Lelit Bianca Vs. ECM Synchronika: Which One Is The Best For You?

Refilling Water Tank

Espresso needs water to steam milk and brew espresso. So, espresso machines always have a direct connect or pour-over system for accessing water.

In a directly connected water system, the machine is directly connected to the water line that automatically fills the water tanks and saves a lot of time. Such a system is present in almost all espresso machines used in espresso-based businesses because you need convenience and speed to prepare espresso.

On the other hand, pour-over systems require you to add water to water tanks manually. You need to be alert to the water level to refill it. Since there is no connection with the waterline, carrying the machine for cleaning and storage is relatively easy.

Both ECM Synchronika and Lelit Bianca can work either way. You can switch between direct connect (plumbed-in) or pour over design as per your convenience. Changing to a plumbed-in type is also very simple.

The machines already have built-in low water sensors. If you are using pour-over, you don’t need to be always conscious about filling the water. The built-in low water sensor will notify you of low water levels. This feature is quite affordable because you would never run the machine while dry, thus avoiding any damage to boilers.

Both machines also have built-in shot timers that discard the need to keep a check on the brew cycle; instead, just use the shot timer and nail your timing consistency.

Pressure Gauges

As mentioned above, pressure, timing, and temperature are the most important factors in making espresso. Timing and temperature features are already discussed, so here come the pressure gauges in ECM Synchronika and Lelit Bianca.

If the machine is not producing enough pressure, it would be problematic as water will not go even though the perfectly tamed espresso pucks. However, if it’s creating too much pressure, the opposite will happen. Water will flow through the puck like a blast, and you will get a weak taste.

Since you don’t want any of these situations, considering Bianca and Synchronika is advisable. You can also keep a check on what the pressure is and what pressure you want.

●    Powerful Built Quality

Both machines have stainless steel construction. Even their casing and boilers are built from stainless steel.

There are certain benefits of having a stainless steel construction for the espresso machine. The first one is appearance. The polished appeal that develops with steel can’t be achieved with any other thing. Your countertops will look incredible, and everyone will catch a glance at this wonderful piece.

Another benefit is durability. The tough, hard, robust material lasts so long and pays off your investment. On top of that, the weld quality is refined. Check every nook and cranny of the machines, and you will be amazed at minor details.

Another obvious similarity is their wooden accents on handles. The wooden accents give them a rough look that represents both modern style and simplicity. Since the whole construction is steel, these wooden accents make them stand out against shiny silvery steel.

Synchronika handles also have a wood grain pattern on the side panels, and the wood on the handles is more like Bakelite. However, visually both give the same feel.

●    Insulated Steam Wand

A common hazard that baristas face is burning with overheated steam wands. A minor negligence in wand handling would burn your skin. However, if you need to choose between ECM Synchronika and Lelit Bianca, you will never face this issue. In either of the machine, you will find insulated no-burn steam wands that will remain cool after long cycles of frothing milk.

An experienced barista might get along well with a non-insulated steam wand, but this feature holds more importance at home. With pets or children at home, you would never be worried about them burning themselves. So get yourself, your pets, and your children safe.

●    Cleaning and Maintenance

Both dual boiler espressos are built using traditional manufacturing techniques with standard parts. Therefore, the design barely goes wrong. On the off chance, if anything goes wrong, you can find skilled technicians or replace the parts easily.

The major problem of the old espressos was pressure stat which is now replaced with PID. You’ll also find that compression valves for hot water and steam are durable and mostly need repair instead of replacement.

Expecting them to last long with minimal attention to their maintenance and cleaning is not sane. You should clean the shower screen and Portafilters and use filtered water regularly.

●    Machine Type

An espresso machine can be manual, automatic, semi-automatic, or super-automatic. It refers to the level of work an espresso does for you.

Most espressos that you see on tabletops are either automatic or semiautomatic. The trend is now shifting towards super-automatic espressos.

Bianca and Synchronika are semi-automatic, so you need to do some work. If you are a complete beginner, you would probably be unaware of most of the machine’s features and have to control the whole brew cycle fully. You need to start and end the process by being mindful of timings.

If you are already familiar with basic terms, you can let the machine do some work for you. The built-in timers are meant to share the work. You can set the timers to start till the end of the extraction process.

The one best thing you get with semi-automatic models is the level of flexibility. You can pull short, long, or extra-long shots and enjoy various tastes and aromas.

●    Portafilters

With Synchronika, you get a mix of Portafilters with appreciable designs and handles similar to steam levers. Portafilters are angled with which you can rest on the surface, making tamping easy. ECM tamper isn’t made of plastic as many companies do.

Bianca has patented coffee slide spouted Portafilters with 1 shot and 2 shot filters, stainless steel tamper that improves espresso’s quality. It ships with bottomless Portafilters that are a vital part of making espresso.

●    E61 Group

Both machines come in the E61 group. The E61 group is not perfect but easy to maintain and has good thermostability. The E61 group has simple mechanics that utilize springs, needles, cams, and washers. When you turn the handle, the cam wheel moves and pushes one needle up and the other down, releasing water flow. The flow stops when the handle is turned in the opposite direction.

What Are Differences In ECM Synchronika And Lelit Bianca?

●    Dimensions

If you look at the table of specifications, you can already see the size difference between the two. ECM Synchronika has 16.53 inches in height, 13.2 inches in width, and 18.7 inches in depth.

On the flipside, Lelit Bianca has 15.75 inches tall, 11.4 inches wide, and 19.1 inches deep. It is a bit shorter and less wide than Synchronika.

Size is important because if you get a big machine to place in your kitchen, you have to rearrange your kitchen, and still, you may not succeed in making enough space. For this reason, always look at dimensions. This consideration might not be needed in a kitchen with plenty of room. cleaning

●    Steam Boiler

Steam Boiler of ECM Synchronika holds 2 liters, and Lelit Bianca’s holds 1.5 liters. It mainly matters for those who prefer milk-based drinks and are more into making a lot of lattes and cappuccinos. So, with a large steam boiler, you can steam milk for longer times.

Though Bianca’s 1.5-liter steam boiler doesn’t give supercharged pressure but works pretty fine for churning out fewer drinks.1.5 bars of steam pressure at factory setting or 2 bars of pressure with crank-up boiler temperature would be enough to make you frothy and silky microfoam for two large lattes.

●    Flow Profiling

Lelit Bianca has a flow control paddle located in the middle. The altering water flow increases or decreases the brewing pressure by moving the paddle. In this way, you got more control over the flavor of each shot with more acidity, sweetness, or bitterness. This feature is fascinating enough for seasoned home baristas to choose Lelit Bianca, which you don’t find in Synchronika.

●    Pressure Gauge

ECM Synchronika and Lelit Bianca have more than one pressure gauge, i-e, Boiler Pressure Gauge, and Pump Pressure Gauge. However, Lelit Bianca has an additional gauge that is present on top of the brew head. With an extra gauge, you will get some advantage over other machines. You can monitor your machine better with gauges.

For example, if the pressure in the boiler is constantly getting stronger, but the pressure in the brew group is not enough, you can diagnose the problem.

●    Water Tank Capacity

Water tank capacity matters when you have to use espresso throughout the day. ECM Synchronika holds 3 liters capacity, whereas Bianca holds 2.5 liters capacity, which is slightly less.

Suppose you only make espresso once or twice a day, then water tank capacity doesn’t matter. However, if you have many coffee lovers at your home or have many visits, look at its size. Moreover, if you are using Pour-over, you would never want to stop every now and then to refill the tank. Refills also take time and make the process more complicated.

●    What Are Their Prices?

Price consideration is probably the most important factor that would influence your purchase.

At Clive Coffee, Lelit Bianca costs $2,979 with 3 years parts and labor warranty.

You can buy ECM Synchronika for £2,280 at Doppio Coffee in the UK and $2,999 from Whole Latte Love. Since it is hand-built with extensive features, this price is not bad for Synchronika.

Which One to Buy?

Now that you know similarities and differences, you need to decide which machine is better for you. Both are remarkable and fulfill their claims. Honestly, this decision was difficult for us too. However, it would be best if you made some consideration to reach the final decision. The key differences that we discussed above, pricing, and your preference can help you choose.

The question is, how much espresso do you make a day? If it is multiple times a day or involves serving several people, you’ll definitely need a larger water tank and boiler capacity. And ECM Synchronika fulfills this demand. If you want an espresso machine only for you, Lelit Bianca is a better option.

And the last thing is the available kitchen space. If you have a cramped kitchen, Lelit Bianca is your machine because it is a bit shorter than Synchronika.

Moreover, it also depends on your liking for lattes and trying a variety of tastes. If you need great control over making every shot, Lelit Bianca’s flow paddle with an extra gauge gives you greater control and allows you to experiment more. If you are not interested in flow profiling capabilities and are more into milky drinks, choose ECM Synchronika.

In short, we recommend ECM Synchronika for making more espressos in a day and lattes lovers. And if you already have experience playing with flavors, need more control over your preparations, and want to learn with the machine, get Lelit Bianca.