Lelit · Reviewed by Coffee Kev · Published 2026-04-12
Based on a review by Coffee Kev (accessed 2026-04-12).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about real-time pump power control via the intuitive pagaya lever — just accept flow control does not negate the need for proper puck preparation and dialing in.
The reviewer concludes that the Lelit Mara X3 Pagaya is a brilliant and more premium machine than the Mara X v2, largely due to its innovative pump power control and fancy new design. While he personally prefers the Lelit Bianca due to its digital controls and profiling capabilities, he acknowledges the Mara X3 offers more direct manual flow control and is significantly more compact. He recommends the Mara X v2 for those not focused on the new pump control.
This review provides an in-depth look at the new Lelit Mara X3 Pagaya espresso machine, detailing its updated features, design elements, and performance specifications. The reviewer compares it to its predecessor, the Mara X version 2, and briefly to the Lelit Bianca, focusing on aspects like pump power control, heating element, and overall compact design.
A significant upgrade to the Mara X version 2, the Lelit Mara X3 Pagaia offers intuitive real-time pump control that greatly enhances shot customization. Its innovative Pagaya lever provides immediate and precise control over pump power, enabling various extraction profiles like low-flow starts or blooming shots; furthermore, it steams 170ml of milk to 60°C in just 27-32 seconds, significantly faster than its predecessor. However, despite its advanced flow control, it does not remove the necessity for proper puck preparation or dialing in, as the puck ultimately dictates the shot. If you are an enthusiast seeking advanced flow profiling capabilities and excellent temperature stability in a compact heat exchanger machine, this model is a compelling choice. Conversely, if you expect flow control to compensate for inconsistent grinding or puck prep, you will likely be disappointed.
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specification_claimpositivet=0:56–1:07
The Lelit Mara X3 Pagaya features an 1,800 W stainless steel heating element, which is more powerful than the 1,286 W copper heating element found in the Mara X version 2.
visual_inspectionpositivet=1:07–1:15
The machine has a beautiful new design, including prominent side ribbons, wooden trim, chunky oversized wooden dials, a wooden handled portafilter with a coffee slide splitter, and wooden feet.
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The Mara X3 measures about 22 cm wide, 41 cm deep, and 35 cm tall, making it very compact for a machine of its caliber.
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Despite its compact size, the machine is quite heavy, weighing 18 kilograms, indicating a solid build.
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The machine features dual temperature probes and PID control, with three adjustable brew temperatures: 88°C (190°F), 92°C (198°F), and 96°C (208°F).
hands_on_demopositivet=4:31–5:20
The reviewer demonstrates the 'Pagaya' vertical paddle, highlighting its finger hole for effortless real-time control over the vibration pump power, increasing it clockwise and reducing it anticlockwise.
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The reviewer states that using the Pagaya paddle to control pump power feels much more immediate and intuitive compared to the needle valve system found on flow paddle machines like the Lelit Bianca.
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Pump control allows users to decide the ramp-up pressure, attempt low-bar shots without adjusting the OPV, and provides full control over the crucial start and end stages of extraction.
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The machine steamed 170 ml of milk to 60°C in approximately 27 seconds on steam priority mode and 32 seconds on brew priority mode, both faster than the Mara X version 2.
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The Mara X3 heats up in roughly 11 minutes, but the reviewer recommends waiting about 25 minutes for the brass E61 group to become fully stable before the first coffee.
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The hot water temperature measured approximately 97 to 98°C.
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The Pagaya provides loads of control over flow, allowing for various shot profiles like long pre-infusions, blooming shots, low flow start/finish, or standard 9-bar shots.
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The ability to fine-tune pump power on the fly with the Pagaya can lead to really decent shot-to-shot consistency once the user finds what works with their beans.
comparisonpositivet=14:32–15:28
The reviewer feels he has more direct manual flow control with the Pagaya on the Mara X3 compared to the Lelit Bianca, though he tends to use profiles on the Bianca.
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The Mara X3 is considered one of the nicer heat exchanger machines to live with due to its compact size, temperature stability, and simple temperature control.
The Lelit Mara X3 Pagaya is an upgraded version of the Mara X v2, retaining its smart heat exchanger, PID, and dual temp probes, but introducing real-time pump power control via its 'Pagaya' lever. It also boasts an 1,800W stainless steel heating element, an upgrade from the v2's 1,286W copper element, and features a new aesthetic design with wooden trim and metal side ribbons.
Measuring approximately 22 cm wide, 41 cm deep, and 35 cm tall, the Mara X3 Pagaya is considered very compact for a machine of its caliber, making it an attractive option for those with limited counter space. Despite its small size, it weighs a substantial 18 kg, indicating a robust build.
The Mara X3 Pagaya demonstrates strong steaming power, heating 170 ml of milk to 60°C in approximately 27 seconds in steam priority mode and 32 seconds in brew priority mode, which is faster than the Mara X v2. It can heat up in about 11 minutes, but the reviewer recommends waiting around 25 minutes for the E61 group to become fully temperature stable for optimal espresso extraction. Hot water temperature is about 97-98°C.
While the Pagaya's flow control allows for extensive manipulation of the shot, such as long pre-infusions, blooming shots, or varied flow rates, it does not negate the importance of dialing in. The puck remains in charge; poor grind settings or puck preparation leading to channeling cannot be fully salvaged by adjusting pump power. It's a tool for fine-tuning, not a magic fix for poor technique.
The Mara X3 Pagaya is significantly more compact than the Bianca and offers a more immediate and direct manual pump power control compared to the Bianca's needle valve flow control. However, the Bianca is a dual boiler machine with digital controls that allow for setting brew profiles, a feature the reviewer personally prefers despite the Bianca's higher price and larger footprint.
The Lelit Mara X3 Pagaya is a heat exchanger machine, meaning it has one service boiler with a pipe running through it to heat brew water. However, thanks to its dual temperature probes, PID control, and brew priority mode, it achieves temperature stability close to that of dual boilers and allows for simultaneous espresso pulling and milk steaming, giving it dual boiler-like functionality.
75/100 source quality
Coffee Kev reviews the new Lelit Mara X3 Pagaya, highlighting its key upgrades over the Mara X version 2, including real-time pump power control via a 'Pagaya' lever and a more powerful 1,800W heating element. He praises its compact design and improved temperature stability, noting its dual temp probes and PID control make it perform similarly to a dual boiler in brew priority mode. The review includes performance tests for steaming and heat-up time, and a comparison of its manual flow control against the Lelit Bianca. He emphasizes that while the flow control offers great flexibility, it doesn't eliminate the need for proper puck prep and dialing in.
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