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

Raziel

Picking up some accessories ahead of the machine being finished. Normcore tamper, a funnel with cutout for the mignon.

But I am tempted by a VST basket just on the background as described by Hoffman. No idea if it would make a discernable different :D

Cuprajake

I find them hard to prep, because of this I’ve always stuck with ims baskets

There are some vst on eBay atm coffee hit

Cuprajake

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255887975305?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BIeFx4q2R-y&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=8nPtpNt4SJC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

simonc

I use VST 15g and 20g baskets in a naked portafilter and generally all good consistent results with some wdt. Occasionally bad shot squirts out the side but as no experience of other baskets no idea if others would be better. Only made espressos for 9 months since getting the minima.

Raziel

So hurray, it’s here!

Sooner than expected from DHL.

The machine is gorgeous.

I need to set it all up, but two observations:

You really can’t get much of an angle on the steam wand for swirling milk. Will test this in practise later.
The wood finish is cheap and nasty. Don’t bother paying for this, go aftermarket.

DavecUK

Raziel Just remember to read this article.

https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/blog/1387-compression-type-steam-and-water-valves-important

dutchy101

The machine is a beauty alright. I agree on the wood finish.

The steam wand takes a little getting used to but you’ll get there with it with some practice. There was a section about steaming milk and positioning the wand in this thread as I recall asking about this when I first got my machine. I think the best position is to push the wand back as far as you can with it straight on as someone suggested in the thread.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 Brilliant.

Looks like ACS have improved the labelling too - cut outs rather than stickers on the main body. Sharp.

Raziel

This is about as good as my art gets, so for literally the first use of the steam wand very happy with the nice smooth foam!

Raziel

Alright, it makes outstanding consistent coffee.

Being tied to a smart switch works brilliantly.

The ways it’s laid out is definitely weird. Holding a milk jug with right hand and having to reach over the loop of the milk wand to turn it off is definitely going to burn me one day.

It feels like it wants to go in a corner, but then the portafilter has to stick out to the left to lock in.

The powder coating is a thing of beauty. I think they’ve hit the nail on the head being able to do custom colour shades to order.

MediumRoastSteam

Raziel The ways it’s laid out is definitely weird. Holding a milk jug with right hand and having to reach over the loop of the milk wand to turn it off is definitely going to burn me one day

Learn to hold the jug with your left hand. I’m a lefty so it’s easy for me to say, but with the Elizabeth, it would be rather strange to hold the jug with my right hand and turn the knob with my left hand. However, I’m sure there are plenty of right handed people here who use the Elizabeth with no problems.

As Jake says, a matter of getting used to it and find what works out for you.

Cuprajake

you will get used to the steaming,

ive gone from machines where its on different sides and it feels really strange at first but you get used to it

dutchy101

MediumRoastSteam Learn to hold the jug with your left hand.

This

PortafilterProcrastinator

MediumRoastSteam Learn to hold the jug with your left hand

It doesn’t take long. Given how quickly one can open and close the valve I find my right hand is on the bottom of the jug most of the time in any event, so keeps it steady.

simonc

MediumRoastSteam agree to this. I used to reach over the jug with my left hand until I decided to switch. Hard for a week but now so much better. It can steam beautifully quick.

This is this mornings cup, a dodgy attempt at a wrapped stacked heart.

I’ve upgraded to a 4 hole tip and at 125 it took some getting used to but now for me gives the best milk in little time.

Raziel

I hadn’t realised how ingrained the small motions were with my right hand until I tried the left :D

It’s one of those skills you don’t realise is very much nailed down through practise and feels alien the other way around.

dutchy101

PortafilterProcrastinator It doesn’t take long. Given how quickly one can open and close the valve I find my right hand is on the bottom of the jug most of the time in any event, so keeps it steady.

Yes, exactly my experience too

PortafilterProcrastinator

simonc Good work, especially with a 4 hole tip! I can’t do latte art for sh*t.

DavecUK

PortafilterProcrastinator With the 4 hole tip, it needs to be vertical in the middle of the milk jug!

Raziel

I am not yet ready for the raw rocket power of the three hole tip for a small (160ml) flat white.

simonc

Raziel I actually moved from a 2 hole at 110c that I was struggling with to 4 hole at 125c and is so much easier. I also use a small jug and prob do 200ml for a flat white.

With the power there is no opportunity for not stretching enough as it’s done in under 5 seconds (a problem I think I did when it needed to take longer with the 2 hole) and also as it’s so quick I weirdly less often over stretch too.

simonc

DavecUK I actually do @lancehedrick technique of middle and to the side then play a little after stretched to get a good swirl on.

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