I really hope someone makes an aftermarket PID for the Junior Double Boiler. Even if it was a dual PID, I bet the price would still be nicely under 2K.

PID or not, I think the Junior Double Boiler would make a nice review here... Id bet a lot of people who have/are upgraded to a double boiler considered the VBM JR DB pretty closely.

... Put a PID on that machine, and it would probably be one of the most popular prosumer double boiler out there... IMHPO

Just put some specs/features on these machines late last week....

Vibiemme Junior Double Boiler

Vibiemme Junior Heat Exchanger

I also started a writeup with 2 diagrams on some design differences between an HX and a DB. In the past 2 months, I have had to do a lot of explaining to newbies that a HX machine can extract espresso and steam milk at the same time. Most newbies think only a DB machine can do this. I welcome anyone's feedback to my sales email address as this page is currently work in progress.

The spec's look good Jim, I'm in New Zealand where we have the junior HX model in a 1.45l version, but no DB model.On the HX model page on your website the listed features under asterisks still lists the boiler size as 1.8l

erics wrote:I would say 45 minutes minimum - put the machine on a good digital timer. I have had Anita on a digital timer for years and she goes on at 5:30 AM - 1st cappy at around 7:00 AM. You will have the opportunity to check the temperature stabilization "first hand". Boiler water temperature responds relatively quickly; grouphead temperature relatively slow.

Eric,
Thanks for the advice .... I'll turn the machine on tomorrow first thing and give it a decent warm up.
What timer do you use? I started looking for one on the web, but I'm struggling to find ones that could handle an espresso machines current load.
Thanks,
Dave

An Intermatic DT17 - which I see was subject to a recall - THANKS for asking.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09119.html

lostinla wrote:What timer do you use?

Intermatic DT-27C is nice because you can turn it on and off by pushing on the front panel

I bought a DT620CL .... and discovered I already had a DT27 as a lamp timer. The DT620 is easier to program with the knob to twist to dial in the numbers. Both take a fair bit of time to set up with DST info. All done now and good to go.

Now that I have the thermometer I have discovered it does take around 40+ mins to warm up and that the wait is worth it. Much better espresso .... part of the learning I guess.

I have it set up at 202 during infusion. It sometimes starts a bit higher (seen 212), but soon stabilizes at 202. I assume that is about right? The adjustment of the machine is a bit sensitive, but easy enough. A small tweak up in temp from factory settings sorted me out.

Thanks all for the guidance! Much appreciated.