Hey! If you wouldn't mind, please hit the like and maybe "copy link" to help the channel out! It's been in a major slump lately and it would really help! If anything, it boosts my confidence and energy for making more! Love you all. Also, apologies on the minor clipping here. Was not anticipating the shiny machine to have as much of an effect on audio as it did! Cheers, friends.
Hey Lance, you and James are undoubtedly the two quintessential coffee experts on here. Don't let YT get you down (I think fewer people are on YT in the summer). You make super HQ content - just might have to wait a bit until more people are back on the platform. Best, Tom
PS - in regards to the clipping, some cameras (don't know which one you use) include 2 audio tracks, which can be recorded at different gain volumes. I just learned that yesterday. Just a tip, to see if maybe your camera might have this feature.
It's been my understanding that current versions of the algorithm de-prioritize channels that trend towards longer form content and that the solution to that has been to upload shorts on a regular basis to capture the monkey minds of the the cellphone generation and encourage the algorithm to promote your content more consistently. (That said, I'm really only writing a comment as part of an effort to give you more of those engagement points for the algorithm to see)
p.s. if you put your glorious voice to work singing like an angel to the magnificence of fake stone coffee grinders more often you can keep giving us clippable content to share with our socials too ;)
I love me some Lance reviews! I wanted to say that I bought a Profitech Pro 500 from WholeLatteLove about 4 years ago. In that time I had one issue with the relay that caused it to not heat up. I contacted support and they had me do some troubleshooting and narrowed it down to the relay. They sent out a replacement under warranty and had a clear guide to replace it. The only other issue I had recently was due to a failing o-ring on the pressure release valve. WLL sent out a replacement part for ~$15 and even had a video for me to follow on how to replace it.
Dear Lance, I am grateful for the informative video. I recently bought this machine in April from WLL, mainly because of its programmable on/off time and rotary pump features. I opted for the flow control device and thoroughly enjoyed the machine's performance. It's an excellent product overall.
Excellent in-depth review, really appreciate the unbiased nature of your review. Great amount of detail which I learned a lot from. Keep up the great work.
Have had this machine a couple of months and have it plumbed in with BWT filter. After setting the various temperatures for brew head and steam boiler I have never needed to flush to cool it down. The machine is on for 6 hours a day which covers morning and lunch. Turned on before getting dressed etc it is well up to temperature by breakfast. After the first two Americanos ( 20 g espresso 40 g hot water) the rest of the coffees are flat whites. Making 2 at a time then steaming the milk it produces sufficient pressure to give velvety flat whites. By the time it takes to empty and clean the portafilter grind more beans, puck prep and refill the temp is back to normal and two more espressos can be made. Never had a problem caused by temp fluctuation, the massive weight of the brass brew head keeps the temp even. Would recommend this machine for an enthusiast home barista any time.
@@kfiatos I always put the machine on before showering in the morning…..25 minutes seems to be the normal heat up time. I am retired so leave machine on until after lunch. In UK that costs around 40 pence total. That includes making 8 to 10 espresso or flat whites. The heated area on the top for the cups works very well.
@@kfiatos Hi again, looked at every machine under £2000, previous machines were Gaggia classic fully modded and more recently Sage Oracle. Gaggia still going after 10 years, other dumped after 5 years! Elizabeth looked good. Other Lelit Bianca etc also looked good. However going to a showroom where these machines could be seen , felt used etc was treated to a top quality demo of the ECM. The build quality is top notch! Did consider flow control, used on my Gaggia. Persuaded not to buy it as an extra as the machine is plumbed in and gets a pre soak to the puck for 5 seconds at 3 bar. Perfect without the fuss. I like to prep the puck with all the usual tools, finish with spring loaded tamper. Then let the machine do its best. I find it produces a great espresso without any drama! Love the machine. Are you in the UK?
Hi Paul thanks for the info I'm still deciding which one to go for. What sort of roast do you usually use? Do you change the settings based on the roast banding? Also when plumbing in, do you use a sacrificial descaler. I live a stone throw from Belle Barrista so water is hard. Also what burrs do you use?
Watching videos like this and understanding the complexity of the machine and the amount of energy to heat a few shots is too much expense for a home espresso machine... Reinforces my admiration for the design of the Meticulous!
Absolutely excellent video. You pack in such a lot of useful information in a very engaging, non-nerdy way. I've had an ECM Mechanika for a couple of years - it feels a bit primitive in relation to all the App/PID machines available but the bottom line is that, even though I do not pay attention to pressure and brew temps, I make cups of coffee that I'd be happy to pay three quid for down at my local decent expresso bar. So well done ECM for making something that looks gorgeous whilst enabling complete amateurs like me to make passably good expressos and steamed milk coffees. Keep up the good work Lance
Very instructive and useful. I fitted a thermometer to my Profitec 400 on Christmas Day and when I checked it after a few hours was surprised how hot it was. At other times surprised how much the temperature rose while pulling the shot. It doesn't take too long to get to grips with it but it is hit and miss. However, as Mr Hoffman reckons he needs at least 1 degree C to taste a difference I can be sure I'd need much more than that. Along with the temperatures you showed here and Whole Latte Love showing the ECM profiles and how the temperatures move around I was happy my 400 was doing what it should. I'm very happy with my coffee and like some others here realise an extra PID doesn't really bring much to the party due to the inherent fluctuations. On the 400 I just flip the rocker switch to get more steam, not too different to the button on the Max. One thing, put a Mira X next to a ECM or Profitec and there really is a difference in build.
I have the baby bro of this, the ECM Mechanika. She's going great after over a year! Amazing build quality! Highly recommend ECM machines. Thanks Lance for great video as always. Cheers everybody ☕
Seems like the OGs were definitely paying attention to Lelit’s sales, glad to see that the industry is being pushed forward! HX is a great price-conscious choice so I’m glad to see some manufacturers focusing on it
@@isawrooka4 I have the Mara X and I wouldn’t upgrade to this. If, either to a DB or the decent, but I don‘t think you‘ll get much more out of this than the Mara.
I don’t really see a customer group for this machine. You could e.g., get a Bianca for the same money which is more accurate, has more features and is easier to use. Hx is always a trade off. Plus this whole concept seems kind of complicated and over engineered to me.
Had an ECM Mechanika IV Profi that served me well for 4.5 years. Have since upgraded to a Linea Micra and sold the ECM for 50% what I bought it for around $950.
Heat Exchanger vs Dual Boiler, what are the real life pro's and con's, and where are each of the type best? In our personal experience a dual boiler is best day-in/day out as a daily driver, due to easier to maintain and more stable brew temperatures. Yes, the brew boiler temp via PID control differs from the E61 outflow temp, but the temp of the PID controlled brew boiler is a decent guide, an approximation, a proxy guide, on how to adjust the temp to satisfy the taste buds. My home daily use machine has been a Profitec Pro 700 dual boiler delivering great espressos using a 194F/90C PID maintained brew boiler temp for our preferred Medium/Dark roast Neapolitan/Sicilian style beans. We also have a second machine a heat exchanger ECM Technika V PID at our distant vacation home. Why did we pick a HX machine over a dual boiler, did you ask? For the simple reason, that boiler drainage and long term storage of a single boiler heat exchanger machine is much easier to do compared to the drainage and storage difficulties of a typical dual boiler machine. Using a smart WiFi start-up plug for a long heating time (about 1 hour duration in our hands), using a Coffee Sensor E61 group thermometer to get a handle on E61 brew temperature, and reasonable group head flushes, the ECM HX machine actually delivers very decent, actually nice, quite acceptable, even delicious espressos. If you are willing to learn the quirks and foibles of an HX machine, they actually can work rather well, but dual boilers are easier for most users to learn and then to produce good espressos. Consider HX machines like manual shift autos, harder to initially learn, but very satisfying when mastered, much like you have likely learned to do while driving in Portugal. Lance, you gave us a very delightful, an agreeable video. Thanks. Finally, consider giving us, your most loyal viewers, a video (or videos) on the coffee/espresso experiences, likely fascinating, that you have found with your time in Portugal and possibly in Spain, on that enchanting Iberian Peninsula. Consider doing a similar taste tour of Italian coffees before your inevitable return to the States. Cheers.
If anyone is still checking this. Is Lance pulling 1:4 shots here?? Metrics sure seem to suggest so (15g dose, 400% ratio, 59g out, etc…). Have never tried going much beyond 1:3….may have to try 😊
I will have to stick to my Infuser for a while (can't afford an upgrade, neither budget- nor space-wise), but I really enjoy watching the videos about these machines! (commenting because I heard it boosts video performance too)
Thanks for the video Lance! Appreciate all the hard work that was put into this video. 🙏 When you feel a ECM machine hands on, it’s a true tank. It’s build quality is better than any other home machine on the market.
Thanks a lot for those very revealing information. It rightly points the limits of E61 and PID... ... and the interest of the Lelit Mara X vs more expensive expresso machines. 👌
Thanks for the review. It sounds like this machine offers many new temperature features that either don't work really well or just plain don't bring a lot to the table. You still need to temperature surf just like a plain old HX.
I have a Lucca X58 HX Espresso Machine. I added a pressure gauge at the head. I'm using a prewetting technique where I lift the handle just past 45⁰ for 5 seconds. The pressure gauge at the head goes to 1 bar just at the 5 second mark. For light roasts, I wait 10 seconds and then activate the handle fully. For dark roasts, I eliminate the 10 seconds. I based this from a vidro from Artista Roasters. The light Roast shots are much imporved from a standard pull.
after several years of use without any problems i am changing my ECM mechanika HX on a decent espresso mainly for the flush and temp surf... But still i love my ECM
Great video. Showing the limits of technology. Sixty-year-old technology, in this case. Fortunately, newer technology was developed in the intervening years
Correction on the flow control range. The ECM flow knob has a very wide range with two full rotations. On Synchronika, basically 0 to 22 mL/s, I think with that same pump.
Very good. Didn't realize it had two full rotations. I've never gotten one from wll. I've just used a standard kit and it limits range. Perhaps they have something different than what people outside the US will get.
Thanks for this review. For myself it cured me from the minor upgrade thoughts of getting an HX PID machine instead of the non-PID machine I currently use. Seems like the other comments agree with your thoughts or got the same reality check as myself.
Hey Lance! Always love your vids when I have a chance to watch! I love my current espresso machine and grinder, but now I think it would be cool to check out what else I can get to further Polish my workflow and what can allow me to make better coffee.
Re Temperature accuracy. With any E61, the group head will act as a final temperature buffer (up or down) so you need to know and manage the temperature of BOTH the group head AND the temperature of the water flowing through it. This can be done using a temperature probe on the group head and some practice flushing with an HX. The key to remember is that the group head probe at idle is measuring the group head temp, and then when the pump is engaged it’s measuring the water temp. The water exiting the group is sort of an average of the two (more or less). Eg Group head is 98, pump is engaged and water temp reading is 94, actual water exiting the group will be ~96. Perhaps managing water temp is easier with this “smart temperature” system but not knowing the group temp is a big flaw. Personally I’d just take a regular old e61 HX and fit it with a good group head temperature probe.
I have the Rocket Mozzafiato type R. It has a thermometer in the steam boiler, and that's it. Rocket indicates the corresponding temperature of the group head, but they know it's a dark art. I added a temperature probe. 👍
I was actually choosing between the san remo cube and the ecm technika before discoverinh the mechanika max. Given what you said in the video, it sounds like i am better off sticking with a cube or technika and adding a temp probe in the grouphesd rather than opting for the max for its "smart" temp control features
I enjoyed this video, thanks for the insight! It's great to see ECM fitting this tech inside their machines, hopefully more will do the same give us even more options to choose from. Also, sorry to bring up another machine on this video but can we be expecting a video from you on the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? I'm sure I remember seeing you comment you had one planned in the pipeline, which I'm eagerly awaiting! Would love to hear your thoughts on that machine (and how it compares to these e61 style machines, plus the ones fitted with flow control)
Great review as always! I've had a profitec pro600 for 4 years now, with the variable flow adapter and have found it to be a very reliable, well built machine and makes good espresso and has decent steam performance. It's a dual boiler machine though and has reportedly good temperature accuracy at group head but I would be interested to know how true that is given it's got an e61 group head.
Always get excited on new video releases even on machines that I know I wouldn't even consider buying in my lifetime because of how entertaining and informative sir Lance is. Would like to know if you are considering doing a review/pro tips on cheaper, maybe sub 300$ espresso machines, like Delonghi ECP/Stilosa, for those of us on tighter budgets and want to enter the world of espresso but does not want to fiddle with manual lever machines like the flair?
Is the Synchronic worth $800-900 more than this model? Im struggling to work it out. Do you really need the dual boiler? Im upgrading From Sage/Breville Oracle
Sad to hear you’ve been having a slump in viewership ‘cause i watch your vids religiously. Took a quick look at your vid views and think that perhaps the videos that work best are looking more towards either tools that are more accessible ($$$) or where you present revolutionary ideas about coffee s future/drop some coffilosiphy or basic theory/ tutorials. What’s the next big thing? Hasn’t been much hype since the sculptor. Also, personally would love to see a video dedicated to channeling, but that’s just me 😅. Keep up the amazing work Lance!
I own one and it’s way better to have the dual PID. I have the temp probe in the group head and it definitely helps a ton. I still have to flush here and there, but way less often/shorter amount than a normal HX. Rotary pump is dope. Build quality dope. If I did it all over again I’d get a lever machine like the Argos but that’s a whole other territory.
The technology of the ECM has gone up a nodge, since I worked as a technician of an ECM dealership. ECM is great in the price range, especially with repairing. Just always remember to empty the steamboiler, at least once per month, so minerals won't destroy the hesting element or clog the system 👌
Wow I learned a lot about e61's that I never knew. With some dual boilers being found the same price as an HX machines I wonder if their is still any good reason to buy an HX?
Great video! Still waiting for some machine that’s better in heat up time, features and temperature stability than Breville dual boiler and doesn’t cost $5000 😂
I owned two different E61 machines before. My experience on E61s was that they were not consistent, no matter they are double boilers or heat exchangers. It is the group head design to make it cannot be consistent.
QQ on a technical / functional front. I just received an ECM Mechanika VI and after the initial setup, the unit WILL NOT stop hissing / sputtering / discharging from the OPV overflow port behind the group head. There is no pause with it, it's going through all the water in the tank, steaming up the entire front of the unit, and making constant noise. Now, this can't be normal right?
Although I find this machine aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced, I have one concern. The placement of the power switch and the setting buttons are in a location subject to splashing from channeling, back flushing and movement of cups in your work area. I frequently spray down this area with windex and a damp towel to keep it clean and shiny. I would prefer having the pressure gauges in this location as it be easier to clean and avoid moisture affecting the setting buttons. Maybe I’m being really picky but after owning a similar machine for over 5 years, I have noticed what areas of the machine need to be cleaned the most.
Hey Lance! You mentioned customizing your water and filling it as needed, and it got me wondering about how to optimize water for espresso. Do you have any recommendations? I'd love to see a video on water for espresso machines comparing filtration and customized water profiles!
Great video as always,, Wanted to ask since you’ve talked about water debit, how does it affect the cup between low and high 5ml/s vs 15ml/s for example ?
I'm wondering about the Bezzera Aria MN TOP model. That unit seems to have all the "bells and whistles"; PID, Flow control, control brewing temperature. It is a HXbut says it can both brew and steam with proper temperature afterwards. (If I understood it all correctly). Was wondering if you have heard of or have any knowledge on this machine. I am saving to get this machine. Forgot to mention it also has a rotary pump.
@@skittish-kitten That is great to hear. I am wondering how well the temperature control at the group works; that is the only unit I have seen with that and PID, flow control and the rest for a little under $2500. It will likely be a few months out getting it. I am spending a lot of time researching different units and stuff as I will have to stick with whatever I get. But this one has moved to the top above the Bianca even.
@@coffeecove7058 Im in a process of searching Lelit Elizabeth replacement and also considering Aria Pid and Mechanika Max. Cannot decide (but Aria is more aesthetically pleasing for me)
Great video. I wonder if you have ever used a Olympia Express Maximatic? That seems like a smaller but highly efficient and temp stable machine that is superbly built. Simple to last the test of time. I don’t see many real reviews of that machine.
Mr. Lance, Sir. What is the small, white grinder behind you on the counter? I need a small coffee grinder to haul around to events. My current grinder is a massive, heavy and back breaking.
Personally i think if temperature stability is so crucial for making good cup of coffee,then it's best to start with breville dual boiler and move up to pro600 at least and forget about everything that comes in between with single boiler or HX. Just save up maybe?cus i began my journey with breville dual boiler and now im planning for an upgraden and considering profitec pro 700. Any suggestions?
thanks for the review Lance, seems all HX machines are not stable with temps and are just a compromise for milk steaming. What about a good single boiler with PID? like the EM Classika or is there still a problem with temp due to the E61 group?
I make my water. I use a zero water pitcher to remove all minerals then I remineralize using Lotus , I water company I cofounded. So I just make around half a liter to a liter at a time.
Dude. You are a genius. For espresso consumption purposes, why would you make the the pre infusion spike in pressure, then cut it back, then re engage the full pressure?
Did it appear to be fresh off the pallet from the factory, or was there any evidence it was opened beforehand by WLL and checked and tweaked for accuracy?
Omg... ECM superb built quality and they forget lid for water tank ? Are you kidding me ? 😀😀😀 Is this same for all ECM machines? Do you have video how install this temperature measurement on group head ? I have now Rocket Apartamento and I really suck this vibration pump sound..,very disturbing.
He’s right about rotary it’s a shower. Side panel 2 crews move to the side - solenoid easily there for access. I could take that machine apart 10 mins. Plus the lid has no holes near the tank. I’ve never had floaters. He should marry LELIT. MARRY THAT COMPANY DUDE.
Trying to decide between Mechanika Max and Bezzera Aria Pid (with flow control). I like the looks of Aria better. Pricewise it's the same in Poland. Will there be significant difference in espresson between them? Using Lelit Elizabeth right now but quality issues with the machine are putting me off from Lelit.
I face the same choice, I'm going to replace my Bellezza Bellona and I'm wondering whether double PID and BTC mode (Max) does really give you a huge advantage comparing to the standard HX (Aria). Regardless of that I want to have Flow Control, rotary pump and up to 27cm width. Price wise in Poland seems to be not the same, there is around 430 EUR difference: Aria with FC: 2062 EUR (9099 PLN) Max + FC: 2264 EUR + 227 EUR, 2491 EUR (10995 PLN) It's also worth to note the lack of NPF in Max (another 80 EUR) while Aria has it out of the box. Difficult choice but before buying I would like to visit the Polish authorized dealer to compare both machines personally.
Closest thing would be a modded Breville/Sage dual boiler. Real machines like Dalla corte mina, Rocket R nine One, La Marzoccoi gs3 or Slayer cost a lot of money 😅
I don't understand why this machine has a single boiler with heat exchanger as opposed to the dual boiler machines. It gets a rotary pump but only 1 boiler?
Nice video! I must say I'm not sure why someone would pick this over the Lelit Bianca. Is it much cheaper in some parts of the world (US)? In Europe, the ECM is actually ~15% more expensive.
Build quality for one thing. ECM’s have a substantially better build quality and as apart of that are much easier to also take apart. That’s a big thing with a large purchase of this caliber that you plan to have for decades. If you tried to take apart a lelit bianca or MaraX to repair at home you start to understand the bigger picture and tbh that’s one of the big draws of the E61 group hesd
When you say that E61 is unpredictable, you mean only HX E61's? That's not what I understood, but I measured the temperature on the puck, with scarce resources, i.e. a cheap thermometer with a thermocouple type K in a real puck with real coffee dialed in for traditional 1:2 in 25-30s to simulate a real extraction. Temperature in my ECM Classika PID was very stable 2 degrees difference from start to finish, 1 degree less than the display (maybe due to my cheap equipment). I repeated the same tests in a Vibiemme Domobar modded with PID (XMT 7100 and thermocouple type PT100, adusted for .1 degrees precision), and had the same results, probably because both are 750 ml single boiler E61. My conclusion is that a 750 ml single boiler can give stability and precision because the water inside the boiler is not excessively heated like in a HX and there's a lot of water at the right temperature unlike the small amount going through the heat exchanger tube. Any thoughts? Wrong conclusions due to my limited resources or bad experiment assumptions?
Apartamento is HX with pressurestat and vibration pump, so it's a machine out of this league. I had it, it is real trouble to hit desire temp. On the other hand, r58 is dual boiler so it's also out of this league in a better way. Dual boiler in r58 is much better than this HX in ECM.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey! If you wouldn't mind, please hit the like and maybe "copy link" to help the channel out! It's been in a major slump lately and it would really help! If anything, it boosts my confidence and energy for making more! Love you all. Also, apologies on the minor clipping here. Was not anticipating the shiny machine to have as much of an effect on audio as it did! Cheers, friends.
Hey Lance, you and James are undoubtedly the two quintessential coffee experts on here. Don't let YT get you down (I think fewer people are on YT in the summer).
You make super HQ content - just might have to wait a bit until more people are back on the platform. Best, Tom
PS - in regards to the clipping, some cameras (don't know which one you use) include 2 audio tracks, which can be recorded at different gain volumes. I just learned that yesterday.
Just a tip, to see if maybe your camera might have this feature.
Keep sharing that knowledge! I’m new to the coffee world. Your videos have been super helpful. Thank you for all your time and effort!!!
It's been my understanding that current versions of the algorithm de-prioritize channels that trend towards longer form content and that the solution to that has been to upload shorts on a regular basis to capture the monkey minds of the the cellphone generation and encourage the algorithm to promote your content more consistently. (That said, I'm really only writing a comment as part of an effort to give you more of those engagement points for the algorithm to see)
p.s. if you put your glorious voice to work singing like an angel to the magnificence of fake stone coffee grinders more often you can keep giving us clippable content to share with our socials too ;)
I love me some Lance reviews!
I wanted to say that I bought a Profitech Pro 500 from WholeLatteLove about 4 years ago. In that time I had one issue with the relay that caused it to not heat up. I contacted support and they had me do some troubleshooting and narrowed it down to the relay. They sent out a replacement under warranty and had a clear guide to replace it. The only other issue I had recently was due to a failing o-ring on the pressure release valve. WLL sent out a replacement part for ~$15 and even had a video for me to follow on how to replace it.
Dear Lance,
I am grateful for the informative video.
I recently bought this machine in April from WLL, mainly because of its programmable on/off time and rotary pump features.
I opted for the flow control device and thoroughly enjoyed the machine's performance.
It's an excellent product overall.
good to know. I am looking to purchase this machine in the next month or two.
@@stevebrady8641 Great choice! You wouldn't regret it!
WLL has suggested this and the bezzera aria.. Can't decide
Excellent in-depth review, really appreciate the unbiased nature of your review. Great amount of detail which I learned a lot from. Keep up the great work.
Have had this machine a couple of months and have it plumbed in with BWT filter.
After setting the various temperatures for brew head and steam boiler I have never needed to flush to cool it down. The machine is on for 6 hours a day which covers morning and lunch. Turned on before getting dressed etc it is well up to temperature by breakfast.
After the first two Americanos ( 20 g espresso 40 g hot water) the rest of the coffees are flat whites.
Making 2 at a time then steaming the milk it produces sufficient pressure to give velvety flat whites.
By the time it takes to empty and clean the portafilter grind more beans,
puck prep and refill the temp is back to normal and two more espressos can be made.
Never had a problem caused by temp fluctuation, the massive weight of the brass brew head keeps the temp even.
Would recommend this machine for an enthusiast home barista any time.
Whats the minimal heatup time for decent shot? 20 min is enough? I wanna switch from Lelit Elizabeth
@@kfiatos I always put the machine on before showering in the morning…..25 minutes seems to be the normal heat up time. I am retired so leave machine on until after lunch.
In UK that costs around 40 pence total. That includes making 8 to 10 espresso or flat whites. The heated area on the top for the cups works very well.
@@paulrholman I get it. Did you consider putting flow control on it? Did you consider any other machines when buying?
@@kfiatos Hi again, looked at every machine under £2000, previous machines were Gaggia classic fully modded and more recently Sage Oracle. Gaggia still going after 10 years, other dumped after 5 years!
Elizabeth looked good. Other Lelit Bianca etc also looked good. However going to a showroom where these machines could be seen , felt used etc was treated to a top quality demo of the ECM. The build quality is top notch! Did consider flow control, used on my Gaggia. Persuaded not to buy it as an extra as the machine is plumbed in and gets a pre soak to the puck for 5 seconds at 3 bar. Perfect without the fuss.
I like to prep the puck with all the usual tools, finish with spring loaded tamper.
Then let the machine do its best.
I find it produces a great espresso without any drama!
Love the machine. Are you in the UK?
Hi Paul thanks for the info I'm still deciding which one to go for. What sort of roast do you usually use? Do you change the settings based on the roast banding? Also when plumbing in, do you use a sacrificial descaler. I live a stone throw from Belle Barrista so water is hard. Also what burrs do you use?
Watching videos like this and understanding the complexity of the machine and the amount of energy to heat a few shots is too much expense for a home espresso machine... Reinforces my admiration for the design of the Meticulous!
Absolutely excellent video. You pack in such a lot of useful information in a very engaging, non-nerdy way. I've had an ECM Mechanika for a couple of years - it feels a bit primitive in relation to all the App/PID machines available but the bottom line is that, even though I do not pay attention to pressure and brew temps, I make cups of coffee that I'd be happy to pay three quid for down at my local decent expresso bar. So well done ECM for making something that looks gorgeous whilst enabling complete amateurs like me to make passably good expressos and steamed milk coffees. Keep up the good work Lance
It's always a good day when Lance releases a new video!
Thank you for tuning in!
Very instructive and useful. I fitted a thermometer to my Profitec 400 on Christmas Day and when I checked it after a few hours was surprised how hot it was. At other times surprised how much the temperature rose while pulling the shot. It doesn't take too long to get to grips with it but it is hit and miss. However, as Mr Hoffman reckons he needs at least 1 degree C to taste a difference I can be sure I'd need much more than that. Along with the temperatures you showed here and Whole Latte Love showing the ECM profiles and how the temperatures move around I was happy my 400 was doing what it should. I'm very happy with my coffee and like some others here realise an extra PID doesn't really bring much to the party due to the inherent fluctuations. On the 400 I just flip the rocker switch to get more steam, not too different to the button on the Max. One thing, put a Mira X next to a ECM or Profitec and there really is a difference in build.
I have put them by each other with hoods open. There really isn't a massive difference as some assume.
Very interesting video. ECM holds a special place in my heart and I’m glad to see them trying to go smart
Yeah! Great company. Beautifully built machines
Thanks!
Really liked the content. So much so that I’ll be going back and looking at your historical videos. Thankyou for the content sir
I have the baby bro of this, the ECM Mechanika. She's going great after over a year! Amazing build quality! Highly recommend ECM machines. Thanks Lance for great video as always. Cheers everybody ☕
Oh nice! It'll last for a long time if you clean and treat your water right. Solid builds
So you have also missing water tank lid ? Is it ECM standard? 😀😀😀
Seems like the OGs were definitely paying attention to Lelit’s sales, glad to see that the industry is being pushed forward! HX is a great price-conscious choice so I’m glad to see some manufacturers focusing on it
Definitely! Competition will propel innovation, for sure
Very similar to a Mara X, with some more options to control the steam boiler, plus it‘s an ECM with a rotary pump!
@@pescheedefinitely gonna be more expensive though, but might be worth it for the aesthetic + minor upgrades + rotary pump depending on your needs
@@isawrooka4 I have the Mara X and I wouldn’t upgrade to this. If, either to a DB or the decent, but I don‘t think you‘ll get much more out of this than the Mara.
I don’t really see a customer group for this machine. You could e.g., get a Bianca for the same money which is more accurate, has more features and is easier to use. Hx is always a trade off. Plus this whole concept seems kind of complicated and over engineered to me.
Great review Lance! I hope soon you review the ECM Synchronica!!
Nice! Happy Sunday folks
Happy Sunday!
Always a good day when a new Lance video drops :)
Heck yeah! Thanks for the support!
I really appreciate all your hard work and thoroughness
Had an ECM Mechanika IV Profi that served me well for 4.5 years. Have since upgraded to a Linea Micra and sold the ECM for 50% what I bought it for around $950.
How do you like the Linea Micra? It is still my first option.
Heat Exchanger vs Dual Boiler, what are the real life pro's and con's, and where are each of the type best?
In our personal experience a dual boiler is best day-in/day out as a daily driver, due to easier to maintain and more stable brew temperatures. Yes, the brew boiler temp via PID control differs from the E61 outflow temp, but the temp of the PID controlled brew boiler is a decent guide, an approximation, a proxy guide, on how to adjust the temp to satisfy the taste buds. My home daily use machine has been a Profitec Pro 700 dual boiler delivering great espressos using a 194F/90C PID maintained brew boiler temp for our preferred Medium/Dark roast Neapolitan/Sicilian style beans.
We also have a second machine a heat exchanger ECM Technika V PID at our distant vacation home. Why did we pick a HX machine over a dual boiler, did you ask? For the simple reason, that boiler drainage and long term storage of a single boiler heat exchanger machine is much easier to do compared to the drainage and storage difficulties of a typical dual boiler machine. Using a smart WiFi start-up plug for a long heating time (about 1 hour duration in our hands), using a Coffee Sensor E61 group thermometer to get a handle on E61 brew temperature, and reasonable group head flushes, the ECM HX machine actually delivers very decent, actually nice, quite acceptable, even delicious espressos.
If you are willing to learn the quirks and foibles of an HX machine, they actually can work rather well, but dual boilers are easier for most users to learn and then to produce good espressos. Consider HX machines like manual shift autos, harder to initially learn, but very satisfying when mastered, much like you have likely learned to do while driving in Portugal.
Lance, you gave us a very delightful, an agreeable video. Thanks.
Finally, consider giving us, your most loyal viewers, a video (or videos) on the coffee/espresso experiences, likely fascinating, that you have found with your time in Portugal and possibly in Spain, on that enchanting Iberian Peninsula. Consider doing a similar taste tour of Italian coffees before your inevitable return to the States. Cheers.
If anyone is still checking this. Is Lance pulling 1:4 shots here?? Metrics sure seem to suggest so (15g dose, 400% ratio, 59g out, etc…). Have never tried going much beyond 1:3….may have to try 😊
I will have to stick to my Infuser for a while (can't afford an upgrade, neither budget- nor space-wise), but I really enjoy watching the videos about these machines!
(commenting because I heard it boosts video performance too)
Thanks for the video Lance! Appreciate all the hard work that was put into this video. 🙏 When you feel a ECM machine hands on, it’s a true tank. It’s build quality is better than any other home machine on the market.
Well done, Lance
I have been waiting for a 3rd party review of this new xchanger.
Your excellent detail is much appreciated 👍🏻
Thanks a lot for those very revealing information.
It rightly points the limits of E61 and PID...
... and the interest of the Lelit Mara X vs more expensive expresso machines. 👌
Thanks for the review. It sounds like this machine offers many new temperature features that either don't work really well or just plain don't bring a lot to the table. You still need to temperature surf just like a plain old HX.
I have a Lucca X58 HX Espresso Machine. I added a pressure gauge at the head. I'm using a prewetting technique where I lift the handle just past 45⁰ for 5 seconds. The pressure gauge at the head goes to 1 bar just at the 5 second mark. For light roasts, I wait 10 seconds and then activate the handle fully. For dark roasts, I eliminate the 10 seconds. I based this from a vidro from Artista Roasters. The light Roast shots are much imporved from a standard pull.
after several years of use without any problems i am changing my ECM mechanika HX on a decent espresso mainly for the flush and temp surf... But still i love my ECM
Great video. Showing the limits of technology. Sixty-year-old technology, in this case.
Fortunately, newer technology was developed in the intervening years
Correction on the flow control range. The ECM flow knob has a very wide range with two full rotations. On Synchronika, basically 0 to 22 mL/s, I think with that same pump.
Very good. Didn't realize it had two full rotations. I've never gotten one from wll. I've just used a standard kit and it limits range. Perhaps they have something different than what people outside the US will get.
WLL includes a flow control knob as a free upgrade on ECMs. Surprised they didn't include that. You can use that to get a preinfustion effect too.
Thanks for this review. For myself it cured me from the minor upgrade thoughts of getting an HX PID machine instead of the non-PID machine I currently use. Seems like the other comments agree with your thoughts or got the same reality check as myself.
Hey Lance! Always love your vids when I have a chance to watch! I love my current espresso machine and grinder, but now I think it would be cool to check out what else I can get to further Polish my workflow and what can allow me to make better coffee.
Hi Lance! Love you, mean it ;)
The love is mutual, my friend. Thank you for tuning in!
Nice review Lance - would be interested to see you review the Bezzera Aria PID as an equivalent machine 🤞
21:12 "Acrid nonsense" is gonna be something I use in my everyday vocabulary from now on, thank you Lance
Re Temperature accuracy. With any E61, the group head will act as a final temperature buffer (up or down) so you need to know and manage the temperature of BOTH the group head AND the temperature of the water flowing through it. This can be done using a temperature probe on the group head and some practice flushing with an HX. The key to remember is that the group head probe at idle is measuring the group head temp, and then when the pump is engaged it’s measuring the water temp. The water exiting the group is sort of an average of the two (more or less). Eg Group head is 98, pump is engaged and water temp reading is 94, actual water exiting the group will be ~96.
Perhaps managing water temp is easier with this “smart temperature” system but not knowing the group temp is a big flaw. Personally I’d just take a regular old e61 HX and fit it with a good group head temperature probe.
What a beautiful machine! You explain it so well!
Agreed! E61s are timeless designs aesthetically. Thanks for watching!
I have the Rocket Mozzafiato type R. It has a thermometer in the steam boiler, and that's it. Rocket indicates the corresponding temperature of the group head, but they know it's a dark art. I added a temperature probe. 👍
I was actually choosing between the san remo cube and the ecm technika before discoverinh the mechanika max. Given what you said in the video, it sounds like i am better off sticking with a cube or technika and adding a temp probe in the grouphesd rather than opting for the max for its "smart" temp control features
Would you say that is accurate?
I enjoyed this video, thanks for the insight! It's great to see ECM fitting this tech inside their machines, hopefully more will do the same give us even more options to choose from. Also, sorry to bring up another machine on this video but can we be expecting a video from you on the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? I'm sure I remember seeing you comment you had one planned in the pipeline, which I'm eagerly awaiting! Would love to hear your thoughts on that machine (and how it compares to these e61 style machines, plus the ones fitted with flow control)
Yes I have one. It's in a queue of machines. I'll get to it as I can, but can't rush it. I have Meticulous testing protocol I can't rush
Would be great to see a review of the ecm syncronika dual boiler... Thks
Great review as always! I've had a profitec pro600 for 4 years now, with the variable flow adapter and have found it to be a very reliable, well built machine and makes good espresso and has decent steam performance. It's a dual boiler machine though and has reportedly good temperature accuracy at group head but I would be interested to know how true that is given it's got an e61 group head.
The flow control on those makes them a lot more versatile.
Always get excited on new video releases even on machines that I know I wouldn't even consider buying in my lifetime because of how entertaining and informative sir Lance is. Would like to know if you are considering doing a review/pro tips on cheaper, maybe sub 300$ espresso machines, like Delonghi ECP/Stilosa, for those of us on tighter budgets and want to enter the world of espresso but does not want to fiddle with manual lever machines like the flair?
Is the Synchronic worth $800-900 more than this model? Im struggling to work it out. Do you really need the dual boiler? Im upgrading From Sage/Breville Oracle
I have the synchronika - not sure its worth the additional $ based on what I see here
As always Great review.
Damn, that's a good looking machine
Agreed! Thanks for watching
Sad to hear you’ve been having a slump in viewership ‘cause i watch your vids religiously. Took a quick look at your vid views and think that perhaps the videos that work best are looking more towards either tools that are more accessible ($$$) or where you present revolutionary ideas about coffee s future/drop some coffilosiphy or basic theory/ tutorials. What’s the next big thing? Hasn’t been much hype since the sculptor. Also, personally would love to see a video dedicated to channeling, but that’s just me 😅. Keep up the amazing work Lance!
I own one and it’s way better to have the dual PID. I have the temp probe in the group head and it definitely helps a ton. I still have to flush here and there, but way less often/shorter amount than a normal HX. Rotary pump is dope. Build quality dope. If I did it all over again I’d get a lever machine like the Argos but that’s a whole other territory.
Amazing, thanks Lance!
Thank you for watching and interacting!
@@LanceHedrick you’re more than welcome. Because of you I just got into 98 flat burr grinders. Maybe I should not be thanking you…. 🤔
The technology of the ECM has gone up a nodge, since I worked as a technician of an ECM dealership.
ECM is great in the price range, especially with repairing.
Just always remember to empty the steamboiler, at least once per month, so minerals won't destroy the hesting element or clog the system 👌
Oh definitely. Or use water that won't scale lol
Oh yeah, definitely.
Wow I learned a lot about e61's that I never knew. With some dual boilers being found the same price as an HX machines I wonder if their is still any good reason to buy an HX?
Which DB is the same price as a HX?
Great video! Still waiting for some machine that’s better in heat up time, features and temperature stability than Breville dual boiler and doesn’t cost $5000 😂
Ha! You'll have to go non e61 route for that! Lol
Your vids are great Lance!
thank you!
Do you plan to review the new synchronika 2? Whole latte love also sell it
Another great video!
-Mark / EspressoTech Service Co.
Great material! Please do Ascaso next!
I owned two different E61 machines before. My experience on E61s was that they were not consistent, no matter they are double boilers or heat exchangers. It is the group head design to make it cannot be consistent.
Lance! Love your reviews. This or the Bianca V3?
Dat machine is a beauty
QQ on a technical / functional front. I just received an ECM Mechanika VI and after the initial setup, the unit WILL NOT stop hissing / sputtering / discharging from the OPV overflow port behind the group head. There is no pause with it, it's going through all the water in the tank, steaming up the entire front of the unit, and making constant noise. Now, this can't be normal right?
Although I find this machine aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced, I have one concern. The placement of the power switch and the setting buttons are in a location subject to splashing from channeling, back flushing and movement of cups in your work area. I frequently spray down this area with windex and a damp towel to keep it clean and shiny. I would prefer having the pressure gauges in this location as it be easier to clean and avoid moisture affecting the setting buttons. Maybe I’m being really picky but after owning a similar machine for over 5 years, I have noticed what areas of the machine need to be cleaned the most.
Have you ever did a review on the Ecm syncroncia
What would be an equivalent in a non E-61 model ?
Hey Lance! You mentioned customizing your water and filling it as needed, and it got me wondering about how to optimize water for espresso. Do you have any recommendations? I'd love to see a video on water for espresso machines comparing filtration and customized water profiles!
classic Lance deep dive 😎🤝 cheers
Rotary MaraX, more or less? Seems pretty good. But I do agree with you, I'd rather saturated groups on dual boilers.
Great video as always,,
Wanted to ask since you’ve talked about water debit, how does it affect the cup between low and high 5ml/s vs 15ml/s for example ?
I'm wondering about the Bezzera Aria MN TOP model. That unit seems to have all the "bells and whistles"; PID, Flow control, control brewing temperature. It is a HXbut says it can both brew and steam with proper temperature afterwards. (If I understood it all correctly). Was wondering if you have heard of or have any knowledge on this machine. I am saving to get this machine. Forgot to mention it also has a rotary pump.
I’ve got a Bezzera Aria at home and I love it. I would definitely be curious to know how it compares to the Max.
@@skittish-kitten That is great to hear. I am wondering how well the temperature control at the group works; that is the only unit I have seen with that and PID, flow control and the rest for a little under $2500. It will likely be a few months out getting it. I am spending a lot of time researching different units and stuff as I will have to stick with whatever I get. But this one has moved to the top above the Bianca even.
@@coffeecove7058 Im in a process of searching Lelit Elizabeth replacement and also considering Aria Pid and Mechanika Max. Cannot decide (but Aria is more aesthetically pleasing for me)
Great video. I wonder if you have ever used a Olympia Express Maximatic? That seems like a smaller but highly efficient and temp stable machine that is superbly built. Simple to last the test of time. I don’t see many real reviews of that machine.
Thinking about this machine or the Decent.
Thoughts?
I was wondering what Y should sitter you refer to as I can’t find any online for temp and pressure so I can run flow control too.
Mr. Lance, Sir. What is the small, white grinder behind you on the counter? I need a small coffee grinder to haul around to events. My current grinder is a massive, heavy and back breaking.
Personally i think if temperature stability is so crucial for making good cup of coffee,then it's best to start with breville dual boiler and move up to pro600 at least and forget about everything that comes in between with single boiler or HX. Just save up maybe?cus i began my journey with breville dual boiler and now im planning for an upgraden and considering profitec pro 700. Any suggestions?
Amazing video Lance as always!how can you compare this espresso machine with the Bezzera Aria PID?
thanks for the review Lance, seems all HX machines are not stable with temps and are just a compromise for milk steaming. What about a good single boiler with PID? like the EM Classika or is there still a problem with temp due to the E61 group?
Great video as always, Lance. What would you buy today for under $3,000?
You mentioned in the video that you don’t use an inline water filtration system. What do you use to filter the water for your brewing then?
I make my water. I use a zero water pitcher to remove all minerals then I remineralize using Lotus , I water company I cofounded. So I just make around half a liter to a liter at a time.
Can you do a videp for the Bezzara Aria with flow control please
Dude. You are a genius.
For espresso consumption purposes, why would you make the the pre infusion spike in pressure, then cut it back, then re engage the full pressure?
Have you ever reviewed the Bezzera Unica ? would be a nice change -
Did it appear to be fresh off the pallet from the factory, or was there any evidence it was opened beforehand by WLL and checked and tweaked for accuracy?
It was sent from ECM directly to me on behalf of WLL. They checked before shipping. Cheers
@@LanceHedrick thanks man!
I need a machine that is a step up from the bambino in terms of espresso quality....im willing to spend a more....any suggestions?
Loads of things to consider. I've got loads of reviews up. Need to consider first budget then what all you're wanting in a machine
Linea Micra
Hey, regarding temp control - would you say ECM did a better job than Lelit? or is that just in inherent flaw all E61s are bound to have for eternity?
Not a better job. Same at best. Inherent flaw in e61
@@LanceHedrick Well considering the vast difference in price, we have a winner...
Omg... ECM superb built quality and they forget lid for water tank ? Are you kidding me ? 😀😀😀 Is this same for all ECM machines?
Do you have video how install this temperature measurement on group head ?
I have now Rocket Apartamento and I really suck this vibration pump sound..,very disturbing.
what is appartamento tca?
Great review! What is the machine on your bench to your left (right in frame)?
Sanremo You
I'll review it soon enough!
Can someone tell me what the espresso machine on the bar is (the black one) thanks 😊
He’s right about rotary it’s a shower. Side panel 2 crews move to the side - solenoid easily there for access. I could take that machine apart 10 mins. Plus the lid has no holes near the tank. I’ve never had floaters. He should marry LELIT. MARRY THAT COMPANY DUDE.
Hi Lance! Would love some more info on the Y-splitter. What are the dimensions/specs and where could I find one in Europe? Thanks!
Check the caption 🥰
Trying to decide between Mechanika Max and Bezzera Aria Pid (with flow control). I like the looks of Aria better. Pricewise it's the same in Poland. Will there be significant difference in espresson between them? Using Lelit Elizabeth right now but quality issues with the machine are putting me off from Lelit.
I face the same choice, I'm going to replace my Bellezza Bellona and I'm wondering whether double PID and BTC mode (Max) does really give you a huge advantage comparing to the standard HX (Aria). Regardless of that I want to have Flow Control, rotary pump and up to 27cm width.
Price wise in Poland seems to be not the same, there is around 430 EUR difference:
Aria with FC: 2062 EUR (9099 PLN)
Max + FC: 2264 EUR + 227 EUR, 2491 EUR (10995 PLN)
It's also worth to note the lack of NPF in Max (another 80 EUR) while Aria has it out of the box.
Difficult choice but before buying I would like to visit the Polish authorized dealer to compare both machines personally.
Hi Lance, what is your opinion on combining this one with a df83v grinder?
What would you say is the best affordable (sub €2500) dual boiler machine with a saturated group and flow control?
Closest thing would be a modded Breville/Sage dual boiler.
Real machines like Dalla corte mina, Rocket R nine One, La Marzoccoi gs3 or Slayer cost a lot of money 😅
@@JDMeisterI wouldn’t touch Chinese made junk such as that. I’ve had a machine leave and fail and my friend is on his 3rd replacement in three years.
I don't understand why this machine has a single boiler with heat exchanger as opposed to the dual boiler machines. It gets a rotary pump but only 1 boiler?
What brand of shot mirror is he using?
I miss those insane intros and beat boxing 😢
Nice video! I must say I'm not sure why someone would pick this over the Lelit Bianca. Is it much cheaper in some parts of the world (US)? In Europe, the ECM is actually ~15% more expensive.
Build quality for one thing. ECM’s have a substantially better build quality and as apart of that are much easier to also take apart. That’s a big thing with a large purchase of this caliber that you plan to have for decades. If you tried to take apart a lelit bianca or MaraX to repair at home you start to understand the bigger picture and tbh that’s one of the big draws of the E61 group hesd
When you say that E61 is unpredictable, you mean only HX E61's? That's not what I understood, but I measured the temperature on the puck, with scarce resources, i.e. a cheap thermometer with a thermocouple type K in a real puck with real coffee dialed in for traditional 1:2 in 25-30s to simulate a real extraction. Temperature in my ECM Classika PID was very stable 2 degrees difference from start to finish, 1 degree less than the display (maybe due to my cheap equipment). I repeated the same tests in a Vibiemme Domobar modded with PID (XMT 7100 and thermocouple type PT100, adusted for .1 degrees precision), and had the same results, probably because both are 750 ml single boiler E61. My conclusion is that a 750 ml single boiler can give stability and precision because the water inside the boiler is not excessively heated like in a HX and there's a lot of water at the right temperature unlike the small amount going through the heat exchanger tube. Any thoughts? Wrong conclusions due to my limited resources or bad experiment assumptions?
Between this and the Rocket 58/Appartenento, what do you think? Of course it's not a simple question but what do you think?
Apartamento is HX with pressurestat and vibration pump, so it's a machine out of this league. I had it, it is real trouble to hit desire temp. On the other hand, r58 is dual boiler so it's also out of this league in a better way. Dual boiler in r58 is much better than this HX in ECM.
Can you or have you reviewed the Profitec 600? Would like honest review.