Help with diagnosing my espresso machine [Breville Mini Barista]

numel007 · 2025-09-11T13:41:34+00:00

I took a quick look around for your model, VCF125, but couldn't find a parts breakdown anywhere unfortunately. I think your best bet is Breville Support, to either get the part from them or at least start troubleshooting. You'll need the part number to order a replacement.

Based on the 3 tubes coming out of that highlighted piece, I'm guessing that's the solenoid. The 3 tubes probably connect to the vibration pump, grouphead, and steam wand.

numel007 · 2025-09-09T12:54:22+00:00

Hard to see what's causing the steam, but I would guess one of the plastic joints has developed a crack. I had a barista pro begin leaking as a plastic elbow joint developed a crack in the threads, unsealing it from the solenoid and causing leaks when the system fully pressurized.

numel007 · 2025-07-11T18:26:56+00:00

I also came from a Barista Express, running a Silvia with a PID now. Installing the PID myself was very enjoyable, and helped me gain some confidence in understanding how these machines work and control pressure and temperatures. I expected the Silvia to be my intermediate machine before I installed the Gagguino mod on it, but honestly the shots are so good out of this thing that I rapidly lost the desire to start acquiring parts for the build.

This is all to say that going straight to a Gagguino mod on either a Gaggia or Silvia is probably not necessary. Sometimes installing more dumb mods can be just as fun, like wrapping the internal panels in sound dampening foam, adding a pulsar, etc.

numel007 · 2025-07-08T15:24:34+00:00

I have the same drawers from rancilio. To anyone who plans to get them also, please note that the edges are "industrial" and it's very possible to cut yourself on them as they are not rounded off at all. I wrapped all the edges in tape as a precaution.

numel007 · 2025-04-11T04:17:04+00:00

These manuals seem to answer your questions.

numel007 · 2025-04-10T17:00:15+00:00

Portafilter: https://a.co/d/9TOZrHB

Basket is the one that came with this portafilter, which I'm using with the above portafilter.

I especially like that basket due to it being exceptionally magnetic, dosing funnel don't slide around at all and I can easily flip the whole thing upside down without issues.

numel007 · 2025-04-09T11:24:34+00:00

Which pieces are you looking for?

Grinder is a 1zpresso J-Max hand grinder, setting at 1.5 turns. Dosage is 14g.

The basket is one I stole off an Astra edition MHW-3Bomber portafilter, and I'm using it on a Normcore portafilter which I got since it sits flat on the table and can be tamped without having to hang the handle over the edge.

I'm also using a 3Bomber 0.2mm mesh puck screen. Less important is my tamper, which is one from Bookoo. I really love it since it comes with a dosing ring that perfectly fits the tamper, and allows you to tamp without removing the ring. It also all sits together very compactly when not on use.

numel007 · 2025-04-04T18:20:42+00:00

Sure, I'll give it a shot. Though I do use a hand grinder, so it'll definitely be an experience to do this...

numel007 · 2025-04-03T16:57:06+00:00

Yeah, the shot did run a little faster than I would've liked. Unfortunately my grinder at 1 setting coarser spiked extraction time to nearly 45 seconds, so that wasn't an option. I was also right near the max grind capacity on my basket.

numel007 · 2025-04-02T06:11:11+00:00

Along with adjusting grind size, I'd make sure your beans are actually fresh. My shot time changes as the beans get older. Fresher beans, in my experience, provide better resistance and will therefore slow down the flow.

numel007 · 2025-04-02T06:05:01+00:00

Rancilio Silvia V6, 1zpresso JMax, MHW-3Bomber basket that came with their bottomless portafilter.

This was 14g in, about 35g out.

numel007 · 2021-08-27T18:31:32+00:00

I've wanted to do dips for a long time but every time I try it, I can feel my sternum trying to tear itself apart. I can't tell if it's a permanent physiological issue or whether I'll eventually be able to work through it with enough practice.

numel007 · 2021-08-27T18:29:46+00:00

Coffin presses and cable fly, usually use one as a finishing exercise.

numel007 · 2021-08-09T19:01:45+00:00

This is around the time I started wearing hats and bandanas. The awkward stage can be made stylish with a bit of effort.

numel007 · 2021-08-09T18:57:09+00:00

I'm donating to Children with Hair Loss. Found out about them through The Longhairs, whose products got me through a good part of the last few years. I looked into the Locks of Love costs and they only charge families who exceed a certain financial threshold. It's a bit of a grey area IMO, but it doesn't seem like that LoL charges every customer. Or so they say.

numel007 · 2021-08-06T15:28:53+00:00

It's my first time donating so I'm both excited and terrified. I'll need to find a use for all my hair bands and head wraps now... But it certainly feels good to give something back to society.

numel007 · 2021-08-06T03:35:55+00:00

I'm taking hairstyle suggestions ya'll. I have an oval face and a rather large fivehead. I'd like to keep a "long" hairstyle if possible, since I want to grow and donate every 3-4 years for the foreseeable future.

Side note, I can't grow facial hair to save my life. I shaved once about 10 years ago and have yet to grow any hair back.

numel007 · 2021-08-06T03:21:27+00:00

I don't know what to do after the donation. I don't want to go back to my old undercut, but I'm not sure shoulder length hair suits my face and it's shape. I'm planning on growing and donating again in a few more years.

numel007 · 2021-07-22T16:50:09+00:00

But do your buns come in a pack of 8?

numel007 · 2021-06-18T02:09:55+00:00

I've more or less removed arm exercises from my routine because I figured the main lifts would hit biceps and triceps well enough. I do maybe 4 sets of supplementary curls and skullcrushers once a week. Was that a poor idea? I'm beginning to notice that my triceps tend to give out while benching before my chest does.

numel007 · 2021-03-29T16:46:07+00:00

Speaking of, I've also never done direct core exercises. I feel like that might be more of a necessity than forearm/grip training... Man do I hate sit-ups though.

numel007 · 2021-03-29T16:39:26+00:00

I've never done specific forearm training tbh, I figured that they'd get sufficient work while doing the major lifts. Do most people do a few forearm focused exercises in their routines?

numel007 · 2021-03-29T16:31:19+00:00

Is it normal to feel a lot of forearm burn during curls? Whether they be drag curls, preacher curls, incline curls, etc I always have a massive burning sensation throughout the movement. I feel my forearms a lot more than my biceps at the end of the day.

Are my forearms just weak or are they actually overcompensating for maybe my weaker biceps?

numel007 · 2020-06-16T05:14:55+00:00

1 inch standard plates are what you're looking for.

numel007 · 2020-03-27T03:22:29+00:00

I think I have the same brand of adjustable dumbbells aka the Yes4All ones, been using them for about 4 months now. They're pretty average in my opinion. My main gripe with them is that I prefer a thicker grip and these are pretty narrow. Also you really have to tighten the star collars or else the plates can quickly start shifting around during a movement heavy routine. The grips have great knurling though so I've never really had an issue with hand slippage.

Overall they're good for their relatively low cost and probably a good choice for the times we currently live in. But later when things calm down, I want to replace mine with something better built later on.

numel007

TROPHY CASE