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

CoyoteOldMan

simonc You are getting away lightly; I’m awaiting delivery of an Evo Leva…

DavecUK

CoyoteOldMan You are getting away lightly; I’m awaiting delivery of an Evo Leva…

Time must be running real slow… 🤣

CoyoteOldMan

DavecUK Tell me about it… last week it was long weekends in both Italy and the UK, which didn’t help matters! It should be shipped this week.

simonc

Is there an issue beyond power consumption in leaving the service boiler on all day (not that I forget to turn it off!). Does it make scaling worse if the water is scale forming?

DavecUK

simonc Well everything gets hotter, components on the service boiler get more heat fatigue. I think it’s just not necessary to leave it on all day

simonc

DavecUK it’s not through choice !

CoyoteOldMan

simonc Smartplug?

Amazon has an offer on TP-Link Tapo P110 for £9.99. Can program various on/off times, and even a “random” setting to simulate occupancy by switching lights on in the evening when you are away. Not that one would use that on a coffee machine…

PortafilterProcrastinator

CoyoteOldMan simonc

I use that exact plug. Has worked without issue since I got it.

Turns on automatically in the morning and then I switch the machine on and off remotely as needed. Given the service boiler only takes 10/12 minutes to warm up, I either set it to on or just turn it on as soon as I get in.

simonc

CoyoteOldMan I have one. The issue is the service boiler switch. I turn on to steam, then steam, purge and pour then get all excited about drinking I forget to flick the switch every time.

dutchy101

So today the temperature on the service boiler seems to have started fluctuating on the led screen. It’s set to 130 and when I looked at the screen earlier (after letting the machine get up to temperature), I noticed it was up at 135. I checked whether the setting had been changed, but it was still set to 130. I assumed it had overshot a little while getting up to temperature and thought nothing more of it, but I don’t recall seeing this happen before.

then, during steaming I’ve noticed that the temperature has started to drop during steaming. This happened twice in a row today and I’m fairly sure this has never happened before during steaming. It also felt that the steam power was dropping a little with the temperature. I am due to drain the service boiler next week, which will be 6 weeks from the previous time I drained it and the water I am using is remineralised Zero water - any ideas as to why this is happening please?

DavecUK

dutchy101 I am due to drain the service boiler next week, which will be 6 weeks from the previous time I drained it and the water I am using is remineralised Zero water - any ideas as to why this is happening please?

At this time it’s tricky to say….it “might” be a temp sensor on the way out…or it might just be coincidence?

dutchy101

Thanks DavecUK I’ve switched off for today and will keep an eye on it tomorrow.

I’ve owned the machine from new and it’s only 4.5 months old. I only switch on the service boiler 2 or max 3 times a day and for no longer than 30 mins each time so hopefully just a one off thing that’s happened today

DavecUK

dutchy101 I say might, because if the temp sensor under reads it will overheat, if it over reads it will under heat….when they go back readings tend to go all over the place, or it simply stops working A1 or A2 error.

Once instance that feels wrong could be nothing, if it keeps happening to the point you “know” something is wrong….then it’s probably the temp sensor. If it does turn out to be that, try and buy a few spares along with your warranty part e.g. spare temp sensor (then you never have to wait, and any other bits you think could be handy.

There is a well known effect that takes when you have spares for a component… somehow there is a protective effect and that component never fails. Bit like the dropping bread and it falling buttered side down.

dutchy101

Haha yes. I’m actually trying to do exactly that with a bbq coal tray that needs replacing. Othen than the coal tray, the bbq is in really good shape but the spares come from China. My dad has the same bbq so I’m getting 2 whilst I’m at it

DavecUK

dutchy101 yup, I just keep a few spare machines on hand….

dutchy101

dutchy101 Haha yes. I’m actually trying to do exactly that with a bbq coal tray that needs replacing. Othen than the coal tray, the

So an update on this, since I appreciate many will have been on tenterhooks….

The company in China asked me for £30 for the coal tray (mainly to cover postage and said they’d throw in some BBQ accessories for free) which I was gladly happy to pay as it meant I can keep a perfectly good BBQ for at least another 3 years.

They asked me for my address which I provided and in the same nessage asked if I could get 2 trays (one for my dad, who has the same BBQ). They never replied.

When I got back from holiday on Monday my neighbour knocked round with a package from China. They’d posted me the tray - haven’t asked for any money and I’m cooking on it now as I type this message.

Still, never sent me the free accessories- the tight bastards!

dutchy101

Haha I like your style, but in my case that would result in at best a divorce, at worst a castration

dutchy101

Just flicked the machine back on and the service boiler seems to be stabilising at 130 / 131 and not going any higher so hopefully switching ot off eaier has reset whatever the problem was before. I guess I’ll know more tomorrow morning when I next steam

CoyoteOldMan

simonc So the issue is that the machine turns off (smartplug/standby mode) but then it turns on with the service boiler on again?

Adding a timed latch circuit (to the service boiler only) is easy, but then it may switch off right when you don’t want it…

simonc

CoyoteOldMan no. Machine is on at mains for 6 hours during which I make 2-3 coffees. The service boiler should only be on for enough time to heat and steam milk. But sometimes I go back to the machine 3 hours later and find the service boiler still on.

Yes a timed latch on the service boiler would be great. Press a button and it’s only on for 20 mins say.

CoyoteOldMan

Et voila…

Timed latch

DavecUK

CoyoteOldMan You will have to wire that one in quite carefully!

It’s a real shame the Minima switch isn’t Off, brew boiler, then brew and steam……..rather than off being in the middle position.

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