The General ACS Minima Thread

Amberale

WhaThF

Patrick

simonc except, I make a shot the afternoon, and all good. Turn the machine off for the day.
Smart plug turns machine on at 6:30 am. I stumble downstairs in need of caffeine at 7 (doing some later mornings at the moment) to be greeted by H2O warning as the machine filled the steam boiler and now I have to top up with water when uncaffeinated.

My only solution to that problem would be, top it up after you switch it off for the day…

Amberale My mind is blown, I have never thought of this but it makes sense.
Just on the outside or on one side of the tape before wrapping?

Just on the outside of the tape.

PortafilterProcrastinator

Does anyone have the Cafelat group gasket?

Mine arrived today - after measuring the one provided with the machine (with calipers) I decided on the blue (8.5mm).

A couple of observations:

It is ever so slightly wider that the one provided, so it is a very tight fit into the group
I think it is likely you only need the 8mm version. I will see how this beds in.

Also, the cafelat ‘corner’ tamping mat fits perfectly between the Minima’s feet, which is nice.

Patrick

PortafilterProcrastinator Photos, or it didn’t happen!

PortafilterProcrastinator

I’m no photographer…

Group gaskets aren’t very interesting!

The portafilter doesn’t lock in at 6 O’Clock, more like 7 - but I’m not bothered. It is ‘smoother’ than the original, but we will see. I tend to drop the screen every couple of days for a rinse as it is so easy, but given how tight it is that might get annoying.

HVL87

PortafilterProcrastinator red 8mm cafelat gasket fits perfectly.

Verion

Does anyone know what size the casing screws are?

The hex parts look a little soft and will probably round so some stainless steel a2 or a4 bolts might be a better option from Accu or similar.

Patrick

Verion The hex parts look a little soft and will probably round so some stainless steel a2 or a4 bolts might be a better option from Accu or similar.

The casing screws are stainless??

Verion

Patrick I don’t think so. It looks like a soft metal for sure.

But I’m at a point when I take the top part of casing apart for a decent clean on both sides that the bolts look like they’ll round more every time I screw them back in.

I might contact ACS.

Patrick

Verion I don’t think so. It looks like a soft metal for sure.

Is it a very early one? try picking them up with a magnet?

Verion

Patrick It’s from October/November 2022. I’ll need to have a hunt around for a magnet and test it out.

Patrick

Verion DavecUK It’s from October/November 2022. I’ll need to have a hunt around for a magnet and test it out.

I am pretty sure they have always been stainless…so Nov 2022, yeah definitely will be stainless. in fact there would be absolutely no incentive to not use stainless screws, more problems and minimal cost saving?

Verion

Patrick I can’t find a magnet atm but I’d have assumed stainless steel.

I’m trying to move to a different head fitting because I’m terrified of rounding the hex head fitting. I’ve had bad experiences on my bikes with hex head bolts and found torx fittings more preferable.

Admittedly, this is an unusual upgrade. 😃

simonc

Verion the hex heads in mine are definitely rounding, although mine is an early model. If you Find good replacement, esp torx then I’d be interested to know where you get them from.

Verion

simonc So I measured with a digital calliper one of the bolts and it’s 11.92mm end to end. The thread to thread is about 3.69mm.

It’s a strange size for sure being between an M3 or M4 bolt.

Definitely going to find out from ACS and report back. Fingers crossed it isn’t a custom sized bolt.

Patrick

Verion Definitely going to find out from ACS and report back. Fingers crossed it isn’t a custom sized bolt.

It can’t be, it’s probably an M3.5 or m4

simonc

Morning.. I have just descaled my service boiler having realised the TDS reading was 240!! so long overdue.

I emptied the boiler via the hot water tank whilst the machine was off (having heated to 120c).
I put 100mg of citric acid into the tank and let it refill and heat up. Then turned off and left overnight.
I turned it on again and reheated this morning, and have run 4 lots of water from Zero jug through the boiler now. Whilst the citric acid taste has gone, it’s still reading 180 TDS (vs 4 from the Zero jug).

I presume this means that there is still a lot of scale left? What’s the best way to deal with this? Stronger solution, more time, more heat or all 3?

Thanks
Simon

dutchy101

Interested to hear the thoughts and advice here as I will need to do this myself at some point. Did you let the water cool down before doing the TDS? hotter water reads higher for some reason

MediumRoastSteam

simonc I put 100mg of citric acid into the tank and let it refill and heat up

100mg? that won’t do much (read: you might as well have not bothered). Unless you meant 100g - which will be way too much. EDIT: (Sorry, maybe 100g is about right - providing your tank is over 2L :-)). The recommended ratio is 50g/L. I’ve used that ratio in my kettle before. And watched it. It’s pretty aggressive. Kettle is clean within 20 minutes.

simonc I presume this means that there is still a lot of scale left?

What water were you using before?

simonc

Yes sorry 100g in 2L.
Ashford a long time ago, last 6 months with zero water with either just bicarb or bicarb and Epsom salts.

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