When it comes to all-in-one Coffee makers, it’s hard to tell which one comes on top: Lelit or Breville Barista Express/Sage. Truth is, they both keep kicking it up a notch over the years, and each model has so much to offer that you get pretty confused, but we’ve got you covered.
Lelit Anita vs Barista Express
Here’s a guide to everything you need to know before deciding to buy Lelit Anita vs Barista Express.
What they have in common:
While both of them don’t look much like each other, they both have some of the same aspects:
- Stainless steel design
- Semi automatic function
- Built-in Coffee Grinder
- Built-in Tamper
- Countertop design
- 2 Cup Capacity
- Pressurized and non-pressurized Portafilters
- Hot water Dispenser
- Adjustable grinder Settings
- Cup warmer
Now, let’s cut to the chase and start breaking everything down and analysing their key differences.
Key Differences
Now, we all know that all-in-one machines can have some significant downsides,
When it comes to build quality, Anita has got the upper hand. With commercial grade PID, cost of repair and maintenance are much lower and the appliance is easily repairable.
Breville o the other hand, is a consumer product, so it can be hard to go up against commercial competitors such as Lelit.
That said, Barista Express usually relies on programmable microchips and microprocessors, so repair and maintenance can get a bit costly, but the product price is pretty low which kind of makes up for it.
Temperature stability is better with Anita as it relies on its PID which is a piece of hardware used as a commercial grade controller at breweries and food processing plants, but still, it can be pretty expensive, whilst Barista Express has an algorithm which overlooks the temperature stability.
The Barista Express has perfected the art of making espresso, but it does take the time to heat up so I wouldn’t recommend it for entertaining a room full of impatient people, as for Anita, it can save you the time to serve mild espresso to your guests quickly as it takes up to 3 minutes to heat up, but what you make up for time you loose on the taste.
Pricing of both products have a significant difference, with Breville being less expensive.
You can check the latest price for Breville Barista express on Amazon and for Lelit Anita on www.coffeeitalia.ie
That being said, both appliances remain on the expensive side, so if you’re on a budget, you might also want to check my detailed review of the best Sage/Barista Express Alternatives this year that are also wallet friendly, before making a final decision.
Lelit Anita vs Barista Express – Reviewed in Detail
In order to fully understand each machine and what makes it special. Let’s dig into more aspects while reviewing both appliances in detail.
Breville Barista Express:
For a business that started in the kitchen appliances sector with a toaster, Breville has undoubtedly come a long way.
Not only that, it’s now one of the best coffee machinery brands in the last few decade.
Breville builds its machines around the idea of inspiring people get the perfect results in their own kitchen, and when it comes to espresso machines Breville is really outdid their game. And just when you think they can’t do it any better, they always kick it up a notch.
If you are an espresso enthusiast, then the Barista Express is a great option for you, an all-in-one espresso machine with the capability of providing café quality beverages at home.
One of the strongest advantages of the the Barista Express is the built-in grinder.
It’s definitely something to fall in love with as you only have to program it once and it’ll provide you with the exact amount of freshly ground coffee you wish for.
Single shot or double shot, with a single push, Breville express does it for you loading up the portafilter directly so you don’t have to move a muscle.
The grinder is equipped with a 58mm stainless steel conical burr that performs a lot better than any stand-alone grinder. It is also programmable, so you won’t have to guess how much grinding you need to do, which can be frustrating sometimes.
There is a fine line between an extraordinary and an average cup of coffee. And Barista Express just managed to nail that sweet spot with smart temperature control.
It comes equipped with thermocoil heating, a digital thermometer and a PID system which keeps the water temperature in check.
When it comes to the design, Barista Express is an elegant piece of art with a touch of modernization. As a matter of fact, the brand really managed to put together a robust appliance by fusing analog with digital to give you that futuristic look with a feel of durability.
Its stainless steel body makes it easy to clean with a tactical placement of knobs and buttons that are visibly labeled, making it easier to use and program.
That said, the brand did change the top bottom and side panels material to plastic in order to make it a tad bit lighter.
Milk frothing is easy, you just have to check that the “hot water” light is on, you will have to be patient with this one as it takes a bit of time to heat. Once it’s up to speed, you can fill up the pitcher with its side to side adjustable steam wand.
The tamper fits on a magnetic latch that is placed next to the grinder for easy operation.
One thing that sets the Barista Express apart is the charcoal filter in the water tank (2.7l water reservoir), which comes with a little knob and a numbering on it, so that you know when it’s due time for it to be replaced.
And last but not the least, Barista Express comes with a lot of handy accessories such as the Dosing tool, tamper, coffee scoop, water filter, and cleaning brush… etc
So, if you are a perfectionist who wants to enjoy a perfect espresso, there’s no better choice for you than the Barista Express.
Lelit Anita PL042TEMD
Lelit designed their machine as a fusion of commercial and residential machines. As a result, every single espresso machine has close to perfect temperature stability and water pressure to make an exceptional espresso.
So, the model in question is Lelit Anita PL042TEMD, for people who value simplicity, Anita has made this model pretty straightforward and compact in size.
All while keeping in mind that only freshly ground coffee beans can make the perfect Espresso.
Whether it’s cappuccino or a good old Americano, you’ll be able to make it right from the comfort of your home, without any professional help.
If you’re looking for a grinder and a single boiler in one compact design, then Anita is your go to. It will deliver fine café quality beverages and delightful milk steaming functions.
The design looks similarly retro because it was inspired by the 1960’s Italian design Vespa and Fiat 500. The coffee maker was actually named after Swedish actress “Anita Ekberg” who starred in “Dolce Vita” directed by Federico Fellini.
Lelit Anita is equipped with A PID (Proportional integral derivative) which maintains accurate temperature control.
It also comes equipped with 2 temperature fixtures, which need to be operated manually, but once set, you can just to toggle the switch without the need to modify the temperature again. Just keep switching and refilling. And feel free to try out different coffee flavors with controlled water temperature.
The appliance is also equipped with a manometer to maintain the pressure.
One particularly interesting feature is the anti drop three-way valve, which allows you to fill up multiple cups at once.
The process of steaming and frothing milk is faster than the Barista Express and the movable steaming wand is pretty handy to use. It’s also adjustable, enabling you to maintain a comfortable position while holding that cup of freshly brewed coffee.
You have the opportunity to enjoy extremely fragrant and perfectly delicious each and every time with the stepless grinder adjustment, integrated coffee mill with 38-mm micrometric and conical burrs, just place the coffee preparation handle on the designated knob and voila the coffee machine will grind like the wind.
Cleanliness is plus on this one! It’s super easy to maintain and the appliance is all-around stainless steel, so washing is no biggie, just remember to unplug it for safety.
As for the water reservoir, the machine has a capacity of 2.7 liters, so keeping a tab on your water reservoir won’t be that challenging.
Its 250-ml copper water heater takes care of keeping the temperature stable so you won’t have to wait. Afterall, Nobody likes to wait for that water to get to the desired temperature early in the morning,
Which one To Buy? The Verdict
While both Barista express and Lelit Anita are significantly unique in their own way, both have their pros and cons, and which one to buy greatly depends on what you wish to accomplish with it.
For example: if you’re aiming at producing coffee at a slightly higher rate, perhaps you keep having guests over and want to serve them that quick espresso shot, we’d say Lelit Anita is your best bet.
However, if perfect quality espresso was your priority, Breville Barista Express definitely holds the torch for the best consumer coffee machine out there.
It does also help that Barista Express is less expensive than Lelit Anita.
