Hi All, Long Time Reader, First Post. Upgrading from a Single Boiler Machine to a Dual Boiler Machine. Pairing with a Niche Grinder. Would Love to get the ACS Leva Machine, but the Mrs. shot down due to the price. Coffee focus is light roast single origin, and I drink mainly espresso with a few milk drinks. Machine Budget is $2000 (£1500). Currently Looking at: **Ranchilio Silvia Pro X** or Lelit Elizabeth. Always heard good things about Ranchilio build quality and temp stability, but Lelit is new brand to me. Any other recommendations or comments on current choice would be appreciated!

@"Gtbarringer"#p3141 Welcome to the forum! Liz and Minima are in your price range. Both are excellent machines; while minima is packed with features, it will not be as quiet as Liz. If you want to stretch, then Bianca for £350 more and perhaps Veuvius for about £150 more than Bianca. We assume you already have a good grinder. What about the water? How are feeding your current machine please ? Thx

Presumably the OP is in the US for having quoted the prices in USD. The Bianca in the USA costs USD 3k, The Elizabeth or the Rancilio at USD 1.7k and the Minima approx. 1.8k based on a quick internet search. The Elizabeth is a great machine, very easy to maintain and use. It has the pre-infusion options, so that would give you some ability to "play" with certain coffees, which is nice. However, it's a "dead end" machine, in the sense you cannot really do much to it. It is what it is, and has to be used as intended. The same goes for the Rancilio. The Minima would allow you to add a flow control valve to the E61, which can take you to the next level. As upgraditus knocks at my door (I have the Elizabeth), this is one of the things I would like to experiment with one day. For the moment, however, the Elizabeth has been performing rock solid for the past year and a half. No idea about the Rancilio DB X. Looks like it's a great machine, but it also feels like it's a bolted-on experiment on their single boiler design. IMO, it's early days and I wouldn't touch it, specially given the fact that within one year, they already came up with an improved version, the "X", and added a pressure gauge and pre-infusion option. Personally, I'd let it settle for another year at least.

I already have a Niche and I'm getting a Lelit Elizabeth this year (or a Bianca if I can convince the wife - I know I could have a Minima but I just prefer the looks of the Bianca for a paddle/profiling machine)

> @"-Mac"#p3149 or a Bianca if I can convince the wife this should be your new year's resolution and top priority :-)

> @"MediumRoastSteam"#p3150 this should be your new year’s resolution @"-Mac"#p3149 ![Giphy - jealous bbc one GIF by BBC](https://media0.giphy.com/media/l0MYLraSJ4qyxTqJq/giphy.gif?cid=bb77869fu41kgaowu0cu0ytmf6a5efv3qo53ilzwmeop4iyj&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) 😉

Thanks for the responses! I now researched the ACS Minima and my decision only is more difficult. Hopefully Dave C. will see this, But Can anyone confirm if flow control can be added to the Minima at a later date? Also - What is the advantage of going to the Lelit Bianca besides finer touch points? I don't see it being any more temp stable or capable (besides included flow control). Please enlighten me :)

> @"Gtbarringer"#p3648 Can anyone confirm if flow control can be added to the Minima at a later date? Flow control definitely can be added, I added the Lelit system to mine, and sure any of the others would work. If you check my review site, you can see it being installed (check about drop down button on Forum header). Minima is noisy compared to Bianca, and is a Caterham 7 in comparison re build/performance. Minima group requires very little maintenance, steaming is slightly more powerful.

i added a coffee sensor flow control to my old minima, i now have a bianca though as i prefer the quieter pump. both were good machines, but the bianca fit and finish is better than that of the minima.

@"Cuprajake"#p3658 Does the minima have pre infusion capabilities without flow control added?

yeah it has a nice rise due to the pump used https://youtu.be/KaH70PoRIHw

Need a help with a tie breaker

Gtbarringer

Thanks all for the help. Ended up getting an all black w/ wood accent Minima straight from ACS. Can’t wait :)

dutchy101

Gtbarringer

Nice - I am very close to putting in an order for myself. I am assuming you’ve ordered from Black Cat? In terms of the drip tray I am trying to work out whether they supply both the black and a stainless drip tray when you purchase, or is it stainless only? The website says the black and white models “include a stainless drip tray” - not sure if that means in addition to a black / white drip tray or instead of.

Gtbarringer

Sorry cant help with that. I’m based in America, and I will order from ACS direct.

dutchy101

Haha - no worries - you know what they say about assumption, eh?

Hope you enjoy the machine when you receive it!

Cuprajake

ring black cat coffee

dutchy101

Just called them and they currently have the black trays, which is exactly what I want. Thanks

DavecUK

dutchy101 Just called them and they currently have the black trays, which is exactly what I want. Thanks

You can always order a steel tray if you ever feel you want one….and move away from full “stealth” mode.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101

Excellent!

I need to call and ask about when the SS version is back in stock.

HVL87

I preferred the black tray from pictures. In person I prefer stainless. Nice to have the option though.

-Mac

Update…

The Mrs has just given me permission for a Bianca 😀😀😊☺

Woop woop!

LMSC

-Mac Giphy - music video yes GIF by Apple Music

DavecUK

-Mac Update…

The Mrs has just given me permission for a Bianca 😀😀😊☺

Woop woop!

Well done…what did you have to agree to? 🤔

Otherwise, she sold out too cheap if she just said yes…..

Giphy - Dragons Den Price GIF by BBC

Waitforme

-Mac Update…

The Mrs has just given me permission for a Bianca 😀😀😊☺

Woop woop!

Great outcome !

End game machine, it’ll save you money from upgraditis in the long run 👍

-Mac

DavecUK

LOL. Thanks 😁

I’ve just retired, but I still have to sell my other motorbike.

LMSC

-Mac

Bianca is a great choice. Well done!

Barter trade and check mate! 😀

Giphy - Lose The End GIF by Camille Lorenzo

DavecUK

-Mac I’ve just retired, but I still have to sell my other motorbike.

Which is?

Grif

-Mac but I still have to sell my other motorbike.

Oh lordy, a high price indeed, unless you’ve had enough of course and then…bargain! 😉

Only do a few hundred miles a year on my bike these days but I’ll never sell…. NEVER I tell ya!😀

-Mac

DavecUK -Mac I’ve just retired, but I still have to sell my other motorbike.

Which is?

My KTM 1290 Super Adventure. Still get to keep my KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and my Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer, so all is well.

DavecUK

-Mac Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer

Nice, always felt it was in response to the Hyabusa….is yours an early or late one?

Grif

-Mac Still get to keep my KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and my Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer, so all is well.

Definitely a good bargain 😎

-Mac

DavecUK Nice, always felt it was in response to the Hyabusa….is yours an early or late one?

Thanks. It’s 1st Gen. A ‘bitsa’ bike made from parts from other Yam bikes (mainly the R1, detuned for better mid-range). It was never, ever going to keep up with a ’busa (and that’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say it was in response to). I upgraded from a VFR750F-S - wanted something quicker and more upright for touring. It’s 2002, so it’s my rat/track bike now.

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