Lelit Elizabeth PL92T reviewed

Includes tips & tricks

The best entry-level dual boiler machine. The Lelit Elizabeth PL92T is stepping up to claim this title. Lelit has really put in the effort, and their concept works. The machine is impressive in many respects, and it is clear that Lelit, just as it did previously with the Lelit Mara X, is doing many things right.

Lelit Elizabeth at a glance

The machine features a rotary pump and comes with PID control. It also has a pump pressure gauge. With dimensions of 32.2 cm in width, 38.2 cm in height, and 26 cm in depth, it weighs 12 kilos. The drip tray has a capacity of 1.4 liters, and the water tank holds 2.5 liters. The steam boiler has a capacity of 0.6 liters and can be switched off. A 0.3-liter brew boiler is available for brewing. The machine is made entirely of brushed stainless steel.

Strengths of the Lelit Elizabeth

The Lelit Elizabeth offers all the strengths of a dual boiler machine at a very affordable price. Thanks to the two separate boilers, the machine can be adjusted very precisely. Both the steam temperature and the brew temperature can be set to the exact point, contributing to an excellent flavor.

A second major advantage is temperature stability. Once heated up—which takes about 20 minutes—it maintains its temperature very reliably. Heating will be discussed in more detail shortly. The power consumption is also low, at 0.13 kWh for 5 espressos including heating, or 0.24 kWh with the steam boiler switched on. Many other dual boiler machines reach higher values in this regard. Here, the Lelit performs well. Speaking of the steam boiler, the steam performance of the Lelit Elizabeth is also impressive.

The shot timer is very practical and shows the extraction time of the espresso. The clear LCC (Lelit Control Center) is complemented by programmable buttons that can be used to set things like flushing or a cleaning program. The included portafilter baskets are decent and do not need to be upgraded.

Weaknesses of the Lelit Elizabeth

During our intensive testing, we noticed a few weaknesses in the machine that should not go unmentioned despite its many strengths.

The stainless steel body feels somewhat thin and therefore not as high-quality as that of other machines. There are some areas that even have sharp edges. This is not very pleasant and can lead to uncomfortable cuts. The portafilter is also not entirely successful. It has a plastic handle and is not really well-balanced. The steam knob is made of plastic and also does not feel truly high-quality. The plastic tamper can be disposed of immediately after unpacking.

When the water level in the tank is low, the machine becomes very loud. Unlike the Mara X, the water is not drawn from the bottom of the tank, but via hoses from the top. This feels like an outdated system and is not well-thought-out.

The machine's heat-up time is about 20 minutes. Although the machine indicates it is ready before that, according to our measurements, it is still too cold at that point. It is important that you get to know your machine well and develop a feel for when it is ready to go. The machine's buttons sometimes do not respond well, which is an area in need of improvement.

Heat-up time

We measured precisely and imagined everyday situations that the Lelit Elizabeth would face. The machine indicates that it is ready for the first espresso extraction after just 10 or 15 minutes. However, the PL92T is not actually ready yet at that stage. We recommend waiting at least 20 minutes. After precise measurements according to the WBC protocol, it seems to us that the machine's truly optimal range is reached after one hour. It seems as if it was designed for long periods of use, such as in a small café or for catering. But for home use, this feels rather out of place. Who turns their machine on an hour before brewing? If you don't want to let the machine preheat for that long, you should set the brew temperature in the LCC about 2 degrees higher; then, according to our measurements, it will reach a good, solid value even after 20 minutes of preheating. The LCC is truly useful here, and in combination with the PID control, you can make a great many fine adjustments.

Pre-infusion and espresso quality

The machine delivers good espressos. As described above, however, they get a little better if you keep an eye on the temperature and set the machine slightly higher for short heat-up times.

The pre-infusion can also be adjusted. When the steam boiler is on, we can use the steam during pre-infusion to apply gentle pressure to the coffee puck for 3 to 20 seconds. Another option is to set a so-called blooming pre-infusion. The coffee puck is then briefly wetted with water before continuing the brewing process after a short pause.

But do you actually notice a difference in the cup when you can adjust the pre-infusion? The clear answer is: Yes. The possibilities are huge. Some of our best results were achieved with steam-pressure pre-infusion. Light roasts become even more balanced and very delicious this way. For example, we tested our Toca Espresso, with whose cooperative in Mexico we are working together on a process for regenerative coffee farming. Our Robusta-Espresso Mamy, on the other hand, tasted very good even without pre-infusion. As you can see, the possibilities are huge.

Frothing performance

In the default setting, the Lelit's steam pressure is a little low. However, since there are so many setting options in the LCC, we turned the steam boiler temperature up to 145 degrees. This made frothing really fun. A great rolling phase is created in the pitcher without the milk getting hot too quickly. The long rolling phase thus allows for a perfect milk foam result. Only the steam knob is not really beautiful. But hopefully, there will soon be nice upgrades from hobbyists. Perhaps even something made of wood?

Conclusion and further tips

The Lelit Elizabeth PL92T is a truly interesting espresso machine. The price is a challenge to the competition, and the various pre-infusion modes set new standards. Even with the default settings, you can prepare an espresso that tastes better than those from many more expensive models. Thanks to the sophisticated setting options that work deep into the machine, you can experiment endlessly. We will also continue to work with the Lelit Elizabeth and share our new findings with you.

You can find an even more in-depth blog post here.