r/espressomachines

Just got to know that one of my friend’s colleague is looking to sell a used Lelit Bianca V2 for $1500 bought 5 years ago and in good condition. Thinking if am really ready for a big jump considering my 2 years of espresso hobby.

So far, I have evolved from my very first DeLonghi ECP series to a Breville Bambino and now recently to a Breville Barista Express knockoff from Bodum. This Bodum Bistro surprisingly works well with dual boiler mechanism feature even though it’s not advertised as such. Able to pull some great shots by brewing espresso and steaming milk both at the same time.

Since I have been experimenting with espresso machines a lot, am thinking of checking on following,

- Scale Buildup (Hard water usage could result in this and might clog the machine)
- Shots pulled on average to determine usage
- Back flushing and Descaling
- Serviced or Parts replaced

I know to get a good shot of espresso, coffee grinder accounts for 60 to 70% and espresso machine accounts for the rest 30 to 40%. So, is it really worth it to spend $1500 for a professional dual boiler machine like Lelit Bianca?

Pour in your thoughts about the purchase and questions to ask before purchase.

As title says, wanting to upgrade.
Use case: 2 person household, making 2-6 coffees per day, mostly milk drinks, some espresso, often back to back in the morning. No exotic roasts or loads of experimentation. Very much looking for a reliable steed rather than a high performance vehicle.

Reason for upgrade: We're making 2-4 coffees in the morning and my PID-less Gaggia is pulling really inconsistent shots, which I'm going to say is temperature fluctuation. I have a Sette 270 which is dosing accurately and consistently, and the shots are either perfect, too fast or choke up depending on when in the morning I'm pulling them (ie. post-steaming milk they choke up, if I haven't let the machine fully heat they run fast).

I'm not *super* into coffee. I'm not looking to change my beans all that often or get really freaky with it. I just want a consistent shot and a relatively streamlined, basic workflow of grind into portafilter, tamp, pull shot. I cbf temp surfing and using 19 different tools for puck prep seems like something I'd enjoy when I have the time, but not every time.

I want a nice consistent volume and time of extraction, currently I'm measuring each shot as they pull with a scale + timer and the guessing game/hassle of constantly trying to chase a perfect shot and often missing is aggravating.

So at the bare minimum I think I'm looking at a dual boiler + PID setup.
Not too fussed on group head, I'll just stick it on a timer if I need it to heat up for 30mins+.
Pump type isn't a concern.

I'm not much of an aesthete but I can't really abide the Breville models, so looking at the Lelit Elizabeth, but I notice it lacks a brew pressure gauge. Is it worthwhile going up to something like the Silvia Pro X? Any other models that are go-tos aroud that $3000 mark? For the price of the Elizabeth I see the Meraki is also in that bracket, but seems like a lot more points of failure.

r/espressomachines

Used Lelit Bianca V2 [$1500]

Upgrading from Gaggia Classic, need advice/recommendations