LELIT VICTORIA REVIEW: PERFECT FIRST PROSUMER ESPRESSO MACHINE

Are you looking to break into the world of cafe-style espresso at home? Consider the Lelit Victoria!

With some surprisingly high-end features like PID temperature control and a digital display, I think it’s a strong contender for the top entry-level prosumer espresso machine.

I’ve been testing the Victoria for a few months now. In this review, I’ll give you my honest opinion of this impressive little machine, from its espresso quality to its price point. I want to help you decide if it’s the right first step on your espresso journey.

A Full Review Of The Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine

The Lelit Victoria PL91T is perfect for anyone starting to get serious about home espresso. It has the features required to pull cafe-quality shots at home, but at the same time, it’s simple, compact, and affordable enough to appeal to any newly enthusiastic barista. Read on as I break it all down. 

How I Rated It:

• Brewing Capacity
• User-friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

4.1

• see on my espresso shop

Brewing Capacity – 3.5/5

When I describe Victoria as entry-level, I mean that it’s an ENTRY POINT TO PROSUMER espresso machines. It’s still a huge step up in quality, capability, and price from an appliance-grade machine. 

It falls in the category of Single Boiler Dual Use (SBDU), which means that you can’t make espresso and steam milk at the same time (1). After pulling a shot, you need to wait as the boiler heats up to a steaming temperature. This is a downside if you plan on making a lot of lattes, but the trade-offs are that SBDU machines are considerably less expensive and more compact than double boilers.

Another advantage to a smaller single boiler machine is that it can heat up very quickly, in this case, about 10 minutes. And the saturated group head ensures ideal temperature stability once it’s hot. 

I wish I had a little more control over the pre-infusion – all you can do is toggle it on and off – but I’m happy to find it here at all.

The second is PID temperature control (2). Using a PID instead of a pressure stat means a more accurate temperature with fewer fluctuations. To my considerable surprise, you can set both the brew and steam temperatures separately with the PID – to 1 degree of accuracy. Most entry-level machines, if they have a PID at all, only let you set the brew temperature. 

One Complaint

One thing missing from this machine is an adjustable OPV. An OPV (over-pressure valve) lets you adjust extraction pressure away from the 9-bar standard, something that has become increasingly common in recent years. Baristas now realize that modern specialty coffee doesn’t necessarily benefit from the same extraction conditions as the old-school Italian roasts for which espresso machines were developed.

If that’s a key feature for you, I’d definitely recommend checking out the Profitec Go instead.

Using The Lelit Victoria

The Victoria falls in Lelit’s VIP line, which means it’s endowed with the brand’s proprietary electronic control system, the LCC.

With the LCC, you can set the PID temperature for both brewing and steaming – in either Celcius or Fahrenheit – and turn the pre-infusion on and off. When you adjust the temperature, a little progress bar pops up on the screen so you can track when it’s ready. It’s a largely unnecessary but cute touch that is emblematic of Lelit’s philosophy. Every time I use one of their machines, I feel like I’m getting more than I paid for.

When you pull a shot, the high-res OLED display automatically acts as a shot timer. This is a feature you wouldn’t necessarily think you need, but I guarantee you’ll be glad to have it.

There’s a handy pressure gauge on the front panel so you can monitor the extraction pressure, and it’s even backlit, in case you’re brewing on a dark early morning.

Cleaning And Maintenance Needs

You can’t plumb to Victoria directly to a water line, so the main day-to-day maintenance is managing the water systems. Keep the removable water tank full and the drip tray empty, which is easily done because both are larger than average – 2.7 liters for the tank and 30 ounces for the drip tray. The LCC even warns you when the reservoir is getting low.

As with all espresso machines, you’ll want to use filtered water and backflush regularly to avoid more costly maintenance down the road. It comes with a backflush disc.

The Victoria is equipped with a 3-way solenoid valve, which avoids pressure build-up behind the portafilter. So your coffee pucks will be dry and easy to knock into a knock box.

Milk Frothing Meets Expectations – Without Exceeding Them

As with any single boiler machine, milk frothing is not a priority for Victoria. The small boiler means that steam pressure is relatively low, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create cafe-quality microfoam or pour latte art. You just need a little more patience.

It takes less than 2 minutes for the machine to heat from brewing to steaming temperature and then about 30 seconds to steam milk for a latte. It’s certainly not the fastest machine I’ve used, but it’s more than adequate for a daily latte.

The Victoria features a fully articulating stainless steel steam wand with a 1-hole tip that feels appropriately balanced with the steam power. Be warned that the wand isn’t double-walled, so it gets very hot. I learned that the hard way!

As with most compact machines, the steam wand doubles as a hot water tap for making Americanos or tea.

Build Quality And Design Features

Lelit espresso machines are designed and built in Italy, so you can trust that the quality is high (3). Of course, for an entry-level model, some sacrifices are always made to balance quality with price. But I think they’ve done an excellent job here in choosing what to prioritize.

The outer casing is an elegant and durable brushed stainless steel, which is easy to keep clean. Often, manufacturers will skimp on the drip tray, using iron that eventually rusts, but Lelit has wisely opted for steel here as well.

There’s a full 4 inches between the drip tray and spout to accommodate full-size coffee mugs or latte cups. Wisely, they include a little riser that shortens it to 3 inches so you can just as easily brew into a demitasse without splashing. I’m a big fan of these small touches that increase the versatility of an appliance.

The footprint is very compact, at just 9 inches wide by 10.6 inches deep – all the more impressive given the large water reservoir. At 15 inches high, it will fit easily under your upper cupboards with enough room to spare to make use of the top cup warmer.

58-mm Commercial-Standard Portafilter

A big selling point of this model is the commercial-size 58mm diameter portafilter. A standard-sized portafilter makes it much easier to buy those must-have accessories like a tamper, leveler, or naked portafilter.

The portafilter is equipped with Lelit’s proprietary Coffee Slide spout. They claim the unique design contributes to a richer crema atop your espresso. I can’t say I noticed an obvious difference in my drinks, but it’s certainly a lovely aesthetic.

Room For Improvement

There are a few things I’d like to see upgraded on this model. The knob for the steam/water wand feels a little shoddy when compared with the rest, though it works fine. Also, because of the vibratory pump, the drip tray tends to shake when you’re pulling a shot, so much so that an unattended espresso cup can dance its way right off the riser. 

It comes with what the company describes as a “temporary plastic tamper.” I’d love to see them offer a “permanent metal tamper” instead. Or, barring that, just doing the planet a favor and skipping the tamper altogether. Selling a plastic part so useless that it’s designed to be thrown away is a bad look in 2024.

Is The Lelit Victoria Worth Its Price?

I truly believe the Lelit Victoria is a great value. It’s easily one of my top espresso machines under $1000, especially for anyone excited about improving their barista skills and espresso palate. 

If you just want reliably decent shots, you might find better value elsewhere. But if you’re ready to get serious and hone in on perfection, you’ll appreciate things like the PID controller, 58-mm baskets, and pre-infusion stage.

The Lelit Victoria comes with a 1-year warranty, which I’d like to see extended. Two- and three-year warranties are more common at this price point, which definitely raises questions about the Victoria’s longevity.

Is Lelit owned by Breville?

Yes, Breville acquired Lelit in 2022. However, the two companies remain distinct. Lelit is an Italian brand still firmly in the prosumer market, and machines continue to be made in Italy. Australia-based Breville dominates the domestic market, with lower-price machines made mostly in China.

Don’t Buy The Lelit Victoria If…

• You make a lot of milk drinks: This is the obvious one. If you’re a cappuccino or latte lover, you’ll eventually regret buying a single boiler machine. Instead, consider spending a little more for a heat exchanger like Lelit’s Mara, or go all-in on a double boiler like the Lelit Bianca or Elizabeth.

• You want something with a built-in grinder: Grinding your coffee fresh is critical for a great espresso, but we don’t all have space or budget for a separate espresso grinder. Rather than buying pre-ground coffee, check out the Lelit Kate, which is very similar to the Victoria but includes an integrated burr grinder.

• You don’t care about the PID: If you don’t think you’ll taste the difference from a PID, there are wiser ways to spend your money. The ECM Casa V is the same price as the Victoria but with arguably better build quality. Or save money by opting for something like the Rancilio Silvia.

The Verdict

The Lelit Victoria PL91T is a beautiful and compact single-boiler espresso maker well worth your attention. With PID temperature control, automatic pre-infusion, and a user-friendly digital display, it definitely distinguishes itself from others in its class. As long as you’re not a latte fiend, I believe it’s one of the best entry-level espresso machines for breaking into the prosumer grade.

see on my espresso shop