Hi everyone I've got my ACS Minima for 5 Months as my first espresso machine now and for like 2 months I'm trying to figure out why the pressure never reach over 4 bars again. * If I use the blind filter the pressure is totally fine at 9 bar. But in all other cases, the pressure is on 2 - 4 bar (depending on how much beans and how fine it was ground. * I opened the machine yesterday and for my impression it looked fine - no cable or tubes are loose. * I tried different coffee beans, some did a slightly better work - but not over 4 bars. * Usualy I grind for like 7 to 10 seconds at "espresso grind level", the temperature is set to 94 celsius (default) Maybe I'm doing anything important wrong or anyone had the same problem? In the link below you can download the videos showing rampup and pressure once with blind filter and the other with coffe. https://file.io/R1KbOComVYcR Some pictures showing the internals below. >! [upl-image-preview url=https://i.imgur.com/CaNXcYe.jpeg] >! >! [upl-image-preview url=https://i.imgur.com/YzSf1T3.jpeg] >! >! [upl-image-preview url=https://i.imgur.com/3bSUdd3.jpeg] Any help is appreciated - thank you! Best regards

@"dutchy101"#p17979 Im using an "Eureka perfetto" as grinder. * The beans I'm using are all at different ages - some are quite fresh (2 or 3 weeks), others are imported from a store at costa rica (2 or 3 months). * I just measured 10 grams (on 11 seconds grind time), so I'm to low I guess. I'll find out how much grams it will fit in my "single-output-handle" ;o Tomorrow or something I'll use fresh beans again and try to go for more grams and maybe at even more finely level. Thank you!

ACS Minima Low Pressure

sinthoman

Hi everyone

I’ve got my ACS Minima for 5 Months as my first espresso machine now and for like 2 months I’m trying to figure out why the pressure never reach over 4 bars again.

If I use the blind filter the pressure is totally fine at 9 bar. But in all other cases, the pressure is on 2 - 4 bar (depending on how much beans and how fine it was ground.
I opened the machine yesterday and for my impression it looked fine - no cable or tubes are loose.
I tried different coffee beans, some did a slightly better work - but not over 4 bars.
Usualy I grind for like 7 to 10 seconds at “espresso grind level”, the temperature is set to 94 celsius (default)

Maybe I’m doing anything important wrong or anyone had the same problem?

In the link below you can download the videos showing rampup and pressure once with blind filter and the other with coffe.

https://file.io/R1KbOComVYcR

Some pictures showing the internals below.

Any help is appreciated - thank you!

Best regards

DavecUK

sinthoman I haven’t watched the video because its not on YouTube and I’m on my phone. The one bit of information which you haven’t given: What weight of coffee is in the portafilter, what weight of espresso in g is extracted over what duration of time. This allows us to discount or include a flow restriction/pump failure, as opposed to grinding too coarse.

dutchy101

If it is working fine with the blind filter I’m guessing it’s either an issue with the beans or grinder.

How old are the beans you are using?

What doseage do you use when making a coffee? Try weighing 18g as a double.

How are you storing them?

What grinder are you using?

europa

dutchy101

I doubt it has anything to do with the age of the beans or the storage.

I have used 18month-old beans before with no issues.

sinthoman

dutchy101 Im using an “Eureka perfetto” as grinder.

The beans I’m using are all at different ages - some are quite fresh (2 or 3 weeks), others are imported from a store at costa rica (2 or 3 months).
I just measured 10 grams (on 11 seconds grind time), so I’m to low I guess. I’ll find out how much grams it will fit in my “single-output-handle” ;o

Tomorrow or something I’ll use fresh beans again and try to go for more grams and maybe at even more finely level. Thank you!

europa

I cant view the video, but, if the pressure’s fine with the blind filter, i think it can only be caused by dosing/grinding levels. The coffee in the filter causes the pressure to build up. If you are not grinding finely enough, or dosing too little, the water will penetrate the coffee before the pressure can build up.

Cuprajake

Here’s the vid

It’s your beans, prep or grinder

Can you do a video of the fu work flow from adding beans to the grinder to the shot?

Cuprajake

That’s the grinder,

Are you filling the hoper and then grinding or weighing beans pouring into the grinder then grinding?

Go back to basics

18g ground beans in the portafilter, tamp and then pull your shot. Aim for roughly 30sec pull.

Too quick then grinder tighter IE move towards Turkish on the grinder, if too slow move away from Turkish. I would start with the dial in the middle of the espresso range.

sinthoman

@Cuprajake Many thanks for taking time to respond and uploading the video!

Are you filling the hoper and then grinding or weighing beans pouring into the grinder then grinding?

Im grinding directly the beans from the hoper and take 7 to 10 seconds at “espresso-grinding-level”, 11 seconds from current beans are only 10 gramms, i just realized that would be much to less.

Go back to basics

18g ground beans in the portafilter, tamp and then pull your shot. Aim for roughly 30sec pull.

Too quick then grinder tighter IE move towards Turkish on the grinder, if too slow move away from Turkish. I would start with the dial in the middle of the espresso range.

thank you for that advice, i’ll try exactly that tomorrow.

If it doesn’t help, i’ll upload a video covering the full steps.

Cuprajake

Are you using single or double basket.

18g in the double

10g in the single would be about right but very had to pull a single shot

sinthoman

Ok - I’m currently using the single basket. I’ll try both versions and then compare - thank you.

Cuprajake

The single basket is hard to tame

DavecUK

Cuprajake The single basket is hard to tame

It is, I used to use one all the time, but in the end moved to a double. Mine were large singles, which helped a lot, the “small” single baskets were of a shape that didn’t work well.

I think Jake is spot on with the grind and basket advice.

sinthoman

Ok, new day with new beans and the shocking fact that I’ve mixed up having the large basket from the single portafilter in the double portafilter. I now used the double portafilter with its correct corresponding basket.

I’m still having a hard time to fill it with 18g - i’ve ended filling it up with 15-16g max.
I’m having around 8 bars now, when using “mid-espresso-level-grind”, but the water is running a bit too slow. With the same amount of beans and a bit coarser powder the output speed is fine, but around 7 to 8 bars and 30 seconds extraction time.

Much better now, time for fine tuning :-)

DavecUK

sinthoman I’m having around 8 bars now, when using “mid-espresso-level-grind”, but the water is running a bit too slow.

It really depends on the weight of coffee in the basket and the weight of espresso extracted during the time. Currently we are completely blind to this metric?

Also the 9 bar you’re searching for is the pressure set against a blind filter, nothing else.

CoyoteOldMan

sinthoman output speed is fine, but around 7 to 8 bars and 30 seconds extraction time.

FWIW, James Hoffman would say that this is rather nice setup, since you are measuring pressure at the filter (or very near it), not at the pump.

sinthoman

DavecUK finally here some numbers:

13g beans in the double basket portafilter
Pressure at 6.8 bar (ramup is decent i would say)
30 seconds extraction time
results in 102g coffee

What do you think?

europa

sinthoman

13g in 102g out?!

Hope that’s a typo. If not, then your flow rate is far too high. You should be aiming for a ratio of about 1:2, depending on your taste preference. I think you need to put more beans in the double basket, at least 16g.

DavecUK

sinthoman I think that 13g is not enough coffee for the double basket, ideally use 18g, but definitely no less than 16g.

13g coffee to 102g of liquid in 30s is not espresso, the output volume is around 3 times what it should be.

To start with, try 18g coffee, 25-30s and 36g of output.

MediumRoastSteam

DavecUK 13g coffee to 102g of liquid in 30s is not espresso, the output volume is around 3 times what it should be.

Turbo shot innit? 🤣🤣🤣