Lelit
Lelit Victoria PL91T Espresso Machine - Compact PID Single Boiler with 58mm Group
Description
Entry-Level Prosumer Espresso Machine - Lelit Victoria PL91T
The Lelit Victoria PL91T represents the perfect entry point into prosumer-grade home espresso. This compact Italian espresso machine combines professional features with beginner-friendly operation, delivering café-quality shots from a machine that fits comfortably on any kitchen counter.
Featuring PID temperature control, the LELIT58 commercial group, programmable pre-infusion, and an intuitive OLED display, the Victoria offers capabilities typically found in machines costing hundreds more. With its 300ml brass boiler, 58mm portafilter, and 3-way solenoid valve, this single boiler espresso machine is designed for serious home baristas who demand control, consistency, and quality.
Ready to brew in just 6 minutes with a fast heat-up time, the Victoria makes pulling exceptional espresso shots and steaming milk simple—even for beginners taking their first steps into manual espresso.
Why Choose the Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine?
PID Temperature Control for Precision Brewing
The Lelit Victoria features advanced PID temperature control through Lelit's proprietary LCC (Lelit Control Center). Set your brew temperature to the exact degree in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, and the PID actively monitors and corrects for fluctuations during extraction. This level of precision temperature control ensures shot-to-shot consistency that's impossible with non-PID machines, where temperatures can swing by 15-20°F during the brew cycle.
For light roasts that require higher temperatures or dark roasts that extract better at lower temps, you have complete control. The Victoria also allows separate steam temperature settings, optimizing milk texturing for lattes and cappuccinos.
LELIT58 Commercial Group - Professional Quality
The LELIT58 group head is Lelit's commercial-grade brewing group, designed to maintain thermal stability during extraction. Built directly into the boiler, this 58mm group provides excellent heat retention and compatibility with the vast ecosystem of 58mm espresso accessories—the industry standard size used by commercial machines worldwide.
This means you can use professional-grade tampers, precision filter baskets, puck screens, and bottomless portafilters without worrying about compatibility. The Victoria doesn't compromise on portafilter size like many entry-level machines that use smaller, proprietary sizes.
Programmable Pre-Infusion for Better Extraction
Pre-infusion gently saturates your coffee grounds at low pressure before ramping up to full 9-bar extraction pressure. This technique, used by professional baristas, helps eliminate channeling, improves extraction evenness, and brings out more nuanced flavors from your coffee.
The Victoria's programmable pre-infusion can be toggled on or off through the LCC display, giving you control over your extraction profile. This feature alone can transform mediocre shots into exceptional ones, especially with lighter roasts and single-origin coffees.
Lelit Control Center (LCC) - Intuitive OLED Interface
The high-resolution OLED display provides at-a-glance information about your machine's status. See your brew temperature, steam temperature, extraction time countdown, and water level warnings—all on one clear screen. The LCC also allows you to:
- Adjust brew and steam temperatures in 1-degree increments
- Toggle pre-infusion on/off
- Activate automatic backflushing for cleaning
- Set standby times for energy efficiency
- Monitor extraction time with built-in shot timer
3-Way Solenoid Valve for Dry Pucks
The 3-way solenoid valve releases residual pressure from the portafilter immediately after extraction, resulting in drier coffee pucks that are easier to knock out. This professional feature also enables backflushing for proper cleaning and maintenance, extending the life of your machine and ensuring consistently clean-tasting shots.
Fast 6-Minute Heat-Up Time
Unlike larger dual-boiler machines that can take 20-30 minutes to reach operating temperature, the Victoria's compact 300ml brass boiler heats up in just 6 minutes. The smaller boiler size is actually an advantage for home users—faster warm-up, less energy consumption, and adequate steam power for 1-2 milk drinks at a time.
Auto-Flush Cooling System
After steaming milk, the Victoria's automatic flush feature runs the pump to cool the boiler back down to brewing temperature quickly. This thoughtful feature saves time and prevents accidentally pulling a shot at steaming temperature, which would result in over-extraction and burnt-tasting espresso.
Exceptional 4-Inch Cup Clearance
The Victoria offers an impressive 4-inch cup clearance—one of the tallest in any compact espresso machine. This accommodates full-size coffee mugs, latte cups, and even most travel mugs. A removable cup riser is included to reduce clearance to 3 inches for demitasse and espresso cups, preventing splashing.
Key Features of the Lelit Victoria PL91T
- PID Temperature Control – Precise degree-by-degree temperature adjustment for brew and steam
- LELIT58 Commercial Group – Professional 58mm group head with superior thermal stability
- Programmable Pre-Infusion – Adjustable pre-infusion for improved extraction
- LCC OLED Display – High-resolution display showing temp, time, and machine status
- 300ml Brass Boiler – Fast-heating single boiler for brewing and steaming
- 3-Way Solenoid Valve – Releases pressure for dry pucks and enables backflushing
- 58mm Portafilter – Standard commercial size compatible with all accessories
- Auto-Flush Function – Automatically cools boiler after steaming
- Backlit Manometer – Displays extraction pressure with optimal green zone (8-12 bar)
- 4-Inch Cup Clearance – Accommodates mugs and large cups
- Brushed Stainless Steel Body – Elegant, durable construction
- 2.5L Water Reservoir – Large removable tank for extended brewing sessions
- Multi-Directional Steam Wand – Professional articulating wand with cool-touch handle
- Automatic Backflush Program – Built-in cleaning cycle for easy maintenance
- Shot Timer – Automatic countdown timer during extraction
- Spacious Cup Warmer – Top plate keeps cups warm
- Low Water Indicator – Graphic warning on display
- Energy-Saving Standby Mode – Programmable auto-shutoff
- Made in Italy – Handcrafted Italian design and manufacturing
Technical Specifications
- Model Number: PL91T (also known as PESVI01)
- Boiler Type: Single boiler dual-use (SBDU)
- Boiler Material: Brass
- Boiler Capacity: 300ml (0.3L)
- Group Head: LELIT58 commercial-style 58mm
- Portafilter Size: 58mm standard
- Temperature Control: PID with LCC interface
- Pre-Infusion: Programmable via LCC
- Solenoid Valve: 3-way solenoid
- Water Reservoir: 2.5 liters removable
- Pump Type: Vibratory pump
- Pump Pressure: 15 bar (9 bar at group)
- Power: 1200W (US: 120V, 15A)
- Heat-Up Time: Approximately 6 minutes
- Cup Clearance: 4 inches (10cm) with removable 1-inch riser
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 9" x 15" x 10.75" (23cm x 38cm x 27cm)
- Weight: 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg)
- Display: High-resolution OLED graphic display
- Manometer: Backlit pressure gauge with optimal zone indicator
- Body Material: Brushed stainless steel
- Drip Tray: Stainless steel with wire grate
- Steam Wand: Multi-directional articulating wand
- Certifications: CE certified (EU), UL listed (US)
- Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
- Made in: Italy
What's Included with Your Lelit Victoria
- Lelit Victoria PL91T Espresso Machine
- LELIT58 double portafilter with design handle and Coffee Slide spout
- LELIT58 single dose filter basket (9-11g), IMS precision basket
- LELIT58 double dose filter basket (14-18g), IMS precision basket
- LELIT58 blind filter basket for backflushing, IMS
- 58mm tamper
- Coffee dosing spoon
- 35-liter water softener filter
- Cup rack/riser
- Cleaning brush
- Instruction manual
- 1-year warranty
Perfect For Home Baristas
The Lelit Victoria PL91T is ideal for:
- Beginners entering prosumer espresso who want room to grow their skills
- Espresso enthusiasts upgrading from entry-level machines like Gaggia Classic Pro
- Coffee lovers who prioritize espresso shots over milk drinks
- Small kitchens needing a compact machine with professional features
- Single or two-person households not requiring dual boiler workflow
- Home baristas who want precise temperature control and pre-infusion
- Manual espresso enthusiasts who enjoy the hands-on brewing process
- Budget-conscious buyers wanting prosumer features under $1,000
- Anyone serious about learning proper espresso technique
Single Boiler Dual-Use (SBDU) Explained
The Victoria is a single boiler dual-use (SBDU) espresso machine, meaning one boiler handles both brewing and steaming—but not simultaneously. Here's how the workflow works:
For Espresso Only: Heat up in 6 minutes, pull your shot, enjoy. Simple and fast.
For Milk Drinks: Pull your espresso shot first (brewing temperature ~200°F), then switch to steam mode. The boiler heats to steaming temperature (~265°F) in about 60-90 seconds. Steam your milk, then use the auto-flush to cool back down to brewing temperature for your next shot.
Who is SBDU Right For? If you typically make 1-2 milk drinks at a time or primarily drink straight espresso, americanos, or long blacks, SBDU is perfect. The trade-off for the workflow limitation is a significantly smaller footprint, faster warm-up, lower price point, and less energy consumption compared to heat exchanger or dual boiler machines.
Who Should Consider Dual Boiler? If you're regularly making 3+ milk drinks back-to-back or multiple milk drinks for guests, a dual boiler or heat exchanger machine might serve you better.
Why 58mm Matters
The 58mm portafilter size is the industry standard used in commercial espresso machines worldwide. This seemingly small detail has major implications:
Accessory Compatibility - Access to thousands of aftermarket accessories: precision baskets (VST, IMS), dosing funnels, puck screens, distribution tools, and tampers.
Larger Dose Capacity - 58mm baskets accommodate 16-20g doses comfortably, perfect for modern light-to-medium roast espresso.
Better Extraction Evenness - Larger basket diameter means shallower coffee bed depth for more even water distribution.
Future-Proofing - As your skills develop, you can upgrade accessories without needing a new machine.
Many entry-level machines use proprietary smaller portafilter sizes (53mm, 54mm), limiting your options. The Victoria's 58mm group puts you in the same ecosystem as machines costing $2,000+.
Lelit Warranty Information & Coverage Details
What it Covers: Lelit Espresso Machines
Lelit Warranty Terms Length:
- 1 Year: Espresso Machines (Parts and Labor)
- 1 Year: Grinders (Parts and Labor)
Warranty Phone Contact: 866-273-8455
Warranty: Click here to review Lelit Warranty
Product Registration Required: Register your product with Lelit to activate warranty coverage.
Product User Manual: Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine User Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lelit Victoria is specifically designed as an entry point to prosumer espresso machines, making it excellent for beginners who are serious about learning proper technique. While it has professional features like PID and pre-infusion, the LCC interface makes these features approachable and easy to understand. The included pressurized baskets help beginners pull decent shots while learning, and you can switch to non-pressurized baskets as your skills develop. The Victoria is forgiving enough for first-timers but sophisticated enough that you won't outgrow it quickly. Many users keep their Victoria for 5-10+ years even as experienced baristas because the quality and control are that good. If you're upgrading from a super-automatic or basic steam-driven machine, the Victoria provides the perfect learning curve.
With the Lelit Victoria's single boiler setup, making a latte takes approximately 2-3 minutes total after the initial warm-up. Here's the typical workflow: Pull your espresso shot (25-30 seconds), immediately switch to steam mode, wait 60-90 seconds for the boiler to reach steaming temperature, steam your milk (30-45 seconds), then the auto-flush automatically cools the boiler for your next shot. The entire process is faster than most people expect, and the Victoria's 300ml boiler provides excellent steam power—strong enough for proper microfoam texture. If you're making multiple milk drinks, expect about 90 seconds between drinks for the steam-to-brew cycle. For comparison, dual boilers eliminate the temperature change wait but cost $1,500-$3,000 more and take up significantly more counter space.
Both are excellent entry-level machines, but the Lelit Victoria offers several significant upgrades over the Gaggia Classic Pro. The Victoria has PID temperature control (Gaggia doesn't), programmable pre-infusion (Gaggia doesn't), a 3-way solenoid (Gaggia has a 3-way but simpler implementation), the LCC OLED display (Gaggia has basic LED indicators), automatic backflushing (Gaggia requires manual process), 4-inch cup clearance (Gaggia has 3.5 inches), and faster heat-up time (6 minutes vs 10+ minutes). The Victoria also has superior build quality with its commercial-style LELIT58 group and brass boiler, while the Gaggia uses aluminum. The trade-off is price—the Gaggia Classic Pro costs about $450-550 while the Victoria is $999. If budget allows, the Victoria provides substantially more features and a better long-term experience.
Yes, but with some limitations. The Victoria handles 2-3 drinks comfortably within about 5-10 minutes. For a small gathering where you're making 4-6 drinks, it's manageable but requires patience as you wait for the temperature changes between shots and steaming. The 300ml boiler provides enough steam power for proper microfoam, so milk quality won't suffer. The 2.5L water reservoir is large enough for multiple drinks without refilling. However, if you regularly entertain and make milk drinks for 4+ people simultaneously, you might find the single boiler workflow limiting. For occasional hosting, it's fine. For daily high-volume use, consider a heat exchanger or dual boiler machine instead.
PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) temperature control dramatically improves shot consistency and quality by actively monitoring and correcting temperature fluctuations during extraction. Non-PID machines can swing ±15-20°F as the heating element cycles on and off, leading to inconsistent extraction—some shots are sour (under-extracted from low temp), others bitter (over-extracted from high temp). The Victoria's PID maintains temperature within ±1-2°F of your set point throughout the entire shot. This precision matters because espresso extraction is extremely temperature-sensitive: a 5°F difference can mean the difference between sour, sweet, and bitter. With PID, you can also dial in the optimal temperature for different coffees—light roasts extract better at 203-205°F, medium roasts at 200-202°F, and dark roasts at 195-198°F. Once you experience PID-controlled espresso, you'll never want to go back to non-PID machines.