Buyer's Guide to the Vibiemme Domobar Super - Page 8

[cafeIKE]

The VBM has me on the steep learning curve again.

After years with a Solis SL-90, a machine of similar class to a Silvia, the Vibiemme is a doddle.

Two things to check:
Boiler should range from 0.9 to 1.1max. Adjust down if higher. If you don't steam a lot, 0.8 to 1.0 is ideal.
Brew pressure should hold steady. If the brew pressure varies more than ±1/2bar with the heater, it is likely the OPV has the wrong spring.

good coffee, 16g in 14g basket, side to side shake to distribute, light level tamp. Flush until steam stops, plus a second or two. Load and pull. Adjust grind to give 60ml in 30s. No need to flush again when pulling another shot within a few minutes.

Thursday, using the above, a fellow with his new Vibiemme pulled shot after shot of espresso porn.
Unremarkedly, tasty.

[Randy G.]

Randy,

Thanks for the scoop. I'll have to experiment more, as I'd gotten really used to weighing out the beans when I was using the Silvia. I'll try it ("dosing a bit less than full") and figure out how many grams it might be---though it sounds like 14 or so.

Just for fun I tare'd out the PF and under-dosed as I usually have been. 14g it was.. My scale only has resolution to whole grams. I just added a chapter to my website on under-dosing. it does work- or at least to say, it is a good starting place when tuning things in.

The VBM has me on the steep learning curve again.

It shouldn't be terribly difficult to get things working well.

It is difficult to watch all what is going on, but give the brew pressure gauge a good look during the next few pulls. I think it should be at about 9.5 to 10 max during a pull- that gives a PF pressure of about 9 to 9.5. If it above that, or seems to not be consistent during the pull or from pull to pull (needle jumping around, and going quite high at times- like to 12 or more), look earlier in this thread for my post about the Over Pressure Relief Valve springs. It is easy to check... easier than with Silvia, anyway.

Once I changed that spring (I had the wrong one from the factory) and began under-dosing, everything fell into place.

[ttriff]

After exchanging PM's with Barry, I ordered one of the Expobar single hole steam tips from WLL,

It's perfect for steaming small amount of milk I use.

Unable to get a good seal using only the stock nylon steam wand washer, a quick trip to the local Ace Hardware netted an 'O' ring adequate to the task..

[ttriff]

The OPV spring replacement referred to in Randy's post (Aug 15, 2007) on page 6 of this thread works wonders...

[Jonas]

I have put new steam and water handles on the Domobar. I didn't like the original design, a bit too tiny, so I went with the bigger handles from the Vibiemme Replica machines. But the inner square is 7 mm instead of 6 mm, so I had to add some small bent pieces of brass. And the screw also had to be 1 cm longer. That presented a little problem, as the tread on the screws are WG, in english inches instead of mm, as used in Denmark. But eventually I found some.

And I really like the result. I think the ease of use also benefits from the new bigger handles.

Now it's only the driptray design that bothers me. I would have liked that it was designed more like the german ECM Manufacture machines , or like the Vibiemme Replicas. And I also miss the possibility of a direct drain.

[bcquinn1]

How many shots are you pulling at any given time? Because yikes man, that is a lot of grinds piled around your grinder. And all of the spray on your drip tray? Positively arterial. Or perhaps I am just baring my sanitary OCD to all the world.

[Jonas]

How many shots are you pulling at any given time? Because yikes man, that is a lot of grinds piled around your grinder. And all of the spray on your drip tray? Positively arterial. Or perhaps I am just baring my sanitary OCD to all the world.

Are these real questions? Or mere rhetorical?

Are you expecting an answer to your post?

Does this post deserve an answer?

[HB]

Are these real questions? Or mere rhetorical?

I think it has a deeper psychological root...

Or perhaps I am just baring my sanitary OCD to all the world.

Be glad I have never posted photos of my espresso workarea after a weekend of testing, you would be mentally scarred for life.

[spaceways]

Hi,

Pretty simple and possibly kind of ridiculous question here, but I am wondering what role the lever plays in the levered version of the Domobar Super. I am assuming it does not fullfill the same role as the lever does in a Gaggia Achille. Does it just act as the on/off switch for the shot - meaning that there is no 'art' with respect to having to apply a certain steady pressure, etc. Hope I am being clear. Thanks.

sincerely,
Richard Burton

[HB]

This post explains how the E61 lever controls the brew / expansion chamber valves. It also acts as an on/off switch as the lobe of the cam presses against the pump's microswitch.

[bcquinn1]

Are these real questions? Or mere rhetorical?

Are you expecting an answer to your post?

Does this post deserve an answer?

Sorry bud, I was just kidding around. Although it is quite possible that I have an abnormal compulsion to clean my kitchen. Sincerely, no offense was intended, and I apologize if any was taken.

[cannonfodder]

They changed the drip tray. My unit does not have the branding sticker on it.

[Jonas]

Sorry bud, I was just kidding around. Although it is quite possible that I have an abnormal compulsion to clean my kitchen. Sincerely, no offense was intended, and I apologize if any was taken.

Offense was taken. But maybe I should have just turned the other cheek? And maybe Signora Domobar should have cleaned up herself, when she knew there was going to be a photosession.

But apologize accepted. And all is forgotten.

[Jonas]

They changed the drip tray. My unit does not have the branding sticker on it.

No, that's just my addition. The branding sticker came with the machine, and I choose to place it there.

[cannonfodder]

Ok, my sticker was already on the machine, top left rear corner so it can bee seen from behind.

[spaceways]

Dave,

I have listened to the sound of the unit in your shot videos, and you mentioned that the cup tray vibrated when not loaded down. I was just wondering how the noise level of the Domobar Super compares to other E61 machines you have used. Thanks.

sincerely
Richard Burton

[HB]

It's perhaps a little quieter than most. See Vibiemme Domobar Decibel Level for more comments.

[spaceways]

Thanks for the replies to the posts and for the information. Much appreciated.

Richard

[cannonfodder]

My unit liked to rattle a little more in the beginning, which was from the cup warmer tray. To fix that, I put a thin strip of black electrical tape around the cup warmer tray. It only rattled when the pump started up, once the preinfuse was finished and the machine came to pressure, I quieted down. Again, let me stress that this is not the mechanics vibrating, but a bit of resonance with the cup warmer. Other than that, no louder than any other vibratory pump machine.

[pauljolly65]

After years with a Solis SL-90, a machine of similar class to a Silvia, the Vibiemme is a doddle.

Funny---I went from an SL-70 to the Silvia, then to the VBM. I think a Linea might be the next step, but that's YEARS away when I open a shop of my own.

Two things to check:
Boiler should range from 0.9 to 1.1max. Adjust down if higher. If you don't steam a lot, 0.8 to 1.0 is ideal.
Brew pressure should hold steady. If the brew pressure varies more than ±1/2bar with the heater, it is likely the OPV has the wrong spring.

good coffee, 16g in 14g basket, side to side shake to distribute, light level tamp. Flush until steam stops, plus a second or two. Load and pull. Adjust grind to give 60ml in 30s. No need to flush again when pulling another shot within a few minutes.

I've now made some astonishing shots with the VBM. After lots of channeling & jets, I dosed down to 14g, tightened the grind, and watched the show. (I'm using a Super Jolly with doser plus the WDT, so the only shakes I do are after the 4th shot.) I remember hearing the 'down-dose' theory with the Silvia and trying it out; it was a great success. It's only been more so with the VBM. Home-roasted espresso blend is stunning when rested between 4-10 days. That 10 day limit is pretty strict; after that, it tastes like the swill that most places in town pass off as espresso.

I couldn't be happier with the VBM. Even my wife thinks that it's $1500 well spent!

--Paul