So there's a lot of people buying Minimas on here at the moment and a few experienced users so I thought a thread dedicated to the Minima with questions / information on the machine would be useful to myself and the others who have recently purchased and are about to take the plunge (and to prevent myself from hijacking other people's threads). One question I have to kick us off is about the brew boiler and PID. For some reason my Minima does not seem to like bring set at 93 degrees. Despite me having it set at 93, the display shows it settling at 94. I'm not sure if this is indicative of an issue or standard behaviour. It occasionally will drop to 93 but then goes up to 94 again

Edit…I've just found the PID Values Explained section at the back of the manual where it explains this is normal.

Mine does the same and I confirmed with other Minima users when I bought the machine.

> @"dutchy101"#p6482 Edit…I’ve just found the PID Values Explained section atvthe back of the manual where it explains this is normal. Very good manual that one…, online version available as well. https://sway.office.com/xofz72xFBgYyiWqi?ref=Link

@"dutchy101"#56 @"HVL87"#57 How have you found the stock filter baskets? I'm already thinking of upgrading, but won't do unecessarily quickly - although that is also partly tamper dependent.

@"PortafilterProcrastinator"#p6679 they are fine. Easier to pull a nice looking bottomless shot - in my opinion that doesn’t mean much. I moved on to a 18g VST to optimise my shots as much as possible.

It's been a bit of a transition for me this week as I've changed from Sage 54mm baskets and didn't have a 58mm tamper until a few days after the machine arrived. I got a new distributor yesterday which has also helped so still finding my feet a bit with the stock baskets, but pretty happy with them so far

Thanks both, if they're a similar ID then I can get a tamper (thinking bravo ATM) first and upgrade the basket later when looking for refinement, rather than just trying to make something palatable!

Yeah - I've got a Nomcore 58.5mm tamper on order and coming this week so will get a better handle on things once that has arrived

@"dutchy101"#p6686 I'd be really interested and grateful to hear how you get on. How are you finding the Minima overall?

Absolutely loving it - so glad I went with it I'm really enjoying using it. How about you? Made my wife a tea using water from the service boiler to drain some water this morning and she commented how much better it looked and tasted (using the zero and remineralised water I've been making up).

The General ACS Minima Thread

MediumRoastSteam

DavecUK - It’s ok, I’m just being curious (no surprise here!) I’m obviously seeing this from a completely outsider point of view as I don’t have a Minima nor have ever seen any of the tubing. So maybe I’m not right at all :-)

Alexvs

MediumRoastSteam I hope there’s a way, it’s just so tight in the machine to do it.

I did have it on its own in the tank but some reason water came out by the valve and I panicked so quickly took it off to inspect. Think it just needed tightening rather than having a split. Lesson learned.

Alexvs

Just to show, this is the bit I’m trying to get back onto

MediumRoastSteam

Alexvs - you need to remove that piece of the silicone hose that broke from the fitting first :-)

MediumRoastSteam

Alexvs - thank @HVL87 😊👍😉

Alexvs

MediumRoastSteam Oh haha, I thought it was a protective sleeve! That would definitely make it easier. Will give it a go and report back. Thank you.

Alexvs

MediumRoastSteam You legend! Slipped right on! That’ll be why it leaked out water then. All sorted and running just over 9 bar now. Love this forum.

DavecUK

Alexvs Oh haha, I thought it was a protective sleeve! That would definitely make it easier. Will give it a go and report back. Thank you.

Giphy - Donald Trump Head Shake GIF by Election 2016

dutchy101

Alexvs Love this forum.

Agreed - a safety net for complete numpties like myself who have thrown themselves in at the deep end, lol

John_Yossarian

Alexvs I can see that you have resolved your issue, @MediumRoastSteam has given you the right advice.
Start pulling these “sweet” shots and please share the experience 🙂

Alexvs

MediumRoastSteam Well thanks to all of you 👍🏼

DavecUK Haha, total noob moment but we’re all here to learn right 😄

HVL87

Alexvs it was amusing to read at least 😁

Alexvs

HVL87 I’m just going to say, I’m sure we’ve all been there hahaha.

HVL87

Alexvs yeah its a learning curve for sure! Personally I wouldn’t be confident working inside the Minima although I’m sure I’ll have to eventually, so you did well.

Alexvs

HVL87 Yeah I wasn’t too confident but Dave’s video looked quite straightforward so thought I’ve got this. Clearly the hose had an issue as should not have come apart like that, at least I stopped an eventual water leak 😁

DavecUK

Alexvs mmm, probably not, if you tug on a stretched silicone hose, it’s quite likely to split

Alexvs

John_Yossarian Yep wish I’d just shared the picture straight away and could’ve saved the stress haha.

This morning was definitely an improvement but am thinking of trying a smaller dose next time as think I’m not leaving sufficient headroom as can see a slight imprint from the shower screen. I just carried over doing 20g from my Sage but will drop to 18g and work from there seeing as that’s what’s suggested in the manual for the double.

John_Yossarian

Alexvs Once the Niche lands at your doorstep your pre-Niche period would end and the and post-Niche period will start 😀
I suspect that to compensate for the grinding you pushed the dose with your Sage, once this is solved you will be getting great shots even with less than 18 g.

PortafilterProcrastinator

Just unpacking mine now and taking all the protective film off.

Any tips for cleaning the SS?

Cheers

Gtbarringer

Start up question: My factory new Minima has been delivered, and I will be commissioning it next week. After the initial filling and flushing cycles, do I need to be prepared to adjust the OPV or does it come preset at 9 bar from factory?

P.S.- Will share photos and thoughts after matching DF64 and Niche arrive next week :)

DavecUK

Gtbarringer I think they set close to 9 bar, it might be at 9.5

PortafilterProcrastinator

Gtbarringer DavecUK

I’ve not had a chance to update since I got mine set up over the weekend (all going very well!) but from my experience my machine was set to 9bar, maybe a smidge more.

dutchy101

Gtbarringer

Matching DF64 AND Niche - haha. I am very interested to see how you get on with both with the Minima. (I have the DF64 / Solo paired with mine and it’s working very well for me)

Get some photos up when they arrive.

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