ACS Minima vs Lelit Mara X

Ixorya Side question, will the 1zpresso JX suffice as an espresso grinder or the grinder upgrade should come before the espresso machine?

Minima is a great choice.

I have a JX Pro. It will make great espressos. It takes 30s to grind 18g. You are fine to use it until you get your Niche.

the minima is becoming a very popular machine indeed. 😊

There’s one on the classifieds for 850… bargain.

id love to explore the possibility of adding a roatary pump, or one of the quietx pumps to see the difference it makes

Cuprajake I’m curious, you went from Minima to Bianca. I know this thread is about MaraX vs Minima but I’m on the fence between all these machines. What made you switch to the Bianca?

Thanks!!

I went minima - londinium - crem one profiler- lr24 - bianca 🤣

Im very sound sensitive and the pump noise plus loaction of my machine really got on my nerves, then a londinium came up which are near silent, i then wanted to play with lighter roasts so got the crem, which was faulty, then the lr24 which was faulty. So settled on the bianca,

Its rotary pump is quiet and not intrusive, its just as temo stable as the minima, looks better imo and is a bit better built. As a full list of accessories with it.

If im honest i kinda feel board with it🤣 its just that good at what it does its kinda boring, just in a very good way.

It has some clever tricks, and the new v3 is even better by all accounts

Cuprajake thanks for the response.

I’m deep in the rabbit hole right now so your input is helpful.

It all started because I had a MaraX for few days and really liked it compared to my Oscar II when using lighter roast. It was really sweeter and I’ve been trying to understand why exactly. So I’m in a similar position then you were. I’ve installed the MaraX pump in my Oscar II to reduce the noise so I’m worried the Minima would be similarly loud to the Oscar II. I also hopes the slow pressure ramp up would do some sort of preinfusion and allow finer grounds but it’s not as the MaraX (also installed an OPV in my Oscar II).

It all closed the gap between the Oscar II and MaraX but still not there. But the steam of the MaraX was a bit slow. I like putting a tad of milk (Cortado/Piccolo latte). So I do steam a small amount of milk.

The cost of the Minima is a big incentive but at the same time I may be better getting an “end game” machine like the Bianca instead of getting the cheaper option.

Anyhow, if you have other inputs to share, I’m all ears!

I’m glad my wife won’t read this. I’mtelling her the Minima is end game! I don’t want her to know there is an upgrade path 🤫

simonc hahaha, same here! Although it would be true once a flow controller would be added.

Snooze ACS Minima is a lot louder than MaraX

Id say the minima is pretty much end game, add flow control and theres nothing it cant do that much more expensive machines do, id argue the solenoid group actually gives it the edge.

The pump isnt the quietest, the mara x is quieter.

Regardless a grand plus on a machine is mental, im close to 2 🤣🤯

Minima is end game for me. The mere suggestion of getting anything else will be the end of me. The bonus of being able to add the flow control kit leaves me with an upgadeable option

The performance of the minima equals or exceeds much more expensive dual boilers especially around steaming!

The solenoid group is something I would like to see on many more machines….warms up a little faster too!

DavecUK ahh that is a bummer… it guess it may not be that far from my current Oscar II with the Lelit Silent Pump..

I guess the question I have to ask myself is if the extra money to get the Bianca is worth it, even if I get a deal on it.

Well if you plan to add flow control at any point then thats another 200, which measns your paying another 400 for a rotary pump, tamper , 2 pf and 3 baskets haha

Cuprajake that was my thinking too. Ahh it’s not an easy choice!!