Help me decide...

Duc959

So, I have been reading loads and when it comes to making a decision I am undecided.

Currently have a bean to cup and now I want my first real espresso machine, I do only drink milk coffees just now and as I am WFH it can be around 4 a day. On the odd occasion my wife would ask me to make her a weaker coffee.

I have gone from Sage DB, ACS minima, Lelit Mara x and the Lelit Elizabeth. I am now considering the Lelit Bianca as it seems the best value for money and I shouldn’t have the need to upgrade at a later stage.

I am also looking to pair this with the Eureka oro.

Is this a good choice as I am going way over budget and what else would I need to buy?

Thanks

DavecUK

Duc959 I think it’s an excellent choice…spending a little more now, if you feel you won’t need to upgrade later, is cheaper overall.. The prosumer stuff you have mentioned, starting with the ACS Minima thru to the Lelit Bianca are all great prosumer machines. I have all of them and do rate the Bianca for the refinement and pleasure of use and it competes strongly for value in that part of the prosumer market. The best bang for your buck at the higher end of the prosumer market.

I think Bianca comes with most of what you need apart from thin scales and a milk jug.

Duc959

DavecUK Thanks Dave, I have watched all your reviews and appreciate your efforts. I do see where Lelit have cut back on costs with the bianca, but as you say its the best value for money.

DavecUK

I actually have the prototype of the original Bianca and about 1 year ago, the preproduction unit of the Bianca they have recently released. Compared to the one I have reviewed, there have been some subtle but nice changes to software and a few other bits. I never did a review for it, because it was sent to me for engineering review/feedback to Lelit directly.

The costs have been kept down, but I don’t think it affects the quality and you get an awful lot of function for the money.

Duc959

Can anyone recommend where to buy some accessories?

PortafilterProcrastinator

Depends what you need. Check out Black Cat Coffee.

Duc959

looking for some cups

Grahamg

Don’t be afraid to just jump right in to more expensive machines if you can afford to. In addition to points above, I’d add that it’s nice not to have to learn the various foibles that normally accompany cheaper equipment, to the detriment of getting to grips with the coffee making. It’s a real luxury to have that element of consistency with your gear and be certain that’s it’s definitely you doing it all wrong ;-)

Dumnorix

I have been looking at the Bianca too- seems like a good option but will have to sell the 2 machines I have first otherwise I will not be popular…. Out of interest does anyone know if the classified section of the forum is operating? There currently doesn’t seem to be anything there. I have a feeling I might be wanting to put some of my kit in there soon!!

DavecUK

Dumnorix become our first advertiser!

profesor_historia

JahLaza

Hello Dave

This is Emil, I have just found aout about the new forum, it’s a great idea and I wanted to thank you.

I was wondering whether you can help me with some info.

I hope you are doing fine, sorry to bother you. A friend of mine here in Madrid is selling a Eversys Cameo superautomatic machine, it’s a bloody expensive model, it’s brand new and he is asking my help. Do you know anything about this machine? I find very difficult for him to find a domestic user willing to buy it, do you know anything or someone interested?

Thanks a lot

Cheers

DavecUK

profesor_historia A friend of mine here in Madrid is selling a Eversys Cameo superautomatic machine, it’s a ****** expensive model, it’s brand new and he is asking my help. Do you know anything about this machine? I find very difficult for him to find a domestic user willing to buy it, do you know anything or someone interested?

It’s not a machine I am familiar with at all. It may be that it’s more suited to commercial rather than domestic use?

Duc959

Orders in, Gone for the Bianca and Eureka Oro.

DavecUK

Duc959 Exciting times ahead and you get lots of time to play over Christmas

Duc959

DavecUK can you please advise what the pid settings should be and how I can check it’s at 10bar pressure?

Duc959

Happy Days! Package arrived ahead of schedule!

Cuprajake

Cracking setup, comes with everything you need to start too

Check into water as last thing you want to do is feed such a good machine bad water

Duc959

Just looking at that again now, Tesco ashbeck 5lt and Waitrose lockhurst 5lt?

DavecUK

In the Bella Barista userguide I wrote for the first version of the Bianca;

Unlike other machines which reset to totally unsuitable Gicar factory setting, our early input to the prototype allowed us to recommend BB best tested firmware settings in the event of a firmware reset as shown above. These have been programmed into the firmware and on a reset the factory defaults are Bella Barista recommended settings with the exception of one, KPc. We advise our customers to set KPc = 0.4

You can use the gauge on the front pulling a shot against a blind filter to check. It will hit a pressure then fairly quicky rise again a little, that second rise is due to water expansion on heating. So it might go to 9.5, then slowly rise to 10.5.

Did you purchase the machine from Bella Barista?

Duc959

DavecUK Hit and miss trying to reply to a thread via my mobile. Thanks for the quick reply, yes I purchased from BB. I will need to go over your videos again.

I can’t find the KPc setting?