Crew Comparison: LELIT Mara X3 vs. LELIT Bianca

The Mara X3 and Bianca are LELIT’s higher end models that look like they could be siblings (and it turns out, they are!). They both feature a similar silhouette, wood furniture, and a variety of color options. This all might lead you to believe that the Bianca is the upgrade model, given its price point. Really though, these machines are both just as viable, and primarily offer alternatives for each other in terms of feature sets and brewing style. We’re here to help you understand what sets these two machines apart from one another!

What We Cover in This Comparison

• The looks. Both of these machines have great aesthetics and countertop presence. We discuss the appearance and how that might affect your choice.
• The Mara X3’s “Pagaia” paddle, which adjusts pump voltage in order to control pressure. A beginner friendly way to start pressure profiling.
• The Bianca’s flow control at the group head, which is closer to how machines like the Slayer work. This system also allows for automation, meaning you don’t have to try to recreate your favorite profiles.
• Pump comparison: The Bianca’s commercial style rotary pump is longer lasting, and one of the things creating that price gap.
• Pressure profiling and flow profiling: What’s the difference? We explain both and help you understand how they affect your shot.
• If we could only choose one, which would it be? It’s actually a close call!

Meet the Machines (and a Quick Word on LELIT)

LELIT is an uncompromising home espresso brand with decades of experience building high quality home machines. With every machine hand built in Italy, they’re a brand that both sits proudly alongside other Italian espresso giants, but also pushes their own envelope in unique ways. From extensive control and customization to the multiple profiling options across the Mara X3 and Bianca, this is a manufacturer that builds espresso machines out of passion, not just for the sales. For these reasons and more, LELIT is a beloved brand in today’s espresso market.

The two machines we’re looking at today follow all of these tenets. Both are excellent machines, but with different approaches to brewing. The result is two excellent choices for the right customer rather than a single machine that tries to appeal to everyone.

Let’s Talk Looks

The two machines naturally feature similar aesthetics. Both options feature wood furniture, a classic Italian design sensibility, and multiple colorways to choose from. It’s tough to pick a winner based on looks here because it’s entirely subjective. If we have anything to say on this subject for the comparison, we find that the Mara X3 has a slightly quirkier look than the Bianca, which is closer to its more traditional Italian espresso competitors. This doesn’t mean we like one’s looks more than the other though, as they’re both eye-catching in their own unique ways.

Pressure Profiling vs. Flow Profiling — The Real Difference

Pressure profiling and flow profiling are two sides of the same coin. Each offers a different approach to shot profiling. The basics here are that shot profiling allows you to “shape” the pressure that the espresso puck is under during the brewing process. By ramping pressure up and down you can genuinely influence the flavor of the shot. This is the primary reason that you might notice a different set of tasting notes from the same coffee brewed on two different machines (assuming other elements like temperature stability, grind size, and tamp are equal). By using machines with shot profiling you can tweak the flavor of your espresso to get that perfect taste. It’s definitely a hobbyist feature, but it’s becoming more and more popular. The Mara X3’s Pagaia pressure profiling gives you control over the voltage sent to the pump via the brew paddle. This provides immediate feedback as it changes the flow rate of the water coming out of the pump. The Bianca’s flow profiling, on the other hand, has a paddle that modulates flow rate at the group head, blocking the steady pressure sent from the pump. This type of shot profiling is where the concept has its roots, and allows you to emulate that coveted Slayer espresso machine shot style. The other benefit of the Bianca’s system is the ability to record and automate the process, making it easier to recreate that perfect shot in the future.

Under the Hood — Pumps, Boilers & Longevity

The insides of these machines are another point of differentiation. The Mara X3 features a vibratory pump, commonly found on home machines. The brewer also uses a heat exchanger boiler configuration, which allows for steaming and brewing, but takes a bit longer to recover between drinks and might not have the steam capacity for a large milk quantity. The tradeoff here is a smaller footprint, which may be highly desirable for some users. The Bianca, by comparison, uses a commercial style rotary pump that is powerful and built to last. This machine also uses a dual boiler configuration that provides more capacity for brewing and steaming (thought this comes at the expense of a slightly longer warmup time). The takeaway here is that both machines offer great performance and will last a long time, but the Bianca is a bit more durable and provides better temperature performance over multiple drinks. On the other hand, the Mara X3 will fit into spaces the Bianca can’t.

The Honest Pros & Cons

For the Mara X3, the pros here are the easier learning curve for paddle profiling, its compact design, and its lower price point. When it comes to limitations, the vibratory pump is less robust than the Bianca’s rotary version, heat exchangers are a bit trickier to use than a dual boiler setup, and the profiling can’t be automated.

The Bianca is the inverse of this. The dual boilers offer better temp stability, its rotary pump is all around stronger, and its flow control system allows for automation. All of that said, there’s a learning curve to flow control, the machine has a bigger footprint, and there’s that higher cost.

Frequently Asked Questions