Lelit Anna and Anita Review: Is the Built-In Grinder Worth the Price, Which Espresso Machine Offers the Best Value Under £600?

Some home coffee setups grow piece by piece, with each tool chosen separately. Others are designed to include everything you need to make your favourite coffee. These all-in-one machines may look neater and keep the process more contained and organised, but they limit your ability to choose each tool, such as the grinder, yourself.

Lelit Anna and Lelit Anita both offer a hands-on way to prepare espresso, steam milk and refine your technique over time. The real choice is not about which machine is better, but about how involved, compact and personalised you want your daily coffee setup to be.

Grinder or No Grinder: The Difference That Matters Most

Anna lets you build the grinder setup around your preferences, while Anita keeps grinding and brewing within one appliance. The grinder has a direct effect on espresso. It controls how evenly and finely the beans are ground, which changes how quickly water passes through the coffee and in result the final taste.

Lelit Anna vs Anita: Key Similarities and Differences

Features Shared by Lelit Anna and Anita

Both machines offer a traditional espresso workflow with useful tools for improving consistency. You control the grind, dose, tamping and extraction, while the machine gives you feedback through temperature and pressure. This makes both models suitable for users who want to practise their technique and understand how each step affects the final result.

PID temperature control: The PID controller lets you adjust the target temperature, this is useful once your grind and dose are consistent. You can then explore how temperature changes affect different coffee beans

Pressure gauge: Both show the pressure during extraction, helping you understand whether the grind and dose need adjusting.

LELIT57 brewing group: Both machines use Lelit’s 57 mm brewing group. Accessories such as tampers, baskets and distribution tools should therefore be designed for the LELIT57 format. A standard 58 mm accessory may not fit correctly.

Manual steam wand: Both can froth milk and dispense hot water using a movable steam wand.

Single brass boiler: Both use a compact 250 ml boiler, so they cannot brew espresso and steam milk at the same time.

Large water tank: Both have a 2.7-litre tank, which reduces how often it needs refilling.

How the Features Vary Between Lelit Anna and Anita

The main differences affect how the coffee station is arranged and how much equipment you choose separately. Both offer manual espresso preparation, but the level of convenience and way of brewing varies among the machines.

Grinder setup: Anna does not have a grinder. Anita has a built-in grinder. 

Temperature control: Anna’s PID adjusts the boiler temperature used for coffee preparation. Anita’s TermoPID lets you set both the coffee-water and steam temperatures, adding another adjustment for milk frothing. 

Worktop space: Anna is narrower at 23 cm, but a separate grinder also needs space nearby. Anita is 31.5 cm wide because the grinder is built in, so the complete setup stays within one appliance.

Tamping: Anna comes with a separate tamper, which you can replace with another 57 mm tool if preferred. Anita has a tamper built into the machine, keeping this step in the same preparation area.

Water-level view: Anna shows the tank level through a side window. Anita has windows at the side and front, making the remaining water easier to check from different positions on the worktop.

Lelit Anna Is for Users Who Want More Customisation

Anna is the more adaptable foundation for users who want to shape their espresso setup over time. Because Anna needs a separate espresso grinder, you can choose the burr type, dosing method and adjustment system that best suit your routine.This gives you more control over the complete setup and makes future upgrades easier. The trade-off is that you need more worktop space and another power socket.

Key Features

• No built-in grinder: You can pair Anna with the grinder that suits your preferred beans and dosing method.
• Pressure gauge: It shows the pressure during extraction, helping you understand when the grind or dose needs changing.
• Manual steam wand: You can froth milk for cappuccinos, lattes and other milk drinks.
• Slim body: Anna is easier to place in a narrow space, although the separate grinder also needs room.

Lelit Anna: Pros and Cons

The grinder is an important part of every espresso machine setup. The Lelit Anna needs a separate grinder that can produce fine, even coffee grounds for espresso. This gives you more freedom to choose the grinding and dosing style you prefer, but it also means finding extra space and another power socket. 

Best For: Anna suits users who want more control over their equipment. It is a strong fit for anyone who already owns a grinder or expects to upgrade one later.

Verdict: Lelit Anna works best as the centre of a coffee setup that can change with your skills and preferences. It suits buyers who value long-term flexibility over an all-in-one espresso machine.

Because Anna does not include a grinder, choosing the right one is an important part of the setup. Our guide on how to choose a coffee grinder explains the main grinder types and what to look for.

Lelit Anita Is for Coffee Lovers Who Want Convenience

Anita suits users who want a complete coffee station in one machine. The grinder and built-in tamper keep preparation around one appliance, which can make the coffee area feel neater. Anita is a manual espresso machine, so you control the dose, tamping, extraction and milk steaming yourself.

Key Features

• Built-in grinder: You can grind fresh beans and prepare espresso using the same machine.
• 38 mm conical burrs: The grinder is designed to produce the fine grounds needed for espresso.
• Stepless grind adjustment: Small changes help you control how quickly the espresso flows.
• Built-in tamper: It tamps the coffee grounds for you,  this eliminates a lot of mistakes that could happen if you would do it manually .
• Pressure gauge: It provides useful feedback while the espresso is brewing.
• Manual steam wand: You control the milk texture yourself.

Lelit Anita: Pros and Cons

The grinder outlet, tamper and brewing group sit close together. You grind into the portafilter, tamp the coffee and move it directly into the group. This reduces movement around the worktop. It also means fewer separate machines, plugs and buying decisions.The built-in grinder does not remove the learning process. You still need to find the right grind, dose and extraction time for your beans.

Best For: Anita suits users who want an easier way to prepare espresso. The integrated grinder and built-in tamper removes a lot of manual mistakes and makes the workspace a lot cleaner. The process still requires some learning, but is not as demanding as buying a separate grinder

Verdict: Lelit Anita removes several equipment decisions before you start. It keeps the process compact and approachable while still giving you control over how each espresso is prepared.

How to Choose Between Lelit Anna and Anita

The choice depends on how you want your coffee setup to work every day. Anna gives you more freedom to build the setup around your preferred grinder. Anita brings the grinder and espresso machine together, making the coffee area easier to organise.

Choose Lelit Anna if:

• you already own an espresso grinder;
• you want to choose a specific grinder;
• you may upgrade the grinder later;
• you often switch between different beans;
• you have space for two appliances.

Choose Lelit Anita if:

• you want one machine for grinding and brewing;
• you prefer a neater coffee area;
• you do not want to choose a separate grinder;
• you want fewer plugs and appliances;
• you are happy with the built-in grinder.

Both machines still require manual preparation. You measure the coffee, tamp it, stop the extraction and froth the milk yourself. The main choice is between greater grinder freedom with Anna and a more contained setup with Anita.

Lelit Anna and Lelit Anita FAQ

What is the main difference between Lelit Anna and Anita?

Lelit Anna does not have a grinder. Lelit Anita has a built-in grinder with 38 mm conical burrs and a built-in tamper. Their main coffee-brewing features are otherwise very similar.

Do I need a separate grinder for Lelit Anna?

Yes. Anna uses ground coffee but cannot grind beans itself. You need a separate grinder that can grind finely and evenly enough for espresso.

Is Anita’s built-in grinder suitable for espresso?

Yes. It is designed for espresso and allows small grind adjustments. Grind finer if the coffee flows too quickly, or coarser if it flows too slowly.

Which Anna and Anita versions have PID temperature control?

Anna PL41TEM and Anita PL042TEMD have PID temperature control. Anna PL41EM, Anna PL41LEM and Anita PL042EM do not have the same adjustable temperature display.

What size portafilter and tamper do they use?

Both machines use Lelit’s 57 mm system. Choose baskets, tampers and other tools marked as compatible with LELIT57, because standard 58 mm accessories may not fit properly.

Can they brew espresso and froth milk at the same time?

No. Both use one 250 ml boiler for coffee and steam. You brew the espresso first, then wait for the machine to heat up before frothing the milk.

What pressure should the gauge show?

Use the recommended area on the pressure gauge as your guide. If the pressure is too low or too high, adjust the grind size or the amount of coffee in the basket.

What temperature should I set on the PID?

Start at around 95°C. Only change the temperature after your grind size and coffee amount are consistent. This makes it easier to understand how temperature affects the taste.

How should Anna and Anita be cleaned?

Rinse the basket and portafilter regularly, and wipe the steam wand after frothing milk. Our guide on how to clean an espresso machine explains the main cleaning steps in more detail.