In this short article I’ll go through how I solved the rattling or buzzing of the cup tray as well as the drip tray. These are the only two complaints that I’d ever have about the machine, which is otherwise flawless. The buzzing of the two grids drove me insane at certain times, and I’ve tried literally everything. Silicone pads, foam pads, silicone liners, you name it. At some point I just gave up the fight, left it without anything and let it rattle. But I finally have a solution for both. I suspect this cup tray grid rattles due to either the tray grid being bent, but it also has a lot of play when placed on top of the machine. The steel can deform slightly with heat and also cleaning, as it isn’t as hard to bend as you’d think. My solution involves magnets and some edge protectors.
Update 24.8.2023 at the bottom of the article
Cup Tray
Inspired by similar solution on Linea Micra’s cup tray, I’ve ordered a few impressively strong, thin magnets to put under the grid/grate and see if that would help – and it actually does.
They’re really strong for their size and the bond between the grid and the tray makes it feel as if it was one solid piece. Even the smallest cup on the tray does not make a sound no matter where I put it.
The magnets are almost unnoticeable against the polished tray.
If you’re anything like me and get annoyed at that one unfortunately placed cup on the tray that rattles until you find a spot where it doesn’t, maybe you’ll appreciate the peace this will give you and perhaps give this a try. The rattling stopped for good on top of the machine, I’m delighted and had to share this.
I’m also pretty sure this is completely safe. The electronic parts in the machine are far from the magnet’s field. Safe distance for even the most delicate devices (such as credir cards, hearing aids or hard drives) is around 20mm with the magnets I use.
Drip tray
Once the cup tray stop making noise, it was time to address it’s rattling sibling – drip tray grid. This buzzing noise irritates me personally the most. This is also a pretty easy fix. First, let’s talk about the grid first and how it fits with the rest of the machine. There’s a small gap on the left side between the front panel and the tray. I saw this on a few Linea Mini’s already. I actually don’t mind, it makes this DIY fix work even better. I suspect this is simply due to the machines being hand build, and I can imagine it isn’t easy to align everything everytime when you build such large and heavy machine. Not every gap will be perfectly even, not even on a car.
I found four of these U-shaped edge protectors (or whatever they are) in my drawer. I stumbled upon these as I was cleaning out my drawers under the bar, I’ve no idea where they come from. I’m sure it’s something you’ll find in a hardware store. (click on images to enlarge)
I had to trim them a bit so that they don’t stick out from under the grid. I placed two on the front side of the tray and one on the side with the gap (left). The gap allows for the piece on the left to fit perfectly without being obstructive, the grid has no play at all and sits very firmly, all the buzzing and rattling from the drip tray is gone. The grid now makes a satisfying click when placed on the trip tray. Cleaning these is easy, easier than having some sort a foam tape or silicone/rubber stickers.
While this doesn’t stop the vibrations making their way on top of the tray and to the cups on it, it’s now a 95% quieter Linea Mini. Rattling of the drip and cup trays were my only issue with this otherwise flawless machine, now solved.
I’m sure there are many other ways to go about solving this, but you can still give it a try.
Update 24.8.2023 – Resolved – Pump mounting mechanism
After two years of constant fight with vibrations all over the machine, it’s done. This time for good.
Last time I posted a “solution” for buzzing cuptray with magnets, which worked quite okay for a while, but forget magnets. Sometimes the cups would still buzz, not to mention other parts of the machine buzzing from vibrations. You know what they say when there’s a leak in the wall? Don’t patch the wall (magnets), find the source of the leak (pump mount).
Take the back cover off, unscrew these two nuts and lift the pump up. If you decide to engage the pump while holding it up, you can touch the frame and confirm that the vibrations are gone. Below are some pictures of the old dampeners, the frame with dampeners removed and the stacked up silicone gel underneath the pump.
This is the current situation. I’ve removed the old dampeners and literally stacked a bunch or silicone gel cubes underneath the pump’s mount. I’ll certainly try to source some proper dampeners (made with sorbothane or silicone gel) , as the ones La Marzocco used are really bad at absorbing vibrations. But for now, I’m totally happy with how this worked out and how it absolutely stopped any vibrations making their way into the frame and the rest of the machine.
The machine is unrecognizable after reassembly, unbelievably silent. Instead of a deep, bassy sound of vibrations all over my countertop, all I can hear is a very faint thin buzz of the pump and feel absolutely no vibrations at all wherever I touch the machine. It’s so much quieter overall, it literally feels as if I outboarded the pump. The machine is so quiet, that I forgot the pump was still running while I steamed milk.
If your cups rattle, buzz no matter what you do, do this as soon as you can. I’m through the roof, what a relief!
I hope it helps!
April 17, 2023
Nice tips 😊 and perfectly written!
April 17, 2023
Thank you ❤️
November 27, 2023
what is the size of the magnets, please
November 28, 2023
Hi Ittai,
They’re 20mm in diameter and 2mm thick, however I highly suggest you skip the magnets and go for the pump solution instead.
Jaroslav
December 19, 2023
How much forward-backward and/or lateral movement is there when the pump runs supported only by silicone? The old dampers also restricted somewhat the position of the pump, and that no longer appears to be the case with the silicone solution. I’m worried repeated cycles of less well-restrained movement may negatively impact reliability. Thanks!
December 19, 2023
Hi Kevin,
The pump doesn’t budge, it’s still fixed on the other side and holds it’s position quite firm. It can only be moved vertically, but it’s own weight holds it down securely enough.
The only time I’d want the pump more secured would be for shipping/transport, which is also why the pump is screwed to the frame by design. Outboarded rotary pumps in shops usually just sit on an antivibration-pad somewhwhere under the counter, they don’t need to be fixed to anything.
I’m quite certain this has no effect on reliability of the pump/motor, no reason why it should have.
Thanks for asking!
Jaroslav
December 19, 2023
Many thanks for your reply!
December 20, 2023
I have the same noise problem in my LMLM (end game machine for me), but my PTSD can’t accept 7k machine with rotary pump make the same noise as vibration E61 machine (Had Profitec). Thanks, because this weekend I will resolve this issue. Next move I will plumb in LMLM and regulate the pressure at 3 BARs in the line to make preinfusion as Slayer (is to only thing that I miss on the E61 with flow control).
December 28, 2023
We deserve a video about this Jaroslav!
December 28, 2023
Hi Ahmet,
You do, but I’m not into talking to the camera haha. If you need videos of how quiet the machine has become, please let me know and I’ll share some links to my unlisted videos.
Jaroslav
December 28, 2023
Hi again Jaroslav, can also send me the videos to compare with my LMLM, I’m curious about how improve the noise from your machine with mine LM. My email is fgarced@hotmail.com. Thanks for this solution.
December 29, 2023
Hi,
I’ve two videos to share for now, I’ll post them here so that anyone who’ll be interested can see them. Both have my grinder’s fan noise in the background as the mic on my iPhone seems to exaggerate noises in total silence.
Example 1
Soundcheck (Linea Mini)
https://youtube.com/shorts/vTiNUyNCCu0?feature=share
Example 2
Soundcheck 2
https://youtube.com/shorts/fI-I3KXm-ug?feature=share
The machine is significantly quieter than before. I’ve compared the sound on HB with someone on who has a gear pump installed, the gear pump (that was considered quieter) is now louder.
Jaroslav
January 6, 2024
Works perfectly. After installed the silicone mat pieces below of the rotary pump base now not rattling noises causes by vibration, just the sound of the pump (low but pleasant). I’m happy and my PTSD is controlled now 🙂
January 7, 2024
Hi again, I’m glad it worked and thanks for letting me know! 😊
Jaroslav
January 5, 2024
Another issue with the Linea Mini is that the drip tray design catches and holds too much water. In contrast, the drip tray design on my DE1XL is more like the one on my old La Spaziale Vivalidi: they use thin round wire that allows the water to drip off very quickly, meaning that I don’t have to wipe the water off before placing a scale on the tray. I have the Lunar drip trip for the Linea Mini, but the plastic frame that holds the Lunar also holds too much water. I tried using it for about a month before going back to the original. I believe LM uses the wire design for the drip tray on the Micra. Perhaps they will come out with a version for the Linea Mini, though I suspect they will charge too much for it.
January 5, 2024
Hi Todd,
That never bothered me personally. I also don’t use the plastic Pantechnicon insert, which is inheretly a bad/flawed design, I use the original La Marzocco part instead. It doesn’t hold water, I never have to take the Lunar out.
That’s a bit off topic, I suggest you read the discussion on HB.
I really hope they don’t come out with a wired drip tray, it looks cheap. Polished stainless steel grate (or a similiar design to PB, GS3…) looks much better in my opinion.
Jaroslav
February 18, 2024
Nice modification for the pump noise , how thick is the needed silicone spacer ?
March 12, 2024
Hi Alexandre,
I’ve stacked a two of these pads, they’re 5mm thick. You should be fine with ordering two of those to make sure the thickness matches the original rubber dampeners (which are 15mm tall) under compression – 20mm should be enough (one sheet folded in half makes 10mm, stacked two of those make 20mm).
Jaroslav