Does anyone here put their hands on a MaraX with a black logo?
Also, any idea if (and when) it will be available in North America?
Lelit’s website shows the new black logo but still mention the original Coffee modes (brew and HX). Does anyone know if it’s because the changes are not yet available at all?
Snooze I don’t, although I would like to get my hands on a Gicar box with the new programming, ako I can put it into the existing MaraX I have. I did suggest the new programming after all. I must remember tomorrow to sort that out.
DavecUK Is there no way you could reach out to Lelit or Mauro directly? I would be really interested in seeing the results you get from testing the new machine, and would also help a lot of new buyers interested in the Mara V2, seeing the new and much different modes of operating.
Lelit are sending me the new Gicar box with the revised programming of the V2 MaraX. It’s good because I can update the MaraX review and answer any questions once I fit it…do people want me to do a video of fitting the box?
Lelit actually contacted me and asked if I wanted the latest version…which was thoughtful of them. Good job I don’t sell any of my machines!
That’s great. I would love to see an in-depth temperature testing, with different modes and temperature settings and in different conditions (eg. 2 coffees, 1 milk, another coffee; or 2 coffees with 2-3-4-5 minutes between them on the new setting, etc.) I guess that is the selling point of the new V2, the temperature stability on the new CoffeeX mode on position 0, because the other mode ex-“ coffee priority mode” was already in the V1 Mara.
DavecUK - This is very reassuring indeed!
I can confirm that after speaking with Lelit representatives the V2 is only available in a few European countries, I don’t know exactly which ones but it is not available at all to the rest.
RobertRo101 thank you for the information. That explains why I’m not able to get one yet in Canada.
DavecUK I’d love to see the new gicar box retrofitted into V1.
If it works out well I could see myself doing the swap too.
fl13dl1c3 If it works out well I could see myself doing the swap too.
I guess it depends on the cost, although you will of course have a spare Gicar Box out of it.
In all honesty, if this new firmware works well, the MaraX would all of a sudden become a very good and viable proposition for those who don’t steam milk very often (say, at the weekends only, as an example). They can run the machine in “coffee mode” most of the time and only use the “steam mode” when they need to.
Here in the US, the main retailer sells two versions with different prices and firmware.
Gicar 9600096 Brain Unit – 9.3.01.30G01: this one sells for $189.99 USD
Gicar PR00709 Brain Unit – 9.3.01.46G: this one sells for $299.99 USD
I presume by the firmware numbers the 2nd one is a later version? I’d have to reach out to the retailer to ask what the difference is. But in the retailer’s parts diagram page for PL62X they reference the first gicar with the parts number 9600096.
I won’t put much trust in the diagram. My V2 came with a V1 manual and so is the manual on the Lelit platform. I think they may have rushed the lunch of the V2 because, in theory, it would be a no-brainer to buy (as above, the ability to have extremely good temperature stability and froth a little bit of milk, it’s unbeatable for the price), and things like manuals and diagrams were not updated, maybe the new machines were not tested enough (as in my eg. where I had to send the machine to the dealer’s service and it’s been over a week with no updates yet). But if it all works, and for this amount of money, there is really no other machine to go for, unless you really WANT a dual boiler and have the money to spare. I actually could get around 1-1.2bar of pressure on “single boiler mode” 30 seconds after making 2 coffees, which was enough to froth milk for two flat whites.
RobertRo101 that is interesting. I’m debating if I should get a dual boiler but I’m really the only one drinking coffee in the house and as long as I can once in a while make 3-5 coffee in a row, but maybe with a little bit of waiting in between, I would be fine. I’m also drinking cortados so I really don’t put much milk in it.
One thing I also don’t like about DB is that there is more water in the boiler than I need so I would have to make sure to get the old water out accordingly. This is where the MaraX has its advantages.
Also since the flow control works great on the MaraX, I really don’t see why it would not be the perfect machine for me.
This forum is very helpful! Thanks all!
RobertRo101 just realized that you say “if it all works”. But you do own the V2 right? So what are you referring too if you can actually see if it works or not? Maybe you are referring to DaveC temperature testing discuses earlier.
