Meraki Espresso Machine Review vs Oracle Jet and Lelit Bianca (2026)

Specs current as of October 2026.

The Meraki repeats a shot most closely, because it weighs the coffee going in and the espresso coming out

An espresso shot tastes the same from day to day when two numbers stay the same: the grams of ground coffee in the basket, called the dose, and the grams of espresso in the cup. The Meraki has a scale under the grinder and a second scale under the cup. The grinder stops when the dose reaches your setting, and the pump stops when the cup reaches your target. Owners measure the dose landing within 0.1 to 0.2 g of the setting and the shot within about 1 g, and the scales are the feature Meraki owners praise most after the steam. The grinder is the weak point. About a dozen owners, some on the Gen 2, found that even the finest setting ground too coarse, so their shots ran too fast. Meraki support sends owners a video showing how to recalibrate the grinder, and owners report mixed results with it.

The Oracle Jet grinds for a set time and presses the coffee to a set level in the basket, then stops the shot by time or by volume. The most common Oracle Jet complaint is that shots vary at the same settings. One shot runs 25 seconds and the next 42, and the amount of espresso changes too. Owners also find the stock basket takes 22 to 25 g of coffee, more than most recipes call for, and many fit a smaller aftermarket basket to bring the dose down to 16 to 19 g. One owner at 15 months says his shots became consistent, and another at 13 months still sees some variation.

The Bianca leaves the dose and the shot to you. Owners weigh the coffee on a separate scale and stop the shot by hand or by watching a scale under the cup, so the result is as repeatable as the grinder and the person using it.

The Bianca has seven years of owner reports, the Oracle Jet about 18 months and the Gen 2 Meraki about six months

Lelit has sold the Bianca since 2018. Owners report four to seven years of daily use, and one estimates 7,000 coffees on his machine. Most of the parts that fail are cheap valves and fittings: plastic water fittings that leak and the pressure-release valves on the boilers. A heating element can also fail around the third year. Owners usually replace all of these themselves, and Lelit sells a brass kit to replace the plastic fittings. A 2020 batch of the second version had faults in the temperature probe and in a small water jet inside the group. Owners rarely report either fault after 2021.

The Oracle Jet went on sale in September 2024, and the longest owner reports are about 18 months. Its faults are spread across the grinder, the automatic tamper, the steam wand, the screen and the pump, and most owners who report one saw it in the first six months. Several owners at 12 to 18 months report no faults at all.

The Gen 2 Meraki has the shortest record. It went on sale in spring 2026, and about a dozen Gen 2 owners reported faults between August and October 2026, including scales that stopped reading, a pump that failed at two months, a screen that went black and leaks at the group. The number of Gen 2 machines sold is unknown, so the share affected is unknown too. Gen 1 reached buyers in December 2024. Owners who have run one for a year mostly report it working well, and the recurring Gen 1 faults were leaks at the group, steam wand sensors that failed and a pump wire that came loose in shipping. Meraki says Gen 2 uses the same boilers and pump as Gen 1.

Meraki support is slow, and Meraki repairs that owners mail back take 4 to 8 weeks

Meraki offers a 30-day home trial and a 2-year warranty that pays the repair shipping both ways. Owners mostly deal with Meraki by email, and Meraki's site now also lists a toll-free number. Owners describe slow replies that usually end in a free part with a video showing how to fit it, or a replacement machine. Owners with a fault in the first weeks usually got a replacement machine, and some got one later. Owners whose machine went back for repair report four to eight weeks. Some owners who returned a machine were charged a restocking fee or the return shipping.

Breville covers the Oracle Jet for 2 years. A warranty claim goes through Breville's support line, which sends a prepaid shipping label, and Breville's warranty terms quote up to 10 business days for the repair plus shipping. One Canadian owner had a replacement and then a drop-off repair within 13 months. Oracle Jet owners solved most early problems by returning the machine to the store within its return window. About eight owners call Breville's support slow and about five call it helpful.

Lelit covers the Bianca for 12 months, and owners report that Lelit sends warranty claims to the dealer that sold the machine. Parts are sold by several espresso dealers, and many long-term owners do their own repairs with a few wrenches.

The Meraki and Bianca steam milk while the shot brews, and the Oracle Jet steams it for you after the shot

The Meraki has a separate steam boiler, and its steam is the feature its owners praise most often. One owner who returned an Oracle Jet for a Meraki calls its milk steaming far better. The wand is one you hold yourself, and a sensor stops the steam when the milk reaches the temperature you set. Some owners find the power hard to control in a small milk jug at first.

The Oracle Jet's wand sets the foam level and the temperature for you, and you can choose settings for dairy, soy, almond or oat milk. Most owners who drink lattes are happy with the automatic milk. About ten owners get large bubbles where they wanted fine foam, and owners who like drinks very hot find the 75°C maximum too low. Because one heater serves both jobs, the Oracle Jet starts the milk after the shot finishes.

The Bianca's 1.5 L steam boiler is the largest of the three. About two thirds of the Bianca owners who comment on steam praise it, and the rest, about 14, find the standard steam tip slower than they expected.

The Meraki and Oracle Jet grinders suit medium and dark roasts, and the Bianca works with any grinder you choose

Owners of the Meraki and the Oracle Jet agree that both built-in grinders make good espresso from medium and dark roasts. Light roasts, the fruity coffees that need a very fine and even grind, are harder for the Meraki and Oracle Jet grinders. About ten Meraki owners find the grinder weak on light roasts, and about six, two of them on the Gen 2, find the grinder fine for light roasts. Breville's support team has told several Oracle Jet owners directly that the machine is meant for medium to dark beans.

The Bianca brews whatever your separate grinder produces, so a good espresso grinder lets it handle light roasts well. That grinder is an extra purchase, and our guide to the best coffee grinders covers the espresso options.

Find coffee matched to your espresso machine → Our quiz matches you with fruity, balanced or chocolatey coffees from independent Canadian roasters, roasted fresh and shipped every month.

The Bianca takes 20 to 30 minutes to heat up, the Meraki about 5 and the Oracle Jet about 3

The Bianca's group is heavy and takes 20 to 30 minutes to heat through, so most Bianca owners put the machine on a smart plug set to switch on before they wake up. The Meraki is ready in about four to five minutes. Breville says the Oracle Jet heats in seconds, and a timed test found it ready to brew in about three minutes.

Best espresso machine with scales: Meraki Gen 2

The Meraki is the pick for someone who wants each shot to match the last while the machine does the weighing. Owners who share one across a household or an office report that newcomers learn it quickly. Check that your seller offers Meraki's 30-day trial and use the machine every day that month, so any early fault shows up while a replacement is easiest to get. If you drink light roasts, the Bianca with a separate grinder handles them better, and if several people want the machine to do everything, look at the Oracle Jet.

Best hands-off espresso machine: Breville Oracle Jet

The Oracle Jet suits a home where several people make drinks and each of them wants the machine to do the work. Owners describe spouses and children making their own lattes on it. If you want each shot to match the last, the Meraki weighs every shot, and if you want to adjust everything yourself, look at the Bianca.

Best long-term espresso machine: Lelit Bianca

The Bianca is the pick for someone who wants a machine that lasts and is willing to learn espresso by hand. Owners have kept theirs running for seven years, and the common faults are cheap parts an owner can replace. Most owners leave the flow paddle fully open while they learn, so the Bianca brews at a fixed pressure like most home machines, and first-time owners report using up a bag or two of beans before their shots come out right. Budget for an espresso grinder alongside it.

For other Lelit machines, see which Lelit espresso machine is right for you, and for another dual-boiler machine at a similar level, Linea Micra vs Lelit Bianca.

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy the Meraki espresso machine in Canada?

Yes. Meraki sells it from its own Canadian store and ships it from a warehouse in Canada, usually in 3 to 7 business days. The Canadian model runs on standard 120 V power and comes with the same 2-year warranty and 30-day home trial. Several Canadian espresso shops also sell it.

Is the Meraki espresso machine good?

Owners rate its steam and its two built-in scales highly, and most find the built-in grinder good for medium and dark roasts. The current Gen 2 has been on sale since spring 2026, and owner reports on how it holds up over several years are still to come.

What changed in the Meraki Gen 2?

Meraki lists 45 grind settings, up from 30, a group that takes other brands' 58 mm portafilters (the handle that holds the basket), and a redesigned shower screen, the metal plate that spreads water over the coffee. Meraki says the boilers and pump are the same as Gen 1.

Does the Breville Oracle Jet have two boilers?

No. The Oracle Jet has one fast heater that serves both brewing and steam, so it steams the milk after the shot. A second heater keeps the group warm. The Meraki and the Lelit Bianca each have two boilers and can brew and steam at the same time.

For more, see our guides to the best espresso machines for your home, whether a dual boiler espresso machine is worth it, and which Breville espresso machine is right for you.

The Meraki, Oracle Jet and Bianca make their best espresso from freshly roasted beans

A Stillwater subscription matches you with coffee from Canadian roasters, roasted fresh and shipped every month.

Get coffee from a different Canadian roaster every month

Stillwater Coffee Club sends whole-bean coffee from independent Canadian roasters, chosen to match the flavours you pick in our quiz. Plans start at $45.60 a month for two 300 g bags, shipping is free, and you can pause or cancel at any time. Learn more about our coffee subscription →