For years, the $1,000 mark was once the unofficial threshold distinguishing shopper grade coffee machines from prosumer fashions. Beginning at that value level, machines introduced upgraded internals, commercial-grade portions, and complex options. Nowadays, alternatively, that access level has shifted to the $1,100–$1,400 vary, with fashions just like the very talked-about Profitec Cross main the pack. But, there are nonetheless a couple of choices to be had round a grand, together with the system that’s the topic of this First Glance, the Lelit Victoria.
Lelit (pronounced Lel-leet), based within the Nineteen Eighties in Brescia, Italy, first of all thinking about production clothes irons. Its early good fortune allowed growth into different home equipment, together with espresso machines. Via the Nineties, Lelit was once generating white-label coffee machines for more than a few manufacturers, and in 2002, it presented its first branded coffee system: the Lelit Anna (PL041). Priced at $399, it remained the corporate’s handiest branded type for almost a decade.
In 2012, Lelit collaborated with a U.S. importer to replace the Anna, including a PID controller to verify temperature balance. With its $550 price ticket, it turned into one of the crucial reasonably priced Italian machines with a PID, improving Lelit’s recognition within the U.S. marketplace.
Via 2015, Lelit’s product lineup expanded considerably, that includes fashions just like the Diana, a dual-boiler system, and the Mara, its first with an E61 grouphead. Lelit persevered refining the Anna, including higher PID controls and a visual power gauge.
A significant milestone got here in 2018 with the discharge of the Bianca, a dual-boiler E61 system with complex PID controls, a rotary pump, and a novel float power keep watch over paddle. The Bianca, which has noticed a couple of updates since its unlock, is the system we imagine to be the most efficient general coffee system to be had these days.
Between 2015 and 2020, Lelit expanded its product line, freeing fashions just like the Anna II, Anita, Diana, Kate, Elizabeth Twin Boiler, MaraX, and Victoria. The COVID-19 pandemic fuelled call for for house coffee machines, boosting Lelit’s enlargement. Via 2020, the corporate had quadrupled its group of workers, 80% of which is feminine, and bought 48,000 machines globally.
Lelit’s good fortune attracted consideration, resulting in its acquisition via Breville in 2022 for over $150 million. Regardless of this takeover, Lelit maintains vital operational independence, with plans for long run collaborations with Breville’s engineering crew whilst keeping its current management.
In early 2024, we won a Lelit Victoria (acquire hyperlink) for assessment, with an settlement to extend the analysis till this early fall. After unboxing the system in August, I briefly known its spectacular efficiency at its value level. In different respects, it competitors and beats the preferred Profitec Cross.
I must additionally word when the Victoria was once presented in 2016, it was once first of all priced at $1,079 (that’s $1400 these days!), so these days’s $999.95 value level is even higher, despite the fact that, for a way lengthy that value will stay is any individual’s bet.
For transparency, Lelit is certainly one of CoffeeGeek’s advertisers, sponsors some problems with Espresso Pulse E-newsletter and has enrolled in our pilot associates program, which earns us a small fee on purchases thru Lelit USA. Alternatively, as at all times, we retain whole editorial independence in our content material, loose to objectively assessment the system.
Now, let’s dive into our First Take a look at the Lelit Victoria.
