Intrigued by the machine? Do you own one? On the short list? Let me know below! And don't forget to hit that sub button;) ALSO- "budget" is a relative term. When discussing "end game" machines, the cost tends to be upwards of $5,000 to $10,000. So, this, to me, is a proper "budget" option for a machine that can compete with the high priced "end game" machines. ok. end.
Do you think other manufacters will follow with this kind of "smart PID" I would love to see something as an upgrade for my synchronika that would bridge the gap between and Decent. Right now my workflow involves lifting my brew leaver to get 2 bars or preinfusion for 5 seconds, it would be amazing to have the machine do this for me.
I agree, it’s budget from a value proposition perspective. I absolutely love it! Currently using a Rocket Porta Vía which I love, but if I ever want to upgrade to have more control, the Bianca would top my list.
I know budget/value is all relative, but this video just solidified what great value this feature rich machine has to offer. Would love to see you deep dive into/share graphs of some of your favorite flow profiles. Fantastic review and video as always!
Man ever since that little rough patch on youtube it really seems like you’ve been able to be yourself to the fullest extent in your videos, its truly a beautiful thing, hope you’re doing as great as you look lance
I think zach is referring to my having to come to terms with being a public figure and having loads of people critique my personality, my weight, etc. It hit me hard and I made a vulnerable post about it. Have since been able to get over it and have just moved on and embraced this space as my own. those who enjoy can follow along. Those who don't can eff off haha!
Hey Lance, thanks so much for the in-depth look at the Bianca. I'd love if you could make a flow-profiling tutorial and how to identify the best profile for a specific bean! Like a more advanced version of your dialing in two-part series.
That’s stupid this machine really handles the offset as you say? Every other machine you set the offset permanently, so +5 is +5 all the time and not just after you start the shot it will heat +5. What sense does that make?
Great video! It would be amazing if you could do a comparison of pros and cons of different group heads in terms of temp and pressure stability, e.g., E61, saturated, the Decent’s, and others. Thanks, Lance!
Great review, thank you! One thing to note regarding your comments around standby mode: the EU has regulations around this sort of thing, for all electronic devices, and comes with great specificity especially for coffee machines: "for domestic coffee machines other than drip filter coffee machines, a maximum of 30 minutes after completion of the last brewing cycle, or a maximum of 30 minutes after activation of the heating element [...]". It would be effectively illegal for Lelit to ship this in the EU with a longer timer or without standby. This probably explains why there are no menus or clear instructions in the manual about disabling this either. They could of course have offered different defaults for different regions, but I suppose this was too much of a nuisance for them...
Ad thermal stability, I am interested in values your machine came with in technical menu. There is couple of PID parameters which should ensure that configured temperature matches temp at grouphead. There should not be 5°C difference. This could be also calibrated with your device or boiling method. Also altitude might affect this but I would definately calibrate it and test gemp offset feature again.
yes you can do this. There won't be an offset if you calibrate it to what group says. Issue is, majority of people don't have these tools I have. So I wanted to review it in factory mode. Cheers
@@LanceHedrick I was not sure if factory settings are always the same or if it's not sometimes touched by distributor. Also I think 230V vs 110V versions will have different settings and behavior too. I desperately wish to have thermofilter to test my Bianca 🤔 Anyway very nice review, finally someone reviewed low flow + pre-infusion properly. Good job.
Hi Lance, can you please share your PID settings of your Bianca. My machine works pretty good with the factory settings and the temp with +5 °C seems to be to hot. I ask other Lelit owners and their values differ between my factory settings and theirs. Maybe Lelit did some changes/updates over time. Thanks and cheers
What would you choose if you were trying to decide which one to get for home? La Marzocco micro, Rocket R58 or this one Lelit Bianca v3? I don't really need the new app, Bluetooth stuff. I'm older and wouldn't use all that. Any suggestions?
Hey Lance, great content as always, I have the Mara X V1 and love the idea behind Lelit's Espresso machines. Building good quality E61 machines while also implementing decent software. Also the fact they update their models every now and then listening to the feedback is really great.
I was tempted by the V3 Bianca and was waiting for the black version to become available in the UK but unfortunately they are charging an extra £600 premium over the standard chrome V3 which is way too much for essentially a cosmetic change.
Amazing video! Saw in previous videos that you also have a Decent. I am currently hesitating between the DE1XL or the Bianca V3. What do you think of shot quality ? My other big concern is noise on the decent. Seems like the vibe pump are making really loud weird noice vs the gentle humming of the Bianca. Thanks for putting up such great videos, super helpful !
I am thinking the same as you, I go back and forth on these 2 machines but then seen the Sanremo You and might have swayed me on getting that over these 2.
Somehow the flat color profile on most shots is weirding me out. Especially because it's really hard to see the pretty walnut wood in the machine, it just looks grey. Or am I not far enough along in the video and this is a bit?
Did it change as you watched? Thanks for the feedback! hopefully not too detracting. Put about 6 months of work into researching and testing for the video haha
Thanks for making some gigantic, very thorough reviews. You’re undoubtedly losing some viewers who are more casual about coffee, but your channel is wealth of knowledge and experience for those who are deeper into the hobby.
All relative. Relative to end game machines that cost $7-10k, this is definitely budget haha There is no machine cheaper with end game capabilities out of box
Another great review, thanks Lance! I used to own a Rocket R58 with flow control, and I’ve used a Bianca V2. I enjoyed using both. But, after some surprisingly good espresso from a Cafelat Robot I have for travel, I bought a Londinium lever and sold the Rocket a few months later. Lever machines aren’t for everybody, of course, but I found it an unexpected joy to wake in the morning and pull simple, silent and delicious shots. A useful question for prospective buyers to ask themselves might be “do I prize complexity/flexibility or simplicity?” That may help point them in the right direction.
Thanks for a great review! I've recently bought a V3, so the info re temp at boiler vs grouphead was super interesting. If I've understood you correctly, setting the boiler temp to 100 manifests as approx 93-95 at the grouphead, and setting to 94 results in approx 91-92 at grouphead? Is there a way to change the offset so that the temp shown on the display more accurately represents that at the grouphead? (I don't have a Scace) (NB. I note that you can set the boiler temp to 115. Did you try that out of interest?)
Please read pinned comment. It is as I say it is- a budget end game. I didn't say budget espresso machine lol Relative to $7-10k machines, this is definitely budget. Cheers and sorry you feel baited. Not my intention.
I have watched your videos on espresso machines in the past, but I'm stuck. I'd like to get a daily use machine that I can pull good espresso and froth milk. My budget is around 2k. I was moving between Brevil dual boiler(BDB) and rocket apartmento. The BDB has many features but how much do I worry about build quality? The rocket has great build quality but the e61 could make it hard to get nice water temp. I have also taken a short look at the Profitec pro 400. I care a little more about good espresso than good frothing capabilities.... anyways.... anyone in the community have any advice?
I love how this machine looks, when I actually get into end game espresso I think it would be a tough decision between this, the E1 Prima and the Olympia Cremina. But I need to get into espresso first, don’t have the space now 😅. Thanks for the great review!
Dave Corby has instructions on how to change the LCC to default to the actual boiler temperature rather than the target. Did it on my v2 and makes much more sense
Is the flow control on the Bianca worth the extra cost over the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? I drink 5 coffees a day 3 Cortados, a flat white and an Espresso. I like to change beans up every now and then, but have an overall preference for Medium Roast with Chocolate/Caramel notes. On the other hand I think I would like to tinker with some coffee rexiprs. Is the flow control difficult to use and any advice on best place to learn would be welcome. I am buying in Ireland so the Silvia Pro x is between €1300 to €1500 and the Bianca is around €2200. I was also considering the Profitec Pro 600 with flow control which is about €2000.
I was recently in the market for an upgrade and the Bianca was a runner-up, decided to get the Ascaso Steel Duo PID mostly because I couldn't fit a full-sized e61-style machine. Any plans on reviewing the Ascaso Steel Duo - really curious to see what you think about them dual thermoblocks
Hello Lance. You'll love the E61 grouphead even more if you know that there was already an adjustable needle valve when the E61 grouphead was patented in the 1960s. - Sprogeeks
Yeah! Sadly, most have abandoned this and have made a simple gicleur with a .6mm aperture. Makes it easy to mod for flow control! Thanks for watching, friend!
The BDB is coming closer to you every video, should we be expecting a new update on the machine? Also i think that they changed the finish on black edition(for the better). And by any chance do you also know how to disable the auto turn off in 30 minutes in the BDB?
yeah. I've learned this (actually I had this in the first cut but thought maybe I was misremembering and cut it out haha!) Why the difficulty in turning off standby?
@@petervansan1054 oh i see... The problem is that there is not enough time for the cups to get warm and i have to warm them with hot water every time before a shot...
I'm sorry, but if you don't know anything about investing, stay away from it. If you've seen the investing memes on Reddit and thought "Maybe I should see what this is about", don't. If you don't know what you're doing, you will lose money extremely fast. It's the same thing with credit cards. Unless you have a well thought out plan on how to use it and know exactly how you're going to pay it off, you can end up in debt. Do not let your emotions or desire to invest in something more poetic like art drive your decisions. Do not let your desire to buy an espresso machine guide your choices either. If you have enough income that you can make a reasonable investment, talk to a professional. Do not just throw your money at something and hope that the line goes up. People have actually lost their life savings doing this.
I've had a V2 for a little bit over a year. It's been a really solid upgrade vs my BDB. Love the rotary pump's really quiet operation (but the damn loud relays reduce that impact somewhat). I can't say my shots improved by an insane margin, but not having to loose the hot water (and mod) to get the pressure needle valve is a must (I drink lots of Americano. Is that weird?). I'm wondering if an edge-to-edge basket would help get a little bit more out of my lighter roast shots. Some small nitpicky stuff from having it used so long for 4 drinks per day : - The water tank is detected empty while there is still at least a cup of water in it. Seems like a small detail, but I have it connected to a smart plug to auto-start in the morning and it sometimes means I wake up to a cold machine because it thinks it's empty. ( and that my friends, is a sad trombone moment) - The drip tray... You mentioned it but honestly it's very meh overall. I have the stainless version (no options for paint when I got it :( my machine ) and the edges are sharp so I regularly nick myself trying to keep it clean - Needle valve is very sensitive to scale. I've been using and replacing the in-tank filters as guided, but scale started to build up by month 10 and I had to disassemble to descale it. Found out because my adjustment with the valve all the way closed was letting water trough all of a sudden. - This one is specific to people that are not used to the E61 group head, but the vacuum breaker valve is loud AF when the machine first heats up. - Why are the relays so loud!? That's a lot of very small things, but a lot of it reminded me that while the Breville Dual Boiler isn't in the same league as far as how it's constructed, it really had the end user in mind and avoided a lot of those small things. To be noted that even that machine had issues (those damn o-rings keep failing and leaking inside the machine every 12-18 months), but at the price of the BDB vs the Bianca, I would not hesitate one second to go get the Lelit. Because when all is said and one, the experience of using it feels special. That's not something I could ever say about the BDB. @Lance Hedrick tiny thing I would've loved to see from you on this review is an look at the internals. I was curious to see if they have changed the layout at all from my V2 :)
I can't comment on the Bianca's relays specifically (I just have an Anna PID), but relays in general tend to be loud, and the higher amperage they break, the louder they're likely to be. For those who don't know, a relay is a kind of switch that uses low power to manage higher power. That means the power running through the control the user might touch is low and safe, even if what they're switching isn't. Generally this is done with something like a fast solenoid that moves the high power contacts whenever it's triggered by the low power circuit. This switching has to be very quick to reduce arcing, so you wind up with metal hitting metal very fast. That makes some noise. Higher power means beefier contacts, and so louder noise.
Such a great roundup of the Bianca! Every time I have the pleasure of using mine, I fall in love with the build quality and the workflow. I'm curious if my grinder is limiting my shot quality atm and I'm not sure how to find out! I'm using a Eureka Mignon, so I'm not sure if it's just the upgrade-itis talking
Before watching the video I’m supposed to say I like it and become a dedicated follower ??? What’s with that ? I’ll stop right there and go watch something else. I’m out !
Wondering your thoughts about wanting to have a declining temp curve during a shot? That is the biggest thing that hit my brain in this video lol.....I'm like....dude....i've been like doing everything to maintain the temperature during a shot ahhaha
Hello, I really like your channel, very technical, I’m looking for some guidance. I had the Breville oracle touch for a couple of years and it kept breaking, I’m looking to get a different machine , I’ve been watching reviews and I’m between the Bianca v3 and the Sanremo cube , but can’t decide, I’m looking for a reliable machine, that makes good coffee, about 3 cups a day. I like the features on the Bianca, but don’t necessarily need them,looking for best build quality and reliability, is one better than the other ?
Great video, I really feel like Lelit are the equivalent of One Plus in the early days. They give all the features the enthusiasts want, at a reasonable price but maybe not as high quality materials/finish as top end brands. Have used the Bianca and own an Elizabeth and love it.
So for someone looking to make the “big upgrade” do you think this is better than the breville dual boiler (with your prescribed modifications)? Obviously a price difference between to be considered. Any chance you could look into the Bezzera offerings in this space?
This is a hard question. Mostly because people don't like the answer. I personally am going BDB and doing the slayer mod. Better thermal stability, half the price (can funnel rest of budget to an insane grinder), etc. But this machine is better out of the box!
Lance, said it before and will say it again, love you man. You're direct and you're not only honest (what you say is true) but you’re also candid (unguarded and are sure to share the "whole truth" as "truths" by themself can be misleading). My only concern is that Masterworks may not be so "candid" as much of their approaches (schemes?) and pronouncements can be misleading (sometime their "truth" is not the "whole truth"). I love that you are getting your sponsorship on but would caution the buyer to beware. We haven't heard a Masterworks scandal yet but as someone with a spouse in the art world, it wouldn't surprise me down the road. Just sayin'. Also sayin'... love you, man. Keep on keeping on!
I appreciate you looking out for me! Genuinely means a lot. I have not taken a sponsor for so long out of fear of misstepping. I have been... well... running out of my personal funds to continue so I had to make a choice and started taking sponsors. The love is reciprocal, my friend!
@@LanceHedrick, you’re the best. I realized if I was going to run my mouth about sponsors… I should put some money where my mouth is… so I just joined your Patreon! It’s a mere token compared to the daily (and archived) value you provide! Keep building your empire. The world needs people who do well by doing good… and coffee is good!
There are rumors of a Bianca v4 coming to the market soon, some indicators such as large sales both in Europa and the US and also that Lelit has come up with a new version every two years.
Hey Lance, Noticed you have a white bianca on the counter in your latest video. How is the finish on those been for cleaning? how durable do you think the finish will be in comparison to stainless? Enjoy your videos thanks again
Damn, I've been itching to get a nice machine and when I see "BUDGET END GAME" I was so excited... till I realized it was still $3,000... Why do I feel like I can't get proper espresso for less than THOUSANDS of dollars??
somewhat. If you replicate a lever style shot, just mess around with dose and grind size. Lever machines give one profile, just automate like that and use the needle valve to lessen flow during it if needed!
oh! Weird! We used the same profile as every video. Did you feel that way the whole video? I have screenshot your comment and another similar one to send to my editor. Thanks!
@@LanceHedrick Looks like that from start to finish. Feels like it should be slightly more vibrant with this lighting because i first thought you uploaded a raw ungraded video by mistake, hard to see the pretty wooden notes on the Bianca and gives a weird feeling! 😄
These machines just seem so over engineered and complex - considering a manual lever can pressure profile and produce great espresso without so much as needing to be descaled.
It was between this and the Micra for me since price diff is that much. Went with the Micra … for me it just was easier to use and the heat up times are unmatched. Bianca is excellent tho….love the colors and quality
Definitely! Micra is loads more limited as regards control BUT it has essentially unparalleled quality. Though, most home users don't need a machine that would survive ww10 lol
I noticed when you zoomed out at 18:54 the machine is showing the tank is out of water. At this point it would stop heating. This would throw off the temperature testing. Still a great review of the Bianca.
Everything the Bianca wants to do the Decent does perfectly. Change temp on the fly, direct control over flow, extremely fast warmup. I don't understand why companies keep churning out "new" E61 machines. The tech is so old and not energy efficient. A Decent only costs like $500 more. To say there's nothing more beyond this, when you own a Decent, seems silly...
Seems you haven't tasted coffees from a decent and pretty much every other machine side by side. I love.my decent but it doesn't compete with more traditional style shots at all. And I'm the EU and UK, Bianca is much cheaper than decent. If you're in the states, your number is correct but the Bianca is loads more there than elsewhere. Even canada
Eric,.. does taste matter to you ? The decent doesn't taste as good as E61 machines. That's why the E61s keep getting "Churned out " Also decent is about 1700 more for not as good taste.
Nice review. As allways. Question to everyone: The temperature surfing needed on HX machines is still a thing I guess. Dual boiler doesn't take that away - especially with the Faema group head. So what is the advantage of dual boiler? Better steaming? I'm helping a friend out. Should he save some money (putting them into a grinder) and go for a HX? Tnx
I have the v2, it’s was a pandemic splurge to keep me sane, no regrets. Used it almost daily the past 2 years and my only con is that it’s very bad at hiding being “dirty”. Mine has water residue and espresso residue on it all the time, unless I wipe clean it after every pull and every steam.
it wasn't optimal here. Will workk on it for future videos. apologies! hope it doesn't affect the delivery of the hard work I put in over 6 months hahaa!
BDB with slayer mod, tbh, performs a bit better. Issue would be longevity, difficulty of maintenance and finding parts. BUT I know a few people who have had their bdb for 10 years with very few issues (o ring replacements, vibe pump replacement, etc, all super cheap)
Trying to understand, I love this machine from this video, but the 30 minute to warm up, worried about that. Are there not machines like this that allow you to pull a shot more quickly? Currently using the Breiville Barista Pro and it can run a shot quite quickly. Trying to understand this as we typically have lattes after waking up, sounds like we need to warm up the machine first thing in the morning now though?
Hi Lance enjoy your videos, I did a temperature test myself using a thermometer using a type k probe inside my portafila and had my lelite bianca v3 set at 93c and ran a few 40 second tests and found to be very consistant at 93c ,but towards the last 10 seconds the temp would sometimes drop 1 to 3 celcius but others pritty consistant at 93c..
Hey Lance, Great review. I have a Bianca V2. Not sure if this was called out (in case I missed it) this machine can also be plumbed into a cold water line. Also the stock accessories are quite decent too. Bottomless portafilter, plumbing kit etc.
In the UK this is priced like most other companies HX models. ECM, Rocket etc all are Hx for 1899 GBP same as this currently. Can this be controlled with a smart plug for timed start up without issues?
Excellent review from you sir, I just wanted to say that I enjoy your channel a lot and I am sure that you will be the face of coffee on youtube. My suggestion for future videos on E61 machines is focusing more on the internals of the machine (wiring, tubing, materials, quality …..) that is because rocket, ECM, lelit….. all have very similar E61 machines and the differentiating factor between them is mostly internals. I say this because I bought an expobar brewtus IV four years ago which is a dual boiler rotary e61 machine. Due to the poor quality of the wiring, heating element, and the PID being very close to the boiler. My machine faced many issues. If I could go back in time I would buy a rocket or ECM machine. YT creators really need to focus on these aspects when reviewing machines as longevity is very important when talking about 3000$+ machines.
oh sure! It is difficult to know what to focus on. If there were issues like this in the Bianca, I would have brought it up. I am always taking machines apart and dissecting them with scrutinous analysis on the build. I have also gotten to visit their factory and ask questions to the designers on the decisions. If I had any trepidation, I would have named it! because there was none, I did not feel the need to bring it up. Thanks for watching!
Bluetooth “transceiver” = transmitter-receiver A “transducer” is something that converts energy from one form to another, which, although technically true for any antenna device, converting electricity to photons, it’s not something we typically use to describe a Bluetooth device.
Lelit should release a firmware update that removes the pointless Offset feature and replaces it with features that would actually benefit users. For example: 1. Option to manually pause/resume the pump when the lever is fully up (for extended blooming) 2. Option to quickly toggle between two sets of LLC settings - one for use with a programmed profile (like the one you demonstrated), and one for use with manual flow profiling (using the paddle).
The problem u talk about with the temperature it’s in all e61 group head machines right? U don’t talk only about the Bianca. I have the matrix and when I put in the pid 95 it never gets to 95 out of the group head while brewing.
@@LanceHedrick yeah, saw it 😉 but scrolling through my feed the very first word I see is "budget" which the algorithm knows I'm looking for... So I clicked... And got baited lol.. Some people don't read comments, I do... But... It's the word BUDGET that brought me here 👍
@@donaldhakala did not mean to bait you! So sorry. People always ask me what is the cheapest machine with end game qualities. I figured that was a helpful phrase.
I can't explain it to you but if I am blowing that on an espresso machine I am buying a Cremina like 90/100x and the rest of the time some other lever.
now i'd like to measure the offset of my bianca v2... I testet it by sight: at 100 degrees it looks like boiling water coming out of the grouphead. But since i'm having troubles with sourness (light roast, temp at 95) i should try with higher temp...
Lance, first of all, big thanks for your videos, lots of info and very good made. I am not a barista, but do like drinking coffee more and more, and checking out the videos on YT only wants me to try to get to higher level. I was thinking to get get myself a Breville/Sage dual boiler. Is the Lelit Biance V3 really worth the extra money ? I don't want to start thinking about upgrading from the Breville/Sage after a certain time... Any advice ?
My first “serious” machine was a breville, but I changed it to a Lelit Mara and now a Bianca V3. I was never satisfied with the breville, shots were mediocre at best.
The Brevilles make excellent coffee. And the boiler is the best one that. Try to get one that's manufactured after August 2022 because that will be the new design and it will be much more durable.
You saying, “and then you are dialing in your grind size to that profile,” scrambled my brains. All I know is a basic recipe approach. For example, 18g in, 36 out in 25-30 seconds. How do you actually “dial in your grind size” with a profile like the one you illustrated in your iPhone graph? Theoretically, you are extracting longer, so you’ve ground finer than in a traditional, non-flow-controlled grind setting? Sorry, trying to wrap my head around the world of flow profiling. Thanks for the content you've been pumping out!
I’m sitting and staring at my black v3 as well! Delivered yesterday. It’s amazing. I appreciate the videos, per usual! Could we maybe do a flow pro recipe video in the future? Thanks man!
Hey! You can emulate pretty much any of the profiles you see online with decent graphs if you have a bluetooth scale to connect to your phone for output flow and the manometer! I have some fun graphs in my recent flair 58 video.
end game machines are $7-10k. This is less than half that. Hence "budget end game" So, if you are looking for an end game machine on a budget. But, 3k is still a lot of money.
@@LanceHedrick I kinda get it, but budget in general means prices in hudreds of dollars, not thousands. Budget to me means something accessible to the masses and this really isn't.
@@LanceHedrick Also, what you describe with this comparison is VALUE. I absolutely agree that this machine is great VALUE for money. However, still not BUDGET.
budget does not mean hundreds of dollars. It just means "reasonable" or "inexpensive." both of these terms are HIGHLY relative. Like a house. A budget mansion could cost $500,000 whereas typical mansions might cost 1-5 million. $500,000 is not cheap, but if it is a mansion, it could be considered a budget mansion. See my thought process? I was actually trying to be helpful to those who wanted an out of the box experience akin to these more pricey machines. sorry if you feel I misled!
Is it possible I could purchase the maple bottomless and maple hardware off you IM DESPERATE! I have the black Mara X and they do not sell the maple hardware or bottomless separately only with the machines. Trying to get a set that matches the Mara X! Willing to pay full retail plus shipping !
I don't understand why manufacturers keep on using e61 groupheads. I hate e61 for the same reasons and more, it takes too much time to heat up, high maintenance, temperature instability, and I don't like the fact I need to lubricate the lever and that it leeches into the coffee. Lelit bought Sage, let's see if they would come up with a new and better grouphead in the future.
So which college should I go to learn and understand all this? This went straight over my head. Is there a machine on the market for us lesser mortals. ;-) ;-)
I have noticed on my bianca v1 when setting the pump pressure whit closed paddle, the pressure increase 1 bar higher when the paddle is open. Same thing when pulling a shot: at first the pump is on 9 bar, but after the pressure in the grouphead has reach his maximum the pressure of the pump goes on 10 bar. In the 6 bar area when pulling a turbo shot it increase only 0.5 bar. Do you know why? And which pressure is the relevant one for the shot? First or second?
Intrigued by the machine? Do you own one? On the short list? Let me know below! And don't forget to hit that sub button;)
ALSO- "budget" is a relative term. When discussing "end game" machines, the cost tends to be upwards of $5,000 to $10,000. So, this, to me, is a proper "budget" option for a machine that can compete with the high priced "end game" machines. ok. end.
Do you think other manufacters will follow with this kind of "smart PID" I would love to see something as an upgrade for my synchronika that would bridge the gap between and Decent. Right now my workflow involves lifting my brew leaver to get 2 bars or preinfusion for 5 seconds, it would be amazing to have the machine do this for me.
Oh yes! loads of machines coming out over the next year. Keep your eyes peeled for some cool ones soon!
The price vs my drinking habits of pretty much espresso make this a way overpriced option. Flair 58 is the best fit imo for my use
Yeah! Flair 58 is fantastic.
I agree, it’s budget from a value proposition perspective. I absolutely love it!
Currently using a Rocket Porta Vía which I love, but if I ever want to upgrade to have more control, the Bianca would top my list.
it’s basically christmas, been waiting for this one! THANK YOU LANCE!
hope it doesn't disappoint!
I know budget/value is all relative, but this video just solidified what great value this feature rich machine has to offer.
Would love to see you deep dive into/share graphs of some of your favorite flow profiles.
Fantastic review and video as always!
thank you! Means a lot!
Man ever since that little rough patch on youtube it really seems like you’ve been able to be yourself to the fullest extent in your videos, its truly a beautiful thing, hope you’re doing as great as you look lance
thank you so much! Really means a lot
There was a rough patch?
embrace the Lance-ness!
I think zach is referring to my having to come to terms with being a public figure and having loads of people critique my personality, my weight, etc. It hit me hard and I made a vulnerable post about it. Have since been able to get over it and have just moved on and embraced this space as my own. those who enjoy can follow along. Those who don't can eff off haha!
@@LanceHedrick screw the haters! You do you Lance! Filter out the noise
Hey Lance, thanks so much for the in-depth look at the Bianca. I'd love if you could make a flow-profiling tutorial and how to identify the best profile for a specific bean! Like a more advanced version of your dialing in two-part series.
Yes
That’s stupid this machine really handles the offset as you say? Every other machine you set the offset permanently, so +5 is +5 all the time and not just after you start the shot it will heat +5. What sense does that make?
Lance, I want to thank you very much for this extensive review of the Bianca. It pushed me into getting one, and I could not be happier!
Holy hell, big baller af!
Money money
wait is that 1000 dollars? or am i blind
@@Lavender11930 lol no! That is Thai Baht 1000. Less than US$30 now 🤣
This is thailands currency. This is around 27 US dollars
So glad I finally found a coffee dude on RUclips who’s informative and not pretentious. Just a fun dude who loves coffee. Keep It up, buddy!
thank you! And yes- I am slightly obsessed with coffee ha! Thanks for joining along! Cheers
Please make that E61 video!
planning on it!
Great video! It would be amazing if you could do a comparison of pros and cons of different group heads in terms of temp and pressure stability, e.g., E61, saturated, the Decent’s, and others. Thanks, Lance!
For sure! Might need to think of a way to put that in a video
Great review, thank you! One thing to note regarding your comments around standby mode: the EU has regulations around this sort of thing, for all electronic devices, and comes with great specificity especially for coffee machines: "for domestic coffee machines other than drip filter coffee machines, a maximum of 30 minutes after completion of the last brewing cycle, or a maximum of 30 minutes after activation of the heating element [...]". It would be effectively illegal for Lelit to ship this in the EU with a longer timer or without standby. This probably explains why there are no menus or clear instructions in the manual about disabling this either. They could of course have offered different defaults for different regions, but I suppose this was too much of a nuisance for them...
I love how sophisticated coffee gear is these days, but the charm of lever machines refuses to die on me.
I love levers! You see my review of the ACS Vostok?
@@LanceHedrick What is that orange guy next to the Robot?
@@sympathetic_crustacean Faema baby. Like the origins of cafelat robot. Lance showed it in the cafelat robot review video.
@@TheMrJuhis Very cool, thanks! Will check that out.
@@LanceHedrick yessir. You never miss on your reviews, and I don't ever miss your videos
Ad thermal stability, I am interested in values your machine came with in technical menu. There is couple of PID parameters which should ensure that configured temperature matches temp at grouphead. There should not be 5°C difference. This could be also calibrated with your device or boiling method. Also altitude might affect this but I would definately calibrate it and test gemp offset feature again.
yes you can do this. There won't be an offset if you calibrate it to what group says. Issue is, majority of people don't have these tools I have. So I wanted to review it in factory mode. Cheers
@@LanceHedrick I was not sure if factory settings are always the same or if it's not sometimes touched by distributor. Also I think 230V vs 110V versions will have different settings and behavior too.
I desperately wish to have thermofilter to test my Bianca 🤔
Anyway very nice review, finally someone reviewed low flow + pre-infusion properly. Good job.
Hi Lance, can you please share your PID settings of your Bianca. My machine works pretty good with the factory settings and the temp with +5 °C seems to be to hot. I ask other Lelit owners and their values differ between my factory settings and theirs. Maybe Lelit did some changes/updates over time. Thanks and cheers
What would you choose if you were trying to decide which one to get for home? La Marzocco micro, Rocket R58 or this one Lelit Bianca v3? I don't really need the new app, Bluetooth stuff. I'm older and wouldn't use all that. Any suggestions?
I love how much great content you’re producing for us in the last time! Keep up the great work, really enjoying :)
thank you so much!
Yay, coffee nerdism time *puts rest of day on hold*
heck yeah!
Hey Lance,
great content as always,
I have the Mara X V1 and love the idea behind Lelit's Espresso machines. Building good quality E61 machines while also implementing decent software. Also the fact they update their models every now and then listening to the feedback is really great.
I have a mara x and will film a video on it soon! Hope you enjoy it
@@LanceHedrick Great! I received mine last month and have enjoyed playing around with it.
@@LanceHedrick Any chanced you'd compare the sub-bianca tier? Like MaraX vs Elizabeth vs Ascaso steel?
I was tempted by the V3 Bianca and was waiting for the black version to become available in the UK but unfortunately they are charging an extra £600 premium over the standard chrome V3 which is way too much for essentially a cosmetic change.
Had no clue there was a 600 pound fee for that up there! It is 400 in the states, which is bad enough but 600 pounds in mind blowing
Clive is showing $200 difference in US. Which is ridiculous just for a change in color.
This sucks… love the look of the black and not the chrome….
Amazing video! Saw in previous videos that you also have a Decent. I am currently hesitating between the DE1XL or the Bianca V3. What do you think of shot quality ? My other big concern is noise on the decent. Seems like the vibe pump are making really loud weird noice vs the gentle humming of the Bianca.
Thanks for putting up such great videos, super helpful !
I am thinking the same as you, I go back and forth on these 2 machines but then seen the Sanremo You and might have swayed me on getting that over these 2.
Somehow the flat color profile on most shots is weirding me out. Especially because it's really hard to see the pretty walnut wood in the machine, it just looks grey. Or am I not far enough along in the video and this is a bit?
Did it change as you watched? Thanks for the feedback! hopefully not too detracting. Put about 6 months of work into researching and testing for the video haha
Thanks for making some gigantic, very thorough reviews. You’re undoubtedly losing some viewers who are more casual about coffee, but your channel is wealth of knowledge and experience for those who are deeper into the hobby.
I lose more subscribers from my singing than from my diving deeply haha! It is what it is. Thank you for sticking around!
The spontaneity and depth of your videos are what keep me watching! If someone cannot handle your singing, they are taking RUclips too seriously.
Haha thank you! You'd be shocked how many people I've had to block from getting vitriolic about my singing and dancing.
@@LanceHedrick People can be such pricks it's quite fascinating 😂
I would be VERY interested in seeing a comparison with the LUCCA M58 !
Amazing in depth review Lance! Always love your channel and all the details!!! Really fantastic work!!! 🎉
thank you so much, allen! Means a lot!
I know you're calling it "end-game" but man $3200 and saying it's budget seems crazy to me
All relative. Relative to end game machines that cost $7-10k, this is definitely budget haha
There is no machine cheaper with end game capabilities out of box
Another great review, thanks Lance!
I used to own a Rocket R58 with flow control, and I’ve used a Bianca V2. I enjoyed using both. But, after some surprisingly good espresso from a Cafelat Robot I have for travel, I bought a Londinium lever and sold the Rocket a few months later.
Lever machines aren’t for everybody, of course, but I found it an unexpected joy to wake in the morning and pull simple, silent and delicious shots.
A useful question for prospective buyers to ask themselves might be “do I prize complexity/flexibility or simplicity?” That may help point them in the right direction.
Of course! I love levers. Lots of lever content coming soon!
Thanks for a great review!
I've recently bought a V3, so the info re temp at boiler vs grouphead was super interesting.
If I've understood you correctly, setting the boiler temp to 100 manifests as approx 93-95 at the grouphead, and setting to 94 results in approx 91-92 at grouphead?
Is there a way to change the offset so that the temp shown on the display more accurately represents that at the grouphead? (I don't have a Scace)
(NB. I note that you can set the boiler temp to 115. Did you try that out of interest?)
I would like to get a confirmation of this as well
@@ockidocki Same for me
I got baited by budget
Please read pinned comment. It is as I say it is- a budget end game. I didn't say budget espresso machine lol
Relative to $7-10k machines, this is definitely budget.
Cheers and sorry you feel baited. Not my intention.
I have watched your videos on espresso machines in the past, but I'm stuck. I'd like to get a daily use machine that I can pull good espresso and froth milk. My budget is around 2k. I was moving between Brevil dual boiler(BDB) and rocket apartmento. The BDB has many features but how much do I worry about build quality? The rocket has great build quality but the e61 could make it hard to get nice water temp. I have also taken a short look at the Profitec pro 400. I care a little more about good espresso than good frothing capabilities.... anyways.... anyone in the community have any advice?
I love how this machine looks, when I actually get into end game espresso I think it would be a tough decision between this, the E1 Prima and the Olympia Cremina. But I need to get into espresso first, don’t have the space now 😅. Thanks for the great review!
the cremina is teeny tiny. You definitely have the space for that!!!
Congratulations Lance., You got a sponsor for your hard work especially "SPONSOR". I'm wishing you to get more sponsors on your upcoming videos.
Dave Corby has instructions on how to change the LCC to default to the actual boiler temperature rather than the target. Did it on my v2 and makes much more sense
yep! Can definitely do that. I try to show machines like this at their stock presentation. But good comment!
Is the flow control on the Bianca worth the extra cost over the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? I drink 5 coffees a day 3 Cortados, a flat white and an Espresso. I like to change beans up every now and then, but have an overall preference for Medium Roast with Chocolate/Caramel notes. On the other hand I think I would like to tinker with some coffee rexiprs. Is the flow control difficult to use and any advice on best place to learn would be welcome. I am buying in Ireland so the Silvia Pro x is between €1300 to €1500 and the Bianca is around €2200. I was also considering the Profitec Pro 600 with flow control which is about €2000.
I was recently in the market for an upgrade and the Bianca was a runner-up, decided to get the Ascaso Steel Duo PID mostly because I couldn't fit a full-sized e61-style machine. Any plans on reviewing the Ascaso Steel Duo - really curious to see what you think about them dual thermoblocks
yeah! I need to especially now that I live in their neighboring country (they are in Spain). Thanks for checking the video out, regardless!
Seems like an odd runner up at double the price, no?
I think he means in terms of space. Taking into account all features and space, the other won out haha
@@LanceHedrick correct - they're not on the same level of features and price but they were the ones I was looking at.
for sure. hope you enjoy it!
Hello Lance. You'll love the E61 grouphead even more if you know that there was already an adjustable needle valve when the E61 grouphead was patented in the 1960s. - Sprogeeks
Yeah! Sadly, most have abandoned this and have made a simple gicleur with a .6mm aperture. Makes it easy to mod for flow control! Thanks for watching, friend!
The BDB is coming closer to you every video, should we be expecting a new update on the machine? Also i think that they changed the finish on black edition(for the better). And by any chance do you also know how to disable the auto turn off in 30 minutes in the BDB?
haha! Just needed to come back home ;)
the issue with turn off is that it's mandatory by eu law
yeah. I've learned this (actually I had this in the first cut but thought maybe I was misremembering and cut it out haha!) Why the difficulty in turning off standby?
@@petervansan1054 oh i see...
The problem is that there is not enough time for the cups to get warm and i have to warm them with hot water every time before a shot...
@@LanceHedrick because i am in Europe🥲
I'm sorry, but if you don't know anything about investing, stay away from it. If you've seen the investing memes on Reddit and thought "Maybe I should see what this is about", don't. If you don't know what you're doing, you will lose money extremely fast. It's the same thing with credit cards. Unless you have a well thought out plan on how to use it and know exactly how you're going to pay it off, you can end up in debt. Do not let your emotions or desire to invest in something more poetic like art drive your decisions. Do not let your desire to buy an espresso machine guide your choices either.
If you have enough income that you can make a reasonable investment, talk to a professional. Do not just throw your money at something and hope that the line goes up. People have actually lost their life savings doing this.
I agree everyone should consult prior to investing, regardless of how poetic. Thanks for watching!
I've had a V2 for a little bit over a year. It's been a really solid upgrade vs my BDB. Love the rotary pump's really quiet operation (but the damn loud relays reduce that impact somewhat). I can't say my shots improved by an insane margin, but not having to loose the hot water (and mod) to get the pressure needle valve is a must (I drink lots of Americano. Is that weird?). I'm wondering if an edge-to-edge basket would help get a little bit more out of my lighter roast shots.
Some small nitpicky stuff from having it used so long for 4 drinks per day :
- The water tank is detected empty while there is still at least a cup of water in it. Seems like a small detail, but I have it connected to a smart plug to auto-start in the morning and it sometimes means I wake up to a cold machine because it thinks it's empty. ( and that my friends, is a sad trombone moment)
- The drip tray... You mentioned it but honestly it's very meh overall. I have the stainless version (no options for paint when I got it :( my machine ) and the edges are sharp so I regularly nick myself trying to keep it clean
- Needle valve is very sensitive to scale. I've been using and replacing the in-tank filters as guided, but scale started to build up by month 10 and I had to disassemble to descale it. Found out because my adjustment with the valve all the way closed was letting water trough all of a sudden.
- This one is specific to people that are not used to the E61 group head, but the vacuum breaker valve is loud AF when the machine first heats up.
- Why are the relays so loud!?
That's a lot of very small things, but a lot of it reminded me that while the Breville Dual Boiler isn't in the same league as far as how it's constructed, it really had the end user in mind and avoided a lot of those small things. To be noted that even that machine had issues (those damn o-rings keep failing and leaking inside the machine every 12-18 months), but at the price of the BDB vs the Bianca, I would not hesitate one second to go get the Lelit.
Because when all is said and one, the experience of using it feels special. That's not something I could ever say about the BDB.
@Lance Hedrick tiny thing I would've loved to see from you on this review is an look at the internals. I was curious to see if they have changed the layout at all from my V2 :)
I can't comment on the Bianca's relays specifically (I just have an Anna PID), but relays in general tend to be loud, and the higher amperage they break, the louder they're likely to be.
For those who don't know, a relay is a kind of switch that uses low power to manage higher power. That means the power running through the control the user might touch is low and safe, even if what they're switching isn't. Generally this is done with something like a fast solenoid that moves the high power contacts whenever it's triggered by the low power circuit.
This switching has to be very quick to reduce arcing, so you wind up with metal hitting metal very fast. That makes some noise. Higher power means beefier contacts, and so louder noise.
Would you still say the Bianca is a good decision after the breville dual boiler?
Just wondering, is it possible that the temperature on your device is reading lower than the offset because it hasnt been preheated on the machine?
Hey Lance, how did you find this machine with the walnut accents? I can only find the coloured machines with the maple handles.
Such a great roundup of the Bianca! Every time I have the pleasure of using mine, I fall in love with the build quality and the workflow. I'm curious if my grinder is limiting my shot quality atm and I'm not sure how to find out! I'm using a Eureka Mignon, so I'm not sure if it's just the upgrade-itis talking
absolutely! It is built well. Great machine. And Eurekas do well! but there is always upward mobility haha
Before watching the video I’m supposed to say I like it and become a dedicated follower ??? What’s with that ? I’ll stop right there and go watch something else. I’m out !
ur my end game machine.
sorry i'll leave a real comment underneath this one later.......
hahaha! much love, as always.
Wondering your thoughts about wanting to have a declining temp curve during a shot? That is the biggest thing that hit my brain in this video lol.....I'm like....dude....i've been like doing everything to maintain the temperature during a shot ahhaha
I like declining temp profiles as long as they are controlled. As the puck erodes, it is nice to be able to lessen heat and flow!
ohhhhhhh yessss that makes sense. less extraction needed, less "extracting processes" needed
exactly!
Hello,
I really like your channel, very technical, I’m looking for some guidance.
I had the Breville oracle touch for a couple of years and it kept breaking, I’m looking to get a different machine , I’ve been watching reviews and I’m between the Bianca v3 and the Sanremo cube , but can’t decide, I’m looking for a reliable machine, that makes good coffee, about 3 cups a day.
I like the features on the Bianca, but don’t necessarily need them,looking for best build quality and reliability, is one better than the other ?
Great video! This is my dream machine. Plan on upgrading next year since I just started. But learning so much from you and other RUclipsrs!
Great video, I really feel like Lelit are the equivalent of One Plus in the early days. They give all the features the enthusiasts want, at a reasonable price but maybe not as high quality materials/finish as top end brands.
Have used the Bianca and own an Elizabeth and love it.
Great video as always! I have the Bianca V2, and I love it!
Thanks for the awesome explanations!
Question: Where did you get your magnetic mirror??
So for someone looking to make the “big upgrade” do you think this is better than the breville dual boiler (with your prescribed modifications)? Obviously a price difference between to be considered. Any chance you could look into the Bezzera offerings in this space?
This is a hard question. Mostly because people don't like the answer. I personally am going BDB and doing the slayer mod. Better thermal stability, half the price (can funnel rest of budget to an insane grinder), etc. But this machine is better out of the box!
Now i have a question. Do you think 2-3 bianca will produce the same result if i set the same infusion profile? Lets say for commercial cafe
Lance, this or a Micra. I’m genuinely torn…
Lance, said it before and will say it again, love you man. You're direct and you're not only honest (what you say is true) but you’re also candid (unguarded and are sure to share the "whole truth" as "truths" by themself can be misleading). My only concern is that Masterworks may not be so "candid" as much of their approaches (schemes?) and pronouncements can be misleading (sometime their "truth" is not the "whole truth"). I love that you are getting your sponsorship on but would caution the buyer to beware. We haven't heard a Masterworks scandal yet but as someone with a spouse in the art world, it wouldn't surprise me down the road. Just sayin'. Also sayin'... love you, man. Keep on keeping on!
I appreciate you looking out for me! Genuinely means a lot. I have not taken a sponsor for so long out of fear of misstepping. I have been... well... running out of my personal funds to continue so I had to make a choice and started taking sponsors. The love is reciprocal, my friend!
@@LanceHedrick, you’re the best. I realized if I was going to run my mouth about sponsors… I should put some money where my mouth is… so I just joined your Patreon! It’s a mere token compared to the daily (and archived) value you provide! Keep building your empire. The world needs people who do well by doing good… and coffee is good!
wow. That means so much! Thank you! I look forward to seeing you in the discord!
There are rumors of a Bianca v4 coming to the market soon, some indicators such as large sales both in Europa and the US and also that Lelit has come up with a new version every two years.
waiting for it hoping there is no plastic or aluminium in the water path...
Are you rich Lance?
Haha! I wish
LOL a „budget“ Maschine for 3k is kinda funny
"Budget end game"
Check pinned comment
Cheers and thanks for watching!
Gun to your head, $3,000 budget for home and a water reservoir - what's your pick!?
Hey Lance, Noticed you have a white bianca on the counter in your latest video. How is the finish on those been for cleaning? how durable do you think the finish will be in comparison to stainless?
Enjoy your videos thanks again
Damn, I've been itching to get a nice machine and when I see "BUDGET END GAME" I was so excited... till I realized it was still $3,000...
Why do I feel like I can't get proper espresso for less than THOUSANDS of dollars??
You absolutely can. I've made hordes of videos on the machines. Like, dozens.
If you drink different types of roast levels regularly the automation is really not worth the trouble unfortunately.
somewhat. If you replicate a lever style shot, just mess around with dose and grind size. Lever machines give one profile, just automate like that and use the needle valve to lessen flow during it if needed!
Hey @Lance, the color grading is very "bland" in this video, i actually thought this was gonna be some sad story of disappointment, feels weird!
oh! Weird! We used the same profile as every video. Did you feel that way the whole video? I have screenshot your comment and another similar one to send to my editor. Thanks!
@@LanceHedrick Looks like that from start to finish. Feels like it should be slightly more vibrant with this lighting because i first thought you uploaded a raw ungraded video by mistake, hard to see the pretty wooden notes on the Bianca and gives a weird feeling! 😄
crud! Won't happen again! Sincere thanks for the sharp eye!
why the video so "grey", looks like log format straight our of camera ...
I bought a bambino a month ago and then found myself here 😅😂
Me too 😂
Where did you end up finding a retailer for the walnut kit? Been wanting to do the same thing to my MaraX to Bianca-ify it.
they have walnut kits at Lelit! Reach out to them!
Where can the Walnut kit be ordered for this machine?
Thanks Lance! Now I know how great my machine could be if I was a better barista 😂
haha! All comes with time! I hope you brew something tasty!
These machines just seem so over engineered and complex - considering a manual lever can pressure profile and produce great espresso without so much as needing to be descaled.
Incredibly informative video man! Looking to get my first proper coffee machine and this was super helpful! Thank you so much and keep going 🙌🏽😇
It was between this and the Micra for me since price diff is that much. Went with the Micra … for me it just was easier to use and the heat up times are unmatched. Bianca is excellent tho….love the colors and quality
Definitely! Micra is loads more limited as regards control BUT it has essentially unparalleled quality. Though, most home users don't need a machine that would survive ww10 lol
I noticed when you zoomed out at 18:54 the machine is showing the tank is out of water. At this point it would stop heating. This would throw off the temperature testing. Still a great review of the Bianca.
Did you get better espresso with the flow profile compared to your other favorite machines?
Damn $3,200 is considered "budget"??? Compared to what? La Marzocco? Jeez....
Everything the Bianca wants to do the Decent does perfectly. Change temp on the fly, direct control over flow, extremely fast warmup. I don't understand why companies keep churning out "new" E61 machines. The tech is so old and not energy efficient. A Decent only costs like $500 more. To say there's nothing more beyond this, when you own a Decent, seems silly...
Seems you haven't tasted coffees from a decent and pretty much every other machine side by side.
I love.my decent but it doesn't compete with more traditional style shots at all.
And I'm the EU and UK, Bianca is much cheaper than decent. If you're in the states, your number is correct but the Bianca is loads more there than elsewhere. Even canada
Eric,.. does taste matter to you ? The decent doesn't taste as good as E61 machines. That's why the E61s keep getting "Churned out " Also decent is about 1700 more for not as good taste.
tbh I prefer my BDB shots than pulling the same profile on a decent with same coffee. But, the control on a decent is still unrivaled.
Nice review. As allways.
Question to everyone: The temperature surfing needed on HX machines is still a thing I guess. Dual boiler doesn't take that away - especially with the Faema group head.
So what is the advantage of dual boiler? Better steaming?
I'm helping a friend out. Should he save some money (putting them into a grinder) and go for a HX?
Tnx
I have the v2, it’s was a pandemic splurge to keep me sane, no regrets. Used it almost daily the past 2 years and my only con is that it’s very bad at hiding being “dirty”. Mine has water residue and espresso residue on it all the time, unless I wipe clean it after every pull and every steam.
Is it just me, or is the lighting or color grading just generally muted?
it wasn't optimal here. Will workk on it for future videos. apologies! hope it doesn't affect the delivery of the hard work I put in over 6 months hahaa!
How you would compare this to the Breville Dual Boiler with the slayer mod?
BDB with slayer mod, tbh, performs a bit better. Issue would be longevity, difficulty of maintenance and finding parts. BUT I know a few people who have had their bdb for 10 years with very few issues (o ring replacements, vibe pump replacement, etc, all super cheap)
Trying to understand, I love this machine from this video, but the 30 minute to warm up, worried about that. Are there not machines like this that allow you to pull a shot more quickly? Currently using the Breiville Barista Pro and it can run a shot quite quickly. Trying to understand this as we typically have lattes after waking up, sounds like we need to warm up the machine first thing in the morning now though?
Hi Lance enjoy your videos, I did a temperature test myself using a thermometer using a type k probe inside my portafila and had my lelite bianca v3 set at 93c and ran a few 40 second tests and found to be very consistant at 93c ,but towards the last 10 seconds the temp would sometimes drop 1 to 3 celcius but others pritty consistant at 93c..
Hey Lance,
Great review. I have a Bianca V2.
Not sure if this was called out (in case I missed it) this machine can also be plumbed into a cold water line.
Also the stock accessories are quite decent too. Bottomless portafilter, plumbing kit etc.
Yes! I completely neglected to bring that up. Crap!
In the UK this is priced like most other companies HX models. ECM, Rocket etc all are Hx for 1899 GBP same as this currently. Can this be controlled with a smart plug for timed start up without issues?
Excellent review from you sir, I just wanted to say that I enjoy your channel a lot and I am sure that you will be the face of coffee on youtube. My suggestion for future videos on E61 machines is focusing more on the internals of the machine (wiring, tubing, materials, quality …..) that is because rocket, ECM, lelit….. all have very similar E61 machines and the differentiating factor between them is mostly internals. I say this because I bought an expobar brewtus IV four years ago which is a dual boiler rotary e61 machine. Due to the poor quality of the wiring, heating element, and the PID being very close to the boiler. My machine faced many issues. If I could go back in time I would buy a rocket or ECM machine. YT creators really need to focus on these aspects when reviewing machines as longevity is very important when talking about 3000$+ machines.
oh sure! It is difficult to know what to focus on. If there were issues like this in the Bianca, I would have brought it up. I am always taking machines apart and dissecting them with scrutinous analysis on the build. I have also gotten to visit their factory and ask questions to the designers on the decisions. If I had any trepidation, I would have named it! because there was none, I did not feel the need to bring it up. Thanks for watching!
Bluetooth “transceiver” = transmitter-receiver
A “transducer” is something that converts energy from one form to another, which, although technically true for any antenna device, converting electricity to photons, it’s not something we typically use to describe a Bluetooth device.
Lelit should release a firmware update that removes the pointless Offset feature and replaces it with features that would actually benefit users. For example:
1. Option to manually pause/resume the pump when the lever is fully up (for extended blooming)
2. Option to quickly toggle between two sets of LLC settings - one for use with a programmed profile (like the one you demonstrated), and one for use with manual flow profiling (using the paddle).
so i've learned it is an EU mandate to have the standby. Just wish it was easier to disable! but agreed with the two things you listed.
@@LanceHedrick If only there was a way to get someone to convince Lelit to make those changes... wink-wink
The problem u talk about with the temperature it’s in all e61 group head machines right? U don’t talk only about the Bianca. I have the matrix and when I put in the pid 95 it never gets to 95 out of the group head while brewing.
Budget machine? Not likely, bit of a clickbait 🤣
Check pinned comment. You're leaving out two very important words lol
@@LanceHedrick yeah, saw it 😉 but scrolling through my feed the very first word I see is "budget" which the algorithm knows I'm looking for... So I clicked... And got baited lol.. Some people don't read comments, I do... But... It's the word BUDGET that brought me here 👍
@@donaldhakala did not mean to bait you! So sorry. People always ask me what is the cheapest machine with end game qualities. I figured that was a helpful phrase.
I can't explain it to you but if I am blowing that on an espresso machine I am buying a Cremina like 90/100x and the rest of the time some other lever.
I have the V3, would've been nice to hear, if you think it's worth upgrading from v2 to v3. I assume the answer is no?
now i'd like to measure the offset of my bianca v2...
I testet it by sight: at 100 degrees it looks like boiling water coming out of the grouphead.
But since i'm having troubles with sourness (light roast, temp at 95) i should try with higher temp...
Lance, first of all, big thanks for your videos, lots of info and very good made. I am not a barista, but do like drinking coffee more and more, and checking out the videos on YT only wants me to try to get to higher level. I was thinking to get get myself a Breville/Sage dual boiler. Is the Lelit Biance V3 really worth the extra money ? I don't want to start thinking about upgrading from the Breville/Sage after a certain time... Any advice ?
My first “serious” machine was a breville, but I changed it to a Lelit Mara and now a Bianca V3. I was never satisfied with the breville, shots were mediocre at best.
The Brevilles make excellent coffee. And the boiler is the best one that. Try to get one that's manufactured after August 2022 because that will be the new design and it will be much more durable.
You saying, “and then you are dialing in your grind size to that profile,” scrambled my brains. All I know is a basic recipe approach. For example, 18g in, 36 out in 25-30 seconds. How do you actually “dial in your grind size” with a profile like the one you illustrated in your iPhone graph? Theoretically, you are extracting longer, so you’ve ground finer than in a traditional, non-flow-controlled grind setting? Sorry, trying to wrap my head around the world of flow profiling. Thanks for the content you've been pumping out!
I’m sitting and staring at my black v3 as well! Delivered yesterday. It’s amazing. I appreciate the videos, per usual! Could we maybe do a flow pro recipe video in the future? Thanks man!
Hey! You can emulate pretty much any of the profiles you see online with decent graphs if you have a bluetooth scale to connect to your phone for output flow and the manometer! I have some fun graphs in my recent flair 58 video.
Title: BUDGET end-game espresso machine
Lance @ 21:19 : THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY!
😅🤣
end game machines are $7-10k. This is less than half that. Hence "budget end game"
So, if you are looking for an end game machine on a budget. But, 3k is still a lot of money.
@@LanceHedrick I kinda get it, but budget in general means prices in hudreds of dollars, not thousands. Budget to me means something accessible to the masses and this really isn't.
@@LanceHedrick Also, what you describe with this comparison is VALUE. I absolutely agree that this machine is great VALUE for money. However, still not BUDGET.
budget does not mean hundreds of dollars. It just means "reasonable" or "inexpensive." both of these terms are HIGHLY relative. Like a house. A budget mansion could cost $500,000 whereas typical mansions might cost 1-5 million. $500,000 is not cheap, but if it is a mansion, it could be considered a budget mansion. See my thought process? I was actually trying to be helpful to those who wanted an out of the box experience akin to these more pricey machines. sorry if you feel I misled!
Please ColourGrade ! 😅🙈
Very grey Look.
Fixed it next vid. Cheers
Is it possible I could purchase the maple bottomless and maple hardware off you IM DESPERATE! I have the black Mara X and they do not sell the maple hardware or bottomless separately only with the machines. Trying to get a set that matches the Mara X!
Willing to pay full retail plus shipping !
Im interested in buying this machine. Loved all the information but was disappointed to not even see a full shot get poured or the steam wand in use.
Just bought one 1 month ago and can only agree. Thanks Lance for the great review and re-affirming my buying decision.
$3k is definitely a budget that doesn't fit my budget
Thanks for the in depth on this machine. I’m torn between ECM Synchronika and Bianca V3. Any thoughts between the two?
I don't understand why manufacturers keep on using e61 groupheads. I hate e61 for the same reasons and more, it takes too much time to heat up, high maintenance, temperature instability, and I don't like the fact I need to lubricate the lever and that it leeches into the coffee.
Lelit bought Sage, let's see if they would come up with a new and better grouphead in the future.
So which college should I go to learn and understand all this? This went straight over my head. Is there a machine on the market for us lesser mortals. ;-) ;-)
With the price of this machine being so close to something like an ECM Synchronika would you still choose this option?
I have noticed on my bianca v1 when setting the pump pressure whit closed paddle, the pressure increase 1 bar higher when the paddle is open. Same thing when pulling a shot: at first the pump is on 9 bar, but after the pressure in the grouphead has reach his maximum the pressure of the pump goes on 10 bar. In the 6 bar area when pulling a turbo shot it increase only 0.5 bar.
Do you know why? And which pressure is the relevant one for the shot? First or second?
Wow... Can I work for you sir?..
I really love coffee and I'd like to learn how to make coffee..