We can speak about the Bianca V3 from Lelit from a variety of perspectives and barista echelons. It's a very good dual boiler espresso machine that, in terms of core dual boiler capabilities, doesn't have to shy away from any other dual boiler in its price range. While the potential for setting and operating options is endless, we can operate the Bianca V3 just as easily as any other espresso machine with a Faema E61 brewing group.
We write this so clearly and unambiguously at the beginning of this article so that all home barista beginners don't get lost as we delve into the depths and possibilities of the Lelit Bianca V3.
You decide what kind of espresso machine the Bianca V3 is for you and how you operate it. You can pull the draw lever and let the rotary pump operate at the standard pressure of 8–9 bar. Or you can open up the world of flow rate, pre-brewing, and puck resistance.
In any case, the Lelit Bianca V3 allows you to grow as a home barista. And the possibilities are almost limitless.
Buy Lelit Bianca V3
The following specialist retailers sell the Lelit Bianca V3, and we recommend purchasing it from them. All offer the option of adjusting the machine's offset.
Germany:
Austria:
We search for specialist partners for you who we know offer good work and excellent service, and we maintain close contact with the retailers mentioned. The links are so-called commission links. If you order through one of these links, you won't pay a cent more – however, we receive a small commission, which we invest directly in new test equipment.
We are still looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
About the Bianca V3 review
We purchased our Bianca V3 model. When Lelit launched new color versions of the machine, we were offered one free for marketing purposes. We declined. We always buy the espresso machines we test. In a few cases, we have rented very expensive espresso machines, like the Faema Faemina , on loan. If so, we make this clear. Furthermore, we have no consulting relationship with Lelit and, like all other espresso machines, have tested this espresso machine to the best of our knowledge and belief. In addition to this espresso machine, we have compared and measured numerous Lelit Biancas in our home barista courses over the past few years (and adjusted the offset; more on that later).
This test took a long time. This is partly because the Bianca V3 is a complex espresso machine. It's also because we wanted to gain a deeper understanding and investigation into the entire topic of flow rate control, pressure profiles, and their impact on flavor and the changes in the coffee cake during brewing. This process is far from complete. Nevertheless, we're now ready to present a first version of a review of the Lelit Bianca.
We're currently conducting further research on the topics mentioned above, some of which will take months or even years. Therefore, this review will continue to evolve with our research and learning. Please don't consider it complete, but rather a preliminary assessment of the Lelit Bianca as an espresso machine.
Do you have any experience with the machine? Then share it in the comments. If you have any questions about the machine, you can also contact us by email . However, we appreciate it if you would ask the community first, as many people have the Bianca espresso machine at home.
Test report and material collection for the Lelit Bianca V3
Here is an overview of what we will be releasing for Lelit Bianca.
- Long test video (German)
- Short test video (German)
- Videos in English and Spanish (publication to follow)
- Collection of material with curves, measurements, etc.
- Test report
In short – this is the Lelit Bianca V3
- A flexible espresso machine that can grow with you. It's great for beginners and offers a steep learning curve for those who want to delve into the ins and outs of espresso brewing.
- Quiet dual boiler with sufficient power and good temperature consistency.
- Dual flow rate control via paddle and electronic low-flow control.
- Suitable for light, medium and dark roasts, short and long coffee drinks and for frothing milk.
- Smart in many ways, e.g., with a repositionable water tank or a quick heat-up time thanks to initial override.
- Low power consumption without a steam boiler. High energy consumption with a steam boiler.
The dual boiler and the Faema E61
A "Faema E61 with dual boiler" sounds as ordinary as so many other espresso machines on the market. But the paddle on the thermosyphon alone signals: "I'm different." No, not different from a La Marzocco Mini with a fake paddle , which is nothing more than a brew starter, but different, with manual flow rate control. And not only that: In the V3 version, Lelit presents us with a double needle valve , which we can control manually and electrically . More on that later.
Let's stick with the Faema E61 and its dual boiler. The former is so classic that we could refer to what feels like four dozen articles on our blog. Except for the inclusion of the needle valve and the downstream pressure gauge, which displays the pressure against the resistance of the coffee cake.
The Lelit Bianca V3 boasts an 800 ml brewing kettle and a 1.5 liter steam boiler . This is mid-range in terms of size among boiler-type espresso machines and promises solid performance. The water is powered by a quiet rotary pump, which we measured at 61 decibels .
The 2.5-liter water tank is a nod to what Lelit likes to do and often does: think outside the box. Symbolically, the water tank is not integrated into the espresso machine, but rather attached to the back. By loosening one screw at the top and one at the bottom, the tank can be removed and hung on the left or right side of the machine. Sounds nice, but what for? The Bianca gives you the flexibility of being placed against the right or left wall, and anyone who doesn't have enough space on their countertop will also appreciate the reduced size of the rear section. The water tank itself, however, can only be removed upwards, but retracts neatly and requires no hoses.
Other eye-catching features include a double pressure gauge for steam and brewing pressure, the “Lelit Control Center” with PID control, and many smart setting options.
Size, design and workmanship
The Lelit Bianca comes standard in stainless steel with wooden handles and a wooden paddle. It's also available in white or black for a hefty surcharge. Aesthetics, for diplomatic reasons, are in the eye of the beholder. We've heard everything from "old" to "stylish" about the Lelit Bianca. The fact is that the stainless steel version, like all stainless steel machines, seems to chronically attract fingerprints. When we tap the machine, it makes a tinny noise. Other espresso machines in the same price range seem more solid in terms of material thickness. The white and black versions, on the other hand, appear significantly more robust, even if that may just be due to the additional coating on the stainless steel body.
The Bianca V3 is a compact espresso machine with a paddle height of 40.5 cm. The cup rest is 38.5 cm high. The Lelit Bianca is 29.3 cm wide and 50.0 cm deep. However, the water tank can be mounted on the side, reducing the depth by 8.7 cm. Also worth noting: The portafilter protrudes at the front and adds 9.5 cm to the depth. The machine weighs 27.0 kg.
We've already mentioned the Bianca's low noise level. In addition to the quiet pump, this is due to the rubber pads in many transition areas. Whether on the drip tray grids, the cup rest, or the water tank lid, rubber stoppers prevent vibrations and thus noise.
We found sharp edges underneath the drip tray. However, the visible edges are curved and therefore not problematic. The drip tray holds 0.98 liters.
Scope of delivery
The Lelit Bianca's scope of delivery is impressive. In addition to a bottomless portafilter, it also comes with Lelit's signature portafilter with two spouts. These are so close together that they're also ideal for extracting coffee into a single espresso cup. Therefore, it can also be used as a single portafilter. However, the proximity of the two spouts requires precise aiming to fill two cups. Since the distance between the spout and the drip tray is quite high, an included mesh riser makes aiming easier. Balancing a scale on it might be a challenge, though.
Also included in the delivery are a water filter cartridge, which is not recommended in our filter cartridge test, a blind sieve, a plastic spoon (why?), and an 18 mm and a 20 mm sieve.
We particularly like the polished tamper, which, according to Lelit, has a diameter of 58.55 mm and sits almost flush with the included sieve. The gap to the rim is just 0.4 mm. Incidentally, the portafilter mount on the Lelit Bianca is 58 mm by default, making it compatible with many portafilters.
In addition to a connection set for permanent water, a microfiber cloth and an additional 4-hole tip for the steam lance are also included.
Lelit is Smart
Time and again, the manufacturer Lelit from Baitella, Brescia, Italy, surprises by going the extra mile. Faema E61 espresso machines are plentiful, and most operate in a similar way. But Lelit doesn't just rely on this proven technology; it doesn't stop there. The company's engineers are constantly looking for smart solutions to improve the machine.
This is evident in the details, such as the forward-curved portafilter, which allows the home barista to see the smooth espresso. This becomes more apparent when we examine the control options of the LCC or the strategic overheating when starting the machine. Lelit deliberately heats the brewing boiler above the target temperature to heat the portafilter more quickly, and then allows the temperature to drop back to the desired level. This results in a heat-up time of 17 minutes for the Lelit Bianca, which we measured until the target temperature and the portafilter are reached. This is about 8 to 12 minutes faster than the average Faema E61 portafilter espresso machine.
The dual flow rate control, the programmable pre-infusion and the convertible water tank outside the machine are further evidence that even a proven system can accommodate innovative ideas.
Access to the boiler underneath the machine makes maintenance of the Lelit's heating system much easier, as it does not have to be removed.
10 seconds low flow at start (slow flow rate).
Flow rate control squared
The Lelit Bianca V3 is equipped with a dual flow control . An upstream needle valve can be programmed for low and normal flow (low flow = low flow), and a downstream needle valve can be used with a paddle to further reduce the flow.
It's surprising how little is discussed about the water flow rate in espresso machines, considering how important it is for preparing the drink. Pressure is often specified, and it's not uncommon, especially for inexpensive espresso machines with vibration pumps, to be advertised with a pressure potential of 15 bar. However, high pressure does not necessarily equate to good coffee or even consistent extraction.
Excursus Pump
The pressure is generated by the espresso machine's pump. Cheap espresso machines are equipped with a vibration pump, which relatively slowly converts the speed of the water delivered to the portafilter to then build up pressure against the coffee. A rotary pump gets going faster, and accordingly, the pressure buildup is also reflected much more quickly against the cake and the pressure gauge. With rotary pumps, we set the grind size a little finer. Nevertheless, the first extraction drops often appear after just 5 to 6 seconds. With the vibration pump, we usually wait over 8 seconds. The third, very rarely used pump is the gear pump. This pump's "pressure application" can be adjusted up and down. The vibration and rotary pumps traditionally deliver the set pressure relatively statically. However, espresso machines like the Decent or San Remo YOU demonstrate that even with these pumps, more flexibility is possible than is often realized.
We can reduce the pressure exerted by the pump on the coffee cake by reducing the flow rate through valves downstream of the pump. In the case of the Lelit Bianca, two needle valves are used for this purpose. Figuratively speaking, we, or rather the needle valves, sit on the hose. But why does Lelit equip the Bianca with two needle valves? And what is the effect of the reduced flow rate, which then also affects the pressure on the cake?
Low flow means consistent extraction?
Yes and no. The extraction of an espresso can be divided into different phases: a saturation phase , in which the brewing water soaks the entire coffee, a main extraction phase , and finally a phase in which the extraction capacity of the coffee cake decreases and the coffee cake's resistance collapses rapidly. This knowledge helps modulate the flow on espresso machines with flow rate control.
If we brew an espresso at 6 bar, for example, rather than full pressure (8 to 9 bar) against the cake, it's easier to achieve a more even extraction. High pressure increases the likelihood of channeling and also reduces the resistance of the coffee cake more quickly. However, we can't extract everything from the coffee with low pressure.
However, if you don't want to spend a lot of time on careful puck preparation, lower brewing pressure is generally better. However, reducing the pressure isn't infinite; if the pressure against the cake becomes too high, the extraction will be reduced, or the strength of the coffee will be too low. It will no longer taste like espresso.
Low pressure at the beginning
A low initial pressure, combined with very low pressure, allows for complete water saturation of the coffee cake. If this can be achieved before full brewing pressure is applied, a more even extraction is guaranteed. If dry spots remain in the coffee cake, they will be avoided by the subsequent water. Dry coffee is inherently water-repellent (hydrophobic), to the point of being completely wet.
If a pressure increase follows after complete soaking, the coffee cake can offer consistent resistance for a long time, provided it has been carefully prepared and compacted.
Manual flow rate control
The Lelit Bianca's paddle allows you to manually control the espresso machine's flow rate. Home baristas have almost all the options at their disposal. First, the espresso machine's brewing lever must be pulled.
If the paddle is at 9 o'clock, there's hardly any water flow. If the paddle is at 6 o'clock, we measure 2.5 to 2.8 g/s on the scale without any resistance. At 3 o'clock, we determine a flow between 4.9 and 5.1 g/s. With the paddle fully open, we reach a flow of just under 6 grams per second on the scale.
Important: These values are not measured against pressure. Compared to the standard pressure of our Scace portafilter, the pressure is as follows:
With the Scace's counterpressure, we measured a flow of approximately 2 g/s and 4.8 bar pressure at 6 o'clock. At 3 o'clock, we measured 2.5 g/s with 7.5 bar pressure against the Scace. Fully open, we reached between 2.7 and 2.8 g/s with 8.1 bar pressure. These values should be interpreted with caution. The water flowing from the Scace is sprayed onto the bottom of the cup with relatively high pressure, which negatively impacts the scale's accuracy.
The pressure values measured with the Scace only approximate what happens in a portafilter and when used with coffee. During coffee extraction, the coffee's resistance decreases over the course of the extraction.
For your Lelit at home, it is important that you can adjust the settings of your needle valves and thus control the flow rate for each area.
Tips for working with the paddle
To achieve repeatable results, we generally recommend working with fixed positions. A change in the pressure on the pressure gauge is normal, as the resistance of the coffee puck decreases over the brewing time.
By the way: If the paddle isn't exactly at 6 o'clock, it will have little effect. However, it's still useful to use fixed points for orientation.
The paddle also offers options for "repairing" extractions. If the water is rushing through the cake too quickly, a firm grip can reduce the flow rate and thus slow down the extraction. This will taste better than a thin, super-underextracted mixture.
Electrical flow rate control
While the V2 Lelit Bianca was equipped only with manual flow rate control, the V3 version is equipped with an additional electrical control. This not only opens up many new possibilities for the machine, but also allows the definition of fixed profiles and sequences. The reproducibility of brewing has increased significantly.
The electric needle valve control is not as flexible as the manual one. Essentially, two "low-flow" phases can be defined: one at the beginning and one at the end. At the beginning, the duration of the low flow is set. At the end, the start of the low flow is set.
We measure around 1.5 - 1.7 g/s and 3.1 bar with the resistance of the Scace in the low-flow phase.
Interleaving of electrical and manual flow rate control and pre-infusion
By combining manual and electric flow rate controls, you can unlock additional operating options for the Lelit Bianca. For example, the low flow can be further reduced by using the paddle.
The programmable pre-infusion offers further options. Activating the pre-infusion enables a pause option. If the pre-infusion is not further nested with low flow, the Bianca starts with normal flow and pressure and then pauses for a selected time.
It's useful to combine the pre-infusion time with a low-flow time. For example, 10 seconds of pre-infusion could be combined with 10 seconds of low flow, followed by a 5-second pause.
Espresso quality potential
We've talked about the possibilities for preparing espresso. Of course, we still have to get our hands dirty, adjust the grind on a good grinder , and prepare the espresso properly . If we can do that, the espresso will be perfect. The Lelit Bianca V3 delivers all the ingredients for a great espresso. The options discussed above are key to achieving this, as is the consistent temperature, which we'll discuss next.
We're often asked whether a particular espresso machine "suits" certain coffees. And indeed, there are some espresso machines that excel at lighter or darker roasts. We give the Lelit Bianca the distinction of "doing it all." From a complex Doña Margarita from our Lila line to the more robust all-purpose Dreispitz to filter coffee brewed as an espresso—with the Bianca and its versatility, you can brew basically anything.
Temperature constancy
With regard to temperature, three questions are interesting:
- How quickly does the espresso machine heat up?
- How constant is the temperature in the reference?
- How constant is the temperature from cover to cover?
To monitor temperature consistency and heat-up time, we use the Scace 2 with a K-type sensor and a PCE-T 330 data logger . This allows us to record both the WBC protocol and the KM protocol, which we use to monitor heat-up, for example, at 15, 20, or 25 minutes. In between, we let the espresso machines cool down for a full day. A truly complex test protocol.
According to our measurements, the Lelit Bianca reaches its target temperature of 93 degrees Celsius (+/- 1 degree Celsius) after 17 minutes. While the first temperature in our measurement averaged 92.03 degrees, the temperature rose to 93.16 degrees over five extractions, each one minute apart. The standard deviation across these five extractions, measured from seconds 4 to 25 of the extraction, was 0.99 degrees after 17 minutes using the KM protocol. This is a good value.
When measuring the WBC protocol after one hour of operation, we arrive at a standard deviation of 0.69 degrees Celsius. This puts the Lelit Bianca not far from the World Barista Championship target of 0.55 degrees Celsius.
We can confirm that the Lelit Bianca maintains excellent temperature consistency from one brew to the next and during the brewing process. As with all Faema E61 brewing units, we recommend a rinse shot before brewing if the unit is to be left unused for a longer period of time.
Offset problem
The biggest and most important issue to consider is the sometimes massive offset. We've tested over 20 Lelit Biancas over the past six months. The Bianca is often with participants from our Home Barista courses at our academy. We also use this opportunity to check the temperature of the espresso machines. Of course, we also want to send our course participants home with a well-calibrated espresso machine (as standard, all Home Barista participants bring their own espresso machine).
The offset of the Lelit Bianca is usually between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius. In all cases so far, this has been negative, meaning the machine was effectively too cold. An offset means there is a measured deviation between the temperature displayed on the PID controller and the actual brewing temperature. To be sure of the temperature displayed, it is essential to have the temperature checked by a specialist retailer. Be careful when purchasing online—a precisely set temperature is unlikely.
The test machine's offset was 6 degrees Celsius. This means that with a displayed temperature of 93 degrees Celsius, we actually had a brewing temperature of 87 degrees Celsius. It's important to note that the Lelit control system has two offset values: one in the user interface and one in the technician/submenu. The latter value is the one that needs to be adjusted.
Steam and foam performance
From a dual boiler costing over €2,000, we expect not only good frothing performance, but also, of course, parallel frothing with the espresso. What we feel is confirmed by the frothing process can also be objectively demonstrated. The frothing performance—and here, again, the range of possibilities Lelit has provided—allows us to tailor the Lelit Bianca to each individual.
To assess the steam power, we use 300 ml of 20-degree cold water and check how long it takes to heat it to 60 degrees.
At the standard setting with a boiler temperature of 125 degrees Celsius, this takes 47 seconds with the standard 2-hole nozzle. If we want more power, we set the Bianca to 135 degrees Celsius. The same exercise then takes around 36 seconds. If you want even more pressure, switch to the 4-hole nozzle, which is also included. It now takes 25 seconds to heat the 300 ml to 60 degrees Celsius.
As mentioned, the Lelit Bianca can be the perfect frothing partner for anyone. If you want to froth thoroughly and reliably, set it to the 4-hole nozzle at 135 degrees Celsius. If you prefer to take your time and work through the frothing phases in peace, stick with the 125 degrees Celsius and try the 2-hole nozzle.
Energy consumption Lelit Bianca
The energy consumption of espresso machines varies depending on how they are used. Espresso machines primarily consume electricity when heating the boilers. The power consumption of the pump or displays is low compared to the energy-consuming heaters in the boilers.
Those who only drink espresso consume significantly less electricity than those who drink cappuccino. This assumes that the steam boiler's usually larger steam chamber can be switched off. This is possible with the Lelit Bianca. If we only switch on the 0.8-liter, insulated brewing boiler, energy consumption is significantly reduced. We arrive at 0.133 kWh for heating and preparing five double espressos. In this scenario, preparing one espresso consumes 0.1194 kWh , taking into account and including the heating.
If the steam boiler is also switched on, consumption is more than three times higher. We measured 0.4259 kWh, taking the same criteria into account, including heating and five double servings. Making a cappuccino, including heating, consumes 0.34616 kWh .
Conclusion on the Lelit Bianca V3
When we consider the overall performance of the Lelit Bianca, we primarily acknowledge its consistently excellent espresso machine. It leaves little to be desired, as the overall package is perfect. The variety of setting options and variations in flow rate control, the LCC capabilities, the excellent technical implementation, and the comprehensive scope of delivery make the Lelit Bianca an outstanding espresso machine. In addition, the espresso machine is very competitively priced, and not only when we consider the overall package compared to other dual-boiler espresso machines.
There are only a few things left to be desired that would make the Lelit Bianca the perfect espresso machine: a precise and good pre-adjustment of the offset, a little more material thickness on the sides, optimized energy use when using the steam boiler and, last but not least, a quiet wish for a flow meter and thus a programmable brewing stop.
Honestly, it might even be a good thing that the Lelit Bianca can't do the same. Because espresso machines in the same price range are already struggling to keep up with the Lelit Bianca.
At the beginning, we asked who the Bianca is the right machine for. In conclusion, we would say: It's an espresso machine that can grow with your needs, and therefore we have no qualms about recommending this machine even to espresso beginners.
Appendix and Supplementary Materials
Pressure and flow velocity measurements
Below, we'll show you some ways the Lelit Control Center can be used to create different profiles. These curves were recorded using the Espresso Smart Sensor and the associated app. However, we used a Scace 2 as the portafilter. The curve would look slightly different with coffee because the resistance decreases when using coffee. The resulting pressure on the cake would decrease. However, we find this visualization helpful to illustrate the principle of the different curves.
5 seconds pre-infusion followed by a 5 second pause.
5 seconds pre-infusion, 5 seconds pause with 20 seconds of low flow. After a total of 40 seconds, low flow again.
5 seconds low flow pre-infusion, 5 seconds pause.
