Let's chat below! Ask any questions that may pop up. And don't forget to hit like, subscribe, and the bell for notifications to show some support! Cheers!
Thanks lance, great review as always. Please stick to the in depth format, I know you were contemplating it a while ago but this is so much better than the usual “reviews” on UA-cam. A good comparison to the Mara is the Lelit Elizabeth which is a dual boiler with steam boiler prebrew for the same price as the Mara. It’s also more energy efficient and I’m debating the choice between the two.
about the slow ramp up on the pressure at the beginning you just need to change the spring inside the three way selonoid valve after that you have the full control of the pressure from first second to end of the shot.
About the high temperatures. This is because the machine goes to super heat mode right after the first shot. It will overheat the coffee once you wait too long, if you want to pull head to head shots. Thus to not overheat, you will need to pull the next shot after two minutes from your previous shot. If you wait longer than 5 minutes the machine will overheat. Then you will need to wait 15 minutes before the temperature level goes back down. Kaffeemacher found that one out they also have a great UA-cam channel…
I wish there was somewhere in the USA to buy this machine for the $1400 you qouted instead of $1800... I continue to be dissapointed by how wildly marked up most machines are in North America. It's one thing when we're talking saturated group flagships, but these E61s aren't on that level. Just all the more reason for Americans to buy a Decent, back machines like the Argos and Meticulous, and generally consider these massively marked up E61s something more like a last resort I guess.
This is the most indepth review on the internet of a very relevant HX machine. I am highly interested in this machine, thank you for doing this review.
The thought, care and genuine willingness to inform the consumer in an unbiased fashion continues to amaze me. I’ve commented before and I’ll comment again, thank you!
Nobody is doing such high quality and informative videos, nobody! not even Pappy Hoffy. This is stupid good, and producers would pay big $$ for something like this. This is an in depth review, with all the details, and data. Nothing hidden or stupid music transitions.
Well, though I know youre giving our bruh some love, there is Xris, Real Sprometheus, Ms. Eckroft, Hoffman and others doing high quality content too in the barista space too
@@O.G.LIL-MAN I just watched Hoffman’s review of the best machines for 1500 or less and his “review” of the Mara X when he got to it, was pitiful. He skipped almost everything interesting about this machine but took the time to mention the feet… then moved on to talk fluff about the next machine. Very disappointing. However I haven’t searched his videos to see if he ever did a better review of it.
I agree that the video is very extensive, however most people who buy or intend to buy such a machine will not put on paddle for flow control and pull some complicated shots with light roast coffee. It would have been more helpful if the measurements and instructions were done with the machine as it comes and not with the installed modifications.
Owning this machine for 3 years now (the v1 Version). I already did descale my machine and cleaned the temperature probe once. I can totally agree on your words about the easy access to the Boiler and therefore very accesible maintenance.
Am I the only one who after all the 4/1 stuff came here expecting a joke only to find another thoughtful, deeply researched and meticulously crafted video? I guess the real jokes were the friends we made along the way... Great work guys!!
I have a 250ml single boiler Lelit Anna with PID and I love it. Added preinfusion / flow control using your Gaggia classic mod video as a reference for the wiring. I couldn’t justify spending twice as much on the Mara X just to save the minute the Anna takes to come up to steam temp which is the biggest difference I could tell.
I always love your reviews because of the details you point out about all of these wonderful Coffee products. However your technical knowledge pointing out the cutouts on this particular machine was above and beyond. Thank you!
The temperature drops , because you are on brew mode and the heating element is off , and when you have the flow control closed, the machine pulls fresh cold water in the hx brew chamber .
I love the full nerd deep dive. Please never stop doing you, your passion comes out big time in all the technical details and it’s so interesting to learn about the innovations happening under the hood! Out of curiosity, any plans to review a londinium r24? Would really love to hear your take on the spring lever
Btw, someone may have mentioned but it seems like you have power saving mode turned off. That obviously helps with the temperature spiking if left on, as it will hibernate at some point, essentially turning the system off, but ready to be turned back on (after any needed warmup) with the lift of the paddle. Since power saving mode is on by default I thought I'd mention it (and you may get to this later in the video!)
Happy to see a review from you. I have this machine since 2 months and all your tips helped me to understand a little bit more my gear. Thank you for the quality content as usual 👍🏻
Getting a look at the inside of the machine was awesome - it looks like such a high quality build. Took the back off my Breville Barista Express the other day and wish I hadn’t knowing what’s under there now!
I've had my MaraX for around 2 years, even after watching countless reviews you were still able to provide valuable insights and tips for us users (machine sitting idle increases its temp after a while). Thank you so much for your valuable and dedicated work all the time!
Great video as usual Lance. I almost pulled the trigger on the MaraX a year ago but the V3 Bianca was too good to pass up. I’m glad you reviewed both the MaraX and Bianca because it really validated my purchase and my research process. The tear down was mind blowing and I learned more about a HX in one video than I have in a dozen others. Maybe you could tear down a dual boiler next? 😬
I was thinking about Bianca, but just don’t see any benefit of flow control, other features… once you master gaggia classic pro. All those ‘extra’ features are just noise. For me, I pull the perfect espresso shot with just 9 bar spring upgrade, wdt tool, shake prep, right grind, etc…that’s where the money is at. Gaggia does have quite few plastic components inside and that would be one of the main reason for an upgrade-better components, not necessarily a better shot :) Oh yeah, I would rather invest the difference between Bianca and marax into eureka libra grinder.
@@vladimirgoncharenko7545 But then that's YOU. Everyone has diff values and requirements. The higher up the scale you go its known to be diminishing returns. Also many have better taste buds than you perhaps as they possibly seek that slight variation with diff roasts. Don't crap on others because it's not what you would do. Why drive a BMW when a Dacia will get you where you want to go just as well. Its horse s for courses mate.
what a great timing for the video. I just got my MaraX 2 days ago. I am still in the learning stage and debugging phase but I got answers to most of my questions in your video. Thank you! I am playing with the grind size as currently I am only reaching 4 bars in pressure and the flow is extremely fast. I tried the blind basket the pump is working as it should so it is definitely the grind....but I am getting there. One thing which was a surprise for me that when it is heating it is hot almost everywhere and when it stops heating it stays hot for hours :D
I'm going to need to watch this a couple of times. I thought I understood heat exchanger machines but this was fantastic. Thank you for everything you do and who you are!
Great point about the HX issues with thermal management when the machine has been on for too long. I have an ECM mechanika slim (the current one) and I deliberately leave the eco mode on to avoid it overheating. 👌
That would be also my idea. Plus: Adding a E61 temperature sensor ('Eric's thermometer') to understand the behavior of machine. Maybe not all the time, but from time to time. Also helps to detect changes over time, e. g. due to build up of scale in the HX
Been waiting for this review for a while, was not disappointed! Love the in-depth content. On the first shot, I noticed that the machine wasn't yet at temp (temp light was flashing) which might explain the lower temperature.
Hi Lance, thanks for making this in dept review! I’ve been seriously considering on buying this over the past couple of weeks, but I didn’t expect your conclusion. I’m wondering what other machine(s) you would consider buying instead of the Mara X for the same budget?
Thanks Lance for this fantastic video. I’ve just bought this machine (my first foray into the world of proper coffee!) and have forensically watched this to get a great shot. Thank you.
As an early adopter of the MaraX and having watched pretty much every review on the product, you once again excelled yourself, kudos for a fantastic video. That particular Lelit product is technically advanced compared to traditional HX and has since been copied by the competition such as latest Profitec, but i have faced some quality control and parts issues over the last nearly three years now. Also, cooling flushes I find they help with temp stability and allow you to “cheat” the cycle and get steam out faster in brew mode. Nothing major to make me regret the purchase but my next machine will not be an HX, probably Lelit again but Bianca.
The best review of the Lelit MaraX!👍 The Mara X was for one year my Espresso machine and working great over this time. After I give her away and buy the Dual Boiler Rocket R Nine One.
@@LanceHedrick Yes absolutely super happy with the machine. Only thing that I am missing is a shot timer on the machine (sometimes you just don’t want to use a scale when you have friends over or your girlfriend is using it) and the steam pressure going up and down like a roller coaster making you have a long nice chat with your Mara when you are using a 600ml jug 😅
The temp drops because this machine is setup with perfect flow at stock setup to inject enough thermal energy into the large mass of brass to maintain the programmed temperature curve. When you choke the hot water you choke the heat input into that huge block of metal and the temp must fall as a result. Other machines may behave differently because they are limited by the heating elements power output so reducing flow helps the heat rise. But here we have a very large thermal mass in the boiler cushioned via a heat exchanger, thus providing a very stabile source, choking it does not spike the it high at source but it does reduce what goes into that huge cool block of brass at the front, without enough heat input into the brass the temp falls. Amazing thermal design and construction quality. I'm a heating engineer and I recognise the fittings and construction methods used here to be top notch. Solid old school hydronic design, its been tried and true since steam engines ruled and looks similar in rocket engines that go to space today, good old compression fittings, soldered connections and formed metal pipes. Boilers a boiler weather, its heating a hospital or coffee cup. We use the same sensors and prv valves.
I still have, retired, an hx machine and apart from some positives of the design, we must admit that once it was the only option for a commercial machine Lelit it's the first manufacturer that designed an hx e61 machine that doesn't want a flush P.s. one must be sure for what he wants and what he buys, especially for this machine
What a great review! I have always had the flow control kit on my mara x v2, but I couldn't ever figure out how to even use it properly. Thanks for explaining this. I noticed that when you pulled your first shot, the temperature was still getting stable cause the temp lights were blinking. Also, while pulling back to back shots, I've found that turning the machine off, and while i get my puck prep done and turning back on when i finish, still build the temp back up pretty quick, while ive not confirmed if it has been increasing temperature, ive always never felt the coffee taste different.
Your personal opinion on HX is extremely helpful to get your perspective on the engineering and price trade off. I’d love to hear your top down opinion of the different technologies and what trade offs are worth making at different price points.
TBH, i'm going saturated group 10/10 until the thermal management on E61 style groups is managed (I dont think it will be considering the hunk of brass). Also, time for heat up and power draw should be considered. Group with boiler directly above or saturated electronically is MY way to go. but, i don't want to obfuscate a review with these personal opinions. I think a video dedicated to it is the right move.
@@LanceHedrick I have to agree; E61s are only still around because they're pretty much a "parts bin" group that doesn't need any design work to implement.
Another great video… your review on BDB tipped me to buy it 2 yrs ago. I’m watching your current review of the Mara X to see if I should make a change over to this heat xchange machine 😊
This is a great video and a great effort. Please enable the Turkish subtitle option for the video, because there are many people following you from Turkey.
Chrome, brass, copper, and stainless steel. What's not to love? The mechanical isolation of the vibratory pump is a nice touch. This is a little mod that can be made to cheap machines for quieter operation.
These videos are super insightful! I would love to see a comparison of heat exchangers and thermal blocks. Maybe this Lelit vs the Ascaso Steel Duo soon? 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for showing the inside of this machine. Two things I have been asking for Stainless Steel and Copper element. So many videos don't show this or they don't know what is inside. And they never talk about high-temperature boiler applications, three general grades (Stainless Steel), 304, 321, and 347, are the most widely used. Know ones about this! I have to go directly to the MF.
I'm still crossing my fingers for an Ascaso Steel review just because I love their aesthetic, and the fact that they're NOT an e61, but I'm still here because you're always fun to listen to.
Hi Lance, great video! Thanks for that. One remark though, the effect of the knob positions on the right hand side are opposite of what you mentioned in the video. Position 1 is brew mode and position 0 is steam mode.
Great and thorough review as always! I loved every minute of it. I would be curious to see you review one of the Profitec HX lineup. I guess the 400 would make the more sense because it is very similar to the MaraX. Have you ever played around with Profitec machines?
Thank you for doing such a thorough review- your videos have really helped me. I’d love to see reviews on grinders priced 1000-2000. I’m looking to upgrade from my current one because I’m frustrated with it.
I am on the wait list for a Profitec GO. It looks to be closest to a Gaggia if you did every mod, without looking Frankenstein or relying on my abilities to do the work. ($1000) I make 1-2 cappuccinos daily. This will be my first pro-sumer machine I appreciate your reviews and espresso theory youtubes. I watched Everything before I settled on the Profitec GO, and would value your opinion before I commit.
Just my 2 Cents as a consumes that wants most bang for my buck. If I would have under 1000 to spend, after ALOT of Research, the go would be by choice. Seems like nothing will beat it at this price point
oops, you did it again!! Fantastic in depth video, and the production level up added even more flavor to this well extracted review. Bravo Lance, Hugo and the rest of the team... if I keep watching you videos I'll be majoring in engineering and Hydrodynamics. ...fun aside, even though I liked the confiability of the Mara X, I could not resist what the Meticulous is promising, so I'm putting my money toward that. Thank you again for this review!
LANCE-I love your intros, I can tell you put a lot of effort and thought into them! I wanted to suggest trying a smoother transition into the video though, since it’s a little abrupt going from footage of the machine with vibey music straight into you talking. Much love, keep crushing it 👊
Great review Lance, so much better than the typical sales-driven stuff that is so ubiquitous on YT. I have had an old-school, non-E61, pressurestat-driven HX (with an electrically heated brewhead) for 10 years, which at the time of purchase was about the smallest machine in its class on the market. The MaraX is even more compact, but with so much stuff in a small casing, how would you rate its maintain-ability? Do you have to take out all the internal parts when you want to, say, change out the pump?😊
The small footprint was a big factor in my choice of the MaraX 2 1/2 years ago, as was the expected longevity and ease of repair. The internals are very accessible simply by removing the casing (which is also easy). Changing the pump would be simple.
It was mostly because it got depressing in there at night. 98% of my time in the studio is not filming but testing at night. A big part was actually for my own sanity
Thanks for the incredible video, once again :) I'm not making espresso, yet, but I love your content because it definitely makes me feel more informed for when I decide to take the plunge
Thanks a lot for this very interesting video and your insight. I'm a Mara X owner and have built in the thermometer in the grouphead but no flow control. My machine turns on at 5am. I make espressos at 6am 1pm and 3pm without turning the machine off inbetween and the eco mode off. The thermometer shows exactly 92.2°C ever single time when i step at the machine after idle for several hours, literally without exception. During the shot, the temperature shows 94.6°C every time, which results in 92°C in the portafilter, as tests have shown. I wonder where the instability comes from after idle time with your machine. Is it possibly because of the flow control? I actually forgot to turn off the machine today after 3pm, walked at the machine at 11pm and it showed 92.2°C. It seems to be incredibly consistent to me. I'm in brew mode ond temperature level I btw. The only inconsistency I notice is a high temperature around 15min after i pull a shot or s temperature drop if i pull back to back within the same minute without giving the machine a 2min break. Other than that, it seems to settle at exactly 92.2°C again.
@@erihsehc2 I have the V1 of the Mara X on the what was then called "brew mode" which is the exact same mode that is called "steam mode" on V2, so yes.
The machine seems to be working similarly to a laptop's thermal chamber. As you said, the heat dissipates once you shunt the flow. Glad I had time to watch the full review. Seems more fun to play with than the Steel Duo.
28:07 As a 1 yr Mara X V2 user, I've found out that you can pull up and hold the handle just at the point where the pulp switch is on, to make the water comes out a little bit, then let it back at the middle position to make the pre-infusion happen. After that you can pull all the way up to start brewing.
Incredible review! So well done and informative. Could you in depth review the Diletta Bello+? It seems like a pretty comparable machine, but would love to get the unbiased deep dive into it. Keep up the great work!
Amazing compact machine. I’ve add a temperature display by reading the TTL pins. Another mod is change the pump to DC gear pump that I can change the pressure by controlling the pump’s power
Very good detailed video, not seen anywhere other! 👏 As an owner of stock v2 it came a bit cold about the 90 degrees, all shots taste badly sour. So i decided to set 92 as reference.
Let's chat below! Ask any questions that may pop up. And don't forget to hit like, subscribe, and the bell for notifications to show some support! Cheers!
Thanks lance, great review as always. Please stick to the in depth format, I know you were contemplating it a while ago but this is so much better than the usual “reviews” on UA-cam.
A good comparison to the Mara is the Lelit Elizabeth which is a dual boiler with steam boiler prebrew for the same price as the Mara. It’s also more energy efficient and I’m debating the choice between the two.
about the slow ramp up on the pressure at the beginning you just need to change the spring inside the three way selonoid valve after that you have the full control of the pressure from first second to end of the shot.
About the high temperatures. This is because the machine goes to super heat mode right after the first shot. It will overheat the coffee once you wait too long, if you want to pull head to head shots. Thus to not overheat, you will need to pull the next shot after two minutes from your previous shot. If you wait longer than 5 minutes the machine will overheat. Then you will need to wait 15 minutes before the temperature level goes back down. Kaffeemacher found that one out they also have a great UA-cam channel…
I wish there was somewhere in the USA to buy this machine for the $1400 you qouted instead of $1800... I continue to be dissapointed by how wildly marked up most machines are in North America. It's one thing when we're talking saturated group flagships, but these E61s aren't on that level. Just all the more reason for Americans to buy a Decent, back machines like the Argos and Meticulous, and generally consider these massively marked up E61s something more like a last resort I guess.
Hey! Does de Bianca worth the extra bucks over Mara x? In terms of temp stability, and others?
This is the most indepth review on the internet of a very relevant HX machine. I am highly interested in this machine, thank you for doing this review.
You mentioned at the end that there are other machines you would prefer for the money. What machines do you recommend instead?
The thought, care and genuine willingness to inform the consumer in an unbiased fashion continues to amaze me. I’ve commented before and I’ll comment again, thank you!
You're setting the bar very high with your reviews. A lot of useful information for the people who is looking to purchase this machine.
Congrats.
Actually, he set the bar at 10.2.but it could go higher 😂
Nobody is doing such high quality and informative videos, nobody! not even Pappy Hoffy. This is stupid good, and producers would pay big $$ for something like this. This is an in depth review, with all the details, and data. Nothing hidden or stupid music transitions.
thank you! I really appreciate it, denis. and Hugo does, too! ha
Well, though I know youre giving our bruh some love, there is Xris, Real Sprometheus, Ms. Eckroft, Hoffman and others doing high quality content too in the barista space too
lance does music breaks…. with his own mouth often enough. but yes! excellent content
@@O.G.LIL-MAN I just watched Hoffman’s review of the best machines for 1500 or less and his “review” of the Mara X when he got to it, was pitiful. He skipped almost everything interesting about this machine but took the time to mention the feet… then moved on to talk fluff about the next machine. Very disappointing. However I haven’t searched his videos to see if he ever did a better review of it.
I agree that the video is very extensive, however most people who buy or intend to buy such a machine will not put on paddle for flow control and pull some complicated shots with light roast coffee. It would have been more helpful if the measurements and instructions were done with the machine as it comes and not with the installed modifications.
Recently discovered your channel and now have several hours logged watching reviews! No idea how I haven’t discovered you sooner
Owning this machine for 3 years now (the v1 Version). I already did descale my machine and cleaned the temperature probe once. I can totally agree on your words about the easy access to the Boiler and therefore very accesible maintenance.
Am I the only one who after all the 4/1 stuff came here expecting a joke only to find another thoughtful, deeply researched and meticulously crafted video? I guess the real jokes were the friends we made along the way... Great work guys!!
Jokes on me! Now I need this machine
meticulous home?
Wow, probably the most thorough review of technical and practical info I've seen so far .. awesome video!
I have a 250ml single boiler Lelit Anna with PID and I love it. Added preinfusion / flow control using your Gaggia classic mod video as a reference for the wiring. I couldn’t justify spending twice as much on the Mara X just to save the minute the Anna takes to come up to steam temp which is the biggest difference I could tell.
Interesting. I have the Anna with PID too. I will look into the preinfusion & flow control mod. Thanks for commenting :)
I always love your reviews because of the details you point out about all of these wonderful Coffee products. However your technical knowledge pointing out the cutouts on this particular machine was above and beyond. Thank you!
I appreciate these detailed reviews 🙏🏽
The temperature drops , because you are on brew mode and the heating element is off , and when you have the flow control closed, the machine pulls fresh cold water in the hx brew chamber .
He explains this
I love the full nerd deep dive. Please never stop doing you, your passion comes out big time in all the technical details and it’s so interesting to learn about the innovations happening under the hood!
Out of curiosity, any plans to review a londinium r24? Would really love to hear your take on the spring lever
Btw, someone may have mentioned but it seems like you have power saving mode turned off. That obviously helps with the temperature spiking if left on, as it will hibernate at some point, essentially turning the system off, but ready to be turned back on (after any needed warmup) with the lift of the paddle. Since power saving mode is on by default I thought I'd mention it (and you may get to this later in the video!)
Thank you for this! Have you tested this?
How do you turn that off?
@@xer0cool if you power the machine off, lift the group head lever completely, then power back on, it will toggle the standby mode off
Same thought here. Maybe another good reason for the factory default setting (besides regulatorics)
Happy to see a review from you. I have this machine since 2 months and all your tips helped me to understand a little bit more my gear.
Thank you for the quality content as usual 👍🏻
Getting a look at the inside of the machine was awesome - it looks like such a high quality build. Took the back off my Breville Barista Express the other day and wish I hadn’t knowing what’s under there now!
As an owner of a mara x who has had to open his machine up i cant appreciate this enough. Thank you so much
Love you, Lance! I can never resist your videos
The editing of this video is absolutely incredible. Fantastic content as always!
I've had my MaraX for around 2 years, even after watching countless reviews you were still able to provide valuable insights and tips for us users (machine sitting idle increases its temp after a while). Thank you so much for your valuable and dedicated work all the time!
thank you for watching! glad you enjoyed it!
@@LanceHedrickI think that was sarcasm.
Thanks for the video Lance. As a Mara X owner, I thought I knew the machine well, but you still taught me a few things.
great review. Now waiting for my Mara X to arrive
I assume you’ve gotten it by now. What are your thoughts? I’m looking at this for myself
I agree with everyone here. You’re doing a great job, we appreciate you.
Really appreciated the technical walk through in the cut away version, excellent job with these videos Lance (as usual)!
Great video as usual Lance. I almost pulled the trigger on the MaraX a year ago but the V3 Bianca was too good to pass up. I’m glad you reviewed both the MaraX and Bianca because it really validated my purchase and my research process.
The tear down was mind blowing and I learned more about a HX in one video than I have in a dozen others. Maybe you could tear down a dual boiler next? 😬
Bro, it's $3k+ :)
I was thinking about Bianca, but just don’t see any benefit of flow control, other features… once you master gaggia classic pro. All those ‘extra’ features are just noise. For me, I pull the perfect espresso shot with just 9 bar spring upgrade, wdt tool, shake prep, right grind, etc…that’s where the money is at. Gaggia does have quite few plastic components inside and that would be one of the main reason for an upgrade-better components, not necessarily a better shot :) Oh yeah, I would rather invest the difference between Bianca and marax into eureka libra grinder.
@@vladimirgoncharenko7545 But then that's YOU. Everyone has diff values and requirements. The higher up the scale you go its known to be diminishing returns. Also many have better taste buds than you perhaps as they possibly seek that slight variation with diff roasts. Don't crap on others because it's not what you would do. Why drive a BMW when a Dacia will get you where you want to go just as well. Its horse s for courses mate.
what a great timing for the video. I just got my MaraX 2 days ago. I am still in the learning stage and debugging phase but I got answers to most of my questions in your video. Thank you!
I am playing with the grind size as currently I am only reaching 4 bars in pressure and the flow is extremely fast. I tried the blind basket the pump is working as it should so it is definitely the grind....but I am getting there. One thing which was a surprise for me that when it is heating it is hot almost everywhere and when it stops heating it stays hot for hours :D
So awesome seeing the tear down unit that's opened up like that.
I'm going to need to watch this a couple of times. I thought I understood heat exchanger machines but this was fantastic. Thank you for everything you do and who you are!
Great point about the HX issues with thermal management when the machine has been on for too long. I have an ECM mechanika slim (the current one) and I deliberately leave the eco mode on to avoid it overheating. 👌
yeah. it's really the only way even with the innovative dual thermoprobe solution here
That would be also my idea.
Plus: Adding a E61 temperature sensor ('Eric's thermometer') to understand the behavior of machine. Maybe not all the time, but from time to time. Also helps to detect changes over time, e. g. due to build up of scale in the HX
Amazing video, Lance. Absolutely great to have a deep dive inside espresso machines!
Been waiting for this review for a while, was not disappointed! Love the in-depth content.
On the first shot, I noticed that the machine wasn't yet at temp (temp light was flashing) which might explain the lower temperature.
Lance, you are the best coffee-tuber on the internet.
Hi Lance, thanks for making this in dept review! I’ve been seriously considering on buying this over the past couple of weeks, but I didn’t expect your conclusion. I’m wondering what other machine(s) you would consider buying instead of the Mara X for the same budget?
Wondering as well!
@@simonbellemare2289 Me too! He left us hanging with a total cliff hanger on that point.
Agreed! Please share!
👀
Same here!
Thanks Lance for this fantastic video. I’ve just bought this machine (my first foray into the world of proper coffee!) and have forensically watched this to get a great shot. Thank you.
As an early adopter of the MaraX and having watched pretty much every review on the product, you once again excelled yourself, kudos for a fantastic video. That particular Lelit product is technically advanced compared to traditional HX and has since been copied by the competition such as latest Profitec, but i have faced some quality control and parts issues over the last nearly three years now. Also, cooling flushes I find they help with temp stability and allow you to “cheat” the cycle and get steam out faster in brew mode. Nothing major to make me regret the purchase but my next machine will not be an HX, probably Lelit again but Bianca.
Thanks for the insight
The best review of the Lelit MaraX!👍 The Mara X was for one year my Espresso machine and working great over this time.
After I give her away and buy the Dual Boiler Rocket R Nine One.
Love the in depth technical explanations, first time i actually liked, commented and subscribed :)
thanks lance. this is one of my favorite brewtube channels.
So hyped for the video owning a MaraX for over half a year now!
hope you enjoy it!
@@LanceHedrick Yes absolutely super happy with the machine. Only thing that I am missing is a shot timer on the machine (sometimes you just don’t want to use a scale when you have friends over or your girlfriend is using it) and the steam pressure going up and down like a roller coaster making you have a long nice chat with your Mara when you are using a 600ml jug 😅
You’re the best Lance! I have not seen a review of this machine that went so deep into it before.
OMGOODNESS! I’m SO happy with the new studio background 🙏
The temp drops because this machine is setup with perfect flow at stock setup to inject enough thermal energy into the large mass of brass to maintain the programmed temperature curve. When you choke the hot water you choke the heat input into that huge block of metal and the temp must fall as a result. Other machines may behave differently because they are limited by the heating elements power output so reducing flow helps the heat rise. But here we have a very large thermal mass in the boiler cushioned via a heat exchanger, thus providing a very stabile source, choking it does not spike the it high at source but it does reduce what goes into that huge cool block of brass at the front, without enough heat input into the brass the temp falls. Amazing thermal design and construction quality. I'm a heating engineer and I recognise the fittings and construction methods used here to be top notch. Solid old school hydronic design, its been tried and true since steam engines ruled and looks similar in rocket engines that go to space today, good old compression fittings, soldered connections and formed metal pipes. Boilers a boiler weather, its heating a hospital or coffee cup. We use the same sensors and prv valves.
I still have, retired, an hx machine and apart from some positives of the design, we must admit that once it was the only option for a commercial machine
Lelit it's the first manufacturer that designed an hx e61 machine that doesn't want a flush
P.s. one must be sure for what he wants and what he buys, especially for this machine
What a great review! I have always had the flow control kit on my mara x v2, but I couldn't ever figure out how to even use it properly. Thanks for explaining this. I noticed that when you pulled your first shot, the temperature was still getting stable cause the temp lights were blinking. Also, while pulling back to back shots, I've found that turning the machine off, and while i get my puck prep done and turning back on when i finish, still build the temp back up pretty quick, while ive not confirmed if it has been increasing temperature, ive always never felt the coffee taste different.
Now I'm considering a heat exchanger again. Please continue to geek out all you want Lance. obrigado 🖖🏻
Your personal opinion on HX is extremely helpful to get your perspective on the engineering and price trade off. I’d love to hear your top down opinion of the different technologies and what trade offs are worth making at different price points.
TBH, i'm going saturated group 10/10 until the thermal management on E61 style groups is managed (I dont think it will be considering the hunk of brass). Also, time for heat up and power draw should be considered. Group with boiler directly above or saturated electronically is MY way to go. but, i don't want to obfuscate a review with these personal opinions. I think a video dedicated to it is the right move.
@@LanceHedrickBut aren't E61's overall way, way better value for money compared to saturated group heads?
@@LanceHedrick I have to agree; E61s are only still around because they're pretty much a "parts bin" group that doesn't need any design work to implement.
@@LanceHedrick Breville Dual Boiler?
@@LanceHedrick And maybe switch to induction heating of boilers.
Another great video… your review on BDB tipped me to buy it 2 yrs ago.
I’m watching your current review of the Mara X to see if I should make a change over to this heat xchange machine 😊
Amazing work Lance! Keep it up!!!
The stuff I’ve been waiting for! Thanks Lance for the thorough review
This is a masterful presentation to this product and method imo. You might have just sold me on this. Thank you so much…!
I have been hitting refresh on UA-cam for weeks waiting for this video
I hope it was worth the wait!!
So proud I did good research and bought this machine 1,5 years ago. I love this machine. Got it for about 950$👌
did a good job !
This is a great video and a great effort. Please enable the Turkish subtitle option for the video, because there are many people following you from Turkey.
Your such a passionate educator!
Chrome, brass, copper, and stainless steel. What's not to love? The mechanical isolation of the vibratory pump is a nice touch. This is a little mod that can be made to cheap machines for quieter operation.
Mr Hedrick...you are amazing, you've taught me so much and your video's are awesome! Thank-you, thank-you, thankyou!
Love the clearance under the group head!
Thank you for this report, superstar. Really appreciate the level of detail
Your content is fantastic and all the work you put in does not go unnoticed
Awesome video as always ! Love the technical in depth so thanks for taking the time to do that !
These videos are super insightful! I would love to see a comparison of heat exchangers and thermal blocks. Maybe this Lelit vs the Ascaso Steel Duo soon? 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for showing the inside of this machine. Two things I have been asking for Stainless Steel and Copper element. So many videos don't show this or they don't know what is inside. And they never talk about high-temperature boiler applications, three general grades (Stainless Steel), 304, 321, and 347, are the most widely used. Know ones about this! I have to go directly to the MF.
Yeah this is great Lance, I'm now even more inclined to never stop wanting to upgrade
I'm still crossing my fingers for an Ascaso Steel review just because I love their aesthetic, and the fact that they're NOT an e61, but I'm still here because you're always fun to listen to.
Great video and love the new studio 👌🏽
Hi Lance, great video! Thanks for that. One remark though, the effect of the knob positions on the right hand side are opposite of what you mentioned in the video. Position 1 is brew mode and position 0 is steam mode.
Great and thorough review as always! I loved every minute of it. I would be curious to see you review one of the Profitec HX lineup. I guess the 400 would make the more sense because it is very similar to the MaraX. Have you ever played around with Profitec machines?
Thank you for doing such a thorough review- your videos have really helped me.
I’d love to see reviews on grinders priced 1000-2000. I’m looking to upgrade from my current one because I’m frustrated with it.
Check James Hoffman review series for top-end grinders
I am on the wait list for a Profitec GO. It looks to be closest to a Gaggia if you did every mod, without looking Frankenstein or relying on my abilities to do the work. ($1000)
I make 1-2 cappuccinos daily. This will be my first pro-sumer machine
I appreciate your reviews and espresso theory youtubes. I watched Everything before I settled on the Profitec GO, and would value your opinion before I commit.
Just my 2 Cents as a consumes that wants most bang for my buck. If I would have under 1000 to spend, after ALOT of Research, the go would be by choice. Seems like nothing will beat it at this price point
@@Caffeine.And.Carvings thanks for your feedback👍
I really enjoy how in depth you go with your reviews. I hope you could review an ascaso machine as well.
Please review Lelit Elizabeth vs Ascaso Duo PID 😊
Liked your in depth explanations 👍
oops, you did it again!!
Fantastic in depth video, and the production level up added even more flavor to this well extracted review.
Bravo Lance, Hugo and the rest of the team... if I keep watching you videos I'll be majoring in engineering and Hydrodynamics.
...fun aside, even though I liked the confiability of the Mara X, I could not resist what the Meticulous is promising, so I'm putting my money toward that.
Thank you again for this review!
Thank you so much for this great review of my next machine. Good job !
LANCE-I love your intros, I can tell you put a lot of effort and thought into them! I wanted to suggest trying a smoother transition into the video though, since it’s a little abrupt going from footage of the machine with vibey music straight into you talking. Much love, keep crushing it 👊
Great review Lance, so much better than the typical sales-driven stuff that is so ubiquitous on YT. I have had an old-school, non-E61, pressurestat-driven HX (with an electrically heated brewhead) for 10 years, which at the time of purchase was about the smallest machine in its class on the market. The MaraX is even more compact, but with so much stuff in a small casing, how would you rate its maintain-ability? Do you have to take out all the internal parts when you want to, say, change out the pump?😊
The small footprint was a big factor in my choice of the MaraX 2 1/2 years ago, as was the expected longevity and ease of repair. The internals are very accessible simply by removing the casing (which is also easy). Changing the pump would be simple.
Thank you Lance. Really great explanation of a heat exchanger machine.
The dark studio was SUCH A VIBE! Best backdrop in the coffee game. But I get it if you felt like you had to go basic for light and stuff.
It was mostly because it got depressing in there at night. 98% of my time in the studio is not filming but testing at night. A big part was actually for my own sanity
Super video! Lot of ground and helpful information to understand how it works. Thank you.
Thanks for the incredible video, once again :) I'm not making espresso, yet, but I love your content because it definitely makes me feel more informed for when I decide to take the plunge
This is what we called a in depth review. Nice job guys ❤
Damn, the new studio looks amazing! Loving the tache as ever mate
thank you!!!
Thanks a lot for this very interesting video and your insight. I'm a Mara X owner and have built in the thermometer in the grouphead but no flow control. My machine turns on at 5am. I make espressos at 6am 1pm and 3pm without turning the machine off inbetween and the eco mode off. The thermometer shows exactly 92.2°C ever single time when i step at the machine after idle for several hours, literally without exception. During the shot, the temperature shows 94.6°C every time, which results in 92°C in the portafilter, as tests have shown. I wonder where the instability comes from after idle time with your machine. Is it possibly because of the flow control?
I actually forgot to turn off the machine today after 3pm, walked at the machine at 11pm and it showed 92.2°C. It seems to be incredibly consistent to me. I'm in brew mode ond temperature level I btw. The only inconsistency I notice is a high temperature around 15min after i pull a shot or s temperature drop if i pull back to back within the same minute without giving the machine a 2min break. Other than that, it seems to settle at exactly 92.2°C again.
Btw, do you turn on the steam x mode
@@erihsehc2 I have the V1 of the Mara X on the what was then called "brew mode" which is the exact same mode that is called "steam mode" on V2, so yes.
One can see how much you love informing your viewers. Unbelievably awesome video
excelente analisis, me ayudaste a decidirme por la Mara X, su tamano pequeno dicimula muy bien la alta calidad que contiene. Muy buen video
We like engagement around these parts
Love the new studio, looks so much better
lance, im from Brazil and I love your videos!!!
obrigado!
Loving these videos!
fantastic video. Thanks for the detailed look on the machine!
The machine seems to be working similarly to a laptop's thermal chamber. As you said, the heat dissipates once you shunt the flow. Glad I had time to watch the full review. Seems more fun to play with than the Steel Duo.
Thank you for all of your awesome content and reviews. I consider myself far more educated on the topic of home espresso having watched your videos.
28:07 As a 1 yr Mara X V2 user, I've found out that you can pull up and hold the handle just at the point where the pulp switch is on, to make the water comes out a little bit, then let it back at the middle position to make the pre-infusion happen. After that you can pull all the way up to start brewing.
Issue is it doesn't push thru with any meaningful pressure when doing that
First, ah damn… thank you King for not posting an April fools video like Hoffman
haha! I got you
Incredible review! So well done and informative. Could you in depth review the Diletta Bello+? It seems like a pretty comparable machine, but would love to get the unbiased deep dive into it. Keep up the great work!
What about the LELIT Elizabeth PL92T ? I only drink espresso and bought the LELIT victoria but I had too much quality issues on it.
Amazing compact machine. I’ve add a temperature display by reading the TTL pins. Another mod is change the pump to DC gear pump that I can change the pressure by controlling the pump’s power
Thanks for the video Lance
Very good detailed video, not seen anywhere other! 👏 As an owner of stock v2 it came a bit cold about the 90 degrees, all shots taste badly sour. So i decided to set 92 as reference.