{"title":"Espresso Machines","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"lelit-victoria-espresso-machine","title":"Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e#html-body [data-pb-style=PB0NPLC]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll}\u003c\/style\u003e\u003cdiv data-content-type=\"row\" data-appearance=\"contained\" data-element=\"main\"\u003e\u003cdiv data-enable-parallax=\"0\" data-parallax-speed=\"0.5\" data-background-images=\"{}\" data-background-type=\"image\" data-video-loop=\"true\" data-video-play-only-visible=\"true\" data-video-lazy-load=\"true\" data-video-fallback-src=\"\" data-element=\"inner\" data-pb-style=\"PB0NPLC\"\u003e\u003cdiv data-content-type=\"text\" data-appearance=\"default\" data-element=\"main\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe became interested in the Lelit Victoria while searching for a compact machine that came in under $1000. We wanted quality construction and function, preferably from a machine with a great reputation, solid design, and consistent performance. The Lelit Victoria fit the bill, coming from a northern Italian manufacturer with a solid reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe find the Victoria remarkable for its ease of use, flexibility in function, and intuitive interface. It's great for a beginner or intermediate user. The machine’s classic, boxy design is clean and no frills, minimizing the countertop space needed to display it. And it fits into our pricing scheme, if only by a nickel!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSomething that really stands out, especially amongst machines at this price point, is the small OLED display used to control the various temperature settings and display information. Whenever the machine switches into another mode — coffee, steam, water — a loading bar shows up, and it makes gauging when the machine is ready a delight. It also acts as a countdown timer which is a feature that even more expensive machines often lack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt only took a few adjustments on our \u003ca tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Fellow Opus Burr Grinder\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetmarias.mom\/fellow-opus-conical-burr-grinder.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eFellow Opus grinder\u003c\/a\u003e to start getting great shots with the Victoria. By default, the Victoria offers a short pre-infusion step during brewing, and we feel it helped prevent channeling and blowouts as we were dialing in. Even the shots that ran slightly faster or slower were well extracted and pretty tasty. For us, it builds confidence in the machine when even the coffee that's a little wonky is still pretty good. Once we got our settings totally figured out, the espresso was truly delicious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat are some of the nits we can pick with the Victoria? The all metal build quality is very good, but the pump is a little noisy and the drip tray is a little rattly. While it has the same high quality portafilter as more expensive Lelit machines like the \u003ca tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Lelit Mara X Espresso Machine\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetmarias.mom\/lelit-mara-x-espresso-machine.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eMara X\u003c\/a\u003e, the included tamper is plastic and (frankly) a little cheesy. Removing the water tank to fill is not as easy as we would like, and it isn’t very big so we find ourselves refilling it often. To make it a little easier on ourselves we’ve just been refilling the tank while it’s in the machine with a gooseneck kettle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs is typical for almost all single boiler machines, the whole steam apparatus of the machine is totally functional, but far from a highlight. We think of it as a fine machine for people who do a weekend cappuccino, but daily milk drinkers or people trying to make multiple milk drinks at a time will be happier with another option. The steam control knob feels stingy, especially relative to the build quality of the rest of the machine. Transitioning from brew to steam mode takes a couple minutes, and the first few seconds of steam are quite wet. It’s easy to solve this by purging the steam wand for a few seconds. The steamer works well when it's ready, but you’ll need a strategy around milk drinks if you’re preparing multiple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll in all it's a great machine and the one we find ourselves using most in the office, since we primarily drink espresso. It's not cheap by any means, but we do think it's a great value. Compared to other machines around this price we carried in the past like the Rancillio Silvia, we think every aspect of the Victoria is a big improvement. We have more information, additional photos, Victoria FAQ, and comments on our \u003ca tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/library.sweetmarias.mom\/the-lelit-victoria-espresso-machine-at-sweet-marias\/\"\u003eCoffee Library Lelit Victoria page!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTechnical Features:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGroup Head – Lelit58 commercial group, 3-way solenoid valve to dry up the coffee puck\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrewing System – Single brass coffee boiler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eControl – LCC with high-resolution OLED graphic display, Back-lit stainless steel buttons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDelivery wands – Multidirectional steam\/hot water wand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSettings – Adjustable steam and coffee temperature, Pre-infusion on\/off, Celsius\/Fahrenheit options, Automatic cleaning cycle, Stand-by function\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterface – Lack of water in the tank graphic indicator on the LCC, Machine ready and\/or warming-up graphic indicator on the LCC, Extraction time countdown graphic indicator on the LCC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShot Control – Partial and total doses counter, Coffee delivery time, Active \"Reserve mode\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManometer – Back-lit manometer for coffee pressure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstruction Materials – Brushed stainless steel appliance body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdditional Features – Drip tray with wire grate, Wide cup warmer, Mug friendly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCapacity – Boiler .3 liters  , Water tank 2.5 liters \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeatup Time – Less than 10 min, but to heat up group head more like 22 min\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVoltage – 120V 60 Hz | Plug B\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions – 9\" wide x 10.75\"  deep  x  15\" tall  (23 x 27 x 38 cm)  Cup Clearance: 4 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight – 11.27 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAccessories in Box: 9-11g filter basket, 14-18g filter basket, blind filter, 35l softener filter, plastic tamper \u0026amp; spoon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Sweet Maria's","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46205129916566,"sku":"ESPR-VICT-0519","price":999.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/1518\/0182\/files\/lelit-victoria-sweet-marias-24.jpg?v=1769171944"},{"product_id":"lelit-mara-x-espresso-machine","title":"Lelit Mara X Espresso Machine","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e#html-body [data-pb-style=PRAXCQV]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll}\u003c\/style\u003e\u003cdiv data-content-type=\"row\" data-appearance=\"contained\" data-element=\"main\"\u003e\u003cdiv data-enable-parallax=\"0\" data-parallax-speed=\"0.5\" data-background-images=\"{}\" data-background-type=\"image\" data-video-loop=\"true\" data-video-play-only-visible=\"true\" data-video-lazy-load=\"true\" data-video-fallback-src=\"\" data-element=\"inner\" data-pb-style=\"PRAXCQV\"\u003e\u003cdiv data-content-type=\"text\" data-appearance=\"default\" data-element=\"main\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe MaraX is a robust, intermediate-level machine geared towards demanding home baristas, especially those who make multiple drinks at a time and need a consistent steamer. Among the heat-exchanger (HX) machines out there, we think the feature that sets the MaraX apart is its unique temperature controls. A temperature switch (placed out of view behind the drain tray) allows you to set one of three target temperatures, and a mode switch (on the right side panel) allows you to choose whether the machine prioritizes brewing temperature stability or steam power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn intermediate-level machine, the MaraX’s added complexity felt less forgiving than the more manageable \u003ca tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetmarias.mom\/lelit-victoria-espresso-machine.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eVictoria\u003c\/a\u003e to start. But once we got everything figured out and the shots dialed in, the machine was a pleasure to use and felt closer to what we expect from commercial setups. The added mode switches overcome what people perceive as a major shortcoming of HX machines: the need to purge water before a shot to drop the brewing temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSomething else we really appreciate is the quiet pump operation. Next to the other Lelit model we offer, and frankly next to most other similarly priced HX machines we have used, the MaraX is a quiet wonder. Its temperature stability performs well; the dual thermal sensors seem to eliminate the need to temperature surf and allow for very reliable back-to-back shot pulling. For a machine at this price point, the build quality and finish does not disappoint. This thing feels like a chunk of steel next to the Victoria, and the MaraX’s included accessories (like the pretty decent tamper) are a step up as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe also like the design of the water reservoir, which is easy to fill in place or remove using convenient handles. It has integrated valves and filters, so there are no inconvenient hoses to move out of the way when taking out the reservoir. The double manometer shows both the pump and steam pressure, and is also quite attractive and clean. There are additionally two small LED status lights that show when the machine is heating and if the water tank needs a refill. Taken all together, the MaraX is an austere but handsome machine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, the design which we are so quick to praise comes with some tradeoffs. For one, there’s no digital display or interface anywhere on the machine, which can make it hard to know exactly what the machine is up to. It also means that features like programmed on\/off, shot timing, and any setting adjustments that fundamentally rely on a digital PID interface are out the window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe heftiness of the machine, which we consider a pro and a sign of long term durability, also means that the warm up time is on the slower side. It takes a little over 20 minutes for us to go from turning the machine on, to a fully hot portafilter and group. The warmup time is also a byproduct of the E61-style grouphead which is fully mechanical and just a big chunk of metal that needs time to get hot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are quibbles though, and we mainly point them out so that people know what they’re getting into with this machine. We really enjoy working with the MaraX, and it’s obvious to us where the money was spent compared to the more affordable and approachable \u003ca tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetmarias.mom\/lelit-victoria-espresso-machine.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eVictoria\u003c\/a\u003e. We have even more information, a FAQ, additional photos, and other comments on our \u003ca tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/library.sweetmarias.mom\/lelit-marax-espresso-machine-at-sweet-marias\/\"\u003eCoffee Library MaraX Page!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 id=\"VSVDV9K\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eMaraX Technical Features:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGroup Head – E61-Style (L58E) group with pre-infusion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrewing System – Heat-exchanger with stainless steel boiler, dual probe temperature regulation thermosiphon circulation, and very quiet pump operation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eControl – ON\/OFF stainless steel back-lit switch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDelivery wands – Insulated multidirectional steam and hot water wands, Steam boost, professional water-steam taps with spring closure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSettings – Temperature configuration button (Warm - Hot - Extra Hot), mode setting button (Xmode coffee or Xmode steam), stand-by function\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLED lights on front interface – LED warning light for low water or missing tank and LED for machine status (ready, or warming up)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManometer – Double manometer for pump\/steam pressure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstruction Materials — Brushed stainless steel appliance body, polished black resin knobs and lever\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdditional features – Mug friendly, Cup warmer rack and drip tray with wire\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCapacity – Boiler 1.8 liter \/ Water reservoir 2.5 liter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeatup Time – Less than 24 minutes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVoltage – 120V 60 Hz | Plug B\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions –  8.9\" wide x 14\" tall x 16.5 inches deep (handle extends 4\" beyond this depth to 20.5\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight – 18.417 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Sweet Maria's","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46205130277014,"sku":"ESPR-MARA-0520","price":1699.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/1518\/0182\/files\/lelit-marax-sweet-marias-2_1.jpg?v=1769171958"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.sweetmarias.mom\/collections\/espresso-machines.oembed","provider":"Sweet Maria's","version":"1.0","type":"link"}