Lelit Bianca: Still Going Strong

The Lelit Bianca v3 has been on the market for a few years now and remains a strong contender. This is a review comparing it to the Profitec Pro 600. Both are dual-boiler E-61 machines with PID temperature control and flow control, both cost the same, and both are popular and respected. So this brings us to a natural cross-shopping situation. I would rate them as equal, but not the same. They've got different strengths and weaknesses, as you'll see.
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LINKS:
Loaner courtesy of Home Coffee Machines IE: www.homecoffeemachines.ie/
Lelit Insider channel, excellent resource for DIY: / @lelitinsider2977
Official Lelit channel: / @lelit_official
Lelit LCC functions: • Video Overview | Lelit...
Lelit LCC PID programming basics: • pl162t tecnical menu (...
Profitec Pro 600 menu functions: • Profitec Pro 600: PID ...
Profitec Pro 600 teardown: • Profitec Pro 600 Espre...
THE SCORE:
Considerate house guest: Bianca
Flexibility and options: Bianca
Flow control (manual and automatic): Bianca
Community support: Bianca
Temperature stability: Tie
Repairability: Tie
Spare parts availability: Tie
Steam performance: Tie
Routine maintenance: P-600 (more room, drain valve)
Internal layout: P-600
Component quality: P-600
Fit and finish: P-600
#Lelit #Profitec #espresso
Audio capture: Zoom H-5
Audio edited with WaveLab Elements 10.0.70
Video Capture: Panasonic HC-X920
Video edited with DaVinci Resolve 18.0.3
Still images edited with Gimp 2.10.240
Production Assistant: Leo Greene
Music:
Kalimba Relaxation Music by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license

[@wiredgourmet]

Viewers have asked if this comparison makes sense because the two machines have different features. It certainly does make sense: around these parts, we think like consumers. These machines are the same price: a common cross-shopping situation. Offering different features is how the two companies manage the compromises needed to stay within the same budget. Now, Sales people do have a different perspective on product categories and comparisons, but the Wired Gourmet sees no reason to follow a bad example :)

[@merrickkingston7872]

Thanks for another superb video. Found myself wondering: much as I like my PP600, but think that Prof’s flow control implementation frankly stinks… couldn’t one in principle put Lelit’s implementation on any bog-standard e61? After all, they sell separately as an after-market piece

[@Conservator.]

I just wanted to let you know that I very much enjoy your videos. Not only for its superb content but also for the high quality video and let’s not forget your voice over. (I can’t imagine the time you invest to create a video like this). Thank you!

[@nito69]

Love your attention to details. Another great content. Thank you

[@sneedltd4801]

Great video! High quality - business as usual.

[@Ryantagcoffee]

Fantastic video. Mine just arrived today! Very excited to dive into it

[@orrinbelcher6593]

Best of the best never rest, I greatly appreciate your right to the point review, and comparison, wonderfully done, superbly fascinating, your videos are a breath of fresh air. Thank you .

[@barskuleli8612]

Thanks for the great video. I have Lelit Bianca around 1 year and i really love it. It can answer all your demands at this price level. I also like its work flow and very good looking handsome machine.

[@ivanprisco2525]

Always good content!

[@CarlosGomesAlmeida]

Great video once again Thomas! I might have a semi solution for the pump noise on your profitec, I have bought 2 of the Pulsors that quick mill has on their machines, installed one on my Anita so I have one extra here at home in Dublin if you want to try. I must say it helps for sure, but it would be great to see your thoughts and a video on the subject, let me know if you want to try it out and we will find a way to get in touch. Keep up the good work!

[@AlexeiWatson]

Great to hear your longer term thoughts on the Bianca. I've got a V3 (black) and it's interesting that the black and white models still have an improved drip tray compared to the stainless steel model. I changed the steam/water knobs on mine to steam paddles that are much quicker and easier to work with. Only thing I find lacking with the Bianca is that the LCC makes it tedious to switch between different settings, particularly if there are different preferences within the house. I would love some saved presets or even more so, connectivity so that I could manage this through an external app. I expect that will be Bianca V4.

[@carrscoffee]

I love how the videos sound like a training video at a warehouse.😅😅😅😅

[@taevii]

Nice and detailed video as always! Care to get your hands dirty on a non-boiler machine such as Ascaso Steel Duo PID?

[@europa.]

The Bianca is a wonderful machine. Also, I see your unit was delivered with a functional middle position for the brew lever. Many weren't, and needed some light tinkering to move the microswitch back a bit

[@ch99onpsp]

im using this bianca near 2 years , my issuea with it , the noise from the water tray when pulling shot , the edgea in tray hurt me many times, the machine sometimes freeze after shot . other than that everything good i love it

[@VarmDild]

I remember you saying something about the e61-grouphead in your first Profitec Pro600 videos. That it was an advantage that you could get spare parts easily and there's a lot of knowledge on how to repair them. ... But can you please elaborate: Do you think an e61-design is better than something like the Lelit Elizabeth, Sage Dual Boiler or Rancilio Silvia Pro X? I'm thinking about upgrading to a machine in the pricerange of the 3 machines mentioned above, and heatup-time is a big thing for me and my fiancé (and inditectly for our kid 😊). Would you for example chose the Lelit MaraX over the Lelit Elizabeth? Thanks in advance for your answer.

[@nissanguy16]

Compare the E61 to a hybrid spring lever. For not much more than the high end E61 machines, that’s my choice. Independently heated group, pump driven pre-infusion or entire shot, declining pressure spring shots. Super quiet if only doing lever shots.

[@eddyindia7007]

❤❤❤

[@PK-tp9ro]

Hi, so what do you think about that Bezzera Matrix De ? Is it a joke or future of espresso machine?

[@PleasantDoorknob]

Would like to hear more of your thoughts on the usefulness of the flow control on the Bianca.

[@wiredgourmet]

I still think it's a gimmick. But the Bianca's does work better, lol. I do like a pre-infusion, but I just cycle the pump. I've found no practical advantage in paddles, etc.

[@mtbshep]

very interesting video! I am looking at purchasing the ecm/profitec flow control for a good price, for my Synchronika. With your experience, would a 3d printed modified knob/paddle work to make this more like the Lelit?

[@RegrinderAlert]

No, since the range for the knob-style valves requires multiple turns

[@safesurfer1965]

Great video again Thomas! You're right - with E61 all advantages have been made in the last years. Improvement will only be available from highly computerized machines like the Decent or machines with saturated groups like the La Marzocco's, but with all these options you'll end with +3,5-4k Euros minimum.

[@RegrinderAlert]

Saturated groups or groups that behave like one (Linea Mini comes to mind) aren't really desirable anymore imo. Consistent temperature is a great thing but stable not so much. There are nice tweaks in terms of taste that can achieved by variable temp profiling. Was mind blowing on the DE1 for me

[@TomJones-tx7pb]

Agree, and same applies to how pressure/flow control is achieved. Restricting flow using an aperture reduction is not optimal. In electrical terms these machines are using a variable resistor to limit current/voltage and this restricts the power transfer. With my Flair I can pressure surf based upon how the extraction is flowing. The Decent is theoretically almost capable of doing that real-time but any design that relies upon choking the flow to reduce the pressure at the portafilter cannot.

[@RegrinderAlert]

@@TomJones-tx7pb What you are saying is almost irrelevant to brewing espresso. The pressure at the puck is flow met by resistance. The fact that you even achieved a certain pressure is very much "power transfer" - no matter the method. Essentially using PWM with a vibe pump behaves differently than a needle valve in front of a rotary, sure. But those differences are meaningless to actual brewing.

[@Tech2C]

It'd be great to get your opinion of the Breville Dual Boiler machine.

[@wiredgourmet]

It's popular all right; I will see about getting a loaner.

[@andrxito]

I have one and can't recommend it long term, unless you find it deeply discounted

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

I own the V2, which I bought in 2020y While it is a good machine overall, I had to take it to the repair shop 3 times already… and now I have another problem. Not to keen about its reliability

[@Conservator.]

I’m curious to know what problems you encountered that forced you have it repaired three times. Would you want to share that? Thanks in advance!

[@asabaniam1]

Why nobody review mazzer mini A grinder for home? It's mazzer!!

[@karlfife]

If you live in the United States with standard-height kitchen cabinets, the Profitec 600 will fit and look much better under the cabinets because it's not as tall. There's actually enough room to USE the cup warmer tray on the 600. The 600 is one of a very small number of DB e61 machines that are suitably sized to fit under a typical cabinet in the US. Even if you don't use the cup tray the Bianca and its brethren will look shoehorned underneath the cabinet, which in my opinion looks kinda stupid.

[@SebastianBrandes2300]

Can I ask why you don’t compare this to the Profitec Pro 700 or rather the new Profitec Drive? I appreciate your review but it’s hard to take it seriously when you’re comparing apples to oranges.

[@wiredgourmet]

They're the exact same price: a common cross-shopping situation. How is that not apples to apples? Different features is how they manage the compromises needed to hit the same price.

[@STEDDiEFPV]

Wouldn’t the P700 be more comparable to the Lelit Bianca V3?

[@PleasantDoorknob]

Yeah the 700 has a rotary pump and can be plumbed in. Plumbing doesn’t change the footprint though and the flow control “upgrade” is still rubbish.

[@wiredgourmet]

These are the exact same price: a common cross-shopping situation. Different features is how they manage the compromises needed to hit the same budget. Otherwise, why not compare it to a Linea Mini?

[@TheRockyBalboa100]

Profitec has upgraded their Pro 700. It is called: ''Profitec Drive''.

[@valfanculo4614]

Have you ever reviewed a Bezzera Unica machine ?