PortafilterProcrastinator The thing that needs serious works is my milk steaming. It is atrocious. I am re-watching Lance Hedrick’s videos.

Question: where do people position their steam want to steam milk? I haven’t found my preferred position yet.

I posted this before but here you go:

That’s with a 3 hole steam tip. Which tip are you using?

Personally I wouldn’t try any funny angles with the steam wand, it just makes it more difficult to be consistent. Just push the steam wand as far back as it goes in a straight line, and rest the wand in the spout of the pitcher as above.

It will take time to become consistent with milk steaming. In fact I was discussing this with @DavecUK and he suggested a longer purge and to begin steaming whilst the heating element is still on (coming up to set temp after purge). This seems to help with consistency so far although I have to steam some more. Otherwise I noticed the flow can be inconsistent and aggressive at times.

    Intersting to see and I’m going to try this too - I can definitely see this would be an easier position to maintain but manually steaming milk is is quite new to me and i was trying to recreate an angle in the jug from my previous macine.

    I found that the rubber finger holder was getting in the way in other positions but maybe it is better to work around this.

    I’ve got a 2 hole tip on mine

      PortafilterProcrastinator There are a couple of areas that need another go over, but I am conscious I don’t want to scratch or dull the SS.

      I think someone suggested using WD40 to clean the drip tray. @Cuprajake did you end up using it? Maybe I’m wrong.

        dutchy101 i was trying to recreate an angle in the jug from my previous macine.

        Yeah that’s fair enough.

        dutchy101 I found that the rubber finger holder was getting in the way in other positions but maybe it is better to work around this.

        What size milk jug are you using? As I’m only using a 350ml pitcher I don’t have that problem. If you go larger I can understand it being an issue.

        dutchy101 I’ve got a 2 hole tip on mine

        I find the 2 hole needs a slightly different position in the jug - further back in the jug and angling pitcher backwards. I try to move the jug to adjust the angle as opposed to moving the steam wand itself, if that makes sense.

              Yes I’m using a 500ml jug which probably makes a difference. Part of the rationale for my positioning was to get my hand away from the very hot group. Having my grinder on the right of the machine (looking at it) I also want to keep the steam away from that as much as possible.

                Yes that looks correct. Maybe I just need to move mine up a bit

                HVL87 It does…unless they have glued them on….Just kidding, silicone doesn’t glue well to steel.

                Contact me

                  Voila. I honestly thought it was fixed lol

                  dutchy101 This was my thinking, but I’ve ended up progressively further over to the left and then it’s awkward with the steam knob.

                  I’ll try over to the right, but you’re right - I’ll be watching the neck of my hand!

                    This thread is really making me doubt (again and again) my next machine choice! I went from Lelit MaraX to Bianca, back to MaraX but now I’m wondering if I should not get this Minima! In black with wooden knobs it would be amazing. I just sent them an email but not sure if they deliver in Canada. Anyone here they got one delivered in Canada?

                    Also I was under the impression that a flow control with a vibration pump was not really the best combination. Is it a good match for the Minima? That was one of the feature I liked about the Bianca.

                    Thanks all!

                    Matt

                      Snooze

                      A very different beast to the MaraX, being a dual boiler.

                      Minima will be more temp stable and have more steam power. You can more easily and more quickly do back to back drinks pulling shots and steaming. Will be noiser, due to the MaraX having the QuietX pump.

                      The Bianca has a rotary pump and more technology inside. Minima is a more ‘traditional’ machine, so really depends how much playing/ experimenting you want to do.

                      @Cuprajake Has had both, now has the Bianca, so might be able to provide more info.

                        I will repeat myself but if I have not had Vesuvius already it would have been a Minima with the flow control. It is a no brainer.

                        Current setup: ACS Vesuvius, Nuova Simonelli Mythos One. Past experience, Nuova Simonelli Apia 1 gr., San Remo Capri 1 gr., Bezzera BZ 35e, Fracino Heavenly. Anfim Super Lusso.

                        Contact me at: john_yossarian11@yahoo.com

                          The noise of the Minima is a complete non-issue for me. I don’t make drinks before 8 am when the house is all up and awake, not that I think it would be loud enough to wake anyone anyway. It’s only ever a few seconds when you first turn it on and whilst you’re making a drink. There’s something reassuring about the noise for me.

                          Might not be the case for everyone though

                            dutchy101 I agree with this.

                            Mine turns on at 0530 and we’ve not been woken by it - albeit we’re normally awake then anyway. If the boilers do need to fill it’s very short.