I tested Lelit’s brand-new entry-level prosumer espresso machine — and it’s one of the best I’ve ever used

The Lelit Mara X3 is, hands down, one of the best espresso machines for coffee nerds. As it’s surprisingly easy to use for a prosumer machine, I’d even recommend it as your first heat exchanger, or first foray into the coffee snob world.

And… just look at it. The Mara X3 looks like it knows what it’s doing. It looks like it struts rather than walks. It looks like it’s never late — everyone else is simply early. The wood flourishes and chrome accents make this an espresso machine and an art piece at the same time. I just can’t get over how beautiful it is.

Thankfully, it also works a treat, too. Although it took me around thirty drinks to finally get some latte art, I’d put this down to user incompetence rather than the machine itself. Want to find out more about this gorgeous new machine? Why wouldn’t you? To find out, keep reading this Lelit Mara X3 review.

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Lelit Mara X3 review: Specs

Lelit Mara X3 review: Price & availability

The Lelit Mara X3 is brand new, and, as a result, isn’t yet available for purchase in the U.S.. You can get the Mara X — the original version — for $1,359 from Seattle Coffee Gear, which is a nice $350 off its original price.

The Mara X3 will be available to buy in the U.S. on 1st July for $1,999. In the U.K., the Mara X3 is £1,499 from Lelit direct. While this might seem pretty pricey, for a prosumer model like the Mara X3, this is pretty standard. The triple-boiler Smeg Mini Pro EMC02 is $1,800, the dual-boiler Diletta Mio is $1,400, and the Fellow Series 1 is $1,499. The revered La Marzocco Linea Mini is an eye-watering $6,600. If you want a Lelit for a fraction of the cost, the $599 Lelit Anna has a PID controller and a manometer for pro-on-a-budget performance.

The Mara X3 is a heat exchanger and has a 1.8L single boiler that lets you steam and brew at the same time.

The Mara X3 also has some more prosumer features, namely a 58mm-L58E group (Lelit’s proprietary version of the E61), and a near-commercial steam wand.

The main difference between the X and the X3 is the flow control system, Pagaia. Pagaia lets you control the intensity of the flow using a little paddle on the side of the machine — this is for pre-infusion. There’s also a temperature configuration button (so you can change the water temperature depending on your beans, as light roast beans need hotter water), and a steam boost.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Design

As you might expect, the Lelit Mara X3 is a sight to behold. I knew it would be, because the Lelit Bianca ($2,999) is, hands-down, the most beautiful espresso machine in the world. If I were to describe my ideal espresso machine, in terms of looks alone, it would be the Bianca.

Thankfully, the Mara X3 has the same wood finishes as the Bianca. You could almost describe the steam and water knob placement as anthropomorphic, like the machine is watching me, judging how I make my coffee. Hey, Mara X3, enjoying the show?

I jest, I jest, but enough people in the office commented on the almost ocular knob placement, so I’ll let you be the judge of it.

Another thing you might expect is that the Mara X3 is built incredibly well. The drip tray slots into the machine perfectly, the cold-touch steam wand is fluid and flexible, and the knobs are easy to twist. The L58E group looks divine, with shiny chrome and a non-removable “CAUTION: HOT” sticker.

Looks aside, let’s get into the real meat: things that actually make the coffee. The Mara X3 has three unique features: the Pagaia flow control paddle, the steam button, and the temperature control switch.

The Pagaia paddle is for customizing your flow, so, effectively, it gives you complete control over your low-pressure and high-pressure infusion. Want a 20 second pre-infusion? Go for it with the Pagaia. Minimal pre-infusion? Again, you can do it. I found that a few seconds of low pressure before ramping up the flow to the max provided me the best flavor.

The steam button is hidden on the right side of the machine: either flick it up for max pressure, or down for less pressure. I preferred mine on the max.

Lastly, the temperature control switch is under the drip tray. You can change this from low, medium, and hot, each setting correlating to different roasts. As I only really drink light roast, I kept the temperature on the hottest setting.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Espresso

Alright, let’s get into the good stuff. I tested the Mara X3 for around four weeks, making up to ten coffees per office day. It got through about four bags of the same Rwandan coffee — and every single one tasted divine. I ground all my coffee using the Mazzer Philos, the best grinder in the world (if you’ve got $1,500 to spare!).

After a 15-ish minute heat-up, I was ready to brew. While the Mara X takes 25 minutes to preheat, the Mara X3 takes closer to 15. The temperature button flashes while it’s heating and stays solid white once it’s ready, so it’s easy to know when the machine is good to go.

Unlike cheaper machines, the Mara X3 has a real manometer. This displays the pressure — you want it around 9 — so you can easily see if your coffee has been ground too fine or too coarse. Of course, experienced baristas can tell this from looks alone, but it’s great for beginners. There’s also a steam manometer so you can see if the steam wand needs to be on “Max” mode.

Take a look at this espresso. This extracted in 28 seconds at a 1:2 ratio, so just on the higher end of the “golden window” of extraction.

As you can see, the crema is rich, decadent, and a beautiful caramel color. This espresso tasted perfect, with delicate roasted sugar notes and a nice juicy sweetness to round it out. I had this in an oat milk iced latte. There was zero bitterness or staleness.

I obtained this flavor consistently. I never made a bad shot on the Mara X3.

Of course, you can adjust the flavor of your espresso using the Pagaia paddle and customizing pre-infusion. You can literally experiment to your heart’s desire with the X3. It’s the ideal machine for coffee lovers who want to get a little bit nerdy about their extraction.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Milk

As touched upon earlier, I used the steam wand on max power (adjustable via a switch on the side of the machine). I was gobsmacked by how fast the steam wand heated a full jug of milk — around thirty seconds. You really have to be quick with it, and you really have to know what you’re doing.

I thought I knew what I was doing, but, reader, the Mara X3 humbled me. It took me about thirty drinks to get a flat white with latte art. Usually, I can wrangle latte art from any machine — even $350 Casabrews Marenzas — and there’s visual proof of this on all my espresso machine reviews, including my best-ever latte art on the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($649).

But, no, the Mara X3 taught me to think again. I am not the coffee god I thought I was. I had to really lock in and concentrate my butt off while using this steam wand. Maybe it was my fault for using it at max power, but I found that lower power was even more difficult to obtain an optimal texture. Also, I used to be a professional barista! I used to use commercial-standard machines day in, day out, hundreds of cups of coffee with perfect latte art every time.

This is the best latte art I achieved on the Mara 3.

It’s fine, but it’s not symmetrical enough for me to like it. This is the Mara X3’s only downside: its steam wand is a little tricky to use. With practice, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out and master it, but just be warned that it takes more time than, say, a Breville Bambino Plus. I was able to get the all-important vortex easily thanks to the Mara X3’s extreme power, so it’s just a game of acclimatizing to the wand.

The Mara X3 also doesn’t come with a milk jug, so you’ll need to buy one separately. I personally love Sage’s angled spout jugs, or you could splurge on the Subminimal FlowTip ($39), the Fellow Eddy ($39), or the Lelit Jug ($39).

Lelit Mara X3 review: Storage & maintenance

The Mara X3 is quite large, but it looks so good while it’s out on the counter, so I don’t really mind. It’s a chunky 21 inches deep and 15 inches wide, so make sure you’ve got enough space in your kitchen for this monster. It’s bigger than the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, which is the biggest machine I’ve tested thus far.

Lelit offers a 12-month limited warranty as standard, which is a little disappointing. I’d expect at least two years for a prosumer machine — Diletta, Meraki, Rocket, and Fellow offer two years. Profitec only offers one year, though, too.

Cleaning is easy — just wash the drip tray at the end of each day, make sure you’re descaling as necessary (your location’s water hardness will dictate this), and use a water filter if needed. I had no issues maintaining this machine.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Verdict

The Lelit Mara X3 is a dream first prosumer machine. It’s surprisingly easy to use — once you either make peace with no latte art or spend enough time to perfect said latte art — and makes delicious espresso without breaking a sweat. Once, I made eight flat whites in a row, and the Mara X3 brewed with a smile on its face.

Although the steam wand requires a little more practice than any other espresso machine I’ve ever used, this is fine if you’re the kind of barista who enjoys finessing your skills. The Mara X3 is made for you — not those who’d rather get a fully automatic machine and call it a day.

Would I buy the Mara X3 for myself? 100% yes. This is a beauty. It’s a talking point. I’d invite people round to my house just to show it off. If I had $2k, the Mara X3 would already be in my kitchen.