I'm interested in what Forum members think of this machine. I know very little about Lelit's other products. It appears that the Bianca may be available in some markets now and in the U.S. perhaps in July. The price quoted by 1st Line is pretty competitive with other double boiler machines.
Lelit Bianca
ncrc51
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I'm just trying to wrap my head around the day to day use of this machine - would anyone be so kind as to help me please. Because of the paddle, does it mean that on occasion, when you didn't want to stand and adjust the flow, you couldnt just extract a shot. What I am really asking is, if the other half wanted to pull a shot, do they need to use the paddle or could they just use the lever to start/stop. I'm assuming the answer is no, and that you need to move the paddle to increase pressure/flow?
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All looks good apart from EC which should be 10. The machine must warm up for 30-40 minutes, 10C is the correct setting....too high a temperature as you are using will not give correct results and the group head thermometer is not the way to monitor for correct temperature. I measure it 3 mm within a simulated coffee puck.matomoto said:
If you are getting inconsistent E61 temperatures you have a small leak somewhere in the brew circuit, enough to cause the boiler level to stop slightly. One of the issues with almost all vertical boiler machine that have their thermosyphon take off on the top of the boiler is a slight drop in water level causes thermosyphon inconsistency and if it goes down more...stall. As any of these machines age, these maintenance issues become more apparent and performance limiting until the source of the poor sealing is identified and rectified. This is common to every vertical boiler dual boiler machine I have ever used apart from machines where the take of is at the sides, or the ACS Minima where I ensured the design places the top thermosyphon tube at least 3 cm into the boiler, using a special fitting made for the purpose. Fortunately I have a lot of influence with the ACS designs and it's the reason the production machine took so long to come to market from beta 1.
P.S. If the thermosyphon is stalling slightly or a lot...it will of course negatively affect brew temperatures.
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Hi Nick
My good lady wife uses my Bianca all the time, I just leave the paddle fully open and you can use it like any other machine. I do have the preinfusion programmed, so that just happens automatically, and my wife has on several occasions commented on how easy it is to use.
i hope that helps.
Tony
My good lady wife uses my Bianca all the time, I just leave the paddle fully open and you can use it like any other machine. I do have the preinfusion programmed, so that just happens automatically, and my wife has on several occasions commented on how easy it is to use.
i hope that helps.
Tony
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Thanks for the response Dave, as for the Ec if I do not modify it to 13 or 14 the temperatures are very low. Within a short time I will try to have more reliable readings with a more precise thermometer and measuring from the portafilter.(fluke t3000) I have to think about how to install the temperature probe in the portafilterDavecUK said:
I have contacted lelit and sent me to the distributor in Spain.
Is there any way I can observe if there is water loss or other anomaly?
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I don't know, all I do know is my settings are absolutely correct for a properly working Bianca. it has a large thermosyphon pipe and you don't want it too hot. I did 3 or 4 days just temperature testing. However, it's your machine, your tastebuds and used your way. If you like an offset of 13 or 14, then that's fine.
I seem to have the same issue as matomoto with regards to the offset being wrong, though I unfortunately don't have any measurements...
When I tried to find the boiling point at my shower screen, (used a guideline I found on hb which in turn was based on instructions from Dave for the Izzo Alex Duetto), I had to go up to 103/4 degrees.
Based on taste, I have set my brew boiler (factory PID settings) to 96 degrees Celsius for medium/dark roasted espresso.
When I tried to find the boiling point at my shower screen, (used a guideline I found on hb which in turn was based on instructions from Dave for the Izzo Alex Duetto), I had to go up to 103/4 degrees.
Based on taste, I have set my brew boiler (factory PID settings) to 96 degrees Celsius for medium/dark roasted espresso.
Let it heat up with portafilter in place for 45 minutes or so. Start at 99 deg C, then work upwards in 1 deg steps until 104 deg C with 20 minutes per step to stabilize.
I've created a YouTube account and have tried to put together a video to show the results. Please be aware that a) the video is showing the steps backwards 104 down to 99 (never tried editing video before and messed it up) and b) I might be misinterpreting everything.
Hope this works, am looking forward to your comments.
http://
I've created a YouTube account and have tried to put together a video to show the results. Please be aware that a) the video is showing the steps backwards 104 down to 99 (never tried editing video before and messed it up) and b) I might be misinterpreting everything.
Hope this works, am looking forward to your comments.
http://
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I'm not sure I watched on my phone and it still looked to be boiling off at 99. The method I gave that you used is a rough and ready method. I actually measured brew temps from 91 to 97 on the prototype. I still have it as I bought it. I will review video again on the TV, perhaps they changed something in production.
It's also quite possible the brew temps are OK with the offset I recommend when in the correct range 91 to 97. It's harder and harder for the same offset as the temperature is increased.
If you and the other guy came from an HX you might have been very used to extractions at higher temperatures than you think?
Either way if an offset of 13 or 14 is doing it for you stick with it.
It's also quite possible the brew temps are OK with the offset I recommend when in the correct range 91 to 97. It's harder and harder for the same offset as the temperature is increased.
If you and the other guy came from an HX you might have been very used to extractions at higher temperatures than you think?
Either way if an offset of 13 or 14 is doing it for you stick with it.
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Today after 40 minutes on and a 3 seconds shot ....
Ec=13
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Ec=13
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Sorry daveDavecUK said:
The temperature is 94 degrees with ec = 13
The paddle position is almost all open
Flow rate without filter 75 g 10seg aprox
For measure temperature use k type themocouple in a blind filter with a small hole with a small base emulating the coffee pill
The towel... Pressurized water goes a little crazy jajaja Excuse me if I'm a little sloppy
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Your equipment is different to mine, I use a simulated coffee puck with the same sort of flow, so no large initial water dead space as with an empty portafilter. I can't imagine I am 3C out and really (if you think about it) if there is a measurement error, the error would be a low error, not a high error. However it would appear that I am measuring a higher temperature than you for the same offset, which is unlikely unless they changed something about the later production machines thermosyphon...which i doubt why would they..I also doubt it because the temperature checks I repeated on a production machine? Or perhaps they found a temperature offset or display programming bug and told no one. I did the whole series of temperature checks twice during testing because 10 was low for an offset, but it did have a large top thermosyphon pipe. I was even tempted to suggest 11 on the PID to err on the safe side, but didn't because it was fine.matomoto said:
Like I say though, if it's working for you, keep using it. I built my testing devices about 15 years ago, before the scace 1 or 2 was a concept and I always used a simulated coffee puck and I have replaced my thermocouples a few times over the years, just in case. it's also worked correctly on every other machine I have ever tested and the V recommended offset is from using it?
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I know that the device can improve a lot, with time I will try to do something better. What seems obvious is that the thermosyphon does not work properly.
I have removed the top cover of bianca and I have not seen water filtration or dry residue
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I have removed the top cover of bianca and I have not seen water filtration or dry residue
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Can't be sure about that either...perhaps my measurements are wrong, perhaps they changed something. I've been wrong before...not often, but it happens. Essentially the display is just a number, it's all about being able to increase and decrease temperature to the taste you like for the particular coffee. The offset only throws things off and starts giving a non linear response when it's much much higher than it should be. So I would just say don't worry about it...unless your getting very long delays between starting the pump and water coming from an open group...which might show brew boiler level dropping over time... (for a mostly full valve opening of course).matomoto said:
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