Is There Lead in Espresso Machines? What You Need to Know (and Why Modern Machines Are Safe)

By Espresso Outlet

If you’ve spent any time in espresso forums or coffee Facebook groups, you’ve probably seen people asking about lead in espresso machines. It’s a fair question—after all, we’re putting hot water through metal parts and drinking the result every day.

The good news?
Modern espresso machines are designed to keep lead levels extremely low, and brands use materials and manufacturing methods that comply with strict safety guidelines.

This article breaks down where lead comes from, what actually matters, and what today’s well-built machines are doing to stay safe.

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Why Lead Shows Up in Espresso Machines at All

Most espresso machines—especially traditional Italian-style ones—use some brass components. Brass is an alloy made mostly of copper and zinc, and historically it often included a tiny amount of lead to make the metal easier to machine.

Important things to know:

• Modern “lead-free” brass isn’t literally 0% lead. It usually contains 0.1–0.2%—just enough to meet plumbing and food-contact regulations.

• Older or unplated brass parts may contain 2–3% lead, which is why many manufacturers have moved away from them.

• Many machines plate brass surfaces with nickel or chrome to prevent water from touching the brass directly.

So yes—trace lead can exist in some metal parts, but that doesn’t automatically mean unsafe coffee.

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Does Lead End Up in Your Espresso?

This is where things get interesting.

Lead can leach into water when:

• It touches bare brass that contains lead

• Water sits in the machine for a long time

• The water is highly pure (RO or distilled), which makes it more “aggressive”

• The machine was just descaled, and protective scale/plating was removed

But in real-world use, most modern machines release extremely little lead—often below drinking-water limits. And unlike tap water, you’re drinking small volumes of espresso, not liters per day.

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Why You Don’t See a “Lead Rating” for Espresso Machines

Customers often ask:

“What are the lead ppm or ppb numbers for Breville, La Marzocco, Rocket, etc.?”

Right now, no major espresso manufacturer publishes lead-in-espresso laboratory numbers. Not because they’re hiding anything—simply because:

• There’s no standard testing protocol across the industry

• Results vary based on the customer’s water

• Values change over time (ex. right after a descale vs. after a few weeks of use)

That means creating a universal comparison chart (“Breville = X ppb, Rocket = Y ppb”) isn’t possible… yet.

How to Reduce Lead in Your Espresso Even Further

No matter which machine you own, these steps help minimize any potential metals in the water:

1. Don’t use pure RO or distilled water

Extremely soft water aggressively dissolves metals. Always remineralize to about 40–80 ppm hardness.

2. Flush your machine after warmup

Let a few ounces of water run through the group, especially:

• When the machine is brand new

• When it’s been sitting overnight

This reduces any “first water of the day” metal extraction.

3. After descaling, flush A LOT

Descaling acids temporarily increase metal release until the system stabilizes.

4. Test if you’re curious

You can send a sample to a certified lab for a metals test (ICP-MS). It’s inexpensive and highly accurate.

The Bottom Line

Lead in espresso machines sounds scary, but modern machines—from Breville and Lelit to La Marzocco and Rocket—use safer materials, plating, and manufacturing processes than ever before.

Realistically:

• Most new machines produce lead levels at or below drinking-water guidelines

• Your water chemistry matters more than the brand in many cases

• Good flushing and maintenance minimize any risk even further