I don’t have the combi as per other similar thread, but bought the Lelit pl041e from site sponsor Jet Black Espresso which is basically same machine without built in grinder or pressure gauge. After 4 weeks, my impressions are:
*Shot quality for the 2010 model about on par with Silvia. (Use my bros as comparison)
*Steaming is actually about 5 seconds faster than Silvia for around 250mls (takes approx 35 to 40 seconds), and in my opinion, is more consistent in pressure level during steaming process.
*The steam wand could be improved, however that doesnt stop user developing a very repeatable approach to creating latte art quality micro foam as described below. In a perfect world it would be more angled and maybe be about 1 cm longer. Note that I’ve bent my steam wand as per notes below.
*Heat up time of machine is great!
*Cant comment on temp changes during espresso pour, but think its not a major issue. Personally I dont think a PID is necessary for this machine (probably hard to find stock standard for lelit anyway). I sure some people on site may disagree.
* You can get a a handle cut down if I want a naked portafilter. Jet Black said they’d cut down a standard Lelit porterfilter for around $90 inclusive of labor and parts. That was informal request, so speak to them first as price may be different – I haven’t ordered one as yet. Alternatively, 1st line in states offer a naked portafilter for about $60, but does not post to Aus.
b), its a bit of a pain to fill water holder compared to some other machines (however Im using a funnel, so not really a pain any more). These issues are so small that I feel that this machine is, overall, the best that
Overall, I think it’s a killer machine and best in price range. Obviously cant comment on reliability for a number of years, but seems ok based on threads read.
Now some more detail on steaming using the Lelit. I’ve noticed that a few people commenting on having problems with steaming milk with Lelits which I think in many cases (like my own), may be due to user stepping up to a machine with more steam power. For steaming, I initially blew a foamy mess for the first two jugs. This was my same experience with my bros Silvia. Now my old machine (Breville 800) had a wand that could be angled which I liked, and so does the Silvia, but if you consider that allot of commercial machines dont have much play with angles etc, then technique comes down to it. In fact, if you search allot of forums, youll probably come across an a common thread that is experienced users find slower powered thermoblock machines (like my old machine), far easier and more forgiving than mid (such as Silvia/pl041 etc), or high level machines due to the sheer jump in steaming power and speed. You dont have the time to adjust if its taking 35 seconds to steam, compared to 1 minute thirty. It’s not crazy hard to dial technique to get very consistent micro foam with the lelit wand once you have seen a good technique. After the first couple of poor attempts, had a chat to my bro on technique for more powerful machines (he had the same initial problems with the Silvia due to jump in power more than angle, or tip type etc). I also came across this AWESOME thread on snobs site that helped me develop a repeatable bomb proof technique for micro foam with the lelit: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1220959662
My slightly modified version of the technique described in other thread enables me to consistently produce latte art quality pretty much every time I use machine. Bearing in mind, Ive been able to get quality latte art on other machines and pouring is as important, so if youve never done either micro foam, or taken it to the next step by having consistent latte art, then I suggest you may still have a number of days to get micro foam and literally months to get repeatable art (its bloody hard, but you may be a natural - I wasnt when I started out). Ok, so my amendment to the technique described in thread link above, and demonstrated in links video, is based on two things:
a) it takes me roughly 35 to 45 seconds to go from 17 to 65 degrees Celsius (I think thats 65 to 145 Fahrenheit??), on the lelit compared to the super quick blast of around 8 to 15 seconds for high end machines. I start with steam wand about 1cm left of centre jug with tip about 1mm below surface of milk, tilting the jug very slightly. However, instead of moving the steam wand to side of jug after one second, like technique described for more powerful pro machines, I keep the wand in middle of jug until temperature gets to around 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit), raising the tip ever so slightly to stay on top of milk as the volume increases. This may take around 7 to 15 seconds, not sure exactly as I have only timed the overall steaming process, hence the guess. Once temp gets to 40 Celsius/105 far, I then plunge wand tip about 1 cm under milk, move to about an inch from side of jug, then tilt the jug as much as possible towards me without spilling milk over side so as to get a good whirlpool effect.
The other thing I’ve done which helps with steaming is I’ve bent the steam wand out about 15 degrees which enables me to get a whirlpool going during initial stretching of milk. See before and after photos below.
Hope this helps anyone considering buying a Lelit or anyone trying to dial one in.

*Shot quality for the 2010 model about on par with Silvia. (Use my bros as comparison)
*Steaming is actually about 5 seconds faster than Silvia for around 250mls (takes approx 35 to 40 seconds), and in my opinion, is more consistent in pressure level during steaming process.
*The steam wand could be improved, however that doesnt stop user developing a very repeatable approach to creating latte art quality micro foam as described below. In a perfect world it would be more angled and maybe be about 1 cm longer. Note that I’ve bent my steam wand as per notes below.
*Heat up time of machine is great!
*Cant comment on temp changes during espresso pour, but think its not a major issue. Personally I dont think a PID is necessary for this machine (probably hard to find stock standard for lelit anyway). I sure some people on site may disagree.
* You can get a a handle cut down if I want a naked portafilter. Jet Black said they’d cut down a standard Lelit porterfilter for around $90 inclusive of labor and parts. That was informal request, so speak to them first as price may be different – I haven’t ordered one as yet. Alternatively, 1st line in states offer a naked portafilter for about $60, but does not post to Aus.
b), its a bit of a pain to fill water holder compared to some other machines (however Im using a funnel, so not really a pain any more). These issues are so small that I feel that this machine is, overall, the best that
Overall, I think it’s a killer machine and best in price range. Obviously cant comment on reliability for a number of years, but seems ok based on threads read.
Now some more detail on steaming using the Lelit. I’ve noticed that a few people commenting on having problems with steaming milk with Lelits which I think in many cases (like my own), may be due to user stepping up to a machine with more steam power. For steaming, I initially blew a foamy mess for the first two jugs. This was my same experience with my bros Silvia. Now my old machine (Breville 800) had a wand that could be angled which I liked, and so does the Silvia, but if you consider that allot of commercial machines dont have much play with angles etc, then technique comes down to it. In fact, if you search allot of forums, youll probably come across an a common thread that is experienced users find slower powered thermoblock machines (like my old machine), far easier and more forgiving than mid (such as Silvia/pl041 etc), or high level machines due to the sheer jump in steaming power and speed. You dont have the time to adjust if its taking 35 seconds to steam, compared to 1 minute thirty. It’s not crazy hard to dial technique to get very consistent micro foam with the lelit wand once you have seen a good technique. After the first couple of poor attempts, had a chat to my bro on technique for more powerful machines (he had the same initial problems with the Silvia due to jump in power more than angle, or tip type etc). I also came across this AWESOME thread on snobs site that helped me develop a repeatable bomb proof technique for micro foam with the lelit: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1220959662
My slightly modified version of the technique described in other thread enables me to consistently produce latte art quality pretty much every time I use machine. Bearing in mind, Ive been able to get quality latte art on other machines and pouring is as important, so if youve never done either micro foam, or taken it to the next step by having consistent latte art, then I suggest you may still have a number of days to get micro foam and literally months to get repeatable art (its bloody hard, but you may be a natural - I wasnt when I started out). Ok, so my amendment to the technique described in thread link above, and demonstrated in links video, is based on two things:
a) it takes me roughly 35 to 45 seconds to go from 17 to 65 degrees Celsius (I think thats 65 to 145 Fahrenheit??), on the lelit compared to the super quick blast of around 8 to 15 seconds for high end machines. I start with steam wand about 1cm left of centre jug with tip about 1mm below surface of milk, tilting the jug very slightly. However, instead of moving the steam wand to side of jug after one second, like technique described for more powerful pro machines, I keep the wand in middle of jug until temperature gets to around 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit), raising the tip ever so slightly to stay on top of milk as the volume increases. This may take around 7 to 15 seconds, not sure exactly as I have only timed the overall steaming process, hence the guess. Once temp gets to 40 Celsius/105 far, I then plunge wand tip about 1 cm under milk, move to about an inch from side of jug, then tilt the jug as much as possible towards me without spilling milk over side so as to get a good whirlpool effect.
The other thing I’ve done which helps with steaming is I’ve bent the steam wand out about 15 degrees which enables me to get a whirlpool going during initial stretching of milk. See before and after photos below.
Hope this helps anyone considering buying a Lelit or anyone trying to dial one in.





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