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

simonc

DavecUK It was at 125C already. I think you are right, I might be trying for too long / too much volume increase. I will try less tomorrow.

pete4eyes

This got accidentally moved to milk foaming so deleted and reposted back here.

Can anyone that’s ordered a Minima direct from ACS shed any light on the customs and duties fees encountered? Just trying to calculate what to expect and it’s very convoluted.

In the process of making an order and very excited! Though also a little apprehensive at the large amount of ££ - not a normal spend for myself…! Still can’t believe the wife agreed to this either!

Opting for just the black plastic vs the hydro dipped wood effect. (Confirmed by ACS it’s hydro dipped).

Alexvs

pete4eyes When I got a quote for a new unit I think I was told between 25 -28% and also seen 28% quoted in the Vesuvius thread. It’s the value that % is put against which will affect what you pay. Basically you can discuss that with Paolo but he’ll be happy to sort you out.

DavecUK

pete4eyes Opting for just the black plastic vs the hydro dipped wood effect. (Confirmed by ACS it’s hydro dipped).

I didn’t know that…

simonc

DavecUK pete4eyes DavecUK presumably hydro dipped plastic?

dutchy101

A couple of questions on cleaning.

How is the best way to clean the pipes that go into the water tank?

Should I remove the steam wand tip to clean it with Puly Caff? I do purge after every steam and then twice in cold water after that.

darkstefano

dutchy101 clean it with Puly Caff?

DavecUK

simonc Amazing what can be lost in translation.

pete4eyes

simonc I would think so. But maybe I’m reading this incorrectly.

Quote from the email in response to me asking if the wood kit was wood or plastic:

The wood accessories of the Minima have a wood effect. They have a water transfer printing.

DavecUK

Plastic with a printed grain….

PortafilterProcrastinator

DavecUK

PortafilterProcrastinator If they only paid £100 they got a very good deal indeed.

lets not shout about it and spoil everything eh……

Alexvs

DavecUK Agreed, edited my post 👍🏼

PortafilterProcrastinator

DavecUK Agreed, but equally people’s expectations shouldn’t be benchmarked at a level that isn’t always the standard/ guaranteed.

DavecUK

PortafilterProcrastinator agreed…always better to be pleasantly surprised.

pete4eyes

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best!

simonc

Any recommendations of what to grease the steam wand ball joint with?

Cuprajake

111 grease

simonc

Cuprajake assumed that was best? Anything in meantime could work before the moly can be delivered?

DavecUK

Touch of Vaseline, as long as you don’t use the same pot for haemorrhoids

simonc

DavecUK cheers. Tiniest bit helped as did realising I needed to tighten the steam wand onto the ball joint.

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