Lelit Anna Review: Step Aside, Gaggia and Rancilio!

If you happen to be on the lookout for a compact and affordable home espresso machine that’ll really deliver, this Lelit Anna review is for you.

Having already reviewed a few Lelit espresso machines, I know that this Italian manufacturer really knows what it’s doing. With that said, many of the brand’s most sought-after models are prohibitively expensive for home espresso enthusiasts.

That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to the Lelit Anna, which won’t break the bank. So, without further ado, let’s take a first look at what this baby can do!

Lelit Anna Review Overview

In my guide to the best prosumer espresso machines you’ll find some exceptional models, all of which have sizable price tags. However, there are machines out there that walk a fine line between prosumer and appliance-grade.

I’d say the Lelit Anna is a prosumer machine, seeing as it’s equipped with high-quality, commercial-style components. However, its compact design and approachable asking price make it ideal for espresso nerds on a limited budget.

At around $700.00, the Lelit Anna is a good deal more affordable than many more well-known machines. But the manufacturer hasn’t skimped in the quality department. In fact, the Anna comes with high-end features like digital PID control, a powerful commercial steam wand and a burly 57mm portafilter.

Suffice to say, the Lelit Anna will be capable of producing excellent espresso and silky microfoam, although you will need to buy a high-quality espresso grinder. With that in mind, check out my Lelit Fred grinder review. As it happens, the manufacturer designed the Fred Espresso Grinder to complement the Anna Espresso Machine.

I haven’t yet had a chance to test out the Lelit Anna, although I plan on ordering the machine from Seattle Coffee Gear. And once I’ve put the Anna through its paces I’ll be sure to update this review. In the meantime, let’s continue this Lelit Anna review by looking at the machine’s most notable features.

Lelit Anna Features

Size and Design

While the Lelit Annaisn’t jostling for your attention, the machine has a boxy, minimalist aesthetic that’s easy to love. In fact, the Anna looks kind of like a mashup between the Gaggia Classic Pro and the Rancilio Silvia. More importantly, the Lelit Anna features an abundance of polished stainless steel in its construction. That not only looks good, but also bodes well for the machine’s longevity.

As I’ve already mentioned more than once, this is a very compact home espresso machine. That’ll be a real bonus if space is tight in your kitchen, especially seeing as you’ll need additional room for a burr coffee grinder. Just remember to measure carefully, because the 91-ounce (2.7-liter) water tank sits at the rear of the machine. So, overhead cabinets could definitely cause problems when it’s time to remove or refill the reservoir.

User Interface

The Lelit Anna features a simple and effective user interface that shouldn’t be too intimidating for beginners.

There’s a simple three-way switch for selecting steam, brewing or hot water functions, as well as a switch to engage the pump. The latter switch is the one you’ll use to start your espresso extraction and also stop it. After all, this is a manual machine, so the pump will continue to work until you flip the switch.

Elsewhere, there’s an LCD display showing PID temperature information as well as a lovely pressure gauge at the bottom right corner of the machine’s front panel. I’ll go into more detail about both of those features a little later in this Lelit Anna review.

Lelit Portafilter

As I found out in my Lelit Anita review, this manufacturer likes to throw us a curveball from time to time. In saying this, I’m referring to the fact that some Lelit machines are equipped with a 57mm portafilter.

Quite why the manufacturer feels the need to use such an irregular size is beyond me. However, it’s bound to be a little frustrating, seeing as you’ll have a hard time finding the best espresso accessories. Seeing as most portafilters are either 54mm or 58mm in diameter, coffee gear like levelers, puck screens and tampers follow suit.

With all that said, the Lelit 57mm portafilter is a high-quality component and comes with both single wall baskets and an ESE pod filter basket.

3-Way Solenoid Valve

To be honest, I’m not at all surprised to see that the Lelit Anna has been fitted with a 3-way solenoid valve. Still, it’s worth mentioning, seeing as it’ll make your life easier (and less messy) when you’re using the machine.

Essentially, a 3-way solenoid valve purges excess moisture from the portafilter once you’ve stopped the extraction. And in doing so, it prevents a soggy used puck. Instead, you’ll be greeted by a solid, dry puck that’s easy to knock out of the filter basket. Let’s call that a win, shall we?

PID Temperature Control

Speaking of wins, the addition of PID temperature control with this espresso machine is a huge bonus. What’s more, you’re able to adjust the temperature via the digital screen. Trust me, at this price point that’s rather unusual, and Lelit has really upped the ante with the Anna.

The digital PID controller keeps the temperature stable in the Lelit Anna’s compact 8.5-ounce (250-milliliter) boiler. And lest we forget, thermal stability really helps you pull consistent shots of espresso. Plus, seeing as the PID is adjustable, you’ll be able to tweak the temperature depending on the coffee beans you’re using.

Finally, thanks to the digital display you’ll know when the machine is at the optimal temperature for either brewing coffee or steaming milk. No guesswork needed!

Manometer

As I mentioned earlier, the Lelit Anna is equipped with a prominent manometer on the front panel. Again, the inclusion of a pressure gauge is another factor that helps set the Anna apart from the competition. And it’ll definitely help you dial in your espresso shots to perfection.

While the Lelit Anna doesn’t have a pre-infusion function, you can dampen the puck slightly by engaging the pump for a couple of seconds then turning it off. Then again, I would have liked to have seen a true pre-infusion function.

Fortunately, Lelit has installed an Over Pressure Valve (OPV) which is factory set to 10 bar. This means the machine will limit pump pressure, helping prevent over-extracted espresso. Oh, and you can easily adjust the OPV if you’d like, although I won’t go into the gory details in this review.

Milk Foam

The Lelit Anna has a professional steam wand mounted on a ball joint. So, not only can you expect an abundance of steam pressure, you’ll also be able to move the wand around until it’s in the perfect position.

Incidentally, this Lelit steam wand isn’t insulated, but there is a silicone band so you don’t burn your fingers. However, make sure to wipe off excess milk quickly with a damp cloth. Trust me, it’ll be a lot harder to remove once it’s dry.

Seeing as the Anna is a single boiler machine, you won’t be able to make coffee and steam milk at the same time. And if you prepare espresso before frothing milk for your cappuccino, you’ll have to wait around a minute for the machine to reach steaming temperature. With that in mind, I’d recommend always steaming milk first, then doing a cooling flush. That way, you’ll be able to bring the temperature down in around 20-30 seconds.

Accessories

Some of the best espresso machines I’ve tested come with truly substandard accessories. Unfortunately, the Lelit Anna is part of the Disappointing Tamper Club. Rather than throwing in a halfway decent tamper like Breville does, Lelit has decided it’s OK to include a useless plastic thing.

Look, I understand that the Italian manufacturer has kept the price of this espresso machine low, especially given the fact that it’s so well conceived and built. However, they don’t seem to have realized that users need decent equipment to get the best out of the Anna..

It’s a real shame and very confusing, but at least you can pick up a decent metal tamper for less than 20 bucks.

How to Use the Lelit Anna Espresso Machine

Seeing as this is a first look Lelit Anna review, I can’t yet tell you how the machine performs. However, I can give you a quick overview of what to expect when using the thing for the first time.

Once you’ve unboxed the Anna, I’d recommend thoroughly rinsing the water tank and portafilter. Once that’s done, fill the reservoir with cold, filtered water and switch the machine on. It’ll take around 10 minutes for the machine to heat up, and you’ll be able to keep an eye on the temperature via the LCD screen.

When you’re ready to pull a shot of espresso, make sure the switch is on the coffee setting. Then, dose your portafilter with 17-20 grams of ground coffee before tamping firmly and evenly. Next, insert the portafilter into the group head and put your best espresso cup underneath the spouts.

Flip the right hand switch to engage the pump, keeping an eye on the manometer. If all goes well, you’ll be rewarded with a double shot in around 25-30 seconds.

Lelit Anna Cleaning

As with any espresso machine, regular cleaning is key to the Lelit Anna’s performance and longevity. So, make sure to rinse out the portafilter after every shot. While you’re at it, give the dispersion screen a wipe down and flush the group head. As for the steam wand, I’d recommend wiping it off with a damp cloth after every use. And every once in a while, feel free to soak the steam wand in water with a little dairy cleaner.

As for deeper cleaning, you should backflush your machine once every couple of weeks. To do so, use the blind basket with a pinch of espresso machine cleaner. I’ll leave it to the user manual to explain the details of what to do.

Lelit Anna Technical Specifications

Lelit Anna vs Other Espresso Machines

Thus far, it seems like the Lelit Anna is an extremely capable prosumer machine with some exceptional features for the price. Let’s continue this Lelit Anna review by seeing how it measures up in comparison with a couple of other fantastic espresso machines.

Lelit Anna vs Gaggia Classic Pro

The enduring Gaggia Classic Pro is one of the most popular home espresso machines of all time. To be honest, it’s easy to see why, seeing as the Classic Pro retails for just $451.95. Not only that, the Gaggia Classic Pro features a professional 58mm portafilter and a superb aluminum boiler.

While the Classic Pro is a finicky machine, it has charmed the pants off many a home espresso enthusiast. Plus, with as few mods it can be a real powerhouse.

Personally, I had a great time testing the Gaggia Classic Pro and managed to pull some delicious shots of espresso. However, I had a hard time maintaining any kind of temperature stability. That’s why I think the Lelit Anna could be a much easier machine for beginners to master. I mean, the inclusion of a digital PID really makes the Anna a solid choice.

Either way, both these machines are capable of producing great espresso and will stand the test of time.

See Also: Gaggia Classic Pro Review

Lelit Anna vs Rancilio Silvia

The awesome Rancilio Silvia is another of my all-time favorites. And as with the Gaggia Classic Pro, this espresso machine will appeal to those who like a challenge.

The Rancilio Silvia is another bare-bones machine without pre-infusion or PID temperature control. Rather, you’ll have to master the art of temperature surfing to get the best out of Miss Silvia. Still, once you’ve cracked the code, you can pull some world-class espresso shots with this timeless classic.

Costing $N/A, the Rancilio Silvia is substantially more expensive than the Lelit Anna. And seeing as it has no bells or whistles whatsoever, you might be wondering why you should spend more for the Rancilio machine. I guess I can’t really answer that. All I can tell you is that there’s just something about the Rancilio Silvia that keeps me coming back to it.

See Also: Rancilio Silvia Review

Lelit Anna vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Lelit Anna Review

Now that I’ve reached the end of this initial Lelit Anna review, I must admit to being even more intrigued than I was at the start. To be honest, this home espresso machine seems to represent stupidly good value for money. So, I think I’ll go ahead and order one from Seattle Coffee Gear right away!

I can’t wait to put the Lelit Anna through its paces, and I’ll make sure to update this review as soon as I have more to say. So, keep checking back in if you’re interested to know how this machine performs during my testing!

Lelit Anna FAQ