Less rattling thanks to rubber pad.

The Lelit Mara X is very compact. It measures just 22 cm wide, about 5 cm less than the Appartamento. Its depth is 41 cm, and its height is 35 cm.

The drip tray is noticeably large and deep, holding more than a liter of water. Still, it's important not to empty it at the last minute. You can't carry drip trays without making a mess.

The rubber feet ensure that the 18 kg machine does not rotate easily when clamped.

Temperature control in steps

The Lelit Mara X has a built-in temperature control. In addition to the temperature sensor in the steam boiler, a second sensor is installed directly in the heat exchanger. The 3-position toggle switch behind the drip tray allows you to control this temperature.

It's important, however, to first set the brewing priority mode. This can be activated using a second toggle switch on the right side. To avoid activating the wrong mode, please first determine which version of the Mara X you have!

On the Lelit Mara X V1 version, which is recognizable by its red logo, the brewing priority mode is activated when you set the toggle switch to level 1. On the Mara X V2, the brewing mode is activated when you set the switch to level 0.

Some Mara X V2s were still being shipped with older manuals containing incorrect instructions. We recently even found manuals online from some retailers that referred to version 1, which is no longer being shipped!

So again... the V2 runs in brewing priority mode when level 0 is activated. The V1 runs in brewing priority mode at level 1.

The other switch position activates steam priority. The temperature of the steam boiler is then controlled by a sensor in the hot water area, heating the machine to a temperature that's ideal for frothing, but not for brewing! At over 98 degrees Celsius, it's far too hot!

Brewing priority of the Mara X

The manual doesn't detail the exact function of the temperature settings. However, position 0 provides the lowest temperature, position 1 is supposed to provide a medium temperature, and position 2 provides a higher/hotter temperature.

In our first test, we measured very high temperatures overall. At setting 0, the Mara X consistently delivered 93–94 degrees Celsius, and this was also very consistent. The other two settings, at 96 and 98 degrees Celsius, served us too high temperatures in our test. We increased the temperature beyond the desired temperature using a boost and our routine. Dave Corbey also points this out in a very good review of the machine.

He writes that you shouldn't flush between espressos. Flushing is an empty dispensing of water, which has two effects. On the one hand, it stabilizes the brewing temperature in many espresso machines, and on the other, it cleans the shower head of the brewing group. We definitely can't recommend doing without the latter.

We'll have to get back to that and will make another video with tips on how to use the Lelit Mara X, because we like it for many other reasons.

Froth milk and make cappuccino with the Mara X

The Mara X performed superbly in terms of frothing, even in "brewing priority mode." We were particularly impressed by the machine's power. The rolling phase, explained in our latte courses and videos, was so powerful that it crushed every small and large bubble, creating a creamy foam. Interestingly, the milk didn't heat up quickly. This gives extra time for frothing, making it especially useful for milk frothing beginners.

By removing the drip tray, the espresso machine can be set to a steam priority mode. Instead of focusing on the temperature of the brewing water, the espresso machine then targets a boiler pressure of 1 bar, 1.2 bar, or 1.5 bar, depending on the selected setting. This also bypasses the machine's complex temperature programming, making a cooling flush possible again (and very useful!)

Cool-Touch and other good features

Both the steam lance and the tea water outlet are constructed with so-called Cool-Touch tubes. As the name suggests, the tubes don't get hot on the outside. Every espresso machine has enough spots that get really hot. The Faema brewing group, in particular, gets really hot, and you always have to be careful not to accidentally burn your fingers. However, you don't usually touch a brewing group. The steam lance tube is different. Usually, rubber covers or plastic grippers are clamped onto the tube to allow the lance to move. The Cool-Touch tubes are a smart solution to get around this. It's really cheeky of Lelit to install these steam lances, which are more expensive to produce, on this "entry-level machine." But they're absolutely a plus and really designed with the user in mind.

Side view of the Lelit Mara X.

The brewing vessel holds 1.8 liters and ensures temperature stability. The entire machine's construction is of high quality. Stainless steel reduces the risk of rust. In terms of unbroken metal edges, the Lelit Mara PL62 X is average.

The water tank can be easily removed and filled with water directly from the tap. Caution: Use soft water!

The double pressure gauge is stylish and practical—it displays the pressure in the boiler as well as the brewing pressure. A 58mm wooden tamper is included with the machine, as is a raised surface for the espresso brew.

As with all new espresso machines approved in the EU, an automatic standby function is integrated.

Double pressure gauge of the Lelit Mara X

Conclusion on the Lelit Mara X and what we particularly like

We're just at the beginning of our dual-boiler espresso machine tests. But the other espresso machines would have to really deliver to knock the Lelit Mara PL62 X off the podium.

It's almost cheeky what's being delivered here in terms of value for money. PID temperature control. The machine is very, very quiet. As a result, the rest of the house is no longer woken up by the espresso machine's pump, but by the noise of the grinder.

The espresso and milk foam quality are good to excellent. Lelit has thought through many aspects, incorporating and implementing ideas from the community. The machine is compact and, with its brushed chrome steel finish, also looks good.

Great, that's fun!

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Update Lelit Mara X V2

The update to the Lelit Mara X V2 doesn't change much on the espresso machine. The only important thing is the revised controls. The V2 version runs at position 0 in brewing mode! If you follow this and our tips, you'll be able to make great espresso with the Mara.

Here are the updated temperature measurements we obtained with two other Lelit Maras (V2). Incidentally, we've had the same experience with numerous other Lelit Maras in our home barista courses .

As always, we purchased these espresso machines. This review was not requested by Lelit, etc.