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

dutchy101

@PortafilterProcrastinator

What about this one? More of a traditional handle shape:

https://www.hrhiggins.co.uk/products/eazytamp-five-star-pro-tamper

Meant to be pretty good

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 Thanks, that’s really helpful. I’ll do some googling to find out more about it.

Sold out, story of my life!

Alexvs

Heard back from Black Cat and he isn’t sure when new stock will be coming in. I’m going away in 2 weeks so will wait until I get back and see if there’s been any movement or if anything else takes my fancy, otherwise may just bite the bullet with Paolo.

I wish I wasn’t so impatient though, been truly sucked into all this haha. When I get something in my head, normally tech related, I won’t stop looking into it until I buy what I want. Thankfully the wife understands this and is accepting haha.

Thanks for setting this thread up @dutchy101, gives me plenty of insight for if/when I get mine.

dutchy101

Might be worth taking a few weeks to think it all over to be sure you get what you want. Glad I pulled the trigger when I did now, especially getting the last one in black!

dutchy101

Ah balls. Typical

Alexvs

Well…a lot can happen in a couple of days. A deal too good to pass on fell into my lap and I’ll be an owner by Sunday afternoon! I literally purchased a palm distributor/tamp for the sage 2 weeks ago and threw out the box, could’ve sent it back and swapped for a 58mm haha. This hobby is dangerous…for my wallet lol.

Going to be weird having to keep the BE running to use the grinder till the Niche arrives in March, then I’ll sell that and get some funds back at least.

Bring it on!

dutchy101

Well in mate!

Alexvs

dutchy101 Thanks dutchy, hopefully I’ve not been too presumptuous as we’ve agreed a price and everything but got so excited I’ve not waited for him to reply with final confirmation haha, seems decent enough so sure it’ll be mine.

Think one of the first things I want for it is wooden accessories to match the Lelit profiling kit and will then stain the Niche base (when I get it) to match I think. Is there someone on here that makes wooden accessories? Portafilter handles and machine knobs? I think I saw a couple on the other forum, didn’t know if they made it over here too.

dutchy101

Hmm not sure quite possibly someone’s made it over but don’t know who they are. Black Cat Coffee might have the wooden handles in stock so might be worth giving David a call to see if he’s does.

You’ve got one with the pressure profiling kit already installed? Nice. Think that’s a bridge too far for me for the time being but nice to have the option for the future.

Good luck with getting it over the line. Let us know how you’re getting on with it when it arrives.

Alexvs

Will check with him when I get it, thanks.

Yeah already has the kit, which made the deal that much sweeter as was considering saving a bit longer and just getting the Bianca! Definitely one for the future but will be fun to play with.

Will let you know how I get on 👍🏼

PortafilterProcrastinator

@dutchy101 I noticed in a photo on another thread, do you have a temp strip on your milk jug?

How do you find it? I’m currently debating either a strip or a thermometer that sticks out the top.

dutchy101

PortafilterProcrastinator

I do indeed - it is this jug:

I bought it for a couple of reasons - moving from the Sage Bambino, which has a pretty good auto milk frother, to the Minima, with no such function and a beast of a steam boiler, I wanted to have a bit of help with determining the temperature of the milk. The jug has a thermometer on each side and is quite a nice little jug. It’s also black so goes well with the machine.

Little did I know that David at Black Cat had very kindly thrown in a Motta jug for me when I bought the Minima - I had intended to buy one at the same time as the machine, but it was out of stock and then saw the one on Amazon. I think once I get a bit more confident with it I’ll start using the Motta and keep the other as a spare.

HVL87

When I first started steaming milk I used a clip on thermometer. It’s useful as you can see the temp from the top instead of having to look at the side of the jug (temp strip) which can be quite awkward depending on how you steam.

I ended up using the thermometer for too long and didn’t realise how easy it is to feel for temperature quite accurately.

Alexvs

I use the Sage thermo jug which fits my current steaming technique out to the side, will be interesting if it’s still usable with the Minima. I do have a non-thermostat jug that I used with a digital thermostat but was a bit slow responding.

I’ve got a question in preparation for picking mine up tomorrow. The wife and I currently share a double shot (20g in) using the BE for cappuccino, however we’re starting to find it’s quite weak. Would it be better to make 2 singles or is it worth getting a larger IMS basket (22g?). Would I need a bottomless PF for the larger basket? I know I’ll likely get better quality shots out of the Minima but looking to optimise the best I can.

I’m also slowly weaning myself off sweetening my drink so I can get the full flavour experience 🤣

Bring on tomorrow! Oh while I’m here, what’s the first thing I should do when I set the machine up at home? It’s not been used for some months and they only ran some RO water through it to test it after having an electric fault fixed at BB, plus the boilers were both replaced (they’re not sure why).

Thanks

Alex

dutchy101

The stock baskets are pretty big and will easily hold 22g I’d say.

Maybe try single 18g shots each?

The milk jug will work but the angle of the steam wand will probably take a little getting used to - the black finger guard thingy ends up in the spout of the jug (at least it does on mine)

Alexvs

dutchy101 Ok cool will give it a go with stock and then test a single. We did do 18g in the current double basket each and was too much as I then had another later in the day and worked out I can’t handle that much caffeine haha.

Thanks

HVL87

Alexvs how much milk do you use for your cappuccino? You could split a double shot and use less milk in each to increase strength, unless you just prefer a longer drink. I used to have 300ml lattes but ended up buying 200ml cappuccino cups from loveramics.

dutchy101 to be honest 22g sounds like a lot for the stock basket. You do need some headspace otherwise you’ll get channeling. The Sage machines work differently for whatever reason. Worth a try anyway.

I’m experimenting with different steam tips and positions at the moment. Using a 350ml Motta jug filled with 200ml of milk, you won’t end up touching the rubber guard (picture with 3 hole steam tip). I’m sure if you ask me in a weeks time I will have changed technique again 😄

Alexvs

HVL87 Not sure on the jug size but I go just below the spout for the first drink of the day which gives me a full standard tea mug. Second drink is a small cappuccino glass which takes about half the volume which is a much nicer drink but still not that strong. We have different milk so can’t even split one jug and she says she needs her 1 long drink in the morning. I’m looking into some new cups as I don’t mind a smaller one in the morning too.

Just been told by the owner he’ll throw in the bottomless PF and Motta tamper and funnel he bought with the Minima, so chuffed. Means I can get a larger basket if needed. What size is a triple basket?

I think it’s going to take some tweaking to my form as so used to just sticking it out the side and finding the right angle. Will test with some water first. Maybe we should start up a steam technique thread soon, then when we’re all great we can share the results in the latte art thread haha.

dutchy101

HVL87 to be honest 22g sounds like a lot for the stock basket.

It could be I actually meant the basket that came with the bottomless portafilter when I said stock. 18g seemed pretty low in it.

HVL87

Alexvs We have different milk so can’t even split one jug and she says she needs her 1 long drink in the morning.

Not really an issue as you can steam milk much faster on the Minima vs. Sage BE. With a 3 hole tip on the Minima and 200ml milk you are done in around 20 seconds. On the BE it’s more like a minute 😄

Alexvs What size is a triple basket?

I think a traditional triple basket is 21g. The 18-22g IMS basket @dutchy101 bought may suit you. Maybe see how you get on with stock first?

Alexvs I think it’s going to take some tweaking to my form as so used to just sticking it out the side and finding the right angle.

That may still work for you, worth experimenting with. I try to limit how much I move the steam wand around otherwise it’s hard to be consistent each time you steam.

Alexvs

HVL87 Thanks for all the advice, super helpful. Will do testing as is before I go buying anything else as want to be confident as standard before tweaking.

HVL87

Alexvs definitely the best approach. I’m sure you’ll enjoy using it.

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