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

Alexvs

dutchy101 Good to know, I also sent BC a message over the weekend on the other forum asking about restocking times so just waiting to hear back. I don’t feel there’s going to be a lot in the price to be fair.

dutchy101

Alexvs

Are you thinking of going stainless or in black?

dutchy101

PortafilterProcrastinator

Here it is. Forgot I’d already taken a photo of it.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 Thanks, I do appreciate it!

Its worth a go just for poops and giggles!

Alexvs

dutchy101 Stainless got the thumbs up internally so that’s my plan. Think the only other acceptable colour in the kitchen would’ve been cream to go with the kettle and toaster haha.

PortafilterProcrastinator

Alexvs 🤣 The SS matches our toaster - that conversation sounds familiar.

I did like the black too, but was vetoed.

Looks like mine will ship sometime this week.

dutchy101

Haha - cool, was just going to mention to have a think about what drip tray you’d want if you were ordering it in black as I think Black Cat typically get a stainless tray in for the black model. I wanted a black drip tray and fortunately ACS had delivered the last batch with black trays by mistake. I got the last one. If you did want it in black and with a black drip tray, I’d have recommended asking about this so it can be shipped with a black tray when ACS send their next batch.

dutchy101

PortafilterProcrastinator

Stainless is also cheaper

dutchy101

Oh yeah, it’s worth trying, but I was a little annoyed with myself for missing out on a Nomcore that I could have had the week before with next day delivery. I really wanted to get using the machine properly asap and couldn’t really do that with the plastic tamper. Nomcore is coming on Friday, but quite happy with the tamper I’ve got for the mean-time.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 I have looked at the normcore again. I don’t like the shape of the handle, but is that worth spending 2x as much on a Bravo? Need to have a serious think, quickly.

Ultimately if I can’t decide then I’ll do what you’ve done and get something v cheap but better than plastic.

dutchy101

@PortafilterProcrastinator

What about this one? More of a traditional handle shape:

https://www.hrhiggins.co.uk/products/eazytamp-five-star-pro-tamper

Meant to be pretty good

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 Thanks, that’s really helpful. I’ll do some googling to find out more about it.

Sold out, story of my life!

Alexvs

Heard back from Black Cat and he isn’t sure when new stock will be coming in. I’m going away in 2 weeks so will wait until I get back and see if there’s been any movement or if anything else takes my fancy, otherwise may just bite the bullet with Paolo.

I wish I wasn’t so impatient though, been truly sucked into all this haha. When I get something in my head, normally tech related, I won’t stop looking into it until I buy what I want. Thankfully the wife understands this and is accepting haha.

Thanks for setting this thread up @dutchy101, gives me plenty of insight for if/when I get mine.

dutchy101

Might be worth taking a few weeks to think it all over to be sure you get what you want. Glad I pulled the trigger when I did now, especially getting the last one in black!

dutchy101

Ah balls. Typical

Alexvs

Well…a lot can happen in a couple of days. A deal too good to pass on fell into my lap and I’ll be an owner by Sunday afternoon! I literally purchased a palm distributor/tamp for the sage 2 weeks ago and threw out the box, could’ve sent it back and swapped for a 58mm haha. This hobby is dangerous…for my wallet lol.

Going to be weird having to keep the BE running to use the grinder till the Niche arrives in March, then I’ll sell that and get some funds back at least.

Bring it on!

dutchy101

Well in mate!

Alexvs

dutchy101 Thanks dutchy, hopefully I’ve not been too presumptuous as we’ve agreed a price and everything but got so excited I’ve not waited for him to reply with final confirmation haha, seems decent enough so sure it’ll be mine.

Think one of the first things I want for it is wooden accessories to match the Lelit profiling kit and will then stain the Niche base (when I get it) to match I think. Is there someone on here that makes wooden accessories? Portafilter handles and machine knobs? I think I saw a couple on the other forum, didn’t know if they made it over here too.

dutchy101

Hmm not sure quite possibly someone’s made it over but don’t know who they are. Black Cat Coffee might have the wooden handles in stock so might be worth giving David a call to see if he’s does.

You’ve got one with the pressure profiling kit already installed? Nice. Think that’s a bridge too far for me for the time being but nice to have the option for the future.

Good luck with getting it over the line. Let us know how you’re getting on with it when it arrives.

Alexvs

Will check with him when I get it, thanks.

Yeah already has the kit, which made the deal that much sweeter as was considering saving a bit longer and just getting the Bianca! Definitely one for the future but will be fun to play with.

Will let you know how I get on 👍🏼

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