Lelit ELIZABETH vs Lelit MARA X! Are Dual Boilers always Best?!

[@KyleRowsell]

Hope you’re well today friend 🙂 Which would you choose?!

[@andrewcramer7214]

Stay at home daddy squad! I don't actually know if you are but still haha!

[@jeftesantiago]

I would choose something in between both, like an HX saturated group head machine.

[@_batman.]

Congratulations on the baby!

[@emreisiklar]

Bianca

[@UloPe]

If I had the money definitely the Elizabeth. But I’ll probably „settle“ for a Victoria.

[@nibsabbath1825]

Hey Kyle! I began my espresso journey in August of last year. I researched and compared for over year before finally making my decision. I ended up skipping the entry level stuff (Crossland CC-1, Rancillio Silvia, Gaggia Classic, etc). I knew I wanted a dual boiler or a heat exchanger machine because I am susceptible to upgradeitis and I wanted a machine that delivered on all fronts right out of the box. I considered a lot of different machines at a lot of different price points. I didn't necessarily have a budget, and was willing to buy basically whatever machine fit the bill, within reason. I even considered the Linea Mini. At the end of the day, I chose the Mara X. I thought it was aesthetically one of the coolest looking machines on the market, the build quality is rock solid, and the final selling point was the flexibility. It is upgradeable by itself, it has temperature control (though I knew I'd be brewing lighter roasts primarily, so the toggle switch wasn't an issue for me), and the ability to switch between brew and steam priority really solidified that this was the machine I wanted. I keep it in brew priority mode, and I find that with the steam boost engaged, the machine behaves basically like a dual boiler. To me, that really gives this machine a leg up over the competition. I dunno if you will read all of this, but if you do, I appreciate it and thank you for your content! I really enjoy the tone of your videos, as well as some of the more subtle details 😁

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks for the amazing comment Nathan! My pleasure!

[@slvrbach]

@@KyleRowsell 💯 agree with Nathan. Great content! Keep it up. 👍

[@jswede1]

When you say "one of the coolest looking machines", I have to wonder what you are comparing to. Did you look at Rocket, ECM, Crem, Profitec, Quick Mill etc, or was this the only semi-auto you considered?

[@nibsabbath1825]

@@jswede1 I did consider others. They each also fall into the category of "one of the coolest looking machines I've ever seen" 😆 Contrasting in my mind with Breville machines, which are great, but I don't like the way they look, the Decent which again, is great, but I don't love the look (but would buy one regardless, if I had the money).

[@nibsabbath1825]

@@jswede1 I should add that one thing that gave the Mara X preference was size. I have a roughly 5 foot table that has to house my espresso machine, two grinders, and most of my other coffee equipment.

[@matthewsallman1700]

I considered both of these machines and settled on the Elizabeth because as others have mentioned the need to disassemble and lubricate the E61 brew head. I can't see going for all the profiling add ons, so the lack of that isn't a big deal. Also the Elizabeth has an automated backflushing program built in that makes regular flushing very easy.

[@yahyoh91]

I had Elizabeth since one month, when i got i did like more than 20 (in testing)shots back to back without any issues, the small boiler is great as it returns to the set temp within 30-50 secs after pulling a shot. So while cleaning the puck, grinding,tamping the temp would have been already reached the target temp. Edit: for pre infusion, Elizabeth uses steam pressure to pre infuse not the pump, but you can use blooming phase which runs the pump at full pressure for a set time then turn it off then brews.

[@YelloJello]

You can do either steam pre-inf or non-steam “bloom” pre-inf by turning the steam boiler off. Also, there is an advanced settings menu to adjust pre-inf and stall times before the full shot starts.

[@fdsmith4028]

[@Bsaw13]

That’s interesting because the lelit Bianca starts to have trouble maintaining temps after the 6th shot I believe (check Lance Hedricks video about the Bianca)

[@bluemystic7501]

I've owned the Elizabeth for like 6 months now and couldn't be happier. It's VERY consistent, precise, and I love the fact that no matter what the roast looks like, I'll get great shots. It also has a shallow footprint which works in my kitchen. The Pro 300 and the Silvia Pro X are both too deep for my countertops, unfortunately. Nice review!

[@Tripoloskey]

Ah man, your three choice are exactly the same as mine right now. Been leaning away from Profitec. At this point, the main reason I would go for the Pro X would be the massive modding community for Rancilio but the smaller footprint is definitely a big plus... it's too hard to choose

[@bluemystic7501]

@@Tripoloskey How would you mod the pro X?

[@chongli297]

I think you sell the Elizabeth a little bit short. The saturated brew group has much better temperature stability (see the scace tests) than the Mara X (which is already top of its class among HX e61's). The Elizabeth's steam boiler can be set up to 145C for almost 4 bar of steam pressure whereas the Mara X tops out at about 1.75 bar. Finally, the Elizabeth's preinfusion is wayyyyy more sophisticated and powerful than the Mara X's. The Elizabeth uses the steam boiler to apply gentle pressure configurable for long periods of time. You can do a 7 second preinfusion at 4 bar or a 20 second preinfusion at 1 bar! You can also customize the amount of time the pump runs during preinfusion (1-10 seconds) as well as run a no-pressure preinfusion (which Lelit calls a bloom preinfusion). Lastly, although the Elizabeth has small boilers they are energized by 2200 watts of combined heating power: do not underestimate them! With a quick search on youtube you can see Lelit insider pull back to back to back shots while simultaneously steaming milk, no problem at all!

[@AdastraRecordings]

If you’re into single origin espresso and don’t froth a lot of milk there’s a better option than both of these.

[@actylise]

@@AdastraRecordings which one ? thanks

[@fdsmith4028]

@@AdastraRecordings which one?

[@geofftech]

@@AdastraRecordings Which one?

[@tomsn999]

@@AdastraRecordings which one?

[@AzizIzgin]

Soo happy I went with Mara X 🥰 Couldn’t be happier. It is not only the features that matter. The machine has to be something that leave you with always wanting more and more and to be joyful to use.. Every morning i set the timer to start at 06 and I can’t wait to rush to it to make my morning coffee. Also, turning in the steam is way more fun with a “front wheel” imo with the retro look it has. Love it.

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks for sharing! And great choice!

[@loughrey101]

I've seen a cafe in Italy do 10 back-to-back cappuccinos that consisted of 4 steamed jugs with the Elizabeth, all in the space of 10 minutes and it had absolutely no issues with the steamer. So it seems 600ml boiler is more than adequate for a large number of cups. Steam itself doesn't consist of a lot of water and so steam can go for a long time with 600ml. The Elizabeth is used by many cafes in Italy

[@GrandStudable]

Jeez, kyle. You’re pushing AMAZING content. Keep this up!! Congrats on the baby btw!

[@KyleRowsell]

Ah means the world!

[@pphaneuf]

For me, it's the Elizabeth, for the reasons you mentioned (quick warm-up, LCC and ability to program the buttons, as well as the form factor being more compatible with my kitchen counter space!), but also, maintenance: the flat panels of the Elizabeth are easier to keep clean, and the E61 having to be lubed after a backwash is a bit annoying! Great video, thanks!

[@pphaneuf]

Totally get that for others, the MaraX being able to add the flow profiling, or its form factor might be more suitable. They're both great machines!

[@AndyS2K76]

I have received the third Elizabeth V3 and now it works. Amazing machine....what a caffe and cappuccino!!! Only after 3 days of test....but this is my first semi automatic machine so I have to study a lot...

[@morphmkd]

I love tactile feedback and mechanical pre-infusion of E61 machines, it just makes the ritual of making espresso more satisfying. But for home use that dual boiler, which has great PID control, fast heat up and you need to push just a button sometimes is much more convenient especially if you are in a hurry or not a morning person :) Great video Kyle once again!

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks for the comment! 🙂

[@psychedalek]

Great summary Blagoj. They really are two different machines despite being similarly priced by the same manufacturer. I like the ritual of the Mara and think it helps me be a _better_ morning person

[@tiniphuong]

The Lelit Mara X also has PID control

[@morphmkd]

@@tiniphuong Not accurate as on the Elizabeth and it is much more of a brute force solution. Again the simplicity of the Elizabeth wins. Nevertheless for me at this moment Rancilio Silvia Pro is best buy in this segment of machines, because it does everything right out of the box.

[@natthebrewer]

The quality of this video feels a bit more polished than some of your earlier stuff. Really enjoyed it! Also, loved the comparison, I'm in the market and trying to decide what I want.

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks friend! Learning each and every video! Still have lots to grow.

[@wa8dpv]

I have a Quick Mill Silvano Evo. It's considered a hybrid dual boiler. It uses a boiler with PID for brew and a thermo block with separate pump for steam. I find that it does an excellent job but I never pull more than 2 drinks at a time. But for $1000 it can't be beat.

[@DavidPetryk]

Hi. How's the steam pressure on your Silvano?

[@ItsMeNubbs]

Such a hard choice, I like them both, but I think Ill end up with the Elizabeth because of the easy of use when it comes to being able to push a prograned button and know you are going to be pretty consistent once you get a bean dialed in

[@rxonmymind8362]

This.

[@Vortex1988]

I'm definitely going to be picking up a Mara X. I want the higher capacity boiler, so I can make multiple milk drinks back to back when I have friends and family over. I'm less concerned about the exact temperature of the brew water than I am about temperature consistency. You'll be fine as long as the brew temperature is in the right range for the roast profile of your coffee. +/- 1 or 2 degrees is not going to be noticeable. The stability of the temperature during brewing is what you really need, and the Mara X is probably the most temperature stable e61 style heat exchanger on the market right now, since the PID takes temperatures from the group head. As long as you're flushing the group when you need to, the brew water temperature will be super stable. Knowing when and how long to flush is as easy as installing a temperature sensor on the group head. Personally, I'd rather spend less on a machine if the only drawback is having to flush the system occasionally, than to spend $3,000+ on a comparable dual boiler machine. I'm going to be pairing the Mara X with a Zerno Z1 grinder with SSP Cast V3 burrs, so I'm excited to see what the coffee is going to be like out of them. Prior to that setup, I've only brewed with a Baratza Sette 270 and Gaggia Classic Pro with OPV mod, so this should be a pretty big upgrade for me.

[@andrewspringer_]

Thanks for the awesome reviews of the Lelit machines Kyle! I just purchased the Mara X V2 over the ascaso DUO, which was honestly the most stressful decision I’ve made in a long time lol. I feel the Mara X is a bit more future proof for my wife and I and I appreciate the ability to mod and tinker with it down the road if I get the itch. We bought the 2023 version in the white with maple trim and it’s one sexy machine 🤤. Basically I decided for us it was more important to have the ability to repair or upgrade things in the future vs having “to the degree” temp control.

[@kerseyjake]

Good call. No one ever talks about it but serviceability is so freaking important.

[@jasonyannuccelli2499]

Kyle....what can I say.... You are bloody awesome mate ! The way you cover all the important info on these very much appreciated "Review Videos" without carrying on with unnecessary stuff is a pleasure to listen to. Keep up the great work mate. You are in the top 3 Coffee KZbinrs out there in my opinion mate. My choice of these two machines (and I am about to purchase one) is the Mara X. Nothing against the Elizabeth, I'm sure its amazing but just has no appeal to me personally. Thumbs up man !

[@KyleRowsell]

Appreciate the kind words Jason!

[@lockedout8643]

Good vid. I watched your Mara review and this confirmed it's the machine for me. I've been messing with buying a machine for years, had 4 or 5 contenders in that time but never pulled the trigger on any of them. My Flair manual press makes great espresso but I wanna mess with milk. Ordered my Mara X today, thanks for your help.

[@MortalThe]

Ordering Mara X Today. I read all the comments ( almost LOL) below those review videos and I am convinced now , that for a epsresso beginner and my application , I need mechanical E61. I like to have ocasionally possibility to make more coffies, double espresso, more often no milk. I can leave with a heat up time of 24 minutes from off, and and happy to expect 15 minutes warm up from a stand-by mode. I am not a morning person , don't drink in the mornig. Can put it in stand by after a breakfast or my wife will as she tends to drink a coffie earlier than me . I work from home. All good, cheers.

[@donjuliojones4228]

Fellow Canadian checking in to say that I appreciate your comparison vids!

[@espressomatic]

Just a small note to pick on. No one is using a single-group machine to pull shots for 15 people. 90% or more owners will never pull shots for more than 2 people at one time. And I suspect that for most of THOSE people it'll be only 1 person most of the time - or at least a long period of time between shots if two people will use it. When you're up at the $2k price range you're in the territory of bragging rights and how something looks in your kitchen/coffee space. The Mara X exists to compete with other similar-looking E61 machines, not really for anything else, because the Elizabeth is simply a better machine from a workflow and performance perspective.

[@johnrivera3746]

I can appreciate this comment. I am trying to choose between an HX and a DB and I'm only going to pull 2 shots daily, about an hour or so apart as part of my routine in the AM. So I assume HX is more than enough and I don't need to have a DB and spend the extra money? Also, I don't know if the EXACT temp control is something I truly need or would even use once I set a temp I like.

[@tonywoy]

Apart from rapid heating, I think smaller boiler would also be more energy efficient, which may be a priority for some.

[@BensCoffeeRants]

Smaller boiler might be more energy efficient in a way, initial heat up would be quicker but then it would cool down faster introducing some fresh water in the boiler vs a larger boiler which has a larger thermal mass. So who knows :)

[@Thetache]

@@BensCoffeeRants For a home machine usually pulling a couple of shots maximum then being switched off for most of the day I am sure the small boiler size will be very much the winner in energy efficiency. If it was in a commercial or office setting then there may be a complicated calculation regarding shot quantity and timing between shots pulled across a full day.

[@BensCoffeeRants]

@@Thetache yeah you're probably right less time heating up!

[@morganchilds9054]

This was a really good, informative video. I'm still trying to parse all the features that I think will be important to me for my home machine, but so far I am leaning heavily towards the Mara X... I think it's a super cool looking machine, it's the right size for my kitchen, I like and have experience with the E61, and the tactile aspect is important to me. I like the idea of learning the skills of interacting with the machine and grinder and other variables for the best results.

[@wvrnstng]

Well, even though mara has double the boiler capacity, it is still a heat exchanger, meaning the water and steam heaten when going through a pipe. I am almost certain that steel has enough thermal capacity to pour quite a few cappucinos, but lack of some features are crucial for me. Namely: I am not ready to tolerate the fact that in a 1500$ machine steaming still, yes in a minor way, but influences the temerature of the water and vice versa. Those 3 profiles on Mara is just not convincing enough for me. Also stainless steel is more prone to scaling than brass, meaning Mara requires more thorough maintenance. That sums it up. I would recommend to take a look at VBM DOMOBAR SUPER B2, coming at around 1800$ it delivers the best of both worlds - E61 group and two copper boilers (coffee=500ml, water and steam=2l). Thank you for the video! I am not a native speaker, so I hope I managed to get the message across well enough.

[@df540148]

These were the 2 machines I narrowed down my choice to earlier this year. It really came down to: 1) flow control can be added to the MaraX and 2) I truly don't like the looks of the Elizabeth and when it's going to be a permanent fixture in my kitchen, that won't cut it. 3) Elizabeth, while fully capable, is at a point where, if I'm going dual boiler, I'm going end game. The MaraX should get me years of joy, but if I ever "upgrade" to a DB, it's going to be something in the Bianca/Synchronika/Prima1 etc range. The small boilers and poor design are what pointed me towards the MaraX and I am thrilled to use it everyday.

[@tybaltmercutio]

If you want an endgame dual boiler, I would rather consider the Dalla Corte Mina or La Marzocco GS3. 😁 Going from an E61 HX to an E61 DB will not make that much of a difference.

[@PanzerIV88]

@@tybaltmercutio I wouldn't agree there. I have a (Rocket R58) and my mom had a (Rocket Mozzafiato Type V) which I sold last week and upgraded for a (Lelit Bianca V3) and OMG it is night & day without hesitation! Not only the dual boilers, better precision, flow control built-in, so many useful features in the LLC, water reserve protection that always let you finish your cup rather than Rocket which tells you to go F urself and completly stops during extraction just to ruin ur puck and make you waste time having to do another one. That's just to name a few, honestly it's even better than my R58 and for less money so Rocket you definitely pay for the name! The GS3 is just overpriced and way too big for home use. I would rather go with a (Eagle One Prima) if I had to get a saturated boiler, but that thing is still overpriced and definitely not worth 2x the price of the Bianca at all. If only it had pressure profiling too and built-in scale in the drip tray like the commercial 3-group version then now yes I could call it end-game and would be interested. La Marzocco just released a Linea Micra which is the same as a Mini for 2K less, smaller and better looking, totaly kills the Mini but I still feel like it's not worth it over a Bianca which is the "E61 DB endgame". After that you gotta spend so much more there's too much diminishing return. The Decent is tempting but there's too many red flags and "if this if that..." that bugs me.

[@tgalidaVO]

Love the different camera angles and lighting. Very informative

[@notme123123]

Hey Kyle. How would you compare the Elizabeth to the Silvia Pro?

[@johnpbroom]

Great video. This has really helped narrow my choice for a machine down to these two machines and the Rocket Apartamento. I'm leaning toward the Lelit machines due to the PID and have a small workstation space in my kitchen so am not able to stretch to a Profitec. Currently running a single boiler Pavoni Euripicola but have had an old commercial Rancillio HX machine before. I imagine with PID and the pre infusion capabilities of both these machines they will make better and more consistent espresso than I've had before. I don't know which one to choose, the E61 does appeal but the long heat up time is an issue for me and the Elizabeth would be so simple to keep clean and maintain. Kyle, if you didn't have your Bianca 😍 which would you choose, I feel like you've said the Elizabeth because you already have the E61 Bianca. Seriously though, great video, excellent production and I'm working my way through many of your videos after coming across your channel

[@raberrio]

For me i think Elizabeth would fit better. Small boilers are actually a plus for me, more efficient and faster heating. I just pull one espresso and one latte in the morning and two espressos in the evening, every day.

[@jean-francoisdupuis6904]

I have a MaraX, flow control kit and a df64 grinder all in the mail. Should all get here this week. Beyond excited!

[@KyleRowsell]

You must be excited! Enjoy!

[@kumakumarabear3859]

I enjoyed your review! .... My personal preference is for the E61 grouphead type machine. I love being able to be in full control with full manual mechanics. Keeps me on my toes. Also love maintaining my own machine with parts readily available for the Mara. The robust and tried and tested over decades - E61 wins with me. I totally love the HX, and it's higher volume capabilities for larger guests to my home! :D

[@_rdub_]

I have the Elizabeth, upgraded from a Dedica Slim. I love the Elizabeth, crazy fast warm up time, no issue making two lattes in a row. Changed the shower screen to an IMS one and also got a IMS basket and ECM bottomless portafilter. Something I do want to do is vinyl wrap it white to match my Silenzio grinder :)

[@matthewsallman1700]

I made the same mods. Unfortunately the holes in the IMS screen can't be set so that there isn't a hole directly below at least one jet in the brew head. Disappointing, but still better than the Lelit screen. Probably because the screen isn't made for this machine alone. It just fits the screen that was already designed for another machine. If this brew head becomes popular enough maybe IMS will design a custom screen.

[@mazx19]

Nice

[@martinmartin4359]

You havent noticed steam pressure driven preinfusion in elizabeth, pretty unique design, much more adjustable than e61 without flow control. Btw elizabeth brew group is ring type not saturated design (you have to pay much more money to get saturated brew head).

[@UncleSkiBum]

Honestly the steam based Pre-infusion has been a game changer for me.

[@sven5666]

The small steam boiler is not to cut cost, but makes it especially nice for home use.

[@rolandlickert2904]

One reason it heats up faster!

[@victorpre]

I'm in between them both but I think in my case I'll go with Mara X because I have a very limited countertop space and also Mara X will allow me adding flow profile and other mods down the Road. Thanks for the video

[@KyleRowsell]

Great choice!

[@TheMartinChnnl]

I miss your videos Kyle!!!

[@incendiareszoom]

Thanks for this one Kyle, been wanting one of these.

[@KyleRowsell]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@timgough6738]

I already own the Mara X but this was a great video. Informative and well put together. It was fun seeing the comparison between the two.

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks!

[@IsaacJDean]

I've been leaning toward the Elizabeth for a while. As much as I'd like to use an E61, I'm also lazy most of the time and don't function well early in the morning. I also like the idea of dialling in temperature a bit more precisely. Pretty tempted by the sage/breville dual boiler as well for similar lazy reasons, and it comes in black. Would love to see a comparison of the Dual Boiler and Elizabeth.

[@KyleRowsell]

Maybe I’ll compare them someday!

[@Technoyo]

@@KyleRowsell +1 on the BDB vs Elizabeth. Currently trying to decide between the two! Key word "trying."

[@damianmb5]

I think the way the water tank is filled is also important. In the Elizabeth is pretty cumbersome. Cheers

[@braxtonjens7839]

I currently have a La Pavoni lever. I would get the Elizabeth because of the AV in the ease-of-use , so that my wife can make coffees easily. That’s currently the issue with the la pavoni, it’s a great machine but it is little bit difficult to learn, and my wife wants something easier to use in the morning. We have a toddler so 🤷🏻‍♂️😬

[@KyleRowsell]

I hear that! The Elizabeth is a joy for ease of use.

[@Floppyrom]

Now if you could next do Breville Dual Boiler vs Lelit Elisabeth that would be super awesome :D

[@KyleRowsell]

Maybe one day!

[@anotherguycalledsmith]

Yes, I like the proven E61 system and the traditional way of pulling a shot very much, BUT I also like this more modern approach of having a wider machine with the steam wand on the right side. Being right-handed, I do not like steaming milk on the left side of the machine… And with the E61 design, you would have the brew lever on the right of the brew group (alright with this, of course), but still too close to the hot water wand that you might have just used a short time before and which is still rather hot because of it… I would love to see classic E61 machines that are not so cramped and much wider ;-)

[@stefdriver]

Someone needs to make a dual boiler machine with wide body and water tank on the side instead of always at the back. Like an ascaso duo but more powerful. San Remo cube maybe?

[@ИванИванов-м6ч1о]

IMO the dual boiler rigs are superior in every way when compared to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a relic of the past. Dual boiler win the home market hands down, and will winn the HORECA marcet when the trend catches on and sufficient boiler sizes will be available.

[@robertjurcina7055]

Thanks for the comparison Kyle,great production of your videos,I’m Canadian so I’ll take a look at your sponsor’s site who I haven’t heard of before this video.

[@KyleRowsell]

Please do!

[@stiglitz04]

You surprised me Kyle with the answer on "which machine makes better espresso". I thought that's an easy win for the 1800 ml brew boiler compared to 300 ml. The Mara X with the E61 grouphead must be much more stable in temperature, or am i mistaken? My Lelit Anna costs less than the half of the Elizabeth, when I finish pulling a shot the temperature falls down from 94 deg. Celsius to around 84 C, that's a huge drop (with an average 36 - 40 g shot). It has 250 ml boiler. So adjusting the PID of starting your shot to a precise temperature while the end of your shot is far away from the desired temperature is not that important in my opinion. I definitely won't upgrade on 300 ml boiler machine but i'm strongly considering the Mara. Even if you don't know whether you pull the shot from 93 or 94 C, at least it stays there. :) Thanks for the video by the way! And i'm very curious what do you think on temperate stability of the 2 machines. Cheers from Hungary.

[@KyleRowsell]

The temp stability of the Elizabeth is also excellent. While E61s are very stable, saturated brew groups are too. 🙂

[@ArguZ72]

A PID is not the control buttons, that is the interface. The PID is the algorithm that the machine uses to KEEP that setting under load. Anyway, get a WMF milk frother and a Victory and call it a day ... spend the other 1000$ on good coffee over two years :)

[@Hansimullerboy]

Great that Lelit is using stainless steel for their boilers i.e. avoiding copper and brass which contain lead.

[@dannybartel3844]

I have the Lelit Diana P60T (no longer available). Like the Elizabeth, a dual boiler. Fantastic machine, the only thing I don't like about it is the low water sensor, a weight activated switch that frankly does not work. It depends exactly how the water container is positioned in the bay, and always triggers either too soon or too late. I'd love to know what the Elizabeth uses as a low water sensor. Mara looks great, the only downside for me is the quoted 24 minute warmup. Can't make my mind up between the two.

[@bendekimpe35]

Hello Kyle, maybe a lot of effort, but your reviews are excellent, interesting, well made. Keep on going.

[@rxonmymind8362]

My wife and I like simplicity. Elizabeth wins in this regard. Once programmed, my wife can have the beans ground, automatic tamper and go for a shot. Make a stand for the milk so it's a set it and forget it type deal. (Obviously she will still have to clean the wand.) We love our cappuccinos and this takes the guesswork out of it. I'm looking forward to receiving this. Just for the two of us.

[@23rz34]

Great video as always. Can’t wait to start brewing with my Mara X 👍🏼☕️

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks!

[@zheranli9048]

Great video Kyle! I'm looking to upgrade from my Gaggia Classic soon which is why I'm watching videos like this. I can seem myself occasionally wanting to make about 3 to 4 back to back milk drinks from time to time... So not sure if the smaller steam boiler will be ok in the Elizabeth... When you say the smaller boiler struggles to steam lots of milk, is it just that say after 3 or so drinks I just have to wait a minute or so before the next few? Keen to hear your thoughts!

[@8und60er]

Thank you. Useful comparison and sympathetic presentation 👍🏻

[@gregaddison6067]

I’ve owned the Elizabeth for close to 2 years now, and I love it. Besides modding it a little bit (BaristaPro filter basket-good idea, and IMS shower screen-probably no difference from stock) I’ve been very happy with the control and consistency of the shots. Question: is there an optimal steam boiler temperature?

[@emirvezir]

Hi Kyle, Thank for this video. I am really doubting between these machines. And thank you for discussing the heating up time. It is indeed important for me. And how are these machines actually used? Do you turn the machine off every time, or what are the standby modes and time setting ? Thanks 🙏😊

[@kanotrt]

YES - thishelps me make a decision. thank you. .

[@tkllluigi]

Nice detailed video. Which grinder will be great with Elizabeth or Victoria?

[@Victor-kh5rh]

To me is long term reliability and serviceability. My breville dual boiler has been a nightmare to maintain, I want a machine that is as simple as possible. This is why I’m going with the tried and true e61 family. I’m not going with Lelit but they are all roughly the same bar a couple of minor differences and price.

[@Techinformatique06]

Merci pour cette vidéo très instructive. J’hésite justement entre l’achat d’une de ces 2 machines. Bonjour de France ! ❤

[@elchappo1320]

The Mara X just looks sick!

[@danielsoukup5734]

Love your reviews, keep it up!

[@lexx-low]

Thank's for this great comparison! I actually own a Delonghi Dedica 685 (mod. with silvia steamwand, bottomless, etc..) & soon i'll upgrade to the Elizabeth. Because of the space in my kitchen & the Elizabeth fit's better in there then the Mara X (also like the design more). The faster heat up time is a big plus point & my girlfriend needs/wants prog. buttons (she's not that much into espresso than me). The PID is a must for me.

[@DonsGameplays]

Hey Bro, nice video! You explained the pre infusion of the Elisabeth wrong. It does not use the pump for that. It openes up a valve from the steam-tank to the water-tank. This increases the pressure in the Water tank. This increased pressure ist used for the pre-infusion. Basically its kinda similiar to the E61 preinfusion. This system is way more smart than just turning on the pump There is a very nicely explained video for the Elisabeth on the Lelit channel

[@ianstevenson7536]

Which one would you reccomned for a small scale commercial use? I have homewares store and looking to bring in an espresso machine to compliment some products we sell. Would maybe need to pull 10-15 shots a day… On the Mara X if I didn’t pull a shot for 30 mins to an hour would I have to wait for it to heat up again? Thanks for your help!

[@srwven]

No. You can take it off the auto eco mode (turns brew group heat off) and leave it on until you manually turn it off. Also due to the Lelit tech of adjusting pressure to group head temperature, you 'shouldn't' have to pull cooling shots on it. While 10-15 shots isn't small scale commercial to me and would function that way, if you need to go further and/or alot of steaming, this isn't the machine for it. Actually neither are.

[@ianstevenson7536]

@@srwven Thanks for your help!

[@caffeinefix2751]

Loved the video! Helpful, entertaining , relaxing even (consider narrating audiobooks dude). Just wondering what makes you think the Mara X is more durable?

[@juggernaut316]

you did not brew from the mara x?

[@joshcook777]

I think I'd buy the Mara X because of the tactile functionality and the look.

[@KyleRowsell]

Nice! I feel many may also feel this way!

[@vettepwr23]

Nice video Kyle. Currently own a Rancilio Silvia. Had it for four years and time for an upgrade. I make 2-3 milk-based drinks daily so a dual boiler is a must. I’ve been considering the Leila Elizabeth and the Silvia pro. Any preference? In a perfect world I would probably like to get a Bianca instead but that’s $1000 more.

[@KyleRowsell]

I haven’t been able to extensively test the Silvia pro. But I can say the Elizabeth’s quality and capability won’t disappoint.

[@lmankj]

Which one produces the best tasting expresso, can you decern any obvious difference?

[@erielserrano8985]

what would you recommend for a small cafe set up? Lelit Mara X, Breville Dual Boiler, crem EX3 or Futurmat Ottima Evo?

[@sunvalleydrivemusic]

Hi Kyle! Great video! You mention that heat exchangers used to not be possible. What does that mean? Did something new get invented?

[@andreavon5929]

Quality video like always, I had a double boiler from Spaziale Mini Vivaldi, when it broke down I had to choose another machine, I wanted the e61 grouhead, I hardly ever drink milk base coffee, so the HX was the right choice for me and I hadded the flow profile to it. Very happy with my choice. Since you already have the e61, I think the Elisabeh should be your choice😁👍✌️

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks for the kind comment friend!

[@tybaltmercutio]

If you don‘t make milk based drinks a single boiler would be a much better choice than a HX due to a better temperature stability.

[@JPC326]

Really interesting video !!

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks!

[@danishlalahero]

I would get the Elizabeth, as I prefer something where I Push a button, and it runs for a set amount of time. Any good alternatives, which has the same type of function?

[@redwarblerz]

I’ve been lurking in craigslist and offer up for years now trying to decide on my espresso machine upgrade. I loved this review and my decision is essentially down to Mara x or Elizabeth. I know either way it will be an amazing upgrade from a 2001 Francis X1 lol!! I’m leaning toward the Mara because of the mechanical factor and my less than technical mind. Hands on is easier for me to understand- the the precision or temp control /quick heat up time and smaller footprint have a lot of value for my small kitchen. Still a bit stymied as the E61 and “future proof” -ness as previously mentioned in comments make me lean towards Mara. Anyone on here care to discuss Lelit’s Customer Service record ?

[@DannyGoneAndPop]

What about the Glenda and Victoria models? Those are the two that have most of my attention now as the price point is much more practical at $799 and $999 respectively. Please do that comparison?

[@actualreplyguy]

Pardon if I'm getting this wrong, but couldn't you just run water from the boiler through the group and get it up to temp in a few seconds? So in essence making warm up time differences moot?

[@laurentlevy7163]

Hi Kyle . Thx for the great videos. Would you say that you get the same “creamy velvety “ mouthfeel with the Elizabeth than with the Bianca? (I’m looking for a machine that will deliver this “café” espresso shot feel Vs the home espresso machine feel, as you pointed out in the $700 vs $4000 video) Any advice appreciated. Thank you all!!

[@grouch51]

Elizabeth! I have the Anna but I now wish I have spent more and bought the Elizabeth.

[@LouDek]

I watched this video ten times and I still don't know which one to choose 😅 Luckily I still have some time before I get a grinder...

[@mellowcat42]

I've seen some deals on refurbs and demo Elizabeths in my area. What's a good to tell a V2 from a V3? They look different in the photos (ex. the drops in the programmable buttons are larger on one, some seem to have a brown steam knob, others black.) Should I ask them to open it and check that the OPV is on top? Thanks!

[@amirdeby1447]

So ? If money is not an issue , the elizabeth is the one for me ?

[@emreisiklar]

How about Bianca vs Mara ???

[@jimmyhsu5313]

Mara X just looks gorgeous to me. I will take it every time.

[@DonsGameplays]

Do you think the water boiler is big enough for a big cafe creme (300-400 mL/10-13 oz.)?

[@karlkrasnowsky3895]

Have been very happy with an Expobar Brewtus IV for some time now, but looking to for a change that includes volumetric controls and a faster heat up time. The Elizabeth fits this bill, and since my normal brewing schedule is a couple milked espresso drinks twice a day, it would seem more than capable. Have also considering the Bezzera Matrix DE, but is probably more than I really need.

[@BensCoffeeRants]

I think the Elizabeths controllable auto pre-infusion feature is actually better than the E61's quick pre-infusion (it hits 3 or 4 bars only I believe). You can add Flow control on E61's but it's kinda hard (or impossible) to control to get a pre-infusion at 3 or 4 bars

[@PanzerIV88]

I did had a FC on my R58 and it's been much harder to do slow/long pre-infusion, definitely more than on my mom's Bianca V3 but the reason is definitely because I didn't replace the spring for the stiffer one that came with the FC for the "bottom of the thermosyphon" as I thought it wasn't necessary or useless lol. It's not a big deal as then I would lose my automatic mechanical 3 second pre-infusion which I would have to do myself everytime with the FC knob on top, and I'm not really sure I want to get involved with that!

[@fikofikret1522]

I think you are wrong with the materials of the boiler not being that important. Especially brass boilers are a health risk when its gets older and with corrosion it will leak lead. Thats why a rancilio gets an warning label in california. Its a problem and when you buy this kind of machine and you want yo use it long time please choose your materials carefully.

[@thebarak]

I'm not sure that wobbly white table is going to hold your heavy machines up for much longer! I get nervous when you touch it and start the oscillation.

[@dr.onderkul]

Hey Kyle. Just curious that what tamper you’re using? I’ve Bianca and using standard one but wanted to switch it to Pullman. Not sure is it worth or not.

[@mojai11]

1 week old Mara X here. Shots are inconsistent and a sloppy mess. Grinder is a new Eureka Mignon and am playing around with that to try to figure out what I’m doing wrong or is this just the learning-curve stage? Any thoughts offered is appreciated

[@CarlosVargas-js8qz]

Not sure if you will ever see this but I couldn’t help to reply. I’m really convinced that your experience having bad shots is directly tied to grinding issues. I’ve had the MaraX v2 for about 3 months now and paired it with a Niche Zero and I could count with one hand the bad shots I’ve had. MaraX is really a great machine and imo extremely easy to use but definitely grinding will impact your brewing no matter what machine you’re using. Hope you’re having better luck these days.

[@jfuentes2009]

An old thread, but here goes. Not sure what you mean by messy, but my mind goes straight to puck prep issues. I have a mignon with the Mara X too and coffee is fun and delicious.

[@dalerbsr.5061]

Good review, can you also mention the distance from spout to tray. Like to know if I can use something other than the little espresso cups, and use with a scale while brewing. Thanks

[@KIM3DGaming]

Great content, awesome quality (video+sound). Thank you.

[@KyleRowsell]

Thanks for watching! And the kind comment! 🙂

[@RobertFHarrison]

Elizabeth…but it really was as much about counter space. I have narrow counters and e61 machines are too deep.

[@MarxConsuegra]

Any idea how many cups you can make for Elizabeth vs Mara X? want to setup a home cafe with limited budget :( and I'm looking for this price range machine.

[@daisywuwoo1]

Hi Kyle, I own a ECM Classika PID (in Singapore, $SGD 1700~) I make 1-2 milk based drinks per day, I thought I could cope with the single boiler, but finally I get annoyed of waiting especially when having guest...... even though the espresso quality is good, now im selling it to change to HX or dual boilers, narrowing down to Rancilio silvia pro x, V3 LELIT Elizabeth PL92T, Nuova Oscar II (cheap), which one do u recommend?

[@evakeizers9670]

The ECM Classika pid makes excellent tasting espresso's Build quality and finish are high end. Another huge advantage is the stainlesd ateal boiler. Lelit is using them too. Better than copper or messing. Yes,It takes somewhat more time to make a latte with the ECM Classica. .

[@deathkid411]

How is the build and feel of the machines? The Mara looks like it would feel better. using it.

[@KyleRowsell]

Both very good. Mara is more traditional pressed stainless. Elizabeth feels very solid as well. Both are over 35 pounds and build to last.

[@eggmaneggman9966]

Why would the Elizabeth become limited doing 10-15 shots? It heats up really quick. Please explain? As I do not see this at all.

[@DmitrijPaskevic]

HX machines are a lot of faff. E61 is also an outdated tech. Although I do prefer the looks of those (Bianca and Apartmento look tremendously good). But two boilers are way more stable and the saturated group isnway more efficient. That's it.