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

PortafilterProcrastinator Mine was the same which made me try the 3 again as thought can’t be worse. It’s crazy how much longer it feels like it takes which has made me actually better, could help you too. Just give it at least a week with the 3 so you notice a difference.

PortafilterProcrastinator

Alexvs Noted, thanks. We’re about to go away for a week, but I’ll swap the over as soon as I get back.

Gtbarringer

Any ACS Minima owners have a sound deadening solution for the pump noise? We recently moved to an open floor plan home, and the wife is now making comments on the sounds levels in the morning. Looked into a Lelit quiet pump, but cant tell if its a plug and play compatible. Don’t mind spending $100 for a new pump if it is significantly quieter and an easy install.

DavecUK

Gtbarringer It’s plug and play compatible.

Gtbarringer

DavecUK Have you tested the Lelit quiet version side by side to a standard vibe pump? I understand volume/pitch is subjective, but in your opinion is it noticeably quieter?

DavecUK

Gtbarringer My Elizabeth had the Ulka, one of the specification changes I asked for Was the inclusion of the Lelit Olab Quiet pump, important you get the Lelit one, not the Olab quiet pump!

It’s significantly quieter.

dutchy101

My basket is starting to stick in the group when I remove the portafilter, is this a sign that the gasket is going?

DavecUK

dutchy101 How old is the gasket, and are you starting to have to lock it in harder to prevent it leaking.

The best way, is the next time you drop the shower screen (you do it at least weekly I guess) to clean it, behind it and the dispersion disc etc..slip the gasket off and feel if it’s gone really hard and is showing sigs of cracking. Unless you have a spare, don’t squeeze or twist it too much.

dutchy101

Thanks Dave

Gasket is the one that came with the machine when purchased in early Feb so only about 3 ½ months old.

I drop the showe screen every few days so will take a look tomorrow. The portafilter has been quite hard to put in ever since I got my VST basket - it goes in much easier with the blanking disk and stock basket.

I do have a spare that cane with the machine, but wondering whether a silicone one might be better if the VST basket struggles to go into the group

DavecUK

dutchy101 I do have a spare that cane with the machine, but wondering whether a silicone one might be better if the VST basket struggles to go into the group

I don’t know, never used a silicone one.

Sounds like your gasket should be absolutely fine….perhaps needs a good surface clean?

MediumRoastSteam

dutchy101 The portafilter has been quite hard to put in ever since I got my VST basket

Is the VST basket sitting proud on the PF compared to the other baskets? Is the gasket flat side facing the portafilter basket (I.e.: is it the right way in)?

When you drop the shower screen next, make sure the group where the gasket goes is clean. You can use a brush to clean it, or if you don’t have one just a wet kitchen paper towel.

dutchy101

Ah ok thanks will stick the shower in a Puly Caff solution and give it all a good clean.

I backflush every day and give the shower head a clean after every shot but maybe need to drop the shower every couple of days

DavecUK

dutchy101 How often do you drop the shower screen usually?

dutchy101

It was every few days (2 at first) but admittedly not as frequently recently - will go back to the 2 day schedule

DavecUK

dutchy101 Not going to admit when you last dropped it for cleaning? 🤣

dutchy101

DavecUK

Haha - it was probably a week. I dropped the screen and gave it all a goof clean this morning and seems to have sorted the issue - thanks. I’m using a puck screen and thought this helps to keep the group a lot cleaner, but will keep on top of it every few days.

Thanks

dutchy101

MediumRoastSteam

Thanks - I’ve got a brush which I’ve used.

Gtbarringer

Update: Converted the Minima to the Lelit quiet pump, and the difference is night and day. For $120 and 1 hour of work, I think the investment is well worth it. Decibel measurements (iPhone sensor) read 74 dB sustained (spike of 80dB) on old pump to 62dB ish sustained on Lelit. The only observation is the lelit pump’s flow rate appears to be slightly lower, but that is unsubstantiated.

PortafilterProcrastinator

Gtbarringer Very interesting indeed. Did you take any photos of the process??

DavecUK

Gtbarringer It is a little lower, but it should still work absolutely fine. I still need to do the mod on my Minima. I have a Pump all ready for it. Do you have any videos showing the noise of the new compared to the old, or even the new?

Cuprajake

oooohhhh thats a mod i considered

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