Get started with your Lelit Victoria. In this manual, you should find everything you need to operate and maintain your single boiler espresso machine.
Please make sure to read carefully before using your Lelit Victoria. If you have any other questions, be sure to contact us.
Included Accessories:
- Double spouted portafilter
- Single basket (7g)
- Double basket (18g)
- Group head brush
- Backflush blank
- Plastic tamper
- Lelit water softening and filtration cartridge
- Cup Riser
Water
Espresso machines have specific requirements when it comes to water. There are two primary considerations: filtration and hardness.
Filtration gets rid of tiny particles, such as sand or rust, in your water. If these particles were allowed to enter your machine they could cause all manner of trouble, specifically by clogging the small valves and other parts in your espresso machine. Almost any water filter will do the job, whether it’s the one built into your fridge, a Brita, or a whole house filter. Ensuring that this filter is replaced in proper time will be important to ensure machine health.
Water hardness is equally important. First, use the water hardness test strips included with your machine to test the water you plan to use with your machine. Ideally, we want a hardness of between 35-85 ppm (parts per million). Hardness refers to the dissolved solids or mineral content in your water. Common dissolved solids are things like magnesium, calcium, and various forms of sodium. These dissolved solids are what make water, and therefore espresso, taste good. But an excess will result in scale buildup inside your machine. Scale can cause irreparable damage to your machine by clogging and forming a mineralized layer over the surface of metal parts. The process of descaling is even more damaging, eating away at the machine’s metal internals. Luckily, scale can be entirely avoided by keeping your water hardness within the recommended TDS range of 35-85 ppm.
There are numerous methods to soften your water if the mineral content has tested to be too high for your machine.
- A Note on RO (Reverse Osmosis) or Distilled Water
Taste aside, espresso machines require some mineral content in order to function properly. Their steam boiler fill probes, in particular, use the conductivity of water to detect the water level. With no dissolved solids, they’ll overfill, giving you water instead of steam. You must add some mineral content back in. Our recommendation is Third Wave Water packets which are designed to offer ideal flavor and to be safe for your machine.
- Reservoir Solutions
Our first recommendation is an in-tank water softening pouch. They’re affordable, last 4-6 months, and are very effective. Using RO water purchased by the gallon in combination with Third Wave Water packets is another great option.
The Victoria also includes a proprietary filtration and softening cartridge which can easily be installed into the reservoir. To use the included filter, Immerse the filter in a pitcher of water and allow the filter to soak for 3 minutes. Remove the filter from the water. Remove the small net filter from the water charge hose. Insert the water softener filter into the hose and place the filter in the tank.
No matter what solution you pick we recommend testing the water coming from your machine’s group head every few months. City water hardness changes seasonally and softening systems wear out. Quarterly testing will ensure you keep your machine safe.
- First Time Setup with Reservoir
To begin, simply fill the reservoir with your filtered and softened water, leaving a few inches at the top to prevent spillage. Ensure that you do not spill water on top of the machine when filling, as this may cause electrical damage. When filling the reservoir verify that the rubber/plastic water intake line is arranged such that it is fully submerged and touches the bottom of the reservoir.
Once your reservoir is filled, you can now turn on your machine with the power button located on the left side of the machine. After the boilers have filled, you’ll want to pull some water through your brew boiler and group head. Press either shot button on the front panel to activate the pump. Once at least 4 ounces of water has run through the group head, push the same button used before to stop the pump and insert your portafilter. At this point, you’ll have used most of the water in the reservoir. We’d recommend refilling your reservoir again to avoid running out of water.
Programming the PID
The Victoria features a PID which allows for exact control over boiler temperature. During the initial bench test process, our techs have programmed your machine to be ready to use, but it is simple to change at home if you choose to. To adjust the brew temperature first press the minus button under the display. You’ll then see a little wrench icon below the temperature. Pressing the plus button allows you to edit this setting. You can now use the plus and minus buttons to adjust the desired brew temperature by one-degree increments. To save the setting, leave the interface alone for a few seconds until the temperature readout stops blinking. Pressing the minus button again will show you the steam boiler temperature. Continuing to press the minus button will allow you to turn program brew times, turn on/off the steam boiler, switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius, program preset pre-infusion and access the machine’s standby mode.
Steam Mode
Since the Victoria is a single boiler espresso machine you will need to switch between a brew temperature for pulling shots and a higher temperature to steam. Follow the instructions below to enter steam mode.
- Press the steam switch. The PID display will begin to flash showing the water temperature inside the boiler. Wait until the bar is complete, this will indicate when your machine has reached full temperature.
- When the set steam temperature is reached, the bar will disappear and a steam icon will appear with a circle to indicate the machine is ready to begin steaming.
- Rotate the knob on the right side of the machine with the steam wand pointed at the drip tray. When steam does start to come out, close the knob.
- You’re now ready to start steaming! When you’re finished steaming, press the steam button again to return to brewing mode.
Note: The Victoria has a safety feature to return back to brewing mode when the machine sits idle after a certain period of time to prevent damage to the machine.
Technical Details
For a complete list of technical details, please see the spec table on our product page.
Now you're ready to start pulling shots! Check out our Espresso 101 section to learn about steaming milk, latte art, our suggested starter espresso recipe, grinder dial-in tips, and much more.
Manufacturer Manual in PDF
Helpful Links
Still have questions? Reach out to our coffee experts and technicians.