So after a lot of shots pulled at standard 9 bar on the new for me Minima I feel it’s time to start playing with the Lelit flow profiling kit it has. But were do I start? Do I change grind? Do I keep working on one profile to dial that in or try several to what works best? All tips, pointers and links welcome. Thanks. Simon Keeping this separate from the Minima thread as thought this was wider than that machine?

simonc the thing to do now is to create a profile, the adjust the grind slightly to make it work.

simonc You just jumped into a rabbit hole of possibilities. General rule of thumb is that once you release the pressure to the max you should get 1 to 1.5 gram per second (g/s) into the cup. Adjust your grind to that each time and you should be fine. One of the best profiles to test is the lever profile: 2-3 bar initially for 10 to 30 seconds to wet the puck (Should have no drops into the cup if you grind fine enough). Once you register 1-2g of espresso into the cup you release the full 9 bar. Take note of the preinfusion time. Last 30% you drop it down to 4-6 bar. Thats my usual profile. Also, Go crazy. Try crazy profiles. There was one Ethiopian coffee that tasted like lemon juice and tried one of those 2 mins extraction profiles (low Pressure through out) and it went full smokey. Just go crazy and find your inner glee in discovering.

Otaibimn General rule of thumb is that once you release the pressure to the max you should get 1 to 1.5 gram per second (g/s) into the cup. Not heard this before. I’d think it is yield dependent. What is it based on? @simonc Experiment. You can try a lot of different things. I personally didn’t like shots with prolonged pre-infusion, at last not at very low pressure (below 2.5 bar)….admittedly I didn’t try to keep the pressure lower. Rao’s “blooming espresso” is well worth a try, had some very good results with that and similar profiles. The most common use for me is slowing the ramp up a bit and then tailing off the flow as the shot speeds up to keep it running at an even rate.

I used the 1g per second from when i had my londinium l1. With the bianca, i would set the paddle at 7pm, wait till first drips then fully open, 5 seconds or so then slowly come back down till i got to 4bar ish. Other times id set it at 6 and pull a full shot around 6 bar haha, theres really no right way, just play

Cheers all. Yes I can see this being a long journey. Currently pondering it over a flat white. Below is the shot profile I just made as standard. With the Minima it’s already a slowish preinfusuon. 10 seconds at 2bar ish then slowly ramps to 9 bar over next 5 seconds. Otaibimn it hits 3.5 g/s at full flow for a 38g shot. Did you mean I should constrict that to lower or you don’t expect my machine to do more than that? Chart started when I pressed the switch, and turned off at 30seconds, with 38g in the cup, it dripped out a few more seconds.

This was me running with empty portafilter into a jug to monitor flow rate. I went from 3, fully open through to 5,6,7 and at 50 seconds I moved to 4 which did drop flow a bit but then it moved back up. Then I ran again, starting at 4, which was still 5g/s flow until I moved to 3 at 35 seconds which pretty much closed off the flow, but not entirely. Is there an issue with the flow device? Should I clean, adjust so it gives a better control. This doesn’t appear right.

so fully open, how much liquid weight do you get in 30s is it 160g?

DavecUK Top chart was effectively fully open (ie flow rate didnt dip much under 5 g/s so was 297g in 65 seconds from switch on, but obviously pre infusion ramp up was in there too. Is there a case for adjusting the grub screw and turning the paddle so it stops all flow at 9, although still not sure why there isn’t a more gradual reduction of flow. it seems to be 1 g/s at 9, and then 5 g/s at 7-8 and rest of the way round. edit just realised I can flip the axis on the chart. It was 130g in first 30 seconds running at fully open from switched on.

simonc edit just realised I can flip the axis on the chart. It was 130g in first 30 seconds running at fully open from switched on. OK well to produce a 35g espresso shot from 18g of coffee uses approximately 80ml, so you should have plenty in hand. All this talk of 1 to 9 is confusing me…where is this coming from are there marks on the paddle system? The paddle is a non linear device, it’s not a needle jet (which could still be non linear). It is a straight pin….if closed isn’t really closed, the pin may not withdraw sufficiently to maximise the flow when fully open.

DavecUK Sorry.. I meant 3 o’clock is fully open, and 9 o’clock is fully closed. Yes, agree I can make a reasonable shot of espresso in 30 seconds, that is not a problem. Its more being able to restrict the flow in a controlled way, and doing more than just doing 2 bar (at full left, it 9 o’clock) or 9 bar at any other setting. For instance I dont appear to be able to hold it at 5 bar.

Flow profiling

Cuprajake

yeah, you dont need the spring as you have a solenoid group,

quick vid of just using it to flush would be good, iirc i had mine set just off fully closed tight, the lelit paddle has a shorter through than the coffee sensor one but its still fine,

Cuprajake

Flow rates so far.

¼ = 0.7ml per second

½ = 2.6ml per second

¾ = 3.9ml per second

1 = 4.5ml per second

2mins in

dutchy101

Cheers Jake - the flow does not seem to stop when I close the valve up but it seems to be speding up and slowing down correctly. Could just be I need some practice with it

Cuprajake

how much adjustment is there to closed, i set mine without the cap/handle on fixed

dutchy101

I rotated about 180 degrees from 3 o clock anti-clockwise to 9 o clock in the video.

I might try the other handle, but it doesn’t sit flush to the group like your one did. Not sure if that is a problem or not:

dutchy101

Not sure my OCD can handle it not sitting flush so I’ve put the other handle back on haha. I’ve had a little play and twisted it so it closes at 3 o clock again. Will see how I get on tomorrow.

Alexvs

I read your post about closing at 3 o’clock and was thinking something was wrong, then watched the video and realised you’ve set it up so you turn the handle over the machine which is what threw me. I’ve got the Lelit flow control on mine and it’s set up to be fully open at just before 3 o’clock and closed at just after 9 o’clock as the paddle sits just off touching the machine at either end. It’s completely personal but I prefer the profiling from 9 - 3 and it’s barely a drip when closed, however not actually measured the rates since I rarely use the flow control, it came with mine, and have it fully open all the time.

dutchy101

Just had a go on it this morning and it is working much better than yesterday - the flow control works and is extremely responsive since I replaced the handle last night so I think I’m all good.

The good thing about the handle that I have is that it pivots 180 degrees on the vertical access so I can have it in a starting position of either 3 o clock or 9 o clock. I’ll try from 9 o clock for a few goes to see when way I prefer it, but it seems to be working as expected now.

Doram

dutchy101 I can have it in a starting position of either 3 o clock or 9 o clock. I’ll try from 9 o clock for a few goes to see when way I prefer it, but it seems to be working as expected now.

FWIW - I have mine fully open at 12, with the handle pointing backwards. When I want to almost close the valve (e.g. for pre-infusion), i go to between 6 and 9 position, possibly beyond 9. Then I go back to open fully for the main part of the shot (12 again), and to tail off I start closing the valve (towards and maybe past 3).

It makes no difference to where you set your handle, as long as you get used to it and know instinctively where you are. It won’t take long before it’s all automatic for you.

Cuprajake

can get warm though ahahaha

dutchy101

Glad to have it finally installed and have a fully pimped up Minima. Just had a lovely coffee messing with it. I have no idea what I did but will start to pay a bit more attention now it’s working properly

tompoland

dutchy101 have no idea what I did

That is funny.

Also the story of my life.

“Dang, how did I do that?”

DavecUK

dutchy101 Best way is to place a phone on a tripod and video the shot, so you can see how you manipulated the paddle etc… do that every time and when you get that great shot…you will have a record.

If I’m honest an electrical force transducer with some cleverness could not only record shots, but also help you reproduce them. I have a method I discussed with the guy who makes a device already on the market with WOC. As I never heard more I suspect I’ve been ignored which is fine. I will talk to first ACS and/or Lelit.

Hint, I used to fly gliders and my idea is around the way a vario works…enabling you to keep to the profile.

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