Lelit Elizabeth PL92T in the test

Including Tips & Tricks

The best dual boiler machine for beginners. The Lelit Elizabeth PL92T competes for this title. Lelit has really put in the effort and their concept is working. The machine excels in many aspects, and it's clear that Lelit, as with the Lelit Mara X before it, is doing a lot right.

Lelit Elizabeth Quick Check

The machine features a rotary pump and comes with PID control. It also has a pump manometer. Measuring 32.2 cm wide, 38.2 cm high, and 26 cm deep, it weighs 12 kilograms. The drip tray can hold 1.4 liters, and the water tank 2.5 liters. The steam boiler has a capacity of 0.6 liters and can be switched off. A 0.3-liter brewing 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 advantages of a dual boiler machine at a very affordable price. Thanks to its two separate boilers, the machine can be set very precisely. Both the steam temperature and the brewing temperature can be precisely adjusted, contributing to an excellent taste.

A second major advantage is temperature stability. Once heated up, which takes about 20 minutes, it maintains its temperature very reliably. The heating process will be discussed in more detail shortly. 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 have higher values. The Lelit performs well here. Speaking of the steam boiler, the steam performance of the Lelit Elizabeth also impresses us.

The shot timer is very practical and displays the extraction time of the espresso. The clear LCC (Lelit Control Center) is complemented by programmable buttons where you can set up flushing or a cleaning program. The included filter baskets are decent and do not need to be upgraded.

Weaknesses of the Lelit Elizabeth

During extensive testing, we noticed some weaknesses in the machine that, despite its many strengths, should not go unmentioned.

The stainless steel body feels a bit thin and therefore not as high-quality as with other machines. There are some spots that even have sharp edges. This is not very pleasant and can lead to unpleasant cuts. The portafilter is also not entirely successful. The handle is made of plastic and not really well balanced. The steam knob is made of plastic and also doesn't feel truly high-quality. The plastic tamper can be discarded immediately after unboxing.

When the water level in the water tank is low, the machine becomes very loud. The water in the tank is drawn not from below, as with the Mara X, but from above via hoses. 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 readiness earlier, according to our measurements, it is still too cold at that point. It's important here that you know your machine well and develop a feel for when it's ready to go. The machine's buttons sometimes don't respond well, so there's still room for improvement.

Heat-up Time

We measured precisely and considered everyday situations the Lelit Elizabeth would face. The machine indicates readiness for the first espresso shot after just 10 or 15 minutes. However, the PL92T is not actually ready then. We recommend waiting at least 20 minutes. According to precise measurements based on the WBC protocol, it seems to us that the truly optimal operating range of the machine is reached after about an hour. It appears to be designed for long periods of use, perhaps in a small cafe or for catering. But for home use, this seems rather out of place. Who turns on their machine an hour before brewing? If you don't want to preheat the machine for so long, you should set the brewing temperature in the LCC about 2 degrees higher; then, according to our measurements, it will achieve a good, solid value even after 20 minutes of preheating. The LCC really makes sense here, and in combination with the PID control, you can make a lot of fine adjustments.

Pre-infusion and Espresso Quality

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

Pre-infusion can also be adjusted. With the steam boiler 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 "Blooming Pre-infusion." The coffee puck is briefly wetted with water, and then brewing continues after a short pause.

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

Foaming Behavior

In the default setting, the steam pressure of the Lelit is a little low. However, since the LCC offers so many adjustment options, we turned up the temperature in the steam boiler to 145 degrees. This made steaming really fun. A great rolling phase develops in the pitcher without the milk getting hot too quickly. This long rolling phase allows for perfect milk foam results. Only the steam knob isn't really appealing. But hopefully, there will soon be nice upgrades from tinkerers. Perhaps 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 many more expensive models. Thanks to the sophisticated adjustment options, which work deep into the machine, you can experiment endlessly. We will continue to work with the Lelit Elizabeth and share our new findings with you.

You can find a more in-depth blog post here.