Hello everyone,
I want to buy an italian espresso machine (lelit one) and I was wondering what are the best voltage converters to lower voltage from 230v(european voltage) to 100v.
Could you please share info on some good ones that you have used? I am really worried because the machine is not cheap (at least for me) and it would be a disaster to burn it/break it on a first try :/
Any recommendations much appreciated.
Best regards
6 comments
I guess it depends where you bring it in from. If you buy an Italian machine from the US, there’s no problem with the conversion. Sourcing directly might be an issue.
Our baratza sette grinder and we bought a new from a distributor in Japan, https://www.brewmatic.co.jp/
Highly recommend their service. Hope you find your dream machine!
What you want is called a step up transformer. The size you’ll get will depend on how many watts the size espresso maker you want uses. They’re relatively big very heavy boxes. Expect to pay 7000-10,000 jpy for one.
Do not use a travel converter they can’t handle the power.
The good news is because it’s lower power it’s unlikely to damage the machine but will destroy to the cheap travel converter.
I’ve been running a 230V ECM Synchronika on an [Autostac SU2000](https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07VHH1HCR?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_TQBEWBCSQZW4XEQ1AN50) for a year and half, and it’s doing fine. Yes, the SU2000 expensive, but you’re going to have to suck it up and buy something at this level. You _do not_ want to cheap out on a transformer for something that expensive and that draws that much power.
Depending on your specific machine, you may not need one that will handle 2,000W, but you should definitely buy a high quality one like this. You’ll also need to make sure you have a minimum 15 amp electrical circuit to plug it into, and that _circuit_ needs to be dedicated to the machine (no plugging other things in). Not just its own outlet, because sometimes multiple outlets are on the same circuit.
Ask them if they can convert it to 50hz or 60hz depending on where you live in Japan before buying. I just had this done with a grinder and they performed it for a slight fee before I picked it up while on a business trip.
Buy a machine from North America instead. There’s a place in Canada that ships here, that I got a lelit Blanca from. The voltage is compatible and you won’t need a step up converter. https://idrinkcoffee.com/collections/espresso-machines
People have answered your questions, but FYI Rostro in Tokyo sometimes has inventory of Lelit Biancas, presumably spec for the Japanese grid.