Hi,

1st time posting, long time reader Love coffee, the site & forum.

Well i got a Mazzer Mini few months back and mod it with a soda container as doser-less.

Now i am looking at an espresso machine and need some advice.

Seriously considering the Nuova Simonelli Musica, but with a little bit more i could get the Vibiemme Domobar Junior.

Musica steam wand worries me a bit. Base on appearance, it doesn't look very flexible. I would love having Sirai pressurestat, PID & ease of pre-programmed buttons (more consistency?) on the Musica. The Domobar Junior was a dream machine a while back, with the E61 and 2x boilers. A nice machine for a purist with manual control.

[Edit] Can someone confirm if Domobar Junior a HX or dual boiler machine? Website tech spec doesn't say.

I plan to open a cafe later, would like to have a single group training machine around, which would you recommend?

Thanks all

There are 2 versions of the Domobar Junior, one is HX, one is double boiler. Look almost the same from the outside (just different switches), very different inside.

I looked (and still looking) at a Junior DB, but there are a few concerns around temperature stability when the steam boiler is on for a long time. Suggested workaround is to turn on the steam boiler only when needed (the steam boiler gets to temperature in 5 minutes, the brew boiler needs much longer to get to a stable temperature). See here for more Install a PID on my Vibiemme Junior DB?

First Line's description of the Domobar Junior looks pretty straight forward to me - dual boiler, non-PID. But there is a full list of specs and comparison with the non-Junior versions that you might want to read. The Musica is a nice looking machine.

Thanks for the insights.

I heard. the older version of Domobar Junior DB has the brew boiler temp fluctuate more wildly. There seems to be a new version coming out soon.

Will wait for a few months for the new one and more detail review on the Musica.

Thx

A few corrections, if I may...

CafeLoco wrote:Seriously considering the Nuova Simonelli Musica, but with a little bit more i could get the Vibiemme Domobar Junior.

The Musica should be far more expensive that the Vibiemme. The Musica lists for ~$2,100 (Black) - 2,350 (Lux), The Vibiemme Junior DB is closer to $1500.

robca wrote:I looked (and still looking) at a Junior DB, but there are a few concerns around temperature stability when the steam boiler is on for a long time. Suggested workaround is to turn on the steam boiler only when needed (the steam boiler gets to temperature in 5 minutes, the brew boiler needs much longer to get to a stable temperature).

The steam boiler's heating element will be on full tilt until it hits the upper end of the temp/pressure setting (controlled by a Jaeger pressurestat), whereas the brew boiler will have tiny pulses applied at the heating element to get to the desired temp. The big difference in time is at the group head, which will take at least 30 minutes (preferably longer) for the thermosyphon to bring it closer to brew temp.

Given the price differences between the Junior DB and the Musica, a better comparison might be the Junior's larger brother - Double Domobar.

The Musica should be far more expensive that the Vibiemme. The Musica lists for ~$2,100 (Black) - 2,350 (Lux), The Vibiemme Junior DB is closer to $1500.

You are Right!! Thanks

I heard the Domobar is going through a redesign right now and will be relaunch early 2011.

The Musica steam wand still doesn't look flexible enough.. have to get my hands on to try it.