Lelit: all espresso machines and grinders in our test

We have tested nine Lelit machines so far: the single boiler Victoria, the heat exchanger Mara X in three generations, the dual boiler Elizabeth and Bianca, plus three espresso grinders. We purchased each of these machines ourselves, as independent espresso machine testing is the foundation of our work.

On this page, we consolidate what we measured: which Lelit is suitable for which needs, where the brand is strong, and where it fails to deliver on its promises.

We are a coffee school in Basel and the Ruhr region, with our own roastery, three cafés, and deeply integrated work with coffee farms on different continents. We measure espresso machines and grinders according to our own protocol: heating time, temperature deviation over multiple pulls according to KM and WBC protocols, power consumption in kWh, and for grinders additionally retention, grinding speed, dosing consistency, and particle distribution in the laser diffractometer. You can find the exact details in the espresso machine test protocol and the espresso grinder test protocol.

Lelit: from steam irons to prosumer portafilter machines

Lelit is not an old espresso machine dynasty. The company was founded in 1986 in the province of Brescia by Maria Bellini and her husband Edoardo Epis. The name is short for "L'Elettrodomestico Italiano", and steam pressing systems were initially produced. Lelit still manufactures irons today, around 30,000 units per year.

The founding date is not clearly documented either: English-language Wikipedia cites 1986 and Baitella near Brescia, the Brescia daily newspaper Bresciaoggi cites 1986 and San Vigilio di Concesio, and Breville's acquisition announcement cites 1985 and Castegnato. Castegnato is the current location.

Coffee machines came as a second business area, developed by the founder couple's sons. The exact timing is contradictory across sources: Bresciaoggi dates the entry into development and production of espresso machines to 1992, while English-language Wikipedia cites 2002 as the beginning of focus on semi-automatic portafilter machines. Both can be true if you distinguish between initial devices and strategic direction.

What matters for us is a later date. It was not until 2017 with the Bianca and 2019 with the Mara X that Lelit entered the prosumer market, the segment between household and commercial machines. These two models alone have defined the brand's reputation to this day.

After that, things moved quickly. Revenue grew from 13 million euros in 2019 to 39 million. In 2020, Lelit sold 48,000 espresso machines and increased staff within one month from 80 to 230 people to meet demand. Today, the company employs nearly 200 people, and the Castegnato plant ships over 50,000 coffee machines annually.

The acquisition by Breville

On March 11, 2022, Australian Breville Group announced it would acquire 100 percent of Lelit. Purchase price: approximately 113 million euros, half in cash, half in Breville shares at 27.64 Australian dollars with a five-year holding period. The transaction was completed in early July 2022 after the previous parent company Gemme Italian Producers srl transferred the coffee business to a new Lelit srl.

The founding family and parts of management moved to the Breville camp. At the time of acquisition, Emanuele Epis was CEO of Lelit; according to Wikipedia, his brother Mauro Epis now heads the company.

Breville CEO Jim Clayton put it this way, in our translation: "The acquisition of Lelit brings together the world's two great coffee cultures, the Italian and the Australian." Marketing speak, certainly. What's practically relevant is something else: Breville also owns Baratza. This means espresso machines and grinders from the specialty segment sit in the same corporation, and Lelit gains access to distribution structures outside Europe and numerous patents from the Breville house. This is evident, among other things, in the integration of the Pagaia function, which builds on a Sage patent.

Production continues in Castegnato. Whether that remains the case will be seen. For today's buyers, it means: Lelit is Italian manufacturing with an Australian owner, not a relabeled sourced product.

How Lelit sorts its product lines

Lelit's model names are first names; the type designations are PL numbers. This seems arbitrary but follows a logic based on the group. Three lines sit side by side:

The 57-millimeter line with its own group includes the entry-level models Anna (PL41), Anita (PL042, with built-in conical burr), and the discontinued Grace (PL81). Common features are a 250-milliliter brass boiler, a three-way solenoid valve, and an adjustable overpressure valve. We're currently testing these machines. The test is more complex because we had to develop our own temperature sensor specifically for these devices.

The 58-millimeter line without E61 group includes Victoria (PL91), Kate (PL82), the discontinued Glenda (PL41PLUST), and the dual boiler Elizabeth (PL92). The Victoria has a 300-milliliter brass boiler; the Elizabeth has a 300-milliliter brew boiler plus a switchable 600-milliliter steam boiler.

The E61 line with a 58-millimeter group modeled after the Faema E61 consists of the heat exchanger Mara X (PL62X) and the dual boiler Bianca (PL162T). The Bianca runs an 800-milliliter brew boiler and a 1.5-liter steam boiler; the Mara X runs a 1.8-liter boiler. What makes this brew group technical, you'll find in our article on the Faema E61 brew group.

Model overview: what we've tested

We have not yet tested the Anna PL41TEM, the Anita, and the Kate. Anna and Anita are in progress for us. Further measurements for the Bianca V4 and the 2026-introduced Pagaia versions of Elizabeth and Victoria will follow in late 2026 and early 2027.

Which Lelit should you buy?

The question "which Lelit is the best" is misleading. The models differ primarily in what drinking habit they're built for. We therefore organize by need.

You drink almost only straight espresso, one to three per day

The Victoria PL91T is sufficient. A single boiler with PID, 10.9 kilograms, 23.5 centimeters wide, for around 800 euros. In the WBC protocol, we measure a standard deviation of 1.28 degrees over 14 pulls, which is acceptable for this type. What you're accepting: 23 minutes heating time and a switching operation if you then want to steam milk. The steam power is low, which is typical for a single boiler. For a cappuccino on the weekend, it works; for four in a row, it doesn't.

You regularly make milk drinks and don't want to wait

Then you need separate circuits. The Elizabeth PL92T is a true dual boiler with 300-milliliter brew boiler and switchable 600-milliliter steam boiler, from around 1,050 euros. The steam boiler can be regulated down to 145 degrees; it builds power robustly and heats slowly while doing so. After 20 minutes, the machine is at temperature, though it claims to be so before then. Power consumption is low: 0.13 kWh for five double espressos including heating without steam boiler, 0.24 kWh with.

For us, it's the best entry-level dual boiler machine we've measured, with the potential to outpace considerably more expensive machines. The price for that is a thin stainless steel body, a plastic handle, a plastic steam knob, and a water tank that's awkward to fill.

The alternative is the heat exchanger Mara X. It's up to 10 decibels quieter than comparable heat exchangers and an exceptionally narrow 22 centimeters for an E61 machine. In Switzerland, the list price was 1,490 francs; in the EU, we found numerous offers under 1,000 euros. In return, you need to understand the brew priority modes, or the machine will brew too hot.

You want to adjust the extraction profile

The Bianca V3, for over 2,000 euros. It has a mechanical paddle and an additional electronic low-flow mode, a rotary pump at 8 to 9 bar, which we measure at 61 decibels. Via the paddle, you control the flow from around 2.5 grams per second at the 6 o'clock position to just under 6 grams when fully open; the electronic low-flow is 1.5 to 1.7 grams per second at 3.1 bar.

The temperature values are the best across the entire Lelit range: 93 degrees target temperature with a one-degree deviation, standard deviation 0.99 degrees in the KM protocol after 17 minutes and 0.69 degrees in the WBC protocol after one hour. And despite the E61 group, it reaches temperature after 17 minutes, 8 to 12 minutes faster than the average E61 machine. On consumption, the large steam boiler is noticeable: 0.133 kWh for five espressos, but 0.43 kWh once the steam boiler is running.

The point with the Bianca is that you can run it two ways: as a solid E61 machine without thinking or as a profiling machine where you control the flow on every shot. It grows with you, which is why we recommend it to beginners too. At 27 kilograms and 50 centimeters deep, though, it needs space.

You want flow profiling but cheaper

Then the Mara X3 at 1,699 euros is close. The flow control works well; the lever adjusts from 6 to around 3.5 milliliters per second, and the pump drops below 50 decibels in the process. In the KM protocol, which reflects everyday life at home, the temperature management is fine.

In the WBC stress test over 14 pulls, however, we measure a temperature window of 7 degrees. We clearly rated that as failure in the test. For a machine in the kitchen, that weighs less heavily than for commercial use, but if you regularly make many drinks in succession, you're better served with a dual boiler. In the KM overall rating, the machine lands at 50.2 of 100 points. So for a 500-euro premium over the previous version, you get flow control.

You're looking for a Lelit grinder

Here we need to pump the brakes. The two Fred models PL044MMT and PL043MMI had the broadest main peaks at 336 and 349 micrometers in our first test field of 24 directly compared grinders. The best grinder there was 180 micrometers. You taste that: the espresso tastes frayed; the acidity stands alone. We cannot recommend the Freds for straight espresso.

The William PL72 is a different case. Its grounds are good; the coarse peak is narrow at 227 micrometers. The problem is adjustment: once you adjust the grind, you can't reliably find it again. In return, it has a property we haven't seen in any other grinder. It empties itself completely, 18 grams in, 18 grams out. If you already own a PL72 and like to drink different coffees side by side, you should run it exclusively in single dosing.

If you can choose freely, look at our overview of the best espresso grinders. We've now tested over 100 grinders, so the selection is much larger than when we tested the Lelits. The Freds are quite workable for milk-mixed drinks because milk buffers flavor imbalance.

Distribution and specialty retail

Lelit doesn't sell directly; it sells through specialty retailers, online shops, and Amazon. The Amazon channel was a significant driver of rapid growth according to Bresciaoggi, which is unusual for a manufacturer in this price segment.

For you as a buyer, this mainly means: prices vary widely. With the Elizabeth, we saw prices in Switzerland ranging from 1,100 francs on major online platforms to 1,600 francs in local retail, with a German starting price of around 1,050 euros. A price comparison is worthwhile here more than with other manufacturers.

We ourselves don't sell espresso machines. In the individual tests, we name specialty shops where we'd recommend making purchases because they know the devices and can service them themselves if needed. If you buy from a marketplace, you don't have that contact.

Comparison table: our measurements

All values are our own measurements from the linked individual tests, not manufacturer specifications. A dash means we didn't collect that value in this test.

* Prices at time of test and for orientation. Lelit prices fluctuate significantly in retail.
** Heating plus one espresso in espresso mode.
*** Each heating plus five double espressos. The first value without, the second with switched-on steam boiler.

Temperature measurements in comparison

Temperature management separates the field far more than price. That's why here separately:

Which protocol matters depends on usage. The KM protocol measures everyday home use: heating and pulling individual shots. The WBC protocol measures sustained load over 14 pulls and is thus most meaningful for commercial use. For a heat exchanger in the kitchen, therefore, the individual pull is decisive, not the stress test. We explain both procedures in the espresso machine test protocol.

Frequently asked questions about Lelit

Is Lelit still an Italian company?

The brand and manufacturing are Italian; the owner is not. Since July 2022, Lelit has been owned by Australian Breville (Sage) Group. Manufacturing continues at the Castegnato plant near Brescia; the founding Epis family has remained with the company.

Which Lelit is the best espresso machine?

Based on our measurements, the Bianca V3, if budget and space allow. It has the best temperature management across the entire Lelit range and the shortest heating time among E61 machines. For about half the money, the Elizabeth PL92T is the more sensible choice if you mainly make milk drinks. For straight espresso on a small budget, the Victoria is enough.

Lelit Mara X or Elizabeth?

The Mara X is quieter, narrower, and works with the E61 group—thermal mass. The Elizabeth has two real boilers, reaches temperature after 20 minutes, and is more confident with steam, but is less well built. If you make many milk drinks in succession, get the Elizabeth. If build quality, noise, and footprint matter more to you, the Mara X.

How long does a Lelit take to heat up?

We measured: Bianca V3 17 minutes, Elizabeth PL92T 20 minutes, Victoria PL91T 23 minutes, Mara X3 24 minutes. The Bianca is thus the fastest despite the E61 group because its brew boiler is insulated. Expect with all machines that lasting temperature stability occurs later than brew readiness, which the display reports.

What's the difference between Mara X V1, V2, and X3?

V1 and V2 are technically nearly identical; you recognize the V1 by its red logo. Differences exist in the control logic, which is why some machines were shipped with instructions from the other version. The Mara X3 is a bigger leap; it brings Pagaia, electronic flow control via a lever, and costs 1,699 euros. In temperature, it behaves similarly to the V2, but flow control adds another layer that can influence temperature. Details in our tests for the Mara X and the Mara X3.

What does Pagaia cost?

With Elizabeth 3 and Victoria 3, Lelit quoted us 300 euros premium over the lever-less version in Brussels. With the Mara X3, Pagaia is built in; it costs 1,699 euros and thus around 500 euros more than the previous generation. There is no volumetrics or time control in any of the three models.

Are Lelit grinders recommendable?

For straight espresso, based on our measurements, no. The two Fred models spread too widely. The William PL72 grinds well but doesn't reliably return to the same grind setting and is mainly worth it for existing owners in single dosing. If you drink mostly cappuccino, you can work with the Freds.

Is a used Lelit worth it?

Yes for E61 machines, because the technology is well documented and parts are available. Watch for scale buildup, the condition of seals at the brew group, and which generation you're buying. With the Mara X, the version question isn't minor; it decides how you operate brew priority.

Which Lelit haven't you tested yet?

Anna PL41TEM and Anita are in progress for us. The Kate is still outstanding. Further tests for the Bianca V4 and Elizabeth 3 and Victoria 3 with Pagaia will follow.

We purchased all devices mentioned in this article ourselves. None of the linked tests were requested or authorized by Lelit. We have not sold espresso machines for three years. The measurement values in both tables come from individual tests of the Victoria PL91T, Mara X V2, Mara X3, Elizabeth PL92T, Bianca V3, William PL72, and Fred PL044MMT and PL043MMI.