Gaggia Classic Evo Pro RI9380/49 vs Lelit Mara X V2 PL62X

Anyone who wants commercial fittings at home and expects to keep the machine for a decade

Scores higher on maintenance & cleaning, ease of use & learning curve, value for money.

Someone ready to learn espresso properly who wants dual-boiler-like steam from a compact heat exchanger machine

Scores higher on shot quality & extraction, build quality & durability, steam power & milk texturing.

• +A 58mm commercial portafilter, the same size professional machines use, so every accessory fits
• +9 bar published as the actual extraction pressure rather than a pump maximum
• +Solid steel housing with brass and stainless steel, made in Italy, with a 2.1 litre tank

• −No built-in grinder
• −A single uncoated aluminium boiler, which is the part that most needs descaling
• −1200W, and no warranty term is published

• +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.