I've gotten in contact with ACS about the Minima cost since I can't find a UK retailer and Maria got back to me with a standard stainless steel Minima for €1200,00 (approx. £1050) including shipping to UK with 24 months of warranty where they will support for any issue/s or replacements (free of charge for the warranty period) by emails, pictures and video calls. Am I right in thinking this is a fantastic price right?

@"Verion"#p28064 It used to retail £1179 to £1379. Please note, unless they have advised you otherwise, you will be charged VAT and import duties by DHL for customs clearance in the UK.

@"LMSC"#p28065 Good point about the VAT and import duties by DHL for customs clearance in the UK. I'll ask Maria about that.

Still a good price though. Is there another dual boiler in or around that price available from a UK retailer?

id buy now before it goes 2 euro to a pound haha there a good machine tbf

@"Verion"#p28066 One point to note - there should be no duties, only VAT, as the machine is made in the EU. I was charged (incorrectly) a fairly minimal amount of duty on my ACS machine, and I didn't challenge it. I was charged a much higher % amount on a recent import of a sweater (from Italy, as it happens)… and DHL backpedalled very quickly when I challenged them. Just make sure that ACS adds a declaration of origin to the paperwork if you go the 'direct from manufacturer' route.

@"dfk41"#p28067 The only dual boiler that comes close is the Lelit Elizabeth v3 at Bella Barista for £1,149 in price. But I'm not into the design. Maybe it looks too much like my current Sage DTP which I'm ready to move on from after a number of years. If Black Cat Coffee had the stainless steel Minima in stock it would have been £1,279, so the prices direct assuming I am liable for VAT and Import duties makes it around £1,260(ish). If not, then it makes it better value at £1,050 with everything included than the Lelit Elizabeth v3 or if I wanted an HX machine, then the Lelit Mara X v2. The next jump is closer to £1,800 with the Lelit Bianca v3 or something from Profitec or ECM. It's a lot of money when a Minima is a lot, lot less.

@"CoyoteOldMan"#p28071 Can I assume you bought your Minima direct?

@"Verion"#p28073 It was a Vesuvius Evo Leva, but yes - direct from ACS, so dealing with exactly the same people and carrier that you'd be!

@"Cuprajake"#p28070 Would be good if it did go 2 euro to the pound - Minima would only cost £600! Sadly parity is more likely.

haha you know what i mean lol the bianca is a different kettle of fish, alot more for your money than the minima - but its £600 more

ACS Minima

Abcan

@DavecUK here’s a couple of pics of the inside. I take it the tap on the service boiler is the drain you mentioned previously?

DavecUK

Abcan here’s a couple of pics of the inside. I take it the tap on the service boiler is the drain you mentioned previously?

It is, the other tap is the drain for the brew boiler.

ams

@Abcan Looking forward to more pics :)

ams

(also love that the first pics are of the internals)

Abcan

All set up. It was very simple. I’m impressed with the build quality and I don’t think pictures do it justice.

DavecUK

Abcan All set up. It was very simple. I’m impressed with the build quality and I don’t think pictures do it justice.

The machine is now mature and has had many improvements over the years. Boilers the same size as a Vesuvius, Vostok or Evo and larger than most other prosumer machines. It’s great value too.

Just make sure you follow this protocol from day 1 and your steam/water valves will still be working fine in 10+ years time. https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/blog/1387-compression-type-steam-and-water-valves-important

Abcan

DavecUK thanks Dave. I’ve read that and will follow religiously!

PortafilterProcrastinator

The laser cut ACS branding is certainly an improvement.

Now they just need to replace the on/off and brew labels! They are certainly my least liked part of the machine.

Abcan

PortafilterProcrastinator I agree. I was thinking how I could replace them with something that looks better.

DavecUK

PortafilterProcrastinator Now they just need to replace the on/off and brew labels! They are certainly my least liked part of the machine.

This I agree with and will take up with Paolo in October when I visit.

Abcan

Abcan something etched into a piece of stainless maybe?

PortafilterProcrastinator

Abcan That’s what I’m looking at.

Off the shelf toggle switch legends won’t have suitable labelling.

You can get custom legends, but they’re often plastic.

I am still looking, will find something eventually.

Abcan

PortafilterProcrastinator I have friend with an etching machine (who loves a project) I’ll see what he thinks. Can’t be difficult to replace them.

Cuprajake

Well seen as he has a Lazer etching machine they could do that 😂🤷🤦

Verion

@Abcan lovely colour, that black.

I wish you all the best with your new toy.

ams

@Abcan how are you finding the Minima?

Abcan

ams great thanks! It’s so much easier to use than the Classic! I’ve lost a lot of the bitterness in the shots, something I could never seem to master on the classic. I’m very happy with it.

Cuprajake

minima for its price point is amazing

Abcan

Hi All. What bottomless porta filters are you Minima users using please? I like the standard double porta filter but it’s not as easy to clean as the bottomless one I used on the classic. I’ve looked at the Normecore ones and also the ACS ones but wondered if anyone had a recommendation.

Thanks

MediumRoastSteam

Abcan - any generic E61 will fit.

Like this one: https://bellabarista.co.uk/products/naked-bottomless-portafilter-for-e61-group-heads?_pos=1&_sid=27b64e85e&_ss=r

Or this

https://www.bluestarcoffee.eu/en/ECM-Naked-Portafilter/m-5140.aspx

There are many others.

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