Lelit Elizabeth Review: Industrial Chic With Advanced Programmability

I’m lucky enough to find myself waiting for another Lelit prosumer espresso machine to arrive on my doorstep. While I wait, I figured I’d dig into this initial Lelit Elizabeth review. Read along for a first look at this Italian-made beauty!

Overview: Lelit Elizabeth Review

The Lelit Elizabeth espresso machine is another prosumer gem from Italian manufacturer Lelit. Recently acquired by Breville, Lelit has been making home espresso machines since 1986.

I’ve reviewed a number of Lelit espresso machines, including the Lelit Bianca, Lelit Mara X and Lelit Victoria. Across its lineup, Lelit hits just about every possible niche and includes every feature worth having in a home espresso machine.

Most importantly, each machine in the Lelit lineup is unique, with different combinations of boiler systems, user-friendly features and programmable controls. This ensures that almost every home barista, no matter their budget, can find a quality Lelit espresso machine that fits their needs.

With that said, I’ll get on with this Lelit Elizabeth review. The Lelit Elizabeth is a compact prosumer espresso machine that features a dual boiler, a stainless steel 58mm group and a commercial-grade steam wand.

In terms of style, the Lelit Elizabeth follows the trend of industrial-chic home espresso machines. It’s boxy with a durable stainless steel body and black accents.

Incidentally, the Elizabeth’s modern aesthetic may not appeal to every consumer. Still, it has several high-end features that surely won’t disappoint.

For example, the Lelit Elizabeth boasts advanced programming options via an electronic control system, the Lelit Control Center.

In particular, a PID controller allows you to choose your brew temperature, steam temperature and hot water temperature. Plus, you can customize a preinfusion time and even a brew time. That’s right, we’re looking at customizable and repeatable espresso recipes.

You get all this, plus a bunch of espresso accessories, for an MSRP of around $1800. That’s definitely a lot of cash, but I’d say it represents good value for money. That said, some folks may prefer the classic style of the Mara X, which has a similar price tag and comparable features.

Lelit Elizabeth Espresso Machine Features

Now that you know the basics of this Lelit Elizabeth review, let’s break it down further.

Size and Design

The Lelit Elizabeth is a compact machine, with a 12-inch (30.5-centimeter) wide footprint, a depth of 11 inches (28 centimeters) and a height of 15 inches (38 centimeters).

While this certainly isn’t the smallest footprint on the market, the Elizabeth is more compact than most other dual boiler machines.

It’s also a little lighter than you’d expect, at 34 pounds (15 kilograms). I’d still avoid moving it around as much as possible, but I wouldn’t call this a tank by any means.

That said, the Lelit Elizabeth certainly looks like a tank with its boxy stainless steel exterior. Home baristas that like a utilitarian vibe may consider the Elizabeth to be stylish, but it’s definitely controversial. Personally, I like industrial-looking machines and even I would say that Lelit may have pushed it a bit far with this one.

Still, the brushed stainless steel body looks sleek and professional. What’s more, the Elizabeth features a stainless steel drip tray with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) cup clearance, a steel cup grate and a steel cup warmer as well.

Unfortunately, the black plastic accents on the steam knob and portafilter handle don’t add much to the design. In fact, the steam knob looks like something out of a mechanic’s workshop.

I could forgive the cheap plastic accents on the more budget-conscious Lelit Victoria, but I expected more from the pricey Elizabeth.

User Interface

The Lelit Elizabeth has an intuitive user interface with easy-to-read controls and an electronic control system. I’ll explain the electronic control system in a second, but in short it features an OLED screen and a PID controller.

The controls on the face of the machine include three backlit stainless steel buttons for a single shot, double shot and hot water. Also on the front is the OLED screen and a black backlit manometer.

Personally, I don’t love the look of the manometer – I prefer a pressure gauge with the clean lines and style of a classic analog wristwatch. Still, the manometer serves its purpose and even highlights the optimal espresso range in green.

To turn the Lelit Elizabeth on and off, there’s a simple switch on the left side of the machine. 

What’s more, there’s a black plastic knob on the right side of the machine to regulate the steam power. Again, I wish the knob looked nicer. At the same time, I like that you can regulate the steaming pressure, rather than simply having to use a simple on/off switch to steam milk.

Finally, the Elizabeth’s vibratory pump is compact and quiet, meaning you can use the machine at any time without worrying about waking others in your household. I can’t say the same about the airy screech of the steam wand, but that just comes with the territory.

Lelit Control Center

Like many other Lelit espresso machines, the Lelit Elizabeth features smart controls and other settings in the LCC (Lelit Control Center). The LCC is on the front of the Lelit Elizabeth, making it that much simpler to utilize. What’s more, the OLED display is easy to read, even in the dim morning light of your kitchen.

Here’s a round-up of the best features you can access with the LCC:

Customizable Brew Recipes

The Lelit Elizabeth is ideal for novice and professional baristas alike, thanks to its customizable brew recipes.

Having the ability to program recipes makes it easier for newbies to dial in the perfect shot of espresso. At the same time, advanced programming features make the Elizabeth exciting for espresso connoisseurs that enjoy tinkering with their shot recipes.

All of the following features are available in the Lelit Control Center.

First, the Lelit Elizabeth features a programmable preinfusion time, from zero seconds to several seconds of low-pressure extraction. What’s more, once you find a recipe you like you can program your brew time into the LCC, meaning you can pull repeatable shots one after another.

Even better, an adjustable brewing temperature is ideal for espresso drinkers who like to switch between single origin or light roast espresso and robust espresso blends.

Finally, the LCC transforms into an automatic shot timer while your shot pulls. Meanwhile, the manometer lets you do a quality control check on your extraction.

Dual Boilers

Latte lovers rejoice: the Lelit Elizabeth home espresso machine has dual boilers for steaming milk and pulling shots simultaneously.

The Elizabeth has a brass 10-ounce (300-milliliter) boiler for coffee, and a stainless steel 20-ounce (591-milliliter) boiler for steam and hot water.

I’ll admit these are a little small and may not suit a household with several coffee drinkers. Still, these compact boilers account for the Elizabeth’s quick heat-up time of fifteen minutes. For what it’s worth, the LCC will show a graphic when the machine is warmed up and ready to go.

The top-filling water tank is a generous 84.5 ounces (2.5 liters), and it automatically refills the boilers. Plus, the Lelit Elizabeth features an automatic “Reserve Mode” that allows you to finish pulling a shot even if you run out of water. Again, the LCC will let you know when your water level is running low.

All in all, the dual boilers work well and have a relatively fast recovery time. Despite the small boilers, you can make a couple milk drinks in a row without having to wait for more water to heat up.

Even better, a PID controller enables you to choose your brew temperature, steam temperature and hot water temperature. I’ll talk more about the steam wand and hot water spout later on in this Lelit Elizabeth review.

Finally, the Lelit Elizabeth’s dual boilers feature a stand-by function, which you can set using the LCC. This setting idles the boilers at a lower temperature to save energy, while still ensuring that they’ll heat back up to brewing temperature in no time.

By the way, you can even disable the steam boiler if you don’t plan to steam milk. Again, this energy-conserving setting is accessible in the LCC.

Portafilter

The Lelit Elizabeth comes with a stainless steel 58mm split portafilter with single shot, double shot and blind baskets. This commercial-style portafilter is compatible with all sorts of espresso accessories, like dosing cups and distribution tools.

What’s more, a 3 way solenoid valve in the stainless steel group head regulates pressure in the group and diverts excess water to the drip tray. This helps prevent a soggy espresso puck and makes clean-up much easier.

Though the portafilter itself is high quality, it’s unfortunately paired with a black plastic handle that looks pretty cheap. With such a premium machine, I had hoped for an ergonomic wood handle like the portafilter that accompanies the Lelit Bianca and Mara X models.

Milk Foam

Thanks to a designated steam boiler, you can expect cafe-quality milk foam from the Lelit Elizabeth. This is in part thanks to the stainless steel boiler’s 2 bar pressure limit. In other words, the steam power is impressively strong for such a compact home espresso machine. 

Plus, the multidirectional stainless steel steam wand is ergonomic and ideal for producing creamy microfoam.

Even better, the Lelit Elizabeth has a separate hot water spout with high cup clearance for brewing tea, making americanos or preheating cappuccino cups.

The hot water feature even has a valve to mix cool water with the steamy water from the boiler, so the hot water is a more suitable drinking temperature.

Finally, both the steaming temperature and the hot water temperature are adjustable via the LCC.

Drip Tray

Unlike other compact espresso machines, the Lelit Elizabeth has a full-size stainless steel drip tray. It also comes with a removable cup grate, a standard among Lelit machines, that elevates espresso cups so they’re closer to the portafilter spout.

Unfortunately, the Elizabeth’s vibratory pump isn’t compatible with a water line, so you’re stuck filling the tank and emptying the drip tray by hand.

As I mentioned, the 3 way solenoid valve diverts excess water directly to the drip tray. While this is a plus in my eyes, I could see it being a worry to those who dread the chore of emptying the thing.

Then again, the drip tray is a pretty good size. So, there’s little risk that it’ll overflow as long as you make a habit of emptying it daily.

Accessories

In classic Lelit fashion, the Lelit Elizabeth comes with an array of espresso accessories. Check them out!

I continue to be impressed with Lelit for including a water softener filter with all of its espresso machines. It’s certainly not an expected accessory, even in premium prosumer machines. So, it’s a nice touch.

But I’ll be honest, the cheap plastic tamper really irks me. I mean, for such a high price point you’d expect a more durable espresso tamper. I’m not even asking for a stylish one, though that would be nice too.

I feel the same way about the flimsy coffee scoop, but I prefer to use a coffee scale to dose my espresso beans, anyway. Additionally, I wonder why Lelit left out a cleaning kit, which is an included accessory of the similarly-priced Mara X.

That said, maybe Lelit spoiled me a bit with their other models. After all, I don’t normally complain about a missing microfiber towel (though I do usually complain about tampers). Lelit set the bar so high with the generous goodie bags of the Bianca and the Mara X that anything less feels insufficient.

How to Use the Lelit Elizabeth

Since the Lelit Elizabeth offers so many programming options, there isn’t only one single way to use it. Besides, this Lelit Elizabeth review is only an initial look into this prosumer gem; I’ll have a lot more information to share when I get my hands on the Elizabeth.

Still, I’ll say this much: As always, wash and thoroughly dry all removable parts before brewing. Be sure to follow all manufacturer advice regarding the initial set-up of your new home espresso machine.

When you’re ready to brew, toss your favorite coffee beans into your espresso grinder, dose the grounds into your portafilter and tamp with even pressure. Then, choose your preferred brew settings using the LCC. Don’t worry, I’ll explore programming and customization options more in depth once I’ve updated this Lelit Elizabeth review.

Finally, insert your portafilter into the group head and press the single or double shot buttons, depending on your dose. If you pre-selected a brew time in the LCC, great – you’re done. If not, press the button again to stop your shot when you’re ready.

When you want a milk drink, you can steam your milk while the shot pulls. Simply turn the steam knob to your preferred power. And remember: always use cold milk to achieve latte art-worthy milk texture. Coffee Instagram is waiting to see your creation!

Lelit Elizabeth Cleaning

The Lelit Elizabeth makes cleaning very simple, with an automatic rinse setting and an automatic backflush cycle. Both cleaning functions are accessible via the Lelit Control Center.

Rinsing your group head and portafilter should be a daily habit if you want your espresso to taste delicious day after day. And it almost goes without saying that you should wipe any milk residue off the steam wand immediately after steaming milk.

For more thorough cleaning of the Lelit Elizabeth, you can consult my guide to cleaning and descaling coffee makers. A high quality espresso machine like this one can last you for years, as long as you maintain it with care and cleanliness.

Lelit Elizabeth Technical Specifications

Lelit Elizabeth vs Mara X

In many ways, these two compact Lelit espresso machines are very similar. In fact, they aim for the same versatile market and have nearly identical price points. The Lelit Mara X is only a wee bit more affordable, with a $1700 MSRP.

I suspect this is due to the Mara X being a heat exchanger espresso machine with a single boiler, as opposed to the Elizabeth’s dual boiler system. That said, the Mara X has an innovative Xmode Steam setting that prioritizes milk steaming. Meanwhile, the Xmode Coffee setting allows you to pull shots back-to-back with a quick recovery and reliable thermal stability.

In other words, Lelit has engineered the Mara X to cancel out the typical drawbacks of single boiler machines. As a result, I wouldn’t choose the Elizabeth over the Mara X simply over its boiler design.

Rather, the Elizabeth stands out due to its array of customizable features. While both machines have pre-infusion settings and adjustable brew temperatures, the Elizabeth takes it a step further.

For example, the Mara X only has three pre-set brew temperatures, while the Lelit Elizabeth offers full PID control over a range of brew temperatures. Plus, the Elizabeth features a customizable pre-infusion time as well as an adjustable brew time.

That said, I still don’t consider the Mara X to be the lesser of the two. The Mara X offers advanced programming options that will suit most home baristas, even if it’s not as customizable as the Elizabeth.

In fact, I may even like the Mara X more, if only for its looks. The Mara X is truly a beautiful machine, and I can’t say the same about the Elizabeth. And since they offer similar features, I admit that I’d rather have an espresso machine that looks good on my kitchen counter.

See Also: Lelit Mara X Review

Lelit Elizabeth vs Mara X Comparison Chart

Verdict: Lelit Elizabeth Review

There you have it, my initial Lelit Elizabeth review. I can’t wait to try out this prosumer espresso machine and put it through its paces! If you’re considering this purchase, check back soon to learn about my personal experience with the Lelit Elizabeth.