Hi all, need some help.
After over a year of great and consistent service from my Minima, it’s started to become really inconsistent. For the first year or so, every shot of coffee would slowly ramp up to about 9.5 - 10 bar before ramping down slowly through the shot to around 8 bar. I have a Lelit flow control and have never had to actually use it as designed due to it doing this. I know this isn’t actually the norm for most, however it’s been the norm for me since I picked the machine up (1 year old from another enthusiast).
Now, every morning after my first shot (make 2 morning and afternoon), I find myself reducing the grind size on my Niche Zero as it barely reaches 8 bar. Since this started it used to be consistently at a grind of 17, I’m now at 14. When it does actually hit around 9 bar, the shot is straining and takes over 30s to come through and I have to use the flow control to release some of the pressure, which doesn’t do anything till about the 7 o’clock position.
I contacted Bella Barista as that was where it was originally purchased, and they advised trying a descale and cleaning the OPV. I’ve done a brew boiler descale (simplified method) and checked the OPV but no idea how you clean it? I’m thinking of just booking it in for a service with BB and asking them to look as it’s so disappointing using the machine at the moment with no consistency.
Any thoughts of DIY check/fixes before I book in?
Thanks
Alex
