“I settled on the Lelit Bianca after doing a lot of research. For the price it's hard to beat. It's a double boiler machine with included flow control, programmable pre-infusion, PID, built in shot timer, plumb-able rotary pump and standard walnut wood fixtures. The closest comparable machine is the Profitec 700, which from what I read is also a great machine but more expensive, and flow control and wood fixtures are optional add-ons.
Cliff and Pebble have been fantastic to work with. The espresso machine was shipped quickly and packaged extremely well. It arrived in perfect condition. Setup was pretty straightforward but make sure you follow the instructions for first time startup.
Daily use has been glorious. I’m upgrading from a gaggia classic and there’s no comparison. Steaming milk is fast and easy and I’m getting microfoam the gaggia could only dream of. The V2 LCC allows you to set the steam boiler temp to 275’F which equates to around 2-2.5 bars of pressure. I can steam two latte’s back to back (or using a large pitcher both at once) without an issue.
Lelit includes two well designed portafilters. One with a double spout and a bottomless. So far I’ve just been using the double spout until I feel more confident in my technique to try the bottomless. I would recommend getting a ridgeless VST basket as I find them easier to insert/remove and there’s no ridge for grinds to get stuck in. I’m able to pull two double shots back to back without having to wait for the temp to come back up. The pump on this is much quieter than my gaggia classic.
Cons: not many, really. The tank has built in folding handles to allow for easy extraction but they’re a little flimsy. One popped off once and I almost dropped the tank. I would have liked the warming tray to be a little more substantial and have a rail to prevent anything from being knocked off. The brew pump pressure is set at 10.5 bar by default which is a little high but it can be adjusted.
All in all it’s a fantastic machine and I would say very difficult to beat at it’s price point. I’d have no hesitation in recommending it (or Cliff and Pebble) to anyone looking for a Pro-sumer double boiler espresso machine. I mean, just look at it! It’s gorgeous!”
“Full-featured excellent Espresso Machine that has not disappointed. Every shot pull has been heavenly. The unit arrive very well packed and carefully inspected by Cliff & Pebble. Will always consider Cliff & Pebble on our future purchases!”
