LUCCA A53 Mini: User Manual

Set Up Your LUCCA A53 Mini. In this manual, you should find everything you need to operate and maintain your dual boiler, saturated group head espresso machine.

Please read carefully before using your LUCCA A53 Mini Espresso Machine.

If you have any other questions, be sure to contact us.

Setup Video

Machine Diagram

Included Accessories

Black handle double spouted commercial portafilter
Black handle bottomless commercial portafilter
Double basket (18g)
Triple basket (20g)
Blind basket
15 amp converter cord
Cleaning brush

Water

Espresso machines have specific requirements when it comes to water. There are two primary considerations: filtration and hardness.

Filtration gets rid of tiny particles, such as sand or rust, in your water. If these particles were allowed to enter your machine they could cause all manner of trouble, particularly by clogging the precise valves and mechanisms in your espresso machine. Almost any water filter will do the job, whether it’s the one built into your fridge, a Brita, or a whole house filter. Ensuring that this filter is replaced in proper time will be important to ensure machine health.

Water hardness is equally important. First, use the water hardness test strips included with your machine to test the water you plan to use with your machine. Ideally, we want a hardness of between 35-85 ppm (parts per million). Hardness refers to the dissolved solids in your water. Common dissolved solids are things like magnesium, calcium, and various forms of sodium. These dissolved solids are what make water, and therefore espresso, taste good. But too much will result in scale buildup in your machine. Scale can cause irreparable damage to your machine by clogging and forming a mineralized layer over the surface of metal parts. The process of descaling is even more damaging, eating away at the machines metal internals. Luckily, scale can be entirely avoided by keeping your water hardness within the recommended TDS range of 35-85 ppm.

There are numerous methods to soften your water should its dissolved solid content be too high.

A note on RO (Reverse Osmosis) or Distilled Water

Taste aside, espresso machines require some mineral content in order to function properly. Their steam boiler fill probes, in particular, use the conductivity of water to detect the water level. With no dissolved solids, they’ll overfill, giving you water instead of steam. You must add some mineral content back in. Our recommendation is Third Wave Water packets which are designed to offer ideal flavor and to be safe for your machine.

Reservoir Solutions

Our first recommendation is an in-reservoir water softening pouch. They’re affordable, last 4-6 months, and are very effective. Using RO water purchased by the gallon in combination with Third Wave Water packets is another great option.

No matter what solution you pick we recommend testing the water coming from your machine’s group head every few months. City water hardness changes seasonally and softening systems wear out. Routine testing will ensure you keep your machine safe.

First time setup

Remove the softening pouch from water tank and fill the water tank up to the line two inches from the top of the tank. It is very important to use properly filtered and softened water for your espresso machine.
Once you’ve filled your water tank with properly softened and filtered water plug your machine into your power outlet.
The machine comes standard with a 20 amp plug but also has an adapter for regular three prong kitchen outlets. When the machine is plugged in the LUCCA light will illuminate and the power light will flash, signifying the machine is in standby mode.
While the machine is in standby mode, with the water tank in place, hold down the power button and the hot water button(top right). This will turn the pump on and draw water from the water tank into the brew boiler. Once four ounces of water has ran through the coffee boiler you can release the power and hot water button.
To turn machine on hold the power button down for three seconds. The power light will now be constantly illuminated the boiler light will flash, the 95 light will flash and the machine will begin automatically filling the steam boiler. Anytime the machine notices the steam boiler has had more than one ounce leave through the steam tip or hot water tap the steam boiler will automatically refill. The steam boiler is now refilling from being completely drained so it will take around 30 seconds for it to fill to the correct level.
The machine will now begin heating. The numeric lights running horizontally across the control panel signify the heat of the coffee boiler, the 95 light will flash until the coffee boiler has reached operating temperature. The flashing boiler light signifies the heat of the steam boiler, the boiler light will flash until it has reached operating temperature as well.
When the machine is in standard operating mode, the top right button draws water through the steam tap. Tapping it once toggles the steam tap on and will draw out about eight ounces unless tapped again to toggle the steam tap off. The hot water tap will only draw water once the steam boiler has begun building pressure. Holding down the boiler button for five seconds will turn off the steam boiler, turning its light off. Holding the boiler button down for five seconds while it is off will turn the steam boiler back on and turn the boiler light on. If the boiler light is off, you will not be able to froth milk. It is normal for the boiler light to occasionally flash very briefly once the machine is warmed up.
The one cup and two cup buttons on the left side of the control panel are for brewing espresso. They are both preset to dose about 1.5 ounces of espresso when pulling a shot. If your first few attempts at drawing a shot seem very far off in terms of the amount of espresso coming out before the machine stops, see the programming mode below on how to program volumetric dosing.
At this point your machine is set up and ready for use. Now you’ll get to dial in your grinder and begin pulling shots. Your grinder should come with a user manual, describing how to adjust the grind coarser and finer to get your espresso dialed in for the shot desired.

Programming PID and Settings

When the machine is in standard operating mode, hold down the power button for five seconds; this will make the power light flash as well as the 93 light. To leave programming mode, tap the power button one more time and it will stop flashing and return to normal operation. From programming mode, you can adjust multiple functions on the machine.

Tapping the hot water button in programming mode will bring the brew boiler target temperature up by one degree Celsius, as reflected by the number lit on the display. The Temperature can be increased to 97°C. Increasing it past 97°C will bring the temperature back down to the lowest temperature, 91°C.

93°C equates to almost exactly 200°F, the ideal brew temperature for a wide range of coffees and the default on most all espresso machines.

Tapping the one cup or two cup button will begin to change the volumetric dose set for the button pressed. In order to accurately change the volumetric dose, you will need a portafilter with coffee in the group head to slow down the flow of water so the machine can accurately read how much water is desired per dose. Once you have the desired amount of espresso, tap the button you are currently programming again to stop the shot and save the new volumetric dose. If you attempt to change the volumetric dose without a portafilter with a puck in place, you will not get accurate dosing results.

Volumetric Dose Programming

The programmable volumetric dosing feature allows programming of the Single Cup and Double Cup buttons to dispense set quantities of espresso. Many users only pull double shots and program the double shot button for 1.5-2.0 oz for that purpose. Then they program the single cup button for a larger amount for use in backflushing the group or pulling shots manually. The beauty of the programmable dosing feature is that the machine owner can be creative.

Programming Instructions:

With the machine on, press the Power button and keep it pressed for about three seconds;
the Standby light and the light indicating the set temperature will start flashing.
Fill portafilter with freshly ground coffee and press with a 53mm tamper.
Attach portafilter to group head and place a measuring cup under the portafilter.
By pressing the Single Cup button the delivery starts and the 91-92-93 temperature indicators light up to show that the one-shot espresso dose is being programmed.
When the coffee inside the cup has reached the desired quantity, press the Single Cup button again to stop the delivery.
To lock the setting into memory, press the Power button once (do not hold). This will take you out of programming mode.
Repeat steps above using the Double Cup button making sure you use freshly ground coffee in the portafilter. During programming of the Double Cup button, the 94-95-96 temperature indicators will light up.

15 and 20 amp mode (2018 or newer are 15amp only)

Early models have an optional 15 and 20 amp mode, set by Clive at 15 amp unless otherwise noted by the customer. In 15 amp mode, the machine will only heat one boiler at a time, first heating the coffee boiler and then the steam boiler. In 20 amp mode, the machine will heat both boilers at the same time.

To change the machine between 15 and 20 amp, turn the machine off and remove the top panel from the machine by removing the Phillips screw in the circular hole on the top panel and lifting the panel out. From here you can see inside the machine and flip the two-way switch in the back right corner of the machine to the desired setting. From here if the "ECO" light is illuminated you can turn off the ECO light to put the machine in 20 amp mode by holding the boiler button down for 10 seconds until it turns off.

Technical Details

For a complete list of technical details, please see the spec table on our product page.

Now you're ready to start pulling shots! Check out our All About Coffee & Milk section to learn about steaming milk, latte art, our suggested starter espresso recipe and much more!

Helpful Links

Still have questions? Reach out to our coffee experts and technicians.