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

darkstefano

WDT tool can be made in 5 minute with four 3D printer needles and one cork.

simonc

Following on from my flow profiling testing, I’ve decided to take the needle out and have a look.

This is a 2 year old machine I got a month ago that was apparently run on bottled water (but we will know that doesn’t mean much) and was descaled before shipping.

Does this look like some scale and is it a problem?

I’m wondering about doing some more investigation to check out inside the mushroom but not sure how.

DavecUK

Mr big nut has to be undone and Mr small socket on a stick undoes the Gicleur.

Use amtech pliers with jaw protectors or similar, put it back cold and if it don’t leak leave it, if it leaks under pressure torque it up until it just stops…a single wrap of PTFE or so on the threads (to act as a lubricant) makes them easier to remove next time

simonc

DavecUK first of all I’ve taken the gicleur our. Left is the one I’ve taken out Vs the spare. I assume the colour change is normal. Is the white scale or could it be old moly?

Secondly you mean use protected jaws on the big but to remove that to investigate further, or was it in reference to taking out the flow kit?

simonc

Also there are little broken bits of rubber inside the nut where the tip of the needle is. To the right of the nut on the photo. Should there be a washer here or is this from the 2 black washers on the needle ?

DavecUK

Can you lay out all the parts for me, so I am sure of the bits you are talking about….Arrange them together as well in order, if you know what I mean. As I think I know what part that is, but want to be absolutely sure

Thanks

simonc

Here you go. Also showing what I presume are the spare washers on the needle screw part which appear to be slightly disintegrating.

I think thin layer of scale
Small bits of rubber from 4 I think that were inside (1)
Are these replacements for 4 in the kit?
These show small amount of disintegrating

DavecUK

The O rings don’t look as if they have ever been lubricated and as I said in my videos for the flow control, I didn’t feel there was sufficient in there from the factory either. There looks to be nicks out of the O rings, so I would recommend replacing them, lubricating them (Molykote 111), as well as a bit on the thread, then every 3-6 months depending on twiddleage…remove and relubricate.

If those broken bits were floating around they can block flow to the group jet.

Then get yourself some spare O rings.

EDPM or FKM (I think might be better) size 6.07 × 1.78

https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p512590/BS010-1.78mm-Section-6.07mm-Bore-VITON-Rubber-O-Rings/product_info.html

Like the ones above, you can probably get them much cheaper and buy yourself a pack of 20 or 50. They are FKM or (Viton) and shore 75, which would seem about right for me.

simonc

Cheers. Yes I will do. More importantly though, I think I need to descale!! This mushroom valve doesn’t look good!

simonc

Good news is it brushed off with warm water, nothing else needed. Bad news it’s taken off the chrome. Is this something that needs replacing soon or will it last if maintained more than it was?

DavecUK

simonc Don;t worry about it, just remove any loose chrome and you’re good. Don’t forget to lubricate that sadly neglected O ring 😉

simonc

DavecUK cheers. Have done. Does that suggest that it might need a descale given I can’t trust what has happened to it previously?

DavecUK

simonc probably be OK, doesn’t look that bad. If you are using RO water, just don’t add any bicarb for a few months, and it will mostly go away.

Cuprajake

DavecUK when you say ro do you mean neat ro like ise rodi or ro that has a low tds all ready

simonc

DavecUK I’m on Lockhills at the moment but getting a zero jug shortly so was planning to remin that but you think just use as is for a bit? Was thinking of putting it straight into the service boiler for that effect but could do same in reservoir?

DavecUK

Cuprajake Neat RO, wiv nothing in it. or almost nothing. Will gradually sweat the lime scale away as it remineralises itself…one hopes

Cuprajake

No issues with fill sensors?

DavecUK

Cuprajake No issues with fill sensors?

Well in all the years I have been testing machines, often with RO water of 2 or 3 TDS, I have never had a fill sensor not work. It’s a bit of an Urban myth that goes round.

Remember that guy with the Minima was overfilling, and I said don’t ground on the boiler, ground on the frame…because just the weak electrical interference can interfere with them. They are super sensitive.

Ultrapure water to special laboratory conditions e.g. 18.2 M Ohm resistance “might” not work…but RO water definitely will, as will distilled. Especially as it becomes more conductive by the second when you fill the tank.

simonc

@DavecUK I am talking to ACS about the issue with the old style water sensor with the sprung plate and they have offered to sell me the parts for the new style one inside the tank so I can wire it in myself. I presume this is relatively easy? I am more than happy do so some basic rewiring.

DavecUK

simonc I am talking to ACS about the issue with the old style water sensor with the sprung plate and they have offered to sell me the parts for the new style one inside the tank so I can wire it in myself. I presume this is relatively easy? I am more than happy do so some basic rewiring.

Should be a piece of cake…just attach 2 connections to the float tube wires and your done, probably take 15 minutes work, including removing/replacing the case. I must remember to ask Paolo to send me that upgrade.

simonc

DavecUK perfect.. love how accommodating they are to changes, and how easy the machines are to work on. If only all tech was like that.

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