LELIT has been putting out some fantastic machines of late, and now that we've had some with the Bianca we can weigh in on this ambitious offering. Does it live up to the rest of their compelling lineup? Let's take a look!
Design
At first glance the Bianca looks like many other Italian semi-automatic espresso machines in its price range. The style of the group head, pressure gauges, steam wand and water spout, and control layout will look familiar to many espresso enthusiasts. When you look closer, however, you'll notice the fun rounded edges on this machine as well as design features that range from aesthetic to functional.
First, the wood controls are a nice touch. They give the Bianca a premium look and feel and just look fantastic against both the powder coated white and black finishes, and the stainless steel version. Beyond this, the pressure gauge at the group is a really nice feature that can help you troubleshoot your shots, and the storage concealed under the drip tray is a fantastic place to stash accessories. Finally, the water tank can be re-positioned around the machine to make it much easier for you to access and refill.
We also just love the LELIT Control Center - the PID controller interface on the lower left of the face of the machine. It gives you so much control without looking intrusive or ugly. With this control center you can tap into the full range of performance options for this machine.
Performance and Features
The LELIT Bianca is a dual boiler machine that meets the standards of many similar machines, then exceeds them. A heated group, PID controlled temps, dedicated hot water spout, and programmable pre-infusion are generally par for the course at this price point. With that in mind, the Bianca takes things to the next level with its flow control paddle and programmable shot tapering.
Flow control is one of those higher end features that many espresso enthusiasts only dream about. Until not that long ago you had to spend at the level of a commercial espresso machine to get access to this kind of feature. If you're unfamiliar, flow control give you the ability to adjust the flow rate of water through your portafilter on the fly by closing or opening the brew paddle during brewing. While there is a learning curve to using this feature it becomes intuitive with practice. Additionally, with the LCC, you'll be able to program and recreate your favorite shots.
Why does it matter? For one, with flow control you can unlock flavors from your espresso that a simple on off pump can't achieve. While these differences in flavor are subtle, they are noticeable for a trained palate. Additionally, flow control can help you "save" an espresso shot, particularly one that's flowing too fast. Grind size a little off? By slowing down the flow of water and reducing the pressure a bit you might just be able to nail the extraction anyway.
The reason this is so notable here is the machine's price. Flow control is a premium feature often found on machines as much as twice the cost of the LELIT Bianca, so the fact that it works so well here is definitely noticeable.
Is the LELIT Biance For Me?
The design, performance, and features on the LELIT Bianca are top notch, but there are a couple of things to note before you run to order one. First of all, this is a large, complex machine that does have something of a learning curve. If you're new to espresso it may not be the best machine to get started with, as the control options can overwhelm and get in the way of your learning to brew espresso on a machine like this. This is exacerbated a bit by the complexity of the LCC. The fact that this control unit is so robust is a bit of a double-edged sword, as the richness in the menus also makes the interface a bit clunky to use due to its small screen.
With all of this in mind, we still enthusiastically recommend the LELIT Bianca for anyone who's ready for a flow control machine, or even newer users who are comfortable with a learning curve. This is a really well designed machine with features that punch well above its price.
Let us know what you think of the LELIT Bianca in the comments, and check out our video review below!