CoffeeGeek - Espresso: Espresso Machines, Le'Lit PL041

Espresso: Espresso Machines
Le'Lit PL041

Coffee Shop on a Bicycle

Discover BikeCaffe. The most unique and affordable way to expand your retail coffee business.
www.bikecaffe.com

Not Logged in:

updated topics	new posts	new unanswered
search	faq	sign up

Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Le'Lit PL041

view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics

showing page 1 of 3

last page

Author

Messages

LambTaco
Senior Member

Joined: 29 Dec 2009
Posts: 48
Location: Chicago
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Silvia V3
Grinder: Gaggia MDF
Drip: Nope; Bodum French press

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009, 11:51am Subject: Le'Lit PL041

I'm creating a new thread about this machine because I want to get better visibility than continuing it my "Cheap machine" thread. I'm seriously considering buying the Le'Lit PL041. It seems like it has pretty much everything I'm looking for in a cheap machine - a nice group head and a commerical-weight portafilter, a 3-way valve, a brass boiler, and a fairly low wattage (1050) to boot. My only hesitation is that I have read about problems with new machines leaking internally and also leaky steam-wands that become worse with time. I have read the internal leaking from the steam-wand valve is an easy fix with 2 rubber o-rings but it still is annoying that such a defect exists in new machines. I'm thinking about buying through CliveCoffee as they are the only vendor with the pl041 in stock at the moment. Does anyone have experience buying through them? Also, I'm curious as to whether or not La Marzocco portafilters fit this machine. I'm thinking about eventually getting a La Marzocco Bottomless from ChrisCoffee if it will fit. Does anyone have experience with the pl041? Did you have any of these problems? Any input would be appreciated!

jwv651
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Colorado
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Lelit pl041
Grinder: Baratza Vario & Virtuoso

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009, 1:40pm Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

Hi, I purchased the lelit PL041 from CliveCoffee a few weeks back and it arrived in less than a week. My only problem was they forgot to send the tamper...I have used the lelit about 30 times and can honestly say this little gem does espresso very well and the steam is quite powerful...better than the 2 Gaggia's Twins I owned and returned. I personally have not had any problems. The machine is a solid design. Very nice looking with a small footprint. I have only used Clives Espresso beans so far and have pulled some amazing shots. I ordered some Black cat espresso from Chicago and hopefully will get the same results. So far the Lelit has satisfied my espresso needs. It's easy to use and will hopefully be on my counter trouble free for many years. I give it a A. Good Luck!

jwv651
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Colorado
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Lelit pl041
Grinder: Baratza Vario & Virtuoso

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009, 1:45pm Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

Forget to include I am using Baratza Virtuoso and it works fine, but I might upgrade it to the Vario.

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009, 2:05pm
Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

jwv651 Said:

Forget to include I am using Baratza Virtuoso and it works fine, but I might upgrade it to the Vario.

Posted December 30, 2009 link

That looks like a nice grinder. I just ordered the Gaggia MDF, which is 32 steps instead of the 40 that the Virtuoso has. I am thinking about performing the stepless mod on the MDF if I can't get a grind that works for me. My original price range was $400, but when I found out that I really needed a grinder too, that blew it up to $600 total. Oh well. After 1 year of use, including the cost of coffee and milk, the investment will still more than pay for itself. Black Cat is lovely stuff. I'm lucky enough to live down the street from Intelligentsia on Broadway and they are my exclusive bean supplier.

jwv651
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Colorado
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Lelit pl041
Grinder: Baratza Vario & Virtuoso

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009, 2:34pm
Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

LambTaco Said:

Posted December 30, 2009 link

I hear ya, I worked in Chicago for over 30 years and finally retired and now live in New Lenox...I have been buying from Intelligentsia for a few years now and have always enjoyed their beans. BTW the Lelit and a decent grinder is all you really need to produce some amazing espresso drinks...it really is a gem of a machine. It's really fun to use. Let us know what you think once your all set up. Later,

Posted Wed Dec 30, 2009, 3:19pm Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

Well, it turns out that CliveCoffee is actually out of stock on that version of the PL041 and they won't be carrying it again until they get the new version in March. So much for that plan. Back to hunting for a new machine!

scarface1981
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Oct 2008
Posts: 13
Location: London
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Silvia
Grinder: Ibertal MC2

Posted Thu Dec 31, 2009, 2:31am Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

I'm interested in this machine vs a Silvia, but can't find a supplier in the UK, does anyone have any ideas where I might source one?

JasonBrandtLewis
Senior Member

Joined: 9 Dec 2005
Posts: 6,099
Location: Berkeley, CA
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -...
Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -...
Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup
Drip: CCD, Chemex
Roaster: No, no, not another...

Posted Thu Dec 31, 2009, 8:21am Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

scarface1981 Said: I'm interested in this machine vs a Silvia, but can't find a supplier in the UK, does anyone have any ideas where I might source one? Posted December 31, 2009 link cristina@lelit.com

A morning without coffee is sleep . . .

case
Senior Member

Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 58
Location: USA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Vario
Vac Pot: Bodum
Drip: Aeropress, Melitta

Posted Thu Dec 31, 2009, 9:23am
Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

LambTaco Said:

I'm creating a new thread about this machine because I want to get better visibility than continuing it my "Cheap machine" thread.

I'm seriously considering buying the Le'Lit PL041. It seems like it has pretty much everything I'm looking for in a cheap machine - a nice group head and a commerical-weight portafilter, a 3-way valve, a brass boiler, and a fairly low wattage (1050) to boot. My only hesitation is that I have read about problems with new machines leaking internally and also leaky steam-wands that become worse with time. I have read the internal leaking from the steam-wand valve is an easy fix with 2 rubber o-rings but it still is annoying that such a defect exists in new machines.

I'm thinking about buying through CliveCoffee as they are the only vendor with the pl041 in stock at the moment. Does anyone have experience buying through them?

Also, I'm curious as to whether or not La Marzocco portafilters fit this machine. I'm thinking about eventually getting a La Marzocco Bottomless from ChrisCoffee if it will fit.

Does anyone have experience with the pl041? Did you have any of these problems? Any input would be appreciated!

Posted December 30, 2009 link

If you read the product page, Clive's says they too are taking pre-orders at the moment and expect to ship in March. I was interested in the new model PL041 as well, but don't want to wait until March for a machine.

Posted Thu Dec 31, 2009, 4:08pm
Subject: Re: Le'Lit PL041

case Said:

Posted December 31, 2009 link

Yeah, I talked to a CliveCoffee representative and she said that LeLit's US distributor is completely out of the PL041's, so no one can get them until the new models arrive in March.

showing page 1 of 3

last page

view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics

Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Le'Lit PL041

updated topics

new posts

new unanswered

faq

Not Logged in: log in
Discussions Quick Jump:
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post

Forum Rules:
No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards.
No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum.
No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum.
Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards.
Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics.
Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies.
Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies.
Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts.
Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.

Home Espresso Machines

Watch videos with Gail & Kat, Rocket, Jura Capresso, Saeco, Rancilio, Quick Mill, Nespresso
www.seattlecoffeegear.com