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

nrzo

DavecUK
The machine arrived: a wonderful thing to behold at it is!
I am however waiting for ACS to give me instructions as to how to connect the water supply: external tank versus directly plumbed, etc.
The former water tank compartment is sealed above so I cannot take a look at the pump itself unless unscrewing a plate.
The machine came provided with a long plumbing hose with screw-on type connectors. There is a connector for the intake on the machine just underneath the section where the pump is. There is also another smaller connector for the outtake underneath the dispenser tray.

nrzo

DavecUK
Ok – so I learned in the end that the machine is already configured both for the external tank and for a direct water supply. The fitting is just direct with the hose with connectors.
Am travelling in the next days so will not be able to assemble everything (also: I need to source parts first) but I will get back with a report and a video once I have everything up and running.

MediumRoastSteam

DavecUK and is a reasonable amount cheaper than the Bianca

nrzo with a report and a video once I have everything up and running.

How much is a Minima these days? What about the version with the rotary pump?

Would be interesting to know as ACS doesn’t advertise prices.

Tal

The minima is a lovely looking bit of kit.

DavecUK

Tal The minima is a lovely looking bit of kit.

It is, the unit is properly mature now and with boiler drain taps the nicer PID display, they really have cracked it. I also see another factory option, the flow control valve 🙂

Can’t wait to see, and hear it in action

Tal

I’m currently exploring what machine to move onto for my 40th at the end of the year, I’m using an older Fracino HX machine at the moment and I am enjoying using it, but the next stage is temperature control and perhaps pressure/flow control of some description.

I did enquire about the Vesuvius in classifieds, but he’s been busy I guess.

So the ACS Minima could be a new option, and if they are releasing an official upgrade to flow control, that makes it even more versatile. I did read how the Bianca kit can be used.

Where is best to look at purchasing one of these new? Can Bella Barista supply as I note they are no longer listed there? When will the upgrade be available? I guess the Bianca is also in contention for a little more money.

Cheers Dave

DavecUK

Tal Where is best to look at purchasing one of these new? Can Bella Barista supply as I note they are no longer listed there? When will the upgrade be available? I guess the Bianca is also in contention for a little more money.

BB don’t supply the Minima, that is a sold direct by ACS. it has very large boilers and is a reasonable amount cheaper than the Bianca. The Bianca is a good machine I had 3 of them, I’ve now got only 2…there is a lot of choice out there…it all depends on budget.

nrzo

Tal
The best is to get in touch with ACS directly and discuss your needs and ideas. Flow control and a rotary pump are not official “upgrades” to the Minima, but additional options offered by ACS as factory certified modifications to the basic model. Both are offered at a very reasonable additional cost .

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam and flow control if it comes to that 😎

nrzo

MediumRoastSteam
About 1700 EUR for the basic model in polished steel. Around a 100 EUR more for the powder coated version. Rotary pump is 150 EUR extra. And flow control for another 100 EUR extra.

Raziel

So I’ve got mine relatively set and forget. I used a specialita with my favourite regular bean.

Didn’t even notice until today that the pressure is going up to 11 bar and down to 10. Still getting a regular 18 in, 36 out.

I dropped to a 15gram shot which obviously poured out too freely, still up to 11 and down to 10.

Thoughts?

MediumRoastSteam

Raziel I don’t see it. Put a video on YouTube or other service and then link it here.

MediumRoastSteam

Raziel sorry I wasn’t clear. All I see in the gif is the needle moving to 11.5 and back to zero. I can’t see what you are describing , i.e.:

Raziel still up to 11 and down to 10

Raziel

MediumRoastSteam the direct url to the gif should work: The gif

But I’ll go start an upload

Cuprajake

Very nice in black

Raziel

MediumRoastSteam

Ah yes, sorry it cut off and I didn’t even realise!

Evgenibgr

The top cover must be removed and the opv valve must be adjusted to 9 bar. It’s easy.

DavecUK

Evgenibgr The top cover must be removed and the opv valve must be adjusted to 9 bar. It’s easy.

No, don’t do this, it’s a rotary pump with balanced bypass, this bypass must be adjusted…do not touch the expansion valve.

Cuprajake Have they improved on the drip tray now, mine was springy and loose at the back.

This was sorted out 2 or 3 years ago, as a result of me passing your comment to the factory, the drip tray thickness has doubled.

MediumRoastSteam

nrzo this is helpful, thank you.

So, comparing the Minima with rotary pump and flow control to the Bianca… the Bianca has more features, but it doesn’t have a solenoid group. I know the minima doesn’t have no burn wands, and no express warm up. The minima can operate with both boilers on in the EU.

Minima: EUR 1950 + 20% vat, which lands the Bianca in the UK for EUR 2350 or GBP £1970.

Bianca can be had for £2000 from Bella Barista, which includes their warranty etc, etc.

So though choice! Personally, for me, the Minima grown up (it’s no longer the minimum 😊) is a very appealing choice, especially with the solenoid group and bigger boilers if thats your thing. Very impressive!

nrzo

MediumRoastSteam
These were prices with a median EU VAT that I quoted. So it is a bit cheaper in the end.

MediumRoastSteam

nrzo These were prices with a median EU VAT that I quoted

nrzo - oh! I didn’t know that. This is a great deal indeed! £1700. This is really good. When you have time, could you please post a video of you pulling a shot? I’d love to hear how the rotary pump sounds!

Cuprajake

Have they improved on the drip tray now, mine was springy and loose at the back.

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