Hi all,

I have finally come up with some funds for my dream espresso machine, around 2-2.5K and 500-600 for the grinder. We drink shots primarily (5-10/day) but never owned a machine of my own. I think I have narrowed it down to a DB rotary (preferably plumbed) and would like to know your comments before I make the final choice between Vibiemme and Alex Duetto II by Izzo.

qha000 wrote:final choice between Vibiemme and Alex Duetto II by Izzo.

Yes.

Yes to what?

Which machine looks better to you?

That's about all the difference there'll be in the cup.

Intangibles : Vibiemme has been in business more than 30 years and has a direct link to Faema, inventor of the e61.

Support : Stefano of Stefano's Espresso Care talks almost daily with Cristiano Osnato, president of Vibiemme.

qha000 wrote:Yes to what?

Yes to either one, because -- as Ian has already explained -- they are both VERY capable machines, and there will be little difference in the cup betwixt the two. So pick the one you like the looks of most, the one you can enjoy looking at day after day after day . . .

Cheers,
Jason

Great, thanks guys.

I personally think the vibe looks better, but in the end I choose the Alex. I have no regrets. I enjoy having pour over for now as I'm looking at creating a plumbed coffee-island later and therefore have no need to drill through my counter off the bat.
I like the PID as it gives me a chance to easily play with temps.
I have it set up on a simple timer and it's booted and ready to go when I stumble downstairs with the kids in tow.
Takes roughly 6 minutes to get the steam boiler up and running.
Have pulled and steamed 6 cappas in a row and it 'never flagged.

AS I said, I'm happy with no regrets. I'd put some more money into the grinder myself and get a worthy companion for the espresso machine.

If it was me I'd lean more towards the Izzo Duetto over the vibe' DD mainly because Duetto brew boiler target temperature adjusts in 1F increments vs 1C (1.8F) on the vibe'.

NOTES: 1. The Vibiemme PID espresso machine can display in Fahrenheit or Celsius, but in Celsius increments - meaning every so many degrees Fahrenheit it will skip one degree Fahrenheit . For example, when in PID program mode, the display will show 217, 219, 220, 222 when programming to a higher temperature.

vibe' DD can display in F but sets the target temp in C.

While I'd prefer 0.1F brew boiler target temp' adjustment 1F is better than 1.8F!

The DD is adjustable in 1°F units and has been for years.

The PID on my HX is adjustable in 0.1°F and it's never adjusted less than 1°F. There's just too much pipe between the sensor and the business end on ANY e61 thermosyphon to allow any better precision.

Also rumored is a rotary Vibiemme DoubleDomo

cafeIKE wrote:The DD is adjustable in 1°F units and has been for years.

The PID on my HX is adjustable in 0.1°F and it's never adjusted less than 1°F. There's just too much pipe between the sensor and the business end on ANY e61 thermosyphon to allow any better precision.

Also rumored is a rotary Vibiemme DoubleDomo

Isn't 1st-Line the Master Importer for Vibiemme? Maybe not, my recall may be in error. The quote was from 1st-Line website information on the DD.

Have you actually scrolled through the temp adjustment in program mode and confirmed it does NOT skip a degree in F every couple degrees as stated by 1st-Line? (I would but can't, don't have or have access to a DD )

Disagree that there's no value in 0.1F temperature resolution on ANY E61, especially brew boiler temperature control on a DB vs HX brewing temp via steam boiler control.