Lelit Bianca V3 in the Test: Dual Boiler with Flow Control

We can discuss the Bianca V3 by Lelit from various perspectives and barista skill levels. It is an excellent dual boiler espresso machine that doesn't hide in any way compared to other dual boilers in its price range when it comes to core capabilities. While the potential of its settings and operating options is virtually unlimited, we can operate the Bianca V3 just as easily as any other espresso machine with a Faema E61 group head.

We write this clearly and explicitly at the beginning of this article so that all home barista beginners don't get lost as we dive into the depths and possibilities of the Lelit Bianca V3.

You decide what the Bianca V3 is for you and how you operate it. You can pull the lever and let the rotary pump work at standard pressure of 8–9 bar. Or you can open the world of flow rate, pre-infusion, and puck resistance.

In any case, you can grow with the Lelit Bianca V3 as a home barista. And the possibilities are virtually limitless. How the Bianca compares to other Lelit models can be found on our overview page Lelit: all espresso machines and grinders tested.

Where to buy the Lelit Bianca V3

We don't sell espresso machines ourselves. We stopped doing that three years ago so we can write about machines without our own sales figures influencing what we say. What we do instead: The following specialty retailers sell the Lelit Bianca V3 and we can recommend purchasing from these businesses. All of them offer the possibility to adjust the machine's offset.

Germany: Stoll Espresso, Bohnendealer

Austria: Die Röster

We search for specialty partners we know provide good work and good service, and we're in close contact with the retailers mentioned. These links are so-called affiliate links. If you order through one of these links, you don't pay any extra, but we receive a small commission that we invest directly in new test equipment.

We continue to search for competent partners in the DACH region for you.

About the Bianca V3 test

We purchased our Bianca V3 model. When Lelit brought new color models of the machine to market, we were offered one of them free of charge for marketing purposes. We declined. We generally purchase the espresso machines we test. In rare cases, we have borrowed very expensive espresso machines, such as the Faema Faemina, on loan. When we do this, we make it clear. Beyond that, we have no consulting collaboration with Lelit and tested this espresso machine like all other espresso machines to the best of our knowledge and conscience. In addition to the espresso machine we're reviewing, we've compared numerous Lelit Biancas over the past years in our home barista courses, taken measurements (and adjusted the offset, more on that later).

This test took a long time. On one hand, that's because the Bianca V3 is a complex espresso machine. On the other hand, it's because we wanted to more deeply understand and investigate the entire topic of flow rate control, pressure profiles and their consequences on taste, as well as changes to the coffee puck during brewing. This process is far from complete. Nevertheless, we're now at a point where we can present a first version of a Lelit Bianca test.

On the topics mentioned above, we're working on many further investigations that will occupy us for months or even years. That's why this test will continue to grow with our research and learning. Don't think of it as finished, but as a preliminary picture that describes the Lelit Bianca as an espresso machine.

Do you have experience with the machine? Then write it to us in the comments. If you have questions about the machine, you can also reach us by email. However, we'd appreciate it if you first ask the community, because many have the Bianca espresso machine at home.

Test report and material collection for the Lelit Bianca V3

Here's an overview of what will be published from us about the Lelit Bianca.

• Long test video (German)
• Videos in English and Spanish (publication coming)
• Material collection with curves, measurements, etc.
• Test report

In a nutshell – this is the Lelit Bianca V3

• Flexible espresso machine that can grow with you. Good for beginners and with a steep learning curve for those who want to dive into the depths of espresso brewing.
• Quiet dual boiler with sufficient power and good temperature stability.
• Dual flow rate control via paddle and electronic low-flow regulation.
• Suitable for light, medium, and dark roasts, short and long coffee drinks, as well as milk steaming.
• Smart in many ways, for example with a repositionable water tank or quick heat-up time through overshoot at startup.
• Low power consumption without steam boiler. High energy demand with steam boiler.

Technical specifications for the Lelit Bianca V3

All values are our own measurements, not manufacturer specifications.

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 thermosiphon alone signals: "I'm different." No, not different like a La Marzocco Mini with fake paddle, which is nothing more than a brew start, but different, with manual flow rate control. And not only that: Lelit gives us in the V3 version a dual needle valve that we can control manually and electronically. More on that later.

Let's stick with the Faema E61 and the dual boiler. The former is basically so classic that we could reference what feels like four dozen articles in our blog. Except for the inlet of the needle valve and the downstream pressure gauge, which shows the pressure against the resistance of the coffee puck.

The Lelit Bianca V3 comes with a brew boiler of 800 ml and a steam boiler of 1.5 liters. In terms of size, this is in the middle range of boiler espresso machines and promises solid performance. The water is driven by a quiet rotary pump, which we measure at 61 decibels.

The 2.5-liter water tank is an indication of what Lelit likes and often does: think outside the box. Symbolically, the water tank is not integrated into the espresso machine but hangs at the back. When we loosen one screw on top and one on the bottom, we can remove the tank and mount it on either the left or right of the machine. Sounds nice, but for what? The Bianca gives you the flexibility to be set up on the right or left side, and if you don't have depth on your work surface, you'll also appreciate the reduction in depth at the back. However, the water tank itself can only be removed from the top, but it does fold in nicely and comes without hoses.

Also eye-catching: a dual gauge for steam and brew pressure, the "Lelit Control Center" with PID control, and many smart setting options.

Size, design, and construction

The Lelit Bianca comes standard in stainless steel with wooden handles and wooden paddle. Optionally, it's also available in white or black for a significant surcharge. The aesthetics, for diplomatic reasons, are in the eye of the beholder. We've heard everything from "old-fashioned" to "stylish" about the Lelit Bianca. The fact is that the stainless steel variant, like all stainless steel machines, seems to chronically attract fingerprints. When we tap the machine, it sounds tinny. Other espresso machines in the same price range feel more solid in terms of material thickness. The white and black variants, on the other hand, look much more robust, even if that's just the additional coating on the stainless steel body.

The Bianca V3 is a compact espresso machine with a height of 40.5 cm with the paddle. The cup tray of the machine is at 38.5 cm height. The Lelit Bianca has a width of 29.3 cm and a depth of 50.0 cm. However, the water tank can be mounted to the side, reducing the depth by 8.7 cm. Also consider: 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 low noise level of the Bianca. In addition to the quiet pump, the rubber dampeners in many transition areas are responsible for this. Whether at the drip tray grilles, the cup tray, or the water tank lid, rubber stoppers everywhere prevent vibrations and thus noise.

Below the drip tray, we notice sharp edges. However, the visible edges are each curved and therefore not problematic. The drip tray holds 0.98 liters.

Accessories included

The Lelit Bianca's included accessories are impressive. In addition to a bottomless portafilter, the typical Lelit portafilter with two spouts is also included. These are positioned so close together that they're also well suited for extracting into a single espresso cup. Therefore, it can also be used as a single-spout portafilter. However, the proximity of the two spouts requires precise aiming to fill two cups. Since the distance between spout and drip tray is quite high, an included grid riser makes aiming easier. However, balancing a scale on it could be a challenge.

The included accessories also include a water filter cartridge, which we don't recommend in our filter cartridge test, a blind basket, a plastic scoop (why?), as well as an 18-basket and a 20-basket.

We particularly like the polished tamper, which according to Lelit has a diameter of 58.55 mm and closes almost flush with the included basket. The distance to the edge is only 0.4 mm. By the way, the Lelit Bianca's portafilter socket is 58 mm by default, so many portafilters are compatible.

In addition to a hard water connection kit, a microfiber cloth and an additional 4-hole tip for the steam wand are included.

Lelit is smart: 17-minute heat-up time and a convertible water tank

Again and again, the manufacturer Lelit from Baitella, Brescia, in Italy surprises with going the extra mile. Faema E61 espresso machines are as common as sand on the beach, and most work similarly. But Lelit doesn't just rely on this proven technology and leave it at that. The engineers at the company are constantly looking for smart solutions to make the machine better.

This is evident in the details, such as the portafilter bent slightly forward, which shows the home barista the espresso flowing smoothly. It goes deeper when we look at the control options of the LCC or the strategic overheating at machine startup. Lelit deliberately heats the brew boiler above the target temperature to heat up the portafilter faster, then lowers the temperature back to the desired value. This results in a heat-up time for the Lelit Bianca that we measure at 17 minutes until target temperature and heated portafilter are reached. That's roughly 8 to 12 minutes faster than the average Faema E61 portafilter espresso machine.

The dual flow rate control, programmable pre-infusion, and convertible water tank outside the machine are further evidence that even a proven system tolerates innovative thinking.

Access to the boiler under the machine makes maintenance of the Lelit's heating system much easier, as it doesn't need to be removed.

10 seconds low flow at startup (slow flow rate).

Flow rate control squared

The Lelit Bianca V3 is equipped with dual flow rate 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 for further flow reduction.

It's surprising how little is discussed about the flow rate of water in espresso machines, considering how important it is for preparing the drink. Pressure is frequently stated, and especially with budget espresso machines using vibration pumps, advertising often highlights a pressure potential of 15 Bar. However, high pressure is not synonymous with good coffee or even extraction consistency.

Pump excursion

Pressure is generated by the espresso machine's pump. Budget espresso machines are equipped with a vibration pump, which relatively sluggishly converts the speed of water delivered to the portafilter, then builds up pressure against the coffee. A rotary pump gets up to speed faster, and the pressure build-up against the puck and on the gauge shows this clearly faster. With rotary pumps, we set the grind somewhat finer. Nevertheless, the first extraction drops often appear after 5 to 6 seconds. With the vibration pump, we usually wait more than 8 seconds. The third, very rarely used pump is the gear pump or toothed pump. This pump can adjust its "pressure application" in relation to brew pressure up and down. The vibration and rotary pumps deliver relatively statically the set pressure force. However, espresso machines like the Decent or San Remo YOU show that more flexibility is possible with these pumps than is often used.

We can reduce the realized pump pressure on the coffee puck by reducing the flow rate downstream of the pump through valves. In the case of the Lelit Bianca, two needle valves are used for this. To put it pictorially, we or the needle valves put a clamp on the hose. But why does Lelit equip the Bianca with two needle valves? And what is the consequence of the reduced flow rate, which also manifests itself in the pressure on the puck?

Low flow means consistent extraction?

Yes and no. An espresso pull can be divided into different phases: a saturation phase, where the brew water saturates all the coffee, a main extraction phase, and finally a phase where the coffee puck's extractability decreases and the puck's resistance drops rapidly. This knowledge helps to modulate the flow with espresso machines that have flow rate control.

If we brew an espresso not with full pressure of 8 to 9 bar against the puck, but, for example, with 6 bar, it's easier to achieve more consistent extraction. High pressure increases the likelihood of channeling and also faster reduces the coffee puck's resistance. However, with low pressure, we can't extract everything from the coffee.

However, those who don't want to spend much time on careful puck preparation generally do better with lower brew pressure. However, the pressure reduction isn't limitless, because if the pressure built up against the puck drops too much, extraction reduces or the strength of the coffee drink is too weak. Taste-wise, it won't be perceived as espresso anymore.

Low pressure at the start

Low pressure at the beginning, combined with very low pressure, allows complete water saturation of the coffee puck. If this can be achieved before full brew pressure is applied, consistent extraction is guaranteed. If dry spots remain in the coffee puck, the following water will avoid them. Dry coffee is basically water-repellent (hydrophobic) until saturated.

If pressure increases follows complete saturation, the coffee puck can provide long, consistent resistance, assuming it was carefully prepared and tamped.

Manual flow rate control

The Lelit Bianca's paddle allows you to manually control the machine's flow rate. The home barista has virtually all options here. First, the espresso machine's brew lever must be pulled.

With the paddle at 9 o'clock, hardly any water flows. With the paddle at 6 o'clock, we measure without resistance 2.5 to 2.8 g/s on the scale. At 3 o'clock, we detect a flow between 4.9 and 5.1 g/s. With the paddle completely open, we reach just under 6 grams per second flow on the scale.

Important: These values are each not measured against pressure. Against the standard pressure of our Scace portafilter, the pressure manifests as follows:

With the Scace's back pressure, we measure around 2 g/s flow at 6 o'clock and 4.8 bar pressure. At 3 o'clock, we achieve 2.5 g/s with 7.5 bar pressure against the Scace. Completely open, we reach between 2.7 and 2.8 g/s with 8.1 bar pressure. These values should be interpreted with caution. The water flowing out of the Scace is sprayed onto the cup bottom with relatively high pressure, which negatively affects the scale's measurement accuracy.

The pressure values with the Scace give only an approximate value of what happens in a portafilter and when used with coffee. During coffee extraction, the coffee's resistance decreases over time.

For your Lelit at home, it's important that you adjust the settings of your needle valves and thus design the flow for each area.

Tips for working with the paddle

To achieve repeatable results, we generally recommend working with fixed positions. A changing pressure on the gauge is normal because the coffee puck's resistance decreases over brew time.

By the way: if the paddle isn't exactly at 6 o'clock, it has only minor effects. Orientation toward fixed points still makes sense.

The paddle also offers ways to "repair" pulls. If water shoots through the puck too quickly, a decisive paddle movement can reduce the flow rate and thus slow down the pull. Taste-wise, this will taste better than a thin super-underextraction.

Electronic flow rate control

While the V2 of the Lelit Bianca was equipped only with manual flow rate control, the V3 version includes additional electronic control. This gives the machine not only many new possibilities but also allows you to define fixed profiles and sequences. The reproducibility of pulls has increased significantly.

Electronic needle valve control isn't as flexible as manual control. Essentially, two "low-flow" phases can be defined: one at the beginning and one at the end. At the beginning, the duration of low flow is set. At the end, the start of low flow is set.

We measure around 1.5 - 1.7 g/s and 3.1 bar with the Scace resistance in the low-flow phase.

Nesting of electronic and manual flow rate control and pre-infusion

By nesting manual and electronic flow rate control, additional operating options for the Lelit Bianca can be unlocked. For example, low flow can be further reduced through paddle use.

The programmable pre-infusion offers further possibilities. When pre-infusion is activated, a pause option is unlocked. If pre-infusion is not further nested with low flow, the Bianca starts with normal flow and pressure, then pauses for a selected time.

It makes sense to combine pre-infusion time with a low-flow time. For example, 10 seconds of pre-infusion could be combined with 10 seconds of low flow and a subsequent 5-second pause.

Bianca V2, V3, and V4: what's different

Bianca versions can be distinguished by the extent of flow control. The V2 had only the mechanical paddle. The V3 tested here additionally has the electronically controlled needle valve, meaning programmable low flow and thus significantly better reproducibility. If you're coming from a V2 and only work with the paddle anyway, you gain little. If you want to retrieve profiles, you gain a lot.

We don't have our own measurements for the Bianca V4 yet. What we can write about it once we've had it in the lab will be added here.

Espresso quality potential

We've discussed the possibilities of espresso preparation. Of course, we still need to pitch in ourselves, adjust the grind on a good grinder, and prepare the espresso cleanly. If that succeeds, the espresso will succeed too. The Lelit Bianca V3 provides all the prerequisites for good espresso. The options discussed above are enablers, as are the good temperature stability we'll discuss next.

We're often asked whether a particular espresso machine "matches" certain coffees. And indeed, there are some espresso machines that show their strengths with somewhat lighter or darker roasts. To the Lelit Bianca, we award the designation: "can do it all." From a complex Doña Margarita from our Lila line through the more powerful Dreispitz all-rounder to the filter coffee brewed as espresso – with the Bianca and its design options, you can basically brew anything.

Temperature stability

Regarding temperature, three questions are interesting:

• How quickly does the espresso machine get hot?
• How consistent is the temperature during the pull?
• How consistent is the temperature from pull to pull?

To check temperature consistency and heat-up time, we use the Scace 2 with a K-type sensor and a PCE-T 330 data logger. On one hand, we record the WBC protocol and on the other hand the KM protocol, which we use to check heat-up, for example at 15, 20, or 25 minutes. In between, we let the espresso machines cool down completely for a whole day. A really elaborate test protocol then.

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 was at an average of 92.03 degrees, the temperature rose over five pulls one minute apart to 93.16 degrees. The standard deviation over these five pulls, measured from second 4 to 25 of extraction, was 0.99 degrees in the KM protocol after 17 minutes. That's a good value.

In the WBC protocol measurement after one hour of operation, we achieve a standard deviation of 0.69 degrees Celsius. This puts the Lelit Bianca not far from the World Barista Championship's target of 0.55 degrees Celsius.

We can confirm very good temperature stability from pull to pull and during the pull for the Lelit Bianca. With longer idle time, we recommend, as with all Faema E61 group heads, a flush shot before the pull.

Adjusting offset: 4 to 8 degree deviation from factory

The biggest and most important problem to observe lies in sometimes massive offset. Over the last six months, we've measured over 20 Lelit Biancas. The Bianca is repeatedly also with participants from our home barista courses at our academy. We also use this opportunity to check the espresso machines' temperature. Of course, we want to send our course participants home with a well-calibrated espresso machine (by default, all home barista participants bring their espresso machine with them).

The Lelit Bianca's offset is typically between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius. In all cases so far, this was negative, meaning the machine was effectively too cold. Offset means that a measured deviation exists between the temperature displayed on the PID controller and the actual brew temperature. To rely on the temperature display, checking the temperature through a specialty retailer is essential. Beware of online purchases – a properly set temperature is unlikely.

Our test machine's offset was 6 degrees Celsius. This meant that at a displayed temperature of 93 degrees, we effectively had a brew temperature of 87 degrees. It's important to note that the controller recognizes two offset values: one on the user interface and one in the technician or submenu. The latter is the one that needs to be adjusted.

Steam and milk frothing performance

From a dual boiler over 2000 euros, we expect not only good steaming performance but also, of course, simultaneous steaming while pulling espresso. What feels confirmed during steaming can also be shown objectively. The steaming performance – and here again the range of options Lelit has provided – makes it possible for us to customize the Lelit Bianca for every "size."

To assess steam power, we use 300 ml of cold 20-degree water and check how long it takes to heat this to 60 degrees.

In the standard setting with 125-degree boiler temperature, we need 47 seconds with the standard 2-hole nozzle. If we want more power, we set the Bianca to 135 degrees. The same exercise is accomplished in around 36 seconds. For even more pressure, we switch to the 4-hole nozzle, which is also included. Now we need 25 seconds to heat the 300 ml to 60 degrees.

As stated: the Lelit Bianca can be the steaming partner everyone wants. For good and confident steaming, set to 4-hole at 135 degrees. For those who prefer to take their time working through the steaming phases, stay at 125 degrees and try the 2-hole nozzle.

Lelit Bianca energy consumption

Depending on how espresso machines are used, their energy consumption varies. Espresso machines consume the most electricity when bringing boilers to temperature. The power consumption of pump or displays is low compared to the thirsty boiler heaters.

Those who drink only espresso consume significantly less electricity than cappuccino drinkers. Provided the usually larger steam boiler can be switched off. With the Lelit Bianca, this is possible. If we only switch on the 0.8-liter insulated brew boiler, energy consumption is significantly reduced. We achieve 0.133 kWh consumption for heating up and making 5 double espressos. Making one espresso in this scenario consumes 0.1194 kWh, accounting for and including heat-up.

When the steam boiler is switched on, consumption is more than three times higher. We measure 0.4259 kWh, using the same criteria including heat-up and 5 double pulls. Making one cappuccino including heat-up costs 0.34616 kWh.

Frequently asked questions about the Lelit Bianca V3

Does the Kaffeemacher portafilter fit the Lelit Bianca?

Yes. The Bianca has a 58 mm socket according to E61 standard, so our portafilters fit. Both our bottomless portafilter 58 mm E61 and the portafilter with double spout 58 mm E61 can be inserted directly. The double spout is particularly useful if you have difficulty hitting two cups with the included Lelit portafilter because its spouts are very close together. The bottomless portafilter is the tool with which you can actually see channeling, making it the most sensible first addition if you want to work with the Bianca's flow control.

Which baskets and shower screen can I use?

Included are an 18-basket and a 20-basket as well as a blind basket. Because the Bianca follows the 58 mm standard, standard precision baskets and shower screens for E61 group heads fit. If you're already working on the puck, look at our baskets. Lelit did well with the tamper, the included polished tamper is 58.55 mm and leaves only 0.4 mm clearance to the basket edge.

Can I connect the Bianca to a water line?

Yes, a water line connection kit is included. The Bianca has a rotary pump, which makes water line operation technically straightforward. If you stay with the tank: it holds 2.5 liters, hangs at the back of the machine, and can be moved left or right with two screws, reducing depth by 8.7 centimeters. In any case, pay attention to suitable water; we don't recommend the included filter cartridge after our filter cartridge test.

How much space do I need for the Bianca?

Plan for 29.3 centimeters width and 40.5 centimeters height with the paddle. Depth gets interesting: 50.0 centimeters with tank at rear, 41.3 centimeters with tank mounted to side. Add 9.5 centimeters because the portafilter protrudes to the front. If your work surface is under an upper cabinet, check the height above the cup tray, which is at 38.5 centimeters. The 27-kilogram weight is more of an argument to choose the location right the first time.

Bianca V3 or Lelit Elizabeth?

The decision comes down to flow control, not steam. The Elizabeth PL92T is a true dual boiler starting around 1,050 euros; it can do espresso and milk in parallel and reaches temperature after 20 minutes. But it has no paddle and no programmable low flow. If you want to modulate extractions, there's no way around the Bianca. If you just want good espresso and cappuccino, Elizabeth is the more sensible choice and you save more than half.

Bianca V3 or Mara X3 with Pagaia?

The Mara X3 costs 1,699 euros and brings flow control via Pagaia, but it's a heat exchanger two-group system, not a dual boiler. In our measurements, the Bianca has significantly better temperature control: 0.69 degree standard deviation in the WBC protocol, while the X3 in the same stress test over 14 pulls shows a temperature window of 7 degrees. If you want flow control and temperature stability, choose the Bianca. If you have less space and less budget, the X3.

What color variants are available and is the surcharge worth it?

Standard is stainless steel with wooden handles and wooden paddle; there are coated variants for a significant surcharge. A practical argument beyond taste: the stainless steel variant chronically attracts fingerprints; the coated variants look more robust and are easier to keep clean. Whether that's worth the surcharge depends on your cleaning motivation.

Where do I find the manual and the offset adjustment?

Settings are made via the Lelit Control Center, which is the PID control on the machine. Important for temperature: the controller recognizes two offset values, one on the user interface and one in the technician or submenu. You need to adjust the one in the submenu. Because the offset from the factory typically deviates 4 to 8 degrees negatively, it's worth having either a specialty retailer do this or checking it yourself with a measurement portafilter.

What does the Lelit Bianca V3 cost?

It's over 2,000 euros; the exact price depends on version and color variant and fluctuates considerably in retail. We deliberately don't quote a daily price but refer to the specialty retailers mentioned above. More important than the last penny: buy from where your offset will be adjusted.

Appendix and supplementary materials

Pressure and flow rate measurements

Below we show you some ways the Lelit Control Center can be used to run different profiles. These curves were recorded with the help of the Espresso Smartsensor and its associated app. However, we used a Scace 2 as the portafilter. The curve would look somewhat different with coffee because when using coffee, resistance decreases. The resulting pressure on the puck would decrease. However, we find this visualization helpful for showing the principle of different curves.

5 seconds pre-infusion with subsequent pause of 5 seconds.

5 seconds pre-infusion, 5 seconds pause with 20 seconds low flow. After a total of 40 seconds, low flow again.

5 seconds low flow pre-infusion, 5 seconds pause.

As always, we purchased this espresso machine ourselves. This test was not requested by Lelit.