Hello,

At the moment I'm considering an upgrade from my trusty Rancilio Silvia. And I am interested in the Vibiemme DoubleDomobar. As such I have some questions about the machine, and I feel Home Barista is a good place to ask them. I'm sorry to start off my Home-Barista with only questions and no real expertise to offer back, but that is of course the nature of this forum and of espresso-knowledge.
Anyway, here are some of the questions I have about the machine, and I would greatly appreciate any information the good people of Home-Barista have on this machine.

* 1. What is it's proper name?
I am looking at the new Vibiemme double boiler machine, that features the PID control, with the manual lever control. I have seen the machine referred to as Double Domo or Double Domobar or just Vibiemme Double Boiler and these I have seen in combination with Super, PID or Manual or Lever or just without anything added. Is V3 part of it's name, like the Expobar Brewtus IV has it's version number?

* 2. Is it possible to get some information/clarity about it's update path and the versions still available?
From what I can gather, it was first launched with a vibration pump and later updated with a rotation pump. Also it has featured different boiler sizes for the different updates. (and allowed people to swap out parts of the old versions to the new versions themselves?)
Another change has involved the way of water supply. From first having an internal water reservoir to going with a plumb in, to now having both options in one machine. Also the size of the internal water reservoir has changed.
How many different versions have there been? And are these older versions still available?
Any other major points of update?

* 3. Is this last version (V3) thought to be more final than the first two versions?
Or is it still thought of as a work in progress? If so, are future changes expected to be upgradable, so a V3 can change into a new configuration? Is there an update in the pipeline/planned?
I guess I can expect to be somewhat of a guinea pig when I buy it, since it's a very new machine, but I am hoping to be less so than those that bought the earlier versions.

* 4. Are the problems experienced by some with earlier versions solved in the new version?
Maybe all those problems were mainly caused by the humans operating the machine, but given the fact that the machine has gone through such obvious changes in configurations, it seems at least the problems were real enough to warrant a search for better configurations.

* 5. Is there any way to know which version a machine is by looking at the outside?
Different logo? Different button? Different size?
Imagine a dealer having the machine, but not quite clear about which version it is. Could I ask a question that would reveal to me which version it is? Like for example, is the ability to plumb in and use a reservoir in the same machine only available in the newest configuration, so that I can ask if it is, and a yes would then confirm that it is the latest version.

* 6. Is it available in Europe?
From what I gather, some people from the United States have been involved in the building/designing of this machine (only the last version? or were they involved with earlier versions?), so I am wondering if these changes and updates have been released world wide or only in the US. I have seen the machine on some european websites, but they seem to be older versions? If I ask my favorite dealer to order the last/newest version (released may 2011 in the US at least?) will I get the same latest version as available in the US?

I can imagine some or many of these questions border on information that digs quite deep into the inner workings of the release of a new espresso machine, in the sense that perhaps Vibiemme would perhaps prefer the older versions to be no longer mentioned and thus forgotten, i.e.: Let the latest DoubleDomo be the only DoubleDomo.
That is of course one way to clear some of the uncertainty that I feel clouds this beautiful machine. But I would think it would be helped even more by more clarity. Like how the Expobar Brewtus IV has a clear numbering, as does the Alex Izzo Duetto II (now III? )

Let me conclude by saying that from what I see in reviews and from descriptions, this looks like an amazing machine. And I will probably buy it. Also I have been a big fan of Vibiemme and their great machines. So the above should hopefully be read as an honest inquiry about the machine I am probably going to buy. Also I would great appreciate further user-expriences from people that have already bought and used the machine.

As said earlier, any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

1 - Vibiemme refers to is as Double Domobar Super
(see: http://espressocare.com/images/Vibiemme/doubledomo.jpg)

2 - The V3 (current) model has had many changes and from reports has better temperature stability than previous versions. I only have experience with the V3 so cannot give details. The ability to use reservoir as well as plumb the machine is a plus for descaling if nothing else. There have even been minor changes as the V3 has been sold. Little things like a better cover over the pressurestat adjustment hole, an update in the production of the drip tray cover, the braided supply line is now a more standard female BSPT rather than the male it use to come with, and little things like that.

3 - I wouldn't worry about being a guinea pig with it. It's not like this is the first machine they have built being this one alone is in V3.

4 - The new version has temperature stability that is excellent.

5 - If the pressurestat cover is a small, yellow plastic plug and a "+" and "-" is cut into the inner divider where the plug is (which show the direction to turn it) it is one of the latest models.

6 - 1st-Line and Stefano's Espresso Care have been working with Vibiemme well before the Double has been released. As far as European models I do not know.

7 - For more info try reading the new owners manual for more details at:
UPDATED LINK: http://espressocare.com/PDF-Files/DDManual_DRAFTvD8.pdf
And for some internal pics and other info see my review at:
http://www.frcndigital.com/coffee/vibiemmedd.html

Thank you, Randy, for your quick reply. And for the links.

Your own review of the machine is actually what sparked my interest in it. And I have to say that is one of the best owners manuals I have seen. Admittedly I haven't seen that many, but I enjoyed the read very much.