced channeling.
- Dual pressure gauges: Replaced the single pressure gauge with separate, yet subtle brew and steam gauges.
- Steam wand and hot water swap: Moved the steam assembly to the right side of the machine for more intuitive steaming. Moved the hot water tap to the left side.
- Adjustable steam pressure: Fine-tune your milk texture for different dairy and plant-based options with ease.
- On/off scheduling: Not a new feature, but an underrated one. Download the La Spaziale iOS app and have your machine turn on in the morning on a schedule.
Get Everything You Need From Day 1
The LUCCA A53 Pro ships with double-spouted and bottomless portafilters, an 18g double basket, a 20g triple basket, and a blind basket for cleaning, so you have what you need to start pulling shots immediately. It also comes with a spare group head gasket, a shower screen, and a handy tool to remove the shower screen. Notably, it only comes with a temporary plastic tamper, so you'll need to upgrade right away.
The LUCCA Accessories Kit is an easy way to fill in the gaps, bundling the essentials (precision scale, tamper, tamping mat, frothing pitcher, knock box, shot glass, and microfiber towels) that pair well with the A53 Pro's aesthetic.
If you decide to plumb in your machine, you need to purchase the LUCCA A53 Pro Direct Plumb Kit. It comes with the braided line needed to plumb in and optional drip tray drain hardware. Most importantly, you will need filtered and soft water. Consider Clive's Home Water Softening and Filtration System. If you're on well water or have very hard water, consider the two-stage Commercial Softening and Filtration System. Lastly, if you don't have access to a hard water line or you're operating with a mobile setup, consider the versatile Caffewerks Espresso Machine Pump System.
Maintain Your LUCCA A53 Pro
Backflushing the group head regularly, using filtered and soft water, and keeping the steam wand clean aren't optional maintenance tasks; they're what separates a machine that pulls great shots for a decade from one that develops excess scaling.
The Espresso Cleaning Kit has everything you need: Cafetto EVO for backflushing the group, grinder cleaner sachets to remove coffee oil buildup on the burrs, and a milk cleaner for the steam wand. If you're not sure how often to do each or exactly how to do it, our Espresso Machine Cleaning & Maintenance guide walks through the full routine, what to do daily, weekly, and monthly, so your setup stays operating at full capacity, and your espresso tastes clean.
Final Thoughts
What really sets the LUCCA A53 Pro apart from other dual-boilers on the market is its bulletproof consistency and its appeal to a wide range of espresso enthusiasts. The A53 Pro is for the beginner barista just getting into the game. You can learn how to pull shots on the A53 Pro and learn the ropes in no time. It's for the veteran home barista who loves entertaining and desires a stalwart showstopper for their bar. It's for the upgrader too, when you're tired of dealing with the limitations of single-boiler machines or the temperature inconsistencies of heat-exchanger machines—you want an espresso-making experience that is, above all, pleasant and engaging. In short, the A53 Pro was built for the person at any level, whether it's your first shot or your millionth. The excitement churning within us keeps stoking the coals of innovation, making your morning ritual that much sweeter.
If you're interested in the LUCCA A53 Pro, have questions about pairing it with a grinder, want to schedule a demo in Clive's Portland showroom, or want to chat coffee, please reach out to us. We're excited to talk espresso with you!