I have a 2018 Linea Mini and this year I decided to invest some money to upgrade it, after 5 years of honorable service.
I will post my comments here, in the hope they will be somehow beneficial to other people looking at upgrading their LM.

IOT Retrofit Kit:
I am generally quite happy with the extra features for the money spent.
The installation is feasible also for non experts, although the exact matching of cables with the new board connectors is not immediate.
The easiest way is to number each cable and note down the corresponding label on the old board, to match it with the one on the new board. This works well with all connectors except the temperature one, which has been changed from TEMP (old board) to NTC (new board).
My most used features are: temperature control via app (you can finally forget the nightmare wheel), boiler on/off (I am italian, no cappuccinos after 11am), and the machine stand by.
As my machine is not plumbed, the pre-infusion is in reality a pre-brewing function which I find useless at best (it could be even harmful as the pre-brew on/off phase at high pressure could disrupt the puck).

Pro Touch Steam Wand upgrade:
Probably the upgrade I am more happy with, also considering I got it at a decent price on a Danish online shop.
Very easy to install too, except maybe the removal of the o-rings on the machine side.
The best improvement for me was not the fact that you don't get burned anymore by touching the wand, but it's related to the steaming performance of the wand itself.
I always struggled with the monstrous power of the original steam wand. The new one seems to be somehow less aggressive and the final result is much less risk of producing big, unwanted bubbles.
This is indeed very personal, but for me it has been a game changer in the production of a silky, shiny foam!

Cup Rail upgrade:
This is the Artpresso Design cup rail, purchased directly from La Marzocco in my case.
Very happy with the design of it, but very disappointed with the fact that the finish is brushed, not polished like the rest of the coffee machine.
It was indeed mentioned in the description but I have overlooked it... I truly don't understand the choice.
This is probably the most overpriced of the upgrades I did, for what it is.

Drip Tray for Acaia Lunar:
The worst upgrade for me, and the only one which I returned.
The soldering that holds the recess where the scale sits is not looking very good, not for the money.
The cutout for the scale is very narrow and allows you to fit the scale only by holding it from the sides, not from a more natural (for me at least) up/down hold.
As a result, putting the scale in and out is a hassle, which I have to face at least once during my routine.
Also, cleaning it after use is not as easy as with the original one.

That's what I have for you guys, I hope it helps someone.

Next mod I will be looking at is the pre infusion one (or slayer mod, as someone calls it).

Ciao,
Dom

I think the idea behind the recessed cutout for Acaia Lunar is that you should keep the Lunar in the tray at all times, not take it out daily.

Seems a bit crazy to leave it in. Exposing it to steam can cause premature battery wear. This is one idea, whether, LM or any others that never made sense to me.

Best practice - move scales off the drip tray when steaming.

Cleaning is optional but who wants a dirty screen on a Lunar. I suppose it could be cleaned in a recessed area but I would not want build up on the sides so that means it needs to come out at some regular point.

It's ultimately why I decided against getting the lunar integrated drip tray for my LMLM, avoiding premature wear on what is a $400 scale here in Australia.

CarefreeBuzzBuzz wrote:Exposing it to steam can cause premature battery wear.

But what sort of a wear are we talking? The Lunar is protected against water and steam. It's built to withstand commercial environment, steam and water will not harm the scale. If you happen to get water damage, Acaia will send you a new one within warranty.

The top gets a wipe every time I make coffee, so it's always clean. I literally never clean my Lunar and it's clean as new.

Leaving the Lunar in the tray at all times is perfectly fine, no need to take it out. That is, if we're talking about La Marzocco's grate, not Pantechnicon. The one from Pantechnicon is useless in that regard.

Regarding the tray: cleaning is one issue, also I would never leave the scale in the tray during the day with my 3 little devils poking around the kitchen.
Also, I start by weighing my dose in a ceramic cup, and doing this with the scale in the tray is very uncomfortable.
I would then have to buy a separate scale only for dosing, which I really don't want to do.
I have already too many tools on the countertop when I bre my espresso.

Jaroslav wrote:But what sort of a wear are we talking? The Lunar is protected against water and steam. It's built to withstand commercial environment, steam and water will not harm the scale. If you happen to get water damage, Acaia will send you a new one within warranty.

The top gets a wipe every time I make coffee, so it's always clean. I literally never clean my Lunar and it's clean as new.

Leaving the Lunar in the tray at all times is perfectly fine, no need to take it out. That is, if we're talking about La Marzocco's grate, not Pantechnicon. The one from Pantechnicon is useless in that regard.

They are merely water resistant and not waterproof. I learned from experience that leaving it on the tray can cause a bloated battery. Yes, they have a good warranty program and a good replacement program. Also read their manuals as to what is appropriate exposure.

How sure are you that the steam/moisture was the culprit? From what I know about batteries, they swell due to high temperature/high voltage. Not steam?

The reason why they don't claim it to be certified as waterproof is that it can't be operated underwater (as described here). The water resistance it has is plenty for the intended use.

Could you please specify what's in the manual that I should read? I couldn't find anything about appropriate exposure there. Just please note that I'm not trying to argue your point, but Acaia themselves state otherwise. I trust they know what they're claiming with the confidence inspiring water damage warranty coverage.

I've used a Felicita Arc for three years and leaving in on the tray, hot water pouring all over, steam did absolutely nothing to it. I've bought the Lunar only about two months ago, been leaving it in the tray 24/7 (only taking it out for weekly cleaning) and I guess only time will tell if it lasts. I'll make sure to report back if it doesn't, but I'm quite confident it will.

I personally have no issues with water splashing or grounds flowing around the scale, they get flushed away into the tray.

It's not practical if you want to be taking the scale out, but practical (and so convenient) if you leave it in. But okay, I see how it's not for everyone. I think having the Lunar integrated into the tray is brilliant, I see no downsides. Again, that's just my experience with the tray. It's fine if yours is different.