Breville Barista Express BES870XL vs Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X
AheadThe verdict
Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X is narrowly ahead, 6.6 to Breville Barista Express BES870XL's 6.4. It leads on build quality & durability and steam power & milk texturing.
Breville Barista Express BES870XL costs $1,006.96 less.
Who each one suits
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
Somebody buying their first proper espresso setup who wants the grinder in the same box
Scores higher on shot quality & extraction, ease of use & learning curve, value for money.
Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X
Someone ready to learn espresso properly who wants dual-boiler-like steam from a compact heat exchanger machine
Scores higher on build quality & durability, steam power & milk texturing, maintenance & cleaning.
How they score, criterion by criterion
Both are scored the same way against the rest of their category, from what their makers publish. The weight is how much each criterion moves the total. How the score works
| Criterion | Weight in category | Breville Barista Express BES870XL | Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shot Quality & Extraction | 22% | 8.5 | 8.1 |
| Build Quality & Durability | 16% | 7.6 | 8.7 |
| Steam Power & Milk Texturing | 16% | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Maintenance & Cleaning | 12% | 5.0 | 8.3 |
| Workflow & Ergonomics | 12% | 5.0 | 6.9 |
| Ease of Use & Learning Curve | 12% | 4.7 | 3.3 |
| Value for Money | 10% | 6.5 | 2.9 |
What each one costs
| Price | $692.99 | $1,699.95 |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Breville Barista Express BES870XL | Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $692.99 | $1,699.95 |
| Best for | Somebody buying their first proper espresso setup who wants the grinder in the same box | Someone ready to learn espresso properly who wants dual-boiler-like steam from a compact heat exchanger machine |
| What sets it apart | An integrated conical burr grinder and PID temperature control in one machine, so the grind and the shot are tuned together | — |
| Body Material | Stainless steel | Brushed stainless steel |
| Boiler | — | 1 |
| Boiler Type | — | Heat exchanger, 1.8 l AISI 316L stainless steel |
| Brew Modes | — | Two, selected by a mode button: Xmode coffee and Xmode steam. Lelit names them and does not publish what each one does |
| Built in Grinder | ✓ | ✕ |
| Colour Options | — | Brushed Stainless Steel, Black, White |
| Made in | — | Italy |
| Dimensions | — | 225 x 520 x 355 mm |
| Hx Detail | — | Double probe HX System with thermosyphon circulation, which Lelit describes as patent pending |
| In Box Accessories | — | Four IMS filters: a 9 to 11 g single, a 14 to 18 g double, an 18 to 21 g double and a blind filter for backflushing |
| Machine Type | Semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder | Semi-automatic heat exchanger espresso machine with an L58E group |
| PID control | Yes, digital temperature regulation (PID) | Temperature configuration button with Warm, Hot and Extra Hot settings |
| Portafilter Size | — | 58 mm |
| Power | 1600 W | 1250 W |
| Pre Infusion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pressure Gauge | — | ✓ |
| Pressurised Basket | — | ✕ |
| Price Note | — | Lelit's own page shows no price; $1,699.95 is an authorised dealer's price |
| Pump Type | — | Vibration pump, described by the maker as silent |
| Ships to | US | — |
| Ships to Note | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. | — |
| Starting Price Note | — | $1,699.95 on Lelit's own US store. Its international page shows no price at all |
| Steam Wand Type | Manual steam wand for hand-textured microfoam | Anti-burn multidirectional steam wand |
| Warm-up time | — | 1440, published as 24 minutes |
| Water Tank | — | 2.5 L |
| Weight | 10.0 kg | 18.5 kg |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
- +An integrated conical burr grinder that doses on demand, so beans go from hopper to basket in one action
- +PID temperature regulation and low pressure pre-infusion
- +Stainless steel with a 1600W element, and a one-year warranty
- +$692.99 for a grinder and machine together, just under the $699.99 category median
- −A manual steam wand: milk is textured by hand
- −One year of cover, where the Barista Pro and Touch publish two
- −10kg, the heaviest machine in this category
Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X
- +A 1.8 l AISI 316L stainless steel heat exchanger boiler, so brewing and steaming are both ready without waiting between them.
- +Warm, Hot and Extra Hot temperature settings on one button, simple enough to use from day one.
- +IMS precision baskets for single, double and 18 to 21 g doses, plus a blind basket for cleaning.
- +Double manometer showing pump and steam pressure, and mechanical pre-infusion.
- +Brushed stainless steel body, made in Italy, in a compact 225 mm wide footprint.
- −Lelit states a 24 minute warm-up, far longer than a thermoblock or ThermoJet machine.
- −No grinder, so a capable espresso grinder has to be budgeted on top.
- −An authorised dealer lists a 1 year warranty, shorter than the 2 years common on automatic machines, and Lelit's page does not state one.
- −Three temperature positions rather than a numeric readout, which limits fine control.
Every specification, side by side
| Breville Barista Express BES870XL | Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $692.99 | $1,699.95 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | Somebody buying their first proper espresso setup who wants the grinder in the same box | Someone ready to learn espresso properly who wants dual-boiler-like steam from a compact heat exchanger machine |
| What sets it apart | An integrated conical burr grinder and PID temperature control in one machine, so the grind and the shot are tuned together | — |
| Specifications | ||
| Automatic milk frother | ✕ | ✕ |
| Body Material | Stainless steel | Brushed stainless steel |
| Boiler | — | 1 |
| Boiler Type | — | Heat exchanger, 1.8 l AISI 316L stainless steel |
| Brew Modes | — | Two, selected by a mode button: Xmode coffee and Xmode steam. Lelit names them and does not publish what each one does |
| Built in Grinder | ✓ | ✕ |
| Colour Options | — | Brushed Stainless Steel, Black, White |
| Made in | — | Italy |
| Dimensions | — | 225 x 520 x 355 mm |
| Hx Detail | — | Double probe HX System with thermosyphon circulation, which Lelit describes as patent pending |
| In Box Accessories | — | Four IMS filters: a 9 to 11 g single, a 14 to 18 g double, an 18 to 21 g double and a blind filter for backflushing |
| Machine Type | Semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder | Semi-automatic heat exchanger espresso machine with an L58E group |
| PID control | Yes, digital temperature regulation (PID) | Temperature configuration button with Warm, Hot and Extra Hot settings |
| Portafilter Size | — | 58 mm |
| Power | 1600 W | 1250 W |
| Pre Infusion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pressure Gauge | — | ✓ |
| Pressurised Basket | — | ✕ |
| Price Note | — | Lelit's own page shows no price; $1,699.95 is an authorised dealer's price |
| Pump Type | — | Vibration pump, described by the maker as silent |
| Ships to | US | — |
| Ships to Note | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. | — |
| Starting Price Note | — | $1,699.95 on Lelit's own US store. Its international page shows no price at all |
| Steam Wand Type | Manual steam wand for hand-textured microfoam | Anti-burn multidirectional steam wand |
| Warm-up time | — | 1440, published as 24 minutes |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Water Tank | — | 2.5 L |
| Weight | 10.0 kg | 18.5 kg |
Breville Barista Express BES870XL vs Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X: common questions
Which is better, Breville Barista Express BES870XL or Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X?
Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X scores 6.6 against 6.4, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Breville Barista Express BES870XL is still ahead on shot quality & extraction.
Is Breville Barista Express BES870XL or Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X cheaper?
Breville Barista Express BES870XL starts at $692.99, and Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X at $1,699.95.
Who is Breville Barista Express BES870XL for?
Somebody buying their first proper espresso setup who wants the grinder in the same box
Who is Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X for?
Someone ready to learn espresso properly who wants dual-boiler-like steam from a compact heat exchanger machine
Keep comparing
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- Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X vs La Marzocco Linea Micra
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