The Linea Vs the GS

 This is a much more interesting comparison than it looks at first—because the Linea and the GS platform (GS/3) come from the same DNA, but were built for completely different philosophies.

🏆 The actual machines being compared

Linea (commercial workhorse)

La Marzocco Linea PB AV 2 Group Commercial Espresso Machine · $22,825.00 · 

High-volume commercial espresso machine built for consistency, durability, and café workflow.

AV = automatic volumetric. Ie any shot is based off volume rather than time.

You will always get the same yield every time.

 Vs

GS platform (GS/3 – home & light commercial)

La Marzocco GS3 MP · $11,299.00 · 

The pic above is of the MP (manual paddle) version.

Prosumer single-group machine with advanced manual control and café-level temperature stability.

--------------------------------

Direct comparison (this is the core difference)

Attribute	Linea PB AV 2 Group	GS3 MP
Category	Full commercial	Prosumer / light commercial
Group heads	2–4 groups	1 group
Use case	Busy cafés (continuous service)	Home, training, low-volume bars
Workflow	Multi-barista, high throughput	Single user, slower workflow
Control style	Volumetric + programmable	Manual paddle (MP) or volumetric (AV)
Pressure profiling	Limited (PB paddle = pre-infusion only)	Full manual pressure profiling (MP)
Temperature stability	Excellent (saturated groups)	Excellent (same GS tech)
Steam power	Extremely high	High, but lower than Linea
Size / install	Large, plumbed, 20–32 amp	Countertop, tank or plumb
Philosophy	Consistency at scale	Control + experimentation

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🧠 The real difference (explained properly)

1. Same engineering roots — different intent

Both machines use La Marzocco’s GS technology:

- Dual boilers

- Saturated group heads

- PID temperature control

That’s why they both produce extremely consistent espresso.

👉 The difference is what they optimise for:

+ Linea: repeatability, speed, reliability

+ GS/3: control, nuance, experimentation

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Workflow: speed vs control

Linea (especially PB):

- Built for multiple baristas working at once

- Programmable shots + auto dosing

- Designed to remove variables

👉 In a rush, it keeps things consistent across staff.

GS/3 (especially MP):

- Built for one person dialing shots

- Manual paddle controls pressure throughout extraction

- Encourages experimentation

👉 You feel the shot more—but it’s slower.

The pic above is the GS/3 AV model ( automatic volumetric )

The film maker, David Lynch had one of these.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Pressure profiling (this is the big one)

Linea PB paddle:

 - Controls pre-infusion only (not full pressure profiling)

GS3 MP paddle:

 - Controls full pressure curve from start to finish

👉 This is the single biggest functional difference.

- Linea = consistent 9-bar style extraction

- GS/3 = you can shape the entire shot (declining, blooming, etc.)

---------------------------------------------------------

4. Scale and power

Linea:

Designed for continuous operation all day

Massive steam boiler → constant milk service

Multi-group = multiple drinks at once

GS/3:

Essentially a single-group café machine

Strong, but not built for rush-hour volume

👉 If 20 people walk in at once:

A 4 group Linea = fine

A single group GS/3 = overwhelmed

                          (though two GS/3s side by side would look great and nicely solve 

                           that problem and only run on 10A!)

--------------------------------------------------------------

5. Simplicity vs flexibility

Linea: intentionally “boring” (in a good way)

Fewer variables

Easier to train staff

Easier to maintain

GS/3: intentionally “tweakable”

More variables to manage

Requires skill to get the most out of it

----------------------

🧭 Which one is “better”?

It’s not even a fair fight—they solve different problems:

Choose Linea if:

You run a café

You need speed + consistency

Multiple baristas use the machine

Choose GS/3 if:

You’re an enthusiast or trainer

You want control over extraction

You care about pressure profiling

------------------

🧾 Bottom line (the simplest way to think about it)

Linea = production tool

GS/3 = precision instrument

Or even simpler:

👉 Linea makes great coffee reliably

👉 GS/3 lets you chase perfect coffee

-----------------------------

🔎 Subtle but important insight

The GS/3 actually comes from the earlier GS (1970) system—the same innovation that later powered the Linea.

So in a weird way:

GS = the technology pioneer

Linea = the industrialised version of that idea

Linea's roots : Name & design

 The name “Linea” (Italian for “line”) is widely understood to reflect the machine’s clean, linear, minimalist design language.

When the Linea was introduced around 1990, it stood out because of how visually simple and 

geometric it was:

Long horizontal lines across the body

Flat, uncluttered front panel

Low, rectangular profile

No ornate curves or decorative elements

👉 Compared to earlier espresso machines—which were often bulky, chrome-heavy, and ornamental—the Linea looked almost architectural.

🧠 What the name likely conveys

While La Marzocco hasn’t published a single definitive sentence like “we named it X for Y,” the meaning lines up very clearly with Italian design language:

“Linea” = line / form / outline

Suggests: Clean geometry, Simplicity, Precision,

Modernity

👉 In other words: this was a machine defined by it's lines, not decoration.

⚙️ And it’s not just aesthetics

The name also subtly reflects the engineering philosophy:

1.Straightforward internal layout

2. Modular, easy-to-service design

3. No unnecessary complexity

So the “line” idea works on two levels:

Visual: minimalist, horizontal form

Functional: direct, no-nonsense engineering

🆚 The historical context is important.

Un until the late 80s/early 90s, espresso machines were still often ornate and traditional.

Café design hadn’t yet embraced minimalism.

The Linea helped shift things toward "modern café aesthetics" which open bar layouts

(barista visible to customers) and introduced a clean, industrial design language.

-----------------------------------------------

🧾 Bottom line

The name “Linea” almost certainly refers to its minimalist, line-driven design, but it also doubles as a statement about the machine’s and La Marzocco's new philosophy:

👉 Clean lines, clean workflow, no excess.

The Linea’s design influenced modern café interiors and even other espresso machine brands. 

That ripple effect was huge and still can be seen today.

------------------

Before the Linea , Espresso machines were:

Tall, bulky, chrome-heavy + Often visually dominant.

This meant that baristas were often hidden behind the machine & customer interaction was limited

After the Linea, it's low, horizontal profile meant that customers could see the barista.

The bar became a stage & the Barista became an actor.

👉 This shift was huge & it helped create the “open bar” café culture you see everywhere now.

👁️ 2. The rise of the “transparent barista”

The Linea’s design enabled something subtle but powerful:

There was more eye contact between barista and customer

Visible workflows (grinding, tamping, pouring) developed and 

Coffee-making became a performative craft.

This directly fed into the growth of the 

Specialty coffee culture and the idea that the barista was a skilled professional (not just a server)

Because the Linea looked so clean and geometric, it also fit with emerging design trends such as

Scandinavian minimalism, Japanese simplicity and industrial design interiors (concrete, steel, wood)

👉 Cafés started designing around:

Clean counters, Negative space & Functional beauty

The espresso machine stopped being decorative—and became architectural.

It also influenced other espresso machine brands.

After the Linea, many in the industry shifted hard toward low-profile, linear machines.

You can see its DNA in:

Synesso's clean, boxy, bar-focused machines & Slayer Espresso's

Low profile + emphasis on barista visibility

Even modern La Marzocco machines (like Strada, KB90) follow the same idea

👉 The “low, wide, minimal” espresso machine is basically the Linea template.

Hottop custom profile 1

 link

https://prima-coffee.com/learn/article/roasting-guides/learning-how-to-roast-coffee-at-home-with-a-hottop/learn-roast-hottop?srsltid=AfmBOoq5-F_9DM9fULPJnW5eNpwpYzFbjd4Vyd2Rv1JhwY5P1ypGGidp

also watch

https://youtu.be/EpUMeD681gU?si=Y0t_er-Oajd5P5yJ

roast rebels

1.

Start preheating the roaster, and weigh out 200g of green coffee. 

Be aware that as you are waiting for the correct preheat temperature, 

the roaster will beep quite loudly at 167 F and start its own countdown timer

 (this is the Hottop’s suggested drop temp).

2.

Once the roaster reaches 380 degrees Fahrenheit, open the lid on top of the roaster and add the 200g batch. Replace the lid, start your timer, and turn off the heat of your roaster for 1 minute. If you are wanting to keep track of the heat as I did, every 30 seconds, be sure to start this process now.

3.

At 1:00, crank the heat back up to 100%. You’ll leave this here until the Hottop shows 320 F, so take a minute here to collect your bearings. Depending on your coffee, it’ll take about five minutes to reach 320 F. As you wait, take notes as to how your coffee is developing. You’ll be able to notice a nice grassy smell and that your coffee becomes even greener, before starting to yellow.

4

At 320 F, decrease the heat to 90% (down 1 notch) and increase the fan to 25%. At this point, you should really be smelling that grassy smell and seeing your coffee beans turn yellow. Once you finish this step, you’re going to want to pay very close attention, as the remainder of the roast is pretty involved and quick.

5

At 340 F, decrease the heat to 80% and increase the fan to 50%. You should hit 340 F around a minute after Step 4, and you’ll start seeing your coffee begin to become a very light shade of brown.

Step 6

At 360 F, decrease the heat to 70% and leave the fan at 50%. You should hit 360 F about 1:30-2:00 minutes after Step 5. At this point, your coffee will still be a light shade of brown, but you’ll be able to watch it slowly become more and more brown. You’ll notice now that things are picking up even quicker.

7

At 370 F, decrease the heat to 50% and increase the fan to 75%. This step usually happens in less than one minute of Step 6. It is typically during this step that you are going to hear the infamous First Crack, the moment when the internal structure is breaking down and releasing an even greater amount of steam, giving off a stronger, sweet aroma. Take note of when first crack begins, because you are going to drop the beans 1 minute and 30 seconds afterward. There are typically a few lone beans that crack before first crack is really underway, so wait until you hear multiple beans popping at the same time. (Also, be prepared for your Hottop to beep at you around 374 F. This is a safety feature to make sure that you are present. Simply press ENTER and be one your way. If you are roasting darker, this happens again at 395 F, and it will automatically eject at 428 F.)

8

At 380 F, decrease the heat to 30% and increase the fan to 100%. You’ll typically be at or near the end of first crack at this point

9

When your beans have roasted for about 1 minute and 30 seconds after First Crack (around 385 F), hit eject to drop the beans into the cooling tray. The built-in cooling process lasts 5 minutes (ending with a beeping sound for the last 10 seconds)

Example Roast Profile

380 F Charge 200g

~ Heat off for 1 minute, then full heat until 320 F

320 F Heat = 90%; Fan = 25%

340 F Heat = 80%; Fan = 50%

360 F Heat = 70%

370 F Heat = 50%; Fan = 75%

380 F Heat = 30%; Fan = 100%

~385 F Drop 1 minute and 30 seconds after First Crack

Buchla 257

 The Buchla 257 is a really useful module.

The front panel is a bit intimidating, but once you decipher the symbols and letters its not too hard to understand.

[Va * K ] + {[Vb*[1-M]] + [Vc*M]} + Voffset = Vout

 A great module for mixing, scaling, and processing Control Voltages. (the 257T can also be used with audio voltages)

There are 3 inputs: Va, Vb, Vc.

There are 3 knobs: K, M, Voffset

You can add, subtract, scale, invert & multiply voltages.

The above equation can be simplified to:

K + M + V = output

Va * K (Attenuverter): Inverts/attenuates and scales the voltage from input Va.... allows for -10 to zero to +10V control of whatever is plugged into Va

{[Vb*[1-M]] + [Vc*M]}: blends inputs "Vb" and "Vc" . 

The voltages Vb & Vc can be crossfaded with the M knob 

or a CV at the banana input between Va & Vc

There is a switch that when turned on, will apply +0.5-1V (depending on your calibration) directly to the Vb input

V(Offset):  Adds a DC offset to the final output.

                   The V knob when increased will output 0-10V.

                   (with NOTHING plugged into the module, if you turn the V knob to 50% ,you

                   would have +5V show up at the output).

How I like to imagine this module is as a way to sum 3 voltages in creative ways.

Remember that you have two voltage processors. You can combine these.

For comparison see the Buchla 254v,  Buchla 256 & 156.

254v (buchla format)

Buchla 256

The Buchla 256 is a evolution from the Buchla 156 .

Its a voltage processor. 

The official Buchla name is "Dual control voltage adder".

There are two identical circuits.

The offset allows you to add 0-15V to whatever is 

plugged into any of the 4 inputs. 

(I've calibrated mine to 0-10V)

The 4 inputs are identical Attenuverters.

They invert/attenuate the voltage at the inputs.

eg if you plug +5v into a jack you will get +5V at the output

with the knob turned fully clockwise, and -5V at the output

with the nob fully anticlockwise.

At 12 O'clock it will be 0V

Allows for -10 to zero to +10V control of whatever is plugged into 

the corresponding jack.

Other Buchla CV processors:

+ 254v (buchla format)

+ 257  Control Voltage processor

How did the BOJ keep interest rates low for decades?

 The BOJ kept rates low by buying massive amounts of bonds, directly capping long-term yields, and operating in a low-inflation, slow-growth economy where markets accepted near-zero rates for decades.

After Japan’s asset bubble burst in the early 1990s, the economy stagnated and inflation disappeared.

In 1999, the BOJ introduced Zero Interest Rate Policy, pushing short-term rates close to 0%.

Why it worked:

1. Japan had persistent deflation (falling prices).

2. Weak growth meant little upward pressure on wages or prices.

3. With low inflation, markets accepted very low nominal rates.

Starting in 2001 (and expanding massively after 2013), the BOJ began buying:

1. Japanese government bonds (JGBs)

2. ETFs (stock funds)

3. Corporate bonds

4. REITs

By buying huge amounts of government debt, the BOJ:

Increased demand for bonds

Pushed bond prices up

Forced yields (interest rates) down

At one point, the BOJ owned over 50% of Japan’s government bond market.

-------------

Yield Curve Control (YCC)

In 2016, the BOJ introduced something more direct: Yield Curve Control.

Instead of just targeting short-term rates, they:

Set short-term rates at –0.1%

Targeted 10-year government bond yields around 0%

Promised to buy unlimited bonds if yields rose too much

This was essentially a price cap on long-term interest rates.

Markets didn’t fight it because:

Inflation was still very low

Domestic investors (banks, pensions) preferred safe JGBs

Japan funds most of its debt domestically

-------------------------

Structural Conditions That Helped

The BOJ could sustain this policy because of unique Japanese factors:

A. Deflationary Mindset

For decades, businesses and households expected low or falling prices. That anchored inflation expectations.

B. Aging Population

An older population saves more and spends less → weaker demand → lower inflation pressure.

C. Domestic Debt Ownership

Japan’s huge public debt (over 250% of GDP) is mostly held by:

Japanese institutions

Japanese households

The BOJ itself

This reduced the risk of capital flight or currency crisis.

----------------------

The Trade-Offs

Keeping rates low for so long created side effects:

Bank profitability weakened

Pension funds struggled

The yen weakened (at times sharply)

The BOJ’s balance sheet became enormous

By the early 2020s, rising global inflation forced the BOJ to gradually loosen Yield Curve Control and eventually exit negative rates.

--------------------------------

2024-2026

Even before the new 2026 government, the Bank of Japan has been rolling back decades of ultra-easy monetary policy:

In March 2024 it ended negative interest rates and exited yield curve control — a major structural shift away from “near-zero for decades.”

Since then, the BOJ has raised its policy rate multiple times (e.g., to ~0.75 % by late 2025), taking rates to their highest levels in decades and marking a move toward normalisation.

So the era of persistently ultra-low rates has already effectively ended.

The new government under Prime Minister Takaichi may influence policy direction — but isn’t directly controlling the BOJ

Japan’s monetary policy is technically independent, so the government doesn’t directly set interest rates. 

However:

The government is nominating BOJ board members, and some of the candidates are seen as reflationists — people who support continued stimulus to boost growth and inflation — which could make the BOJ less aggressive on tightening.

Recent statements from international bodies like the IMF have commended the BOJ for moving away from stimulus and urged further rate hikes while also warning against loose fiscal policy such as tax cuts.

Political moves like tax suspensions and higher spending have spooked markets, pushing yields and the yen around because of concerns about debt and inflation — which could indirectly affect the BOJ’s strategy.

So the current government’s fiscal stance might make monetary policymakers more cautious about cutting back on tightening too quickly — but the BOJ itself is still setting interest rate policy.

-----------------------

Japan’s transition away from giant negative rates and toward modest positive rates is undermining aspects of the yen carry trade that have supported global liquidity and speculative flows for years. That’s:

1. Pressuring speculative assets as cheap yen funding disappears.

   The yen carry trade has historically been funded by borrowing cheap Japanese yen 

   (because of near-zero or negative interest rates) and investing in higher-yielding assets elsewhere

2. Feeding volatility in crosses like AUD/JPY.

3. Supporting the USD vs JPY because policy divergence persists.

4. Creating ambiguity for gold — both as safe haven and as alternative asset.

   Gold often benefits from uncertainty and carry trade unwinds, 

   because when leveraged positions in risk assets unwind, some capital flows into safe havens .

   But stronger real rates (higher yields globally) can weigh on gold, since it has no yield. 

   So the net effect depends on how much market stress arises from carry unwind versus macro conditions.

DOBOZ - Touch Sensing Note Memory - Buchla format 4U --- part 1

These are my build notes for the DOBOZ TSNM module

 I like the compact format.

Its a sequencer +

 

Here are some pics of the raw PCBs

 

There are two versions of this module .

One uses a teensy 3.2, and a second uses a teensy 4.0

i bought this board many years ago when teensy's 3.2 were plentiful.

I recently received a NOS 3.2, so thought I'd finish this build.

My board is from 2017. rev 1.0

MPR121 breakout board.

Links

+ Official site

+ BOM 

+ official build notes

SEMICONDUCTORS first

Orientation of IC1-IC5 and IC7, Q1, D1 and D2 is clearly designated on the PCB. 

74HC595 2 IC3, IC4 - shift registers

mouser 595-SN74HC595DR

 

 

OPA171

IC5 

SOIC-8 operational amplifier 

mouser 595-OPA171AIDR

TL072

 IC1 

SOIC-8 dual operational amplifier 

mouser 595-TL072CDR

 

 

ADP150-3.3V 

IC7 TSOT-5 linear voltage regulator 

Mouser 584-ADP150AUJZ-3.3R7

 

"The trickiest part may be the DAC8560 (IC2), it’s a VSSOP-8 device. 

This is hand soldered

 

Use lots of flux , a fine soldering tip and fine solder.

... and a steady hand

--------------

MMBT3904 

Q1 SOT-23 NPN bipolar transistor 

Mouser ;512-MMBT3904

I didn't have this exact transistor.

I used this instead:

Encoder: ordered and arrived.

Mouser No:

858-EN11-HSM1BF20

Mfr. No:

EN11-HSM1BF20

Mfr.:

TT Electronics

 

 

Resistors..

Some of the resistors need to have 0.1% tolerance

2 x 100K, (R1 & R15)

1K x 1, 

27k, 

33k, 

teensy 3.2

mouser

coco.

MACD

 The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a popular, trend-following momentum indicator used in technical analysis to identify changes in the strength, direction, momentum, and duration of a trend in a stock's price. Developed by Gerald Appel in the late 1970s, it is a versatile tool that helps traders spot potential buy and sell signals. 

Core Components of the MACD

The MACD appears as an oscillator with three main components: 

1. MACD Line (Blue Line): Calculated by subtracting the 26-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) from the 12-period EMA. It represents the short-term momentum relative to the long-term trend.

2. Signal Line (Orange/Red Line): A 9-period EMA of the MACD line. It acts as a trigger for buy and sell signals, smoothing out the MACD line's fluctuations.

3. Histogram: Represents the difference between the MACD line and the signal line. It shows when the lines are converging (moving closer) or diverging (moving further apart). 

How to Interpret the MACD

Signal Line Crossover: A bullish signal occurs when the MACD line crosses above the signal line (potential buy), while a bearish signal occurs when the MACD line crosses below the signal line (potential sell).

Zero Line Crossover: When the MACD line moves above the zero line, it indicates bullish momentum, while crossing below indicates bearish momentum.

Divergence: A "positive/bullish divergence" occurs when the price makes lower lows, but the MACD makes higher lows, suggesting weakening downward momentum. A "negative/bearish divergence" occurs when the price makes higher highs, but the MACD makes lower highs, suggesting weakening upward momentum.

Histogram Trends: Increasing histogram bars above the zero line indicate strengthening bullish momentum; shrinking bars suggest weakening momentum. 

Best Practices and Limitations

Best Market Condition: The MACD is most effective in strongly trending markets, but it can produce many false signals (whipsaws) in sideways or choppy, non-trending markets.

Lagging Indicator: Because the MACD is based on moving averages, it is a lagging indicator that tells you what has already happened, not what will happen.

Optimal Settings: While the default setting is (12, 26, 9), many traders use alternative settings for faster, more responsive signals, such as 3-10-16 for daily trading or 5-34-1 for more stable signals.

Confirmation: It is highly recommended to pair the MACD with other indicators (e.g., RSI for overbought/oversold, Volume, or Moving Averages) to confirm signals. 

Important: The MACD is not infallible, and it is crucial to use risk management techniques (like stop-loss orders) when using it.