Lelit Bianca Espresso Machine, BL162T Version 3

The machine itself is great, on par with any great e61 out there and loaded with features. The build quality and looks are out of this world.

The only thing driving me a bit nuts is the PID/LCC menus and how painful they are to navigate. There is no way to save different shot profiles/programs and no way to reset things quickly to go back in manual mode so it makes using all those new cool features of the Bianca V3 a pain in the butt and you have to assume a v4 will come out with a revamped LCC or an app. It is honestly mind boggling that a $4k machine sold in 2024 is using such old school programming and electronics when smart objects are more affordable than ever and a great programmer can be found easily.

Tldr : If you don't care about programmable features this is a beast and makes great coffee, if you care about the different modes and already have a good machine I'd wait it out for Lelit to step up their game with their outdated LCC.

It is an excellent Espresso Machine. You have to be patient at first to master the grinding/quantity/infusion of the coffee but it works perfectly once you've invest some time to fully understand all the features of the machine.

The Lelit Bianca has been a great espresso machine. Well built and craftsmanship. Being able to reposition the water tank is a big plus. Flow control feature helps me dial in my shots more. Comes with everything you would need to get started.

Having looked at all the major espresso maker brands the Lelit stood out as having the best functions for the money and the most asthetically pleasing as a kitchen appliance. The inclusion of the multifunctional LCD display, pressure profiling, removable water tank and being plumbing ready were important factors that went into the decision.

Having came from a superautomatic, the biggest difference is the much, much better crema quality, ability to fine tune the extraction using adjustable pressure in real time to ensure I get the best tasting coffee extraction every time and also the very powerful steam broiler that can get a grande size milk heated in 30 seconds.

Initially I thought it would be complicated to pull levers and turn knobs but turns out it's very simple once the coffee making process is muscle memory.
Maintenance wise, there is nothing much to it other than changing the water softener, wiping the machine as required and backflushing the internals (it's super easy). It's less high-maintenance than my previous super automatic and there are no electronic nannies to force you to clean the machine, so you can do it at your own leisure.

If there was anything to nit-pick, is that the machine does not come with an auto-power on function - so buy a separate smart power bar (make sure it is rated for 15 amps). That is really the only thing I can think of.

Overall, Lelit has hit this one out of the park, and there's nothing else that comes close at all.

Also thanks to ECS for offering a package deal when bought with the grinder; they also threw in many bags of coffee!

I used to have a Rocket that I bought elsewhere. After having a tonne of issues with it and no support I decided that i would try something new. ECS showed me the Lelit and wow...you get soooooo much more than the Rocket and it is frankly a better machine! Highly recommend and go in to try it out first. You will be amazed.