ACS Minima service

Plausse

I have had the ACS Minima for two years now, after buying it here back in 2022.

It is a 2021 vintage and has performed well, but I have not had it professionally serviced since buying, and I think never before either. It now sometimes fails to trigger the last shot protect and actually has run dry a few times, but otherwise no issues functionally.

I backflush with pulycaf regularly, and have replaced grouphead gasket etc. but have not done any deeper maintenance than that.

I have called every espresso company in London (I think) but they all refuse to service it. Would be grateful for any pointers as to whether to strip it myself, or if someone in or near London does service ACS.

I am also looking for a wood kit but the ACS one seems to be plastic. The rocket kit appears to fit, but also grateful for any pointers as to a suitable wood kit!

MediumRoastSteam

Plausse - what else would you expect from a service? 😊

Honestly, there’s no point. Keep backflushing and make sure you drop the shower screen and clean that regularly, as well as the group.

As for the last shot protection and it running dry… that reveals the sensor is not working. Maybe it’s stuck,or there’s a another problem, like bad contact, etc.

What water do you use?

HarveyMushman

Plausse I have called every espresso company in London (I think) but they all refuse to service it.

Why did they refuse to service it?

dfk41

A lot of coffee engineers will not carry out work in a non commercial environment, usually citing insurance reasons. It might be if you had a friendly local coffee shop you could drop your machine off next time they are due a service. If the machine is running ok and the seals are good then scale is the usual concern. You say London, what water are you using?

DavecUK

The coffee machine companies will mostly service commercial machines, so they won’t be interested and are not geared up to service prosumer stuff. They certainly won’t come to your home to service it (no one will).

Any company worth it’s salt, that services prosumer gear can service the Minima if you get it to them. There’s nothing in a Minima that’s special or cannot be serviced.

Plausse

Thanks all for replies, helpful.

@MediumRoastSteam and @dfk41 I use London Tap water but filtered through a Quooker and used Volvic before that. I haven’t measured mineral levels post filter but suspect still a bit high Calcium. I’m considering adding a softening cartridge before the standard one.. I haven’t descaled it yet, but maybe I should?

@DavecUK this makes sense – I never expected anyone to do it in my kitchen really, quite happy to bring the machine to them and collect it when done. I would have thought it would be really simple to service given how its built, but they claim they have “not been trained on manufacturer”. I thought they would be keen as it seems like easy money…

DavecUK

Plausse but they claim they have “not been trained on manufacturer”. I thought they would be keen as it seems like easy money…

Poor quality engineers will say that, or companies that are over busy and have a workforce that are trained, but not engineers. It’s also a product of todays world and training. The machines all have generic parts, problems on prosumer machines all have the same symptoms. ANY competent engineer should be able to work on it in the same way I can work on any prosumer machine. without having to be trained.

HarveyMushman

Pretty sure LM eng’s will come out to domestic jobs as I looked into it for large interval servicing but I guess it’s technically a commercial machine.

Agree it seems odd to be based on manufacturer as mentioned, they’re all very similar really.

Not sure if you’re anywhere near Bella Barista but they certainly have a big service centre but will need the machine dropped off.