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

Verion

Cuprajake Did you replace the original manometer with the coffee flow one in the kit or is it spare for a future fix if the original fails?

Cuprajake

I kept the ACS one

Flow rates so far.

¼ = 0.7ml per second

½ = 2.6ml per second

¾ = 3.9ml per second

1 = 4.5ml per second

dutchy101

If I do get one, that’s the one I’ll opt for Cuprajake (the Coffee Sensor one right?) - it looks a lot neater (to me personally) and the black will tie in nicely with the machine - not to mention a damned sight cheaper. Your pics have asserted to me how easy a job it looks to install too.

Time for my stupid question. Once fitted are you committed to using the flow control kit every time you make a drink, or is there a setting on it (perhaps leaving it fully open) where the machine would behave as it would without the kit installed?

Doram

PortafilterProcrastinator Looks like you can get a flow control only from Coffee Sensor through Etsy - need to confirm its genuine

dutchy101 If I do get one, that’s the one I’ll opt for

The cheapest option I found for the Coffee Sensor flow control device was from here. This is where I got mine. They are EUR 170, but they remove 23% local VAT when shipping to UK so EUR 138 (around £120 in current rates + a few quid for shipping). If you don’t get hit by UK VAT (I didn’t), it’s significantly less than getting it in the UK or directly from Coffee Sensor. Currently 2 one in stock.

PortafilterProcrastinator

Looks like you can get a flow control only from Coffee Sensor through Etsy - need to confirm its genuine

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/751761340/rocketecmbezzerabfclelit-universal-e61?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-home_and_living-food_and_drink-coffee_and_tea-coffee&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjw1vSZBhDuARIsAKZlijQaBcXULEqMuMI7DujLY-r4vXzts2LA_uIebOc9T47DmdBsp41DTocaAgjVEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_12604174069_122593706849_508773061669_pla-305800332373_m__751761340engb_505662535&utm_custom2=12604174069&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1vSZBhDuARIsAKZlijQaBcXULEqMuMI7DujLY-r4vXzts2LA_uIebOc9T47DmdBsp41DTocaAgjVEALw_wcB

Saves having a spare manometer lying around - especially given you easily you can puck them up.

I’ve also seen a Bezzera flow control that has a nice paddle - but can’t find a link

PortafilterProcrastinator

Looking again, don’t think the Bezzera will fit an e61

Verion

PortafilterProcrastinator You got the 58.5mm V4 version? If so, I’ll see Amazon drop the price on Prime Day from around £45.

If it doesn’t drop, I think might go for a Espro calibrated flat base tamper for £68 from Blak Nektar which might be more what I’m looking for in terms of repeatability.

https://www.blaknektar.coffee/products/espro-calibrated-tamper

PortafilterProcrastinator

Verion Yes - 58.5mm

You might find a 58mm too narrow. There is wiggle even with 58.5mm

dutchy101

I have the Nomcore 58.4 V4 too. I picked it up for £39.27 from Amazon back in January

Cuprajake

@“Verion” no if you leave it open it will act as if its not there

Handy vid

dutchy101

Excellent - thanks @Doram I might just pull the trigger on this and hope it gets through without duty costs and VAT - probably wishful thinking.

Edit - trigger pulled. Early Christmas present to myself. The website says VAT and Duty collected on items over £130 by Royal Mail. The price at today’s rate comes in at just over £120 so this might go through without the VAT

CoyoteOldMan

dutchy101 Theoretically, up to £135 the vendor is supposed to register for UK VAT and provide you with a “UK VAT paid” invoice. In practice, unless the customs inspector actually inspects (1 in 30, maybe?) the documents, it goes through.

Norvin

Looking at the picture it looks like the Bezzera kit will fit the Minima, the nut and spindle look very similar to (same as?) the Lelit kit. I’m assuming that the thread size of the main nut is the same. There may be a problem with the handle fouling the casing, restricting movement of the paddle to about 190 degrees movement, but that applies to the Lelit paddle and that works.

Only one way to find out…

dutchy101

I love a gamble!

CoyoteOldMan

dutchy101 Worst that happens, you pay VAT…

dutchy101

Yes, exactly - £24 which would make the total cost around £145

Gagaryn

dutchy101 Plus of course the £10 or so that you will be charged in fees for the collection of the VAT payment. I’ve had several imported orders that have arrived since Brexit for which no VAT has been collected though, customs are overwhelmed. I would have gambled too.

dutchy101

Ah yes, of course - the £10 fee I have to pay for someone falling over themselves to pay this on my behalf.

dutchy101

I note in @DavecUK’s installation video he uses Molykote on the washer. Is this only necessary when fitting the flow control or do you need to reapply every so often?

Also, stupid question, what Molykote is the correct one?

MediumRoastSteam

dutchy101 - Dow Corning Molycote 111.

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/lubricants-and-chemicals/lubricants/111-silicone-grease-compounds/f/9597?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7P-yqfjJ-gIVVeDtCh12JweQEAAYASAAEgJUo_D_BwE

DavecUK

dutchy101 I feel it necessary to use molykote at every opportunity, because I bought a whole tube and I want to use it all before I die. 🤣

dutchy101

Brilliant- thanks MediumRoastSteam

Ordered. Got it for £14.78 with free delivery from ManoMano, via Zoro Tools who would have charged me £11.99 with £5 deliery if I purchased from them directly

https://www.manomano.co.uk/garden-machinery-oil-and-lubricants-4873?model_id=12406387&referer_id=702619&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1vSZBhDuARIsAKZlijRLSrpj2fpd_pit9wCQBMvlA0nRvvZqybO0E6lXeSjRZHq7S4FNQSMaAsLvEALw_wcB

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