The Lelit Mara X V2, a User Review
Discover the Lelit Mara X V2, an espresso machine combining modern design and exceptional performance, ideal for espresso enthusiasts. In this article, I share my user experience and the technical specifications of this Italian model that could transform your coffee space. Dive into the world of high-end coffee and find the machine that will perfectly meet your desires!
As an espresso enthusiast, the idea of owning my own espresso machine with an E61 group haunted me. Finally, I opted for the Lelit Mara X V2 (PL62X). A perfect balance between design and cutting-edge performance, the Lelit Mara X V2 offers an espresso machine that I present to you in this review.
My coffee space from left to right: a La Pavoni Europiccola espresso machine, the Lelit Mara X V2 that I present to you in this review, and the Niche Zero coffee grinder.
Lelit is a renowned Italian brand specializing in the manufacture of high-quality coffee machines. Founded in 1997, the company quickly distinguished itself through its commitment to innovation and the Italian coffee tradition. It is particularly recognized for its espresso machines, including the Mara X series.
Design of the Lelit Mara X V2
The Lelit Mara X V2 captivates at first sight with its sleek design. Made in Italy, this espresso machine features modern lines. It is built in stainless steel and chrome-plated brass.
Out of the box, the pl62x does not have flow control or wooden elements. These are options that can be installed later.
Like its big sister, the Bianca, the PL62X is available in three versions:
Technical specifications and box contents
Click to view technical specifications
- 22 cm width
- 41 cm depth
- 35 cm height
- 1400 W power
- 2.5 L tank
- 19 kg
- 2-way portafilter with classic black resin handle LELIT 58
- 1-dose filter LELIT 58 (9-11 g)
- 2-dose filter LELIT 58 (14-18 g)
- 2-dose PLUS filter (18-21 g)
- Blind filter
- Stainless steel tamper with red wooden handle
- Ground coffee scoop
- 35 l water softener filter
- Cup warmer
- First cleaning kit
- Brush with nylon bristles
Other features:
- L58E group with mechanical pre-infusion
- HX system with dual probe and thermosiphon circulation
- Silent pump
- Temperature setting button (Warm - Hot - Very hot)
- Mode adjustment button (Xmode coffee or Xmode steam)
- Steam boost
- Standby function
- Professional water-steam taps with spring closing
- Brewing and/or preheating LED for the machine
- Low water in tank or tank missing LED
- Active reserve mode
- Backlit stainless steel power switch
- Dual gauge for pump/steam pressure
- Brushed stainless steel body with cup warmer tray and drip tray with metal grid
- Multi-directional steam and hot water wands with burn protection
- Compatible with cups
- Boiler: 1.8 l with AISI316L stainless steel heat exchanger
- Water tank: 2.5 l
E61 group, dual gauge, silent vibratory pump... On paper this Lelit has everything to convince. Let's review what this Lelit has to offer.
Silent vibratory pump
Despite the fact that the Lelit Mara X has a vibration pump, it is relatively quiet. Admittedly, it is noisier than a rotary pump, but it is much more discreet than other vibration pumps I have heard. For reference, you can watch this comparison video that highlights the operating noise levels of a Lelit PL92T and the Lelit Mara X.
Steam wand and hot water tap
Unlike some machines, such as the Bezzera Unica, the PL62X stands out with the separation of its steam wand and hot water tap. This feature offers obvious advantages. Taking the example of the Bezzera Unica, I still remember the moment when my father, attempting to use the hot water tap integrated into the steam wand, generated a jet of water with such force that it expelled all the coffee he wanted to dilute.
The distinct design of the PL62X prevents such incidents, thus offering a more controlled and practical user experience.
The machine's steam wand is versatile, equipped with good power, and is insulated, except for its tip, in order to prevent any risk of burns and to prevent milk from sticking to the wand's surface.
Regarding the tap, the same applies. It is multidirectional and insulated, allowing for handling without risk of burns.
Temperature adjustment buttons and steam mode
When the drip tray is removed, a three-position switch appears at the front of the machine. It offers the possibility to choose between three distinct temperatures: A
- Position 0: fairly hot (88 to 91°C), ideal for dark roasts.
- Position I: hot (91 to 94°C), dedicated to medium roasts.
- Position II: very hot (93 to 97°C), intended for light roasts.
In use, my Mara X takes about 15 minutes to reach the optimal temperature.
On the right side of the machine, another button is revealed as soon as the drip tray is removed.
This button allows for two different modes:
- Xmode Steam mode (I on the button) allows to increase steam power after preparing a coffee.
- Xmode Coffee mode (0 on the button) does not modify the steam power after preparing a coffee. It favors coffee consistency, especially when preparing several consecutively.
In use, there is a difference in steam power between the two modes. The Xmode Coffee proves capable of producing adequate milk foam, but it is undeniable that steam mode (Xmode Steam) proves to be much more powerful. It reaches the performance of a machine equipped with a dedicated steam boiler.
After experimenting with the "Xmode Steam" mode, the machine's heat exchanger returns to its initial temperature after a few minutes (even faster when performing a flush).
On this topic, the person responsible for developing the open-source project "[gitlab] MaraX_Visualizer" has extracted relevant data.
The water reservoir
Lelit has designed an ingenious water reservoir, equipped with two small handles for easy handling. To optimize the machine's durability by eliminating elements such as limescale, the use of filter cartridges is recommended.
With this in mind, Lelit has integrated graduations on the handles, allowing for precise measurement of the filtered water quantity.
This machine's water reservoir has a capacity of 2.5 liters. For first use, it is recommended to check the water level in the reservoir, as the machine's boiler capacity is 1.8 liters.
Indicator lights and pressure gauge
The Lelit features three LED indicator lights:
- A first LED indicates the machine's heating process. It reaches its optimal temperature in approximately 15 minutes.
- A second LED signals the presence of water in the reservoir. The LED blinks to indicate that the reservoir is empty. The machine has a small emergency reserve to finish brewing the coffee.
- A third LED surrounds the on/off button to indicate the machine's power status.
The dual gauge displays two pieces of information:
- Steam: Indicates the steam pressure.
- Pump: Displays the pump pressure. The latter is electronically equipped with an integrated pre-infusion function.
The included portafilter and tamper
Lelit has done things right by offering a spouted portafilter designed to rest perfectly flat on the countertop. This clever design incorporates a small ledge that prevents any direct contact between the spouts and the surface, thus avoiding dirt and potential deformation of the spouts. The two spouts of the portafilter are close together, offering versatile use with one or two cups. As a bonus, the portafilter comes with a complete set of IMS filters, renowned for their high precision and used by coffee professionals.
The tamper, with a diameter of 58.55 mm, offers a very comfortable grip. Its simplicity, with a construction in red painted wood, makes it an accessory that is both effective and aesthetic. No immediate cost needs to be considered to replace it.
For my part, I ended up choosing a tamper with a guide, the Normcore V4. I prefer a guided tamper because it enables uniform tamping and minimizes channeling as much as possible.
4 tips to avoid channeling with a bottomless portafilter
Discover how to avoid channeling during your espresso extractions with a bottomless portafilter. Barista tips, essential accessories (WDT, tamper, puck screen) and grind settings for a homogeneous and flavorful extraction.
Read the article →
Wooden accessory kit for the pl62x
You've probably noticed when comparing photos of my machine with those from the manufacturer, I've replaced the plastic elements (taps, lever, portafilter...) with wooden elements.
They are officially sold by Lelit and I find that this makes the machine much prettier.
58 mm bottomless portafilter, supplied with an IMS filter for two cups and available in walnut wood version, this accessory proves particularly interesting for optimizing the experience with the Lelit Mara X.
Find the Lelit bottomless portafilter on Amazon
Identical to the portafilter originally supplied with the machine, but made of wood. It comes with four IMS filters (one for a single cup, two for two cups, and a blind filter). This portafilter is an ideal complement for your Lelit, especially if you opt for installing a walnut wood kit.
Find the Lelit spouted portafilter on Amazon
This official Lelit kit offers the possibility to replace the plastic taps as well as the plastic part of the lever with walnut wood elements. In my opinion, this aesthetic modification gives the machine a much more elegant appearance.
Find the Lelit walnut kit on Amazon
Possible Improvements
Installing a Flow Control on the Lelit Mara X V2
The Mara X's big sister: the Bianca, comes with flow control installed as standard. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the PL62X. However, this accessory is really useful as it allows you to monitor and modify the extraction pressure in real time. This way, you can explore the aromas of the coffee by creating extraction profiles, reproducing them, etc.
If you're looking to buy a flow control, I recommend checking out the site: coffee-sensor. I bought mine from them and at the time of writing, this seller is the cheapest on the market. I've chatted with them a bit, they are very responsive and have excellent after-sales service (which I was able to test for the replacement of another item I bought from them).
The installation procedure is very well explained in the video below. Nothing too complicated, you just need to have electrical tape and a large adjustable wrench.
Installation guide for a flow control kit on a Lelit Mara X.
Open source projects to complement your PL62X
If you have DIY skills, there are several open source projects ([gitlab] here, [github] there) that allow you to add a PID and a timer to the Lelit Mara X. Personally, I haven't yet made these modifications to my machine, mainly due to a time constraint.
[github] Open source project that allows you to add features to the machine.
Conclusion
Priced at an attractive €1,130 on Amazon, this machine wins me over with its excellent value for money. Its aesthetic appeal enhances my coffee space, especially since adding the wooden knobs.
Although it doesn't cover all the cutting-edge features of current espresso machines (which sell for much more), it remains comprehensive, competitive in terms of price, and particularly enjoyable to use.
The absence of a PID doesn't bother me personally. With the choice between three temperatures, you can explore different nuances to fully appreciate the aromas of the extracted coffee. In reality, after observing my father's experience with a machine equipped with a PID, it appears that in daily use, you don't adjust the water temperature as frequently. Choosing between three temperatures rather than ten doesn't represent a significant constraint.
Moreover, this E61 machine stands out as one of the narrowest on the market, measuring only 22 cm wide, while offering both a steam wand and a hot water tap.
A quality portafilter, with a complete set of IMS baskets and a good tamper, comes with the machine. You have no additional expenses to anticipate on that front.
The success of your espressos essentially depends on using a quality coffee grinder. In this regard, my co-author and I have
tested a grinder sold for under 100 €, delivering excellent results in the cup.
If you are starting out with espresso, I recommend reading this article, which will provide you with useful tips to avoid the channeling phenomenon.
4 tips to avoid channeling with a bottomless portafilter
Discover how to avoid channeling during your espresso extractions with a bottomless portafilter. Barista tips, essential accessories (WDT, tamper, puck screen) and grind settings for a homogeneous and flavorful extraction.
Read the article →- Attractive price for an E61 machine
- Compact design (22 cm wide)
- Fast heat-up (~15 minutes)
- Quiet vibratory pump
- IMS filters included
- Accessories included (tamper, portafilter, cleaning kit)
- Upgrade possibility with wood kit or flow control
- No integrated PID
An almost perfect choice for this espresso machine. One could debate Lelit's decision to offer a selection between three temperatures rather than opting to add a PID. However, as I explain, this is not a major constraint. The machine proves to be excellent by offering a remarkable quality-to-price ratio.
Is the Lelit Mara X V2 suitable for beginners?
Yes, this machine is an excellent compromise for enthusiasts who want to start with a real E61 machine without moving directly to a very expensive machine. The simplified temperature settings and thermal stability make it a good option.
What is the difference between the Lelit Mara X and the Lelit Bianca?
The Bianca is more high-end: it has integrated flow control and a programmable PID. The Mara X, more compact and affordable, focuses on simplicity and consistency of extractions.
How long does it take for the machine to be ready?
Approximately 15 minutes. The heating LED indicator allows you to check when the temperature is reached. It is recommended to let the E61 group heat up a little longer for more stability.
Is the Lelit Mara X quiet?
Yes, thanks to its quiet vibratory pump. It remains noisier than a rotary pump, but much more discreet than the majority of vibratory pump machines.
What water should be used with the Lelit Mara X V2?
It is recommended to use filtered water or low mineral content water to avoid limescale. Lelit also provides filter cartridges adapted to the 2.5 L reservoir.
Can you make latte art with this machine?
Absolutely. The Xmode Steam mode increases the steam wand power, which allows you to prepare microfoam milk ideal for latte art.
What is the width of the Lelit Mara X V2?
At only 22 cm wide, it is one of the most compact E61 machines on the market, perfect for a small countertop.
Does the Lelit Mara X V2 have a PID?
No. It offers instead three preset temperature levels (light, medium, dark). For most users, this is sufficient, but a PID can be added via an open source project.