Rocket Appartamento Vs. Lelit MaraX: Best Prosumer Espresso Machine

The Rocket Appartamento and Lelit MaraX are two popular choices for home baristas looking to step up from beginner espresso machines. As “prosumer” models, they offer commercial-grade performance and features at an accessible price point. But which one should you choose? We compare the key specs and user experience of each to help you decide.

Brief Comparison Table

Specs	Rocket Appartamento	Lelit MaraX
Type of Machine	Heat Exchanger	Dual Boiler
Dimensions	16.9 x 11.8 x 14.6 in	12.6 x 7.3 x 14.2 in
Brewing Tech	Copper E61 Group	Stainless Steel E61 Group
Steam Wand	Single Hole	Double Spout
Boiler Size	1.3 liters	0.8 liters (brew), 0.32 liters (steam)
Typical Purchase Price	$1,800+	$1,000 – $1,200

Size And Build Quality

The Rocket Appartamento has a polished stainless steel body and measures 16.9 x 11.8 x 14.6 inches, making it a bit larger than average for a prosumer machine. Its hand-assembled Italian construction gives it a very sturdy and solid feel that will last for years of daily use.

Meanwhile, the Lelit MaraX has a more compact form at just 12.6 x 7.3 x 14.2 inches. Its exterior combines stainless steel panels with plastic housing. While not as robustly made as the Appartamento, it still feels well-built and made to handle continual use. The smaller size makes it a better fit for home kitchens with limited counter space.

Brewing Performance

Both espresso machines use commercial-style E61 brew groups to heat water and extract espresso. This type of group head is known for temperature stability and consistency in producing quality shots.

The Appartamento features a copper and brass boiler paired with a 1.3 liter water reservoir. It can deliver outstanding temperature control and espresso extraction, especially for a heat exchanger (HX) machine. However, there is a learning curve in managing the HX flush and waits between shots.

In contrast, the MaraX utilizes a dual boiler system with dedicated boilers for brewing and steaming. This makes dialing in the perfect shot more straightforward, without complex cooling flushes. Its smaller 0.8 liter boilers and brew boiler PID controller allow excellent precision in maintaining optimum water temperatures.

Steam Power And Frothing

Both espresso makers come equipped with powerful steam wands to produce the finely textured milk needed for making cappuccinos and lattes.

The Rocket’s steam boiler and commercial wand creates strong, dry steam on demand. It can texture milk quickly and master latte art with a short learning curve. However, its single hole steam tip is less forgiving for beginners.

Meanwhile, the MaraX features a dedicated 12 ounce steam boiler with a double spout wand. It makes it easy for home baristas to froth milk to the right consistency. But steaming power maxes out at 4 bars of pressure, so very large pitchers of milk may take longer.

Ease Of Use Features

The Appartamento dial and button controls keep operations streamlined despite its dual boiler complexity under the hood. Once the right techniques are learned, it allows a great degree of control over pull lengths and temperatures. Doserless operation also eliminates mess of ground coffee scatter.

The Lelit simplifies the user experience even further through an intuitive 2.8 inch touchscreen controller. One-touch buttons take the guesswork out of brewing times and temperatures. Other beginner-friendly assets include an adjustable drip tray, smart auto-start heating, and descaling alerts.

Additional Perks

• The Appartamento ships with a single and double portafilter basket, allowing you to pull either one or two shots of espresso at a time.
• An optional flow control kit can be added to the Appartamento to manually regulate water pressure and taste profiles.
• The MaraX comes equipped with a hot water dispenser for Americanos and tea, a handy feature missing from the Rocket model.
• Both espresso machines have a cup warming tray on top. But only the MaraX has a removable 2.4 liter water tank that makes refilling easy.

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Maintenance Needs

All espresso equipment requires regular cleaning and preventative maintenance to keep operating in top form. In this aspect, the Rocket Appartamento is a little more demanding than the Lelit MaraX.

As an HX machine, the Appartamento needs flushing before brewing to control water temperature. Descaling every 2-3 months helps reduce mineral buildup. And its E61 group head has more moving parts that require periodic lubricating.

The MaraX simplifies upkeep through backflushing alerts and an automatic descaling program. Other maintenance is mostly limited to backflushing, portafilter cleaning, and group gasket replacement every year or two.

Pricing Considerations

As expected for prosumer-range espresso makers, neither model is considered low-cost. But the Rocket Appartamento carries a significantly higher MSRP and real world sticker price.

• Appartamento – MSRP: $2,490 – Typical purchase price: $1,800+
• MaraX – MSRP $1,195 – Typical purchase price: $1,000-1,200

That makes the MaraX the more wallet-friendly pick for home baristas on a budget. And despite some plastic housing, it retains high quality components that punch above its price.

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FAQs

Conclusion

The Rocket Appartamento and Lelit MaraX both serve up exceptional espresso backed by commercial-grade design. Choosing between them comes down to your budget, space constraints, and preferred specs.

With its smaller footprint and streamlined operation, the MaraX gets the edge for convenience in tight home kitchens. And its affordability gives it stronger value per dollar for buyers on a sub $1,500 budget.

However, the Appartamento reigns supreme for passionate baristas who prioritize ultimate build quality, temperature precision, and steam power. If you have more room to spare and are willing to learn some expert techniques, it is arguably the more capable machine overall.

So consider how these fine points align with your own needs. Either model will serve up cafe-caliber espresso drinks and milk frothing to satisfy the most discerning home barista.