Per the instruction manual and the retailer I bought mine from, they recommend starting the machine in water mode, opening the steam valve, and kicking the pump on to get a steady stream of water out of the machine to make sure there's water in the boiler. That way the electronics don't get overheated by the boiler kicking on at startup to an empty vessel. Not sure if it's as serious a concern as they've made it out to be, but seems like a best practice that you skipped here.
Thank you for the video, it's very informative. I've been considering this machine and my main concern has been the portafilter size. But I see you've addressed that in some of the comments. I'm feeling pretty good about it now. I listened to your cover of Spooky, it's really good.
Hello there! I recently bought the Lelit Anna without knowing all concerns about the strange 57 mm portafilter size. However, you would be able to find all what you need bottomless, coffee puck, tamper, funnel and distributor as usual BUT it’s true it will cost you a few extra bucks tho..TBH i only purchased the bottomless from Lelit, tamper and coffee puck and its all good! Sometime its better to keep it simple and not over buying unnecessary stuff!
You can actually buy a stainless steel drip tray from several places and a slightly cheaper stainless cover to make it look like one. Why bother though? The plastic one is fine, easy to keep clean and provides some nice contrast to the mirror finish. Personally I prefer pulling the shot before steaming but that’s just my preference. Enjoy your machine!
Thanks for the nicely done video with your honest and practical opinions! I'm comparing this to a Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia. I'm upgrading from a Saeco Barista with pressurized portafilter. This machine looks like a good value since it gives you the PID and pressure guage. I suppose the odd size portafilter one can live with since you only have to buy accessories once.
You are very welcome! Honestly I really haven’t found the portafilter size to be an issue at all! It really does do a great job! I am completely happy!
@@markfulwider Hi Mark - I finally ordered a machine last week. Anna's have been out of stock so I ordered a Silvia. It came with a dent and I wasn't impressed with the "exterior build quality" esp the drip tray cover, and all the "thin steel'" with folded edges so I'm returning it. My 20 yrs old Saeco Barista is solid stainless thick enough that it has no folded over edges. I suppose people buy Silvia's for the well built mechanics not the pretty exterior., thus why they call it a "work horse". It's just astonishing that they don't improve the tray cover that looks like it belongs in a garage not a kitchen. I'm strongly considering the Anna again (or a Glenda to get 58mm). Trying to look closer at your video, it appears the top ledges of the Anna steel wrap are rounded or folded over as well. Maybe one has to go up over $1000+ to get the higher quality exteriors today - perhaps just doesn't fit the cost structure of a $700 retail machine. Also - it seems that in the video it took over 90 sec to steam the your milk. How is the milk frothing on the Anna? I do mostly milk based drinks. Two per day, while WFH, one per day if/when we go back to the office to work. Thanks!
@@hokie85ee Frothing seems fine to me, comparable to my Expobar Machine I had previously. Yes, the top edges do appear to be folded over. Does seem to be well built. Probably the weakest point on the machine is the steam knob. Works, just doesn’t inspire tremendous long term confidence.
@@markfulwider thanks for detailed review! Can I ask why you would recommend steaming milk 1st then pulling shot? And is the steam power strong enough to whirlpool the milk into microfoam? Another user reported water dripping from the wand =/ can you speak to your experience with that?
Hi! is this ok that a temperature on the screen is changing all the time from 92 to 93 degrees( set up is 93) ? sometimes on my machine it's changing even more than 1-2 degrees.
so the 2 cup basket that comes with the machine only holds 14 grams? don't you need 18-20 for a double shot? did you have to buy a separate portafilter?
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! The two dose basket is actually good for 14-18 grams....they also make a 2 dose PLUS which goes up to 18-21 grams! Blessings!
Thanks for the nice video. A tip for preinfusion: use the steam knob instead of turning the pump on for 2 seconds. What you do is actually prewatering. Using the knob helps to build up pressure gradually and smoothly. Hope this technique will come in handy.
Hey there! Thanks for dropping by! Ya know, I am not really sure how to answer that one as I NEVER have just straight espresso. Sorry I don’t really have a good answer for ya there! Blessings!
Well you could certainly do espresso first, but I find it makes more sense for me to do milk first as when I finish making my latte the machine is in brew temp mode and I don’t forget to take it out of steam mode. I just found the Lelit to be a better value over many of the other similar priced machines out there. It really does make some great espresso drinks. So far, I have been pleased with my decision to go with the Lelit!
I do have one complaint against the Lelit. The steam wand leaks a bit when you turn it on. Not a lot, but it is something to be aware of. I just put a small container under it before I turn it on to catch the little bit of water that seems to always come out. My understanding is that most of the people who own this machine have the same issue, so you can expect that yours will likely weep a bit of water as well.
@@markfulwider Thanks. Someone should email Lelit and let them know. I have emailed them a couple of times about machines and wasn't aware of this. They might be able to fix it in newer versions.
I don't own a machine with a PID but have been shopping for one for a few months and reading. I think its because of the cold water entering the boiler, it will drop some, but then the PID should kick on the element sooner than a non-PID machine to get the water back to temp. I've also read that the water outlet should be out of the top of the boiler where the water is warmer, so in theory the water temp is more constant at the group head than it appears on the display...? But much more consistent overall than a non-PID machine where the temp may have to drop 10-15 degrees before the element comes back on.
What fat percentage does the milk have? I am using 1.5% and I cannot create a silky textured milk. The machine just warms the milk. I am having a Lelit Anna PL41TEM
I use whole grass fed milk from a local Amish dairy farm. Seems to do pretty well. I have never tried any low-fat milk, but it would seem that a higher fat content could yield a more silky texture.
Hahaha! Not sure that I am all that scientific about my expresso making. I mainly just enjoy the process. The noises, the smell(back when I COULD smell), the look of the espresso as it is being extracted.....and of course the taste of a good latte! But I will try my best to answer ya! Steaming temp starts around 280 degrees and drops to around 230 and begins to heat back up again....give or take a few degrees. Not sure exactly how many grams I am using as I have never weighed my coffe. I just kinda go by look and feel and a “that’s looks about right” attitude. I am going to guess it is somewhere close to 18 grams and is pretty consistent in volume as I use a Ceado E6P programmable grinder. I roast my own coffee so I can get pretty consistent with my roasts as well, unless I have different beans than I usually get. There are times when I get a different coffee I will need to adjust the grinder times and grind settings to get it back in the ball park again. But again, this is all by look and feel NOT weight so it is not very scientific at all. And finally, I must display my ignorance and confess that I have no idea what ya mean by brew ratio! Hahaha! Maybe you can enlighten me? Blessings!
@@markfulwider man you are awesome, I wish my coffee process was that simple and not scientific. unfortunately, if I not go by the book the coffee's tatse is urrrr
If anyone still doesn't know this, the brew ratio is the coffee powder to coffee drink ratio. The usual brew ratio for espresso is 2, so for 18 grams of coffee powder you get 36 grams of coffee in the cup. Or for 14 grams you get 28 grams of coffee.
Here is a link to the product price today. This review video is a few years old so the price has gone a bit. $699 at last check I think. www.1st-line.com/buy/lelit-pl41tem-anna-pid-espresso-machine/
@@markfulwider He meant 20000 centuries to steam, meaning it's taking 2 million years to finish the steaming process. Meaning it's too long. lol :)) But from what I've seen it doesn't seem long.
Nice summary with a professionnal voice!
Instant like for the awesome intro music
Thanks for stopping by to enjoy the music!
Per the instruction manual and the retailer I bought mine from, they recommend starting the machine in water mode, opening the steam valve, and kicking the pump on to get a steady stream of water out of the machine to make sure there's water in the boiler. That way the electronics don't get overheated by the boiler kicking on at startup to an empty vessel. Not sure if it's as serious a concern as they've made it out to be, but seems like a best practice that you skipped here.
For sure wanna do that when ya first get it! Very good point my friend! Blessings!
Thank you for the video, it's very informative. I've been considering this machine and my main concern has been the portafilter size. But I see you've addressed that in some of the comments. I'm feeling pretty good about it now. I listened to your cover of Spooky, it's really good.
Thanks for dropping by! Yeah, no issues with portafilter size. Still loving my Lelit! Glad you enjoyed spooky! Blessings!
Hello there! I recently bought the Lelit Anna without knowing all concerns about the strange 57 mm portafilter size. However, you would be able to find all what you need bottomless, coffee puck, tamper, funnel and distributor as usual BUT it’s true it will cost you a few extra bucks tho..TBH i only purchased the bottomless from Lelit, tamper and coffee puck and its all good! Sometime its better to keep it simple and not over buying unnecessary stuff!
You can actually buy a stainless steel drip tray from several places and a slightly cheaper stainless cover to make it look like one. Why bother though? The plastic one is fine, easy to keep clean and provides some nice contrast to the mirror finish.
Personally I prefer pulling the shot before steaming but that’s just my preference. Enjoy your machine!
Thanks for the nicely done video with your honest and practical opinions! I'm comparing this to a Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia. I'm upgrading from a Saeco Barista with pressurized portafilter. This machine looks like a good value since it gives you the PID and pressure guage. I suppose the odd size portafilter one can live with since you only have to buy accessories once.
You are very welcome! Honestly I really haven’t found the portafilter size to be an issue at all! It really does do a great job! I am completely happy!
If you go looking for 57mm portafilter’s for this they are out there, you just might have to wait a while to get one.
@@markfulwider Hi Mark - I finally ordered a machine last week. Anna's have been out of stock so I ordered a Silvia. It came with a dent and I wasn't impressed with the "exterior build quality" esp the drip tray cover, and all the "thin steel'" with folded edges so I'm returning it. My 20 yrs old Saeco Barista is solid stainless thick enough that it has no folded over edges. I suppose people buy Silvia's for the well built mechanics not the pretty exterior., thus why they call it a "work horse". It's just astonishing that they don't improve the tray cover that looks like it belongs in a garage not a kitchen.
I'm strongly considering the Anna again (or a Glenda to get 58mm). Trying to look closer at your video, it appears the top ledges of the Anna steel wrap are rounded or folded over as well. Maybe one has to go up over $1000+ to get the higher quality exteriors today - perhaps just doesn't fit the cost structure of a $700 retail machine.
Also - it seems that in the video it took over 90 sec to steam the your milk. How is the milk frothing on the Anna? I do mostly milk based drinks. Two per day, while WFH, one per day if/when we go back to the office to work.
Thanks!
@@hokie85ee Frothing seems fine to me, comparable to my Expobar Machine I had previously. Yes, the top edges do appear to be folded over. Does seem to be well built. Probably the weakest point on the machine is the steam knob. Works, just doesn’t inspire tremendous long term confidence.
@@markfulwider thanks for detailed review! Can I ask why you would recommend steaming milk 1st then pulling shot? And is the steam power strong enough to whirlpool the milk into microfoam? Another user reported water dripping from the wand =/ can you speak to your experience with that?
Hi there, do u consider Lelit anna/anita superior to Breville bambino /Barista espress Machines?
Hi! is this ok that a temperature on the screen is changing all the time from 92 to 93 degrees( set up is 93) ? sometimes on my machine it's changing even more than 1-2 degrees.
Good real comments ...thanks
You are very welcome!
so the 2 cup basket that comes with the machine only holds 14 grams? don't you need 18-20 for a double shot? did you have to buy a separate portafilter?
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! The two dose basket is actually good for 14-18 grams....they also make a 2 dose PLUS which goes up to 18-21 grams! Blessings!
is the milk steam dry or with a lot of water?
Thanks for the nice video. A tip for preinfusion: use the steam knob instead of turning the pump on for 2 seconds. What you do is actually prewatering. Using the knob helps to build up pressure gradually and smoothly. Hope this technique will come in handy.
Hmmmm….. how does the stream knob send moisture to the puck if it’s coming out the wand? Not sure I understand.
If just making an espresso is the temperature hot? I am coming from a Breville Bambino plus and it always comes out warm, not hot enough.
Hey there! Thanks for dropping by! Ya know, I am not really sure how to answer that one as I NEVER have just straight espresso. Sorry I don’t really have a good answer for ya there! Blessings!
What is your dose in and what is your yield?
I came for the review, i stayed for the music. 10/10
Ha ha ha! Hey, thanks for stopping by and grooving with me for a bit! Blessings!
Hi there! What sliding platform are you using underneath?
Keurig sliding drawer! Works perfect!
Great video. What slide out tray are you using?
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! I am using the tray that came with the unit. Plastic bottom with a stainless top. Works great for me! No issues.
Two questions. 1 Why did you do your milk first? 2. Why did you pick this one over other espresso machines?
Well you could certainly do espresso first, but I find it makes more sense for me to do milk first as when I finish making my latte the machine is in brew temp mode and I don’t forget to take it out of steam mode. I just found the Lelit to be a better value over many of the other similar priced machines out there. It really does make some great espresso drinks. So far, I have been pleased with my decision to go with the Lelit!
I do have one complaint against the Lelit. The steam wand leaks a bit when you turn it on. Not a lot, but it is something to be aware of. I just put a small container under it before I turn it on to catch the little bit of water that seems to always come out. My understanding is that most of the people who own this machine have the same issue, so you can expect that yours will likely weep a bit of water as well.
@@markfulwider Thanks. Someone should email Lelit and let them know. I have emailed them a couple of times about machines and wasn't aware of this. They might be able to fix it in newer versions.
Why does the temp on the Pid reduce during extraction? Shouldn't it remain constant?
I don't own a machine with a PID but have been shopping for one for a few months and reading. I think its because of the cold water entering the boiler, it will drop some, but then the PID should kick on the element sooner than a non-PID machine to get the water back to temp. I've also read that the water outlet should be out of the top of the boiler where the water is warmer, so in theory the water temp is more constant at the group head than it appears on the display...? But much more consistent overall than a non-PID machine where the temp may have to drop 10-15 degrees before the element comes back on.
Yep that is correct!
Thats wrong
Temp always in 0.5 deg range
In portafilter
Check Lelt Insider Tests
What fat percentage does the milk have? I am using 1.5% and I cannot create a silky textured milk. The machine just warms the milk. I am having a Lelit Anna PL41TEM
I use whole grass fed milk from a local Amish dairy farm. Seems to do pretty well. I have never tried any low-fat milk, but it would seem that a higher fat content could yield a more silky texture.
What is your steaming temp?
How many grams of coffee you put in and what is your brewing ratio?
Hahaha! Not sure that I am all that scientific about my expresso making. I mainly just enjoy the process. The noises, the smell(back when I COULD smell), the look of the espresso as it is being extracted.....and of course the taste of a good latte! But I will try my best to answer ya! Steaming temp starts around 280 degrees and drops to around 230 and begins to heat back up again....give or take a few degrees. Not sure exactly how many grams I am using as I have never weighed my coffe. I just kinda go by look and feel and a “that’s looks about right” attitude. I am going to guess it is somewhere close to 18 grams and is pretty consistent in volume as I use a Ceado E6P programmable grinder. I roast my own coffee so I can get pretty consistent with my roasts as well, unless I have different beans than I usually get. There are times when I get a different coffee I will need to adjust the grinder times and grind settings to get it back in the ball park again. But again, this is all by look and feel NOT weight so it is not very scientific at all. And finally, I must display my ignorance and confess that I have no idea what ya mean by brew ratio! Hahaha! Maybe you can enlighten me? Blessings!
@@markfulwider man you are awesome, I wish my coffee process was that simple and not scientific. unfortunately, if I not go by the book the coffee's tatse is urrrr
If anyone still doesn't know this, the brew ratio is the coffee powder to coffee drink ratio. The usual brew ratio for espresso is 2, so for 18 grams of coffee powder you get 36 grams of coffee in the cup. Or for 14 grams you get 28 grams of coffee.
Did you say this machine is available for ONLY $629 U.S. ?! If so - WHERE?
Here is a link to the product price today. This review video is a few years old so the price has gone a bit. $699 at last check I think. www.1st-line.com/buy/lelit-pl41tem-anna-pid-espresso-machine/
Do you still like and own the Anna
Yes, I still own it! Still works great! This is a wonderful entry level single boiler espresso machine! Heats up very quickly!😊😊
Enjoy your milk with a dash of cofee :)
Hahaha! I know, right?
@@markfulwider all good 👍🏼
20000 century to steam?
I am afraid I don’t understand the meaning of your comment. Can you explain?
@@markfulwider He meant 20000 centuries to steam, meaning it's taking 2 million years to finish the steaming process. Meaning it's too long. lol :)) But from what I've seen it doesn't seem long.
@@RaduRadonys Hahaha! Thanks for the clarification! Blessings!