cannonfodder wrote:The wand has a small rubber grip point for moving while hot. Just don't miss, or you will be reminded when you sizzle a couple fingers.

Our Heritage: The origin of Vibiemme is intimately connected to FAEMA: the founder of both companies being one Mr.Carlo Ernesto Valente.

Carlo Valente opened a laboratory in Milan in 1945 to produce espresso coffee machines called FAEMA. The 50's saw FAEMA growing constantly and contributing significantly to developing espresso machine technology.

The turning point came in 1961 when the company introduced to the Italian market the E61 model. The principle of the E61 head (water charge-infusion-discharge) is still used today on the vast majority of machines. It user friendly with excellent heat characteristics resulting in superb quality coffee.

It would be fair to say that right up until the mid 70's FAEMA was considered by all to make the very best machines, producing the very best quality espresso. By this time FAEMA had became very diversified and found itself in financial difficulty. Many strikes, a common occurrence in Italy at this time, affected production, and in 1976 FAEMA SPA was declared insolvent. Earnsto was forced to hand the company over to the state.

Mr. Valente then created a new company from scratch: Vibiemme, pronounced like the letters v.b.m ( the V stands for Valente , the B for Biancolini, and the M for Meroni.) These three men had been FAEMA's top management prior to state ownership. Italy's most respected espresso machine experts were concentrated into a small company focused solely on espresso machines.

Mr. Valente passed away in 1985 and ownership passed over to his son Fabio and to the Nuova Faema company. In the intervening years Vibiemme pioneered many new innovations and was highly respected in the Italian market.



Mr Valente on the right with the President of Italy

Innovations

1. The first electronic machine (timer).

2. The first patent infusion system on the automatic group (1978).

3. Invented and patented the fresh water system for tea and long blacks using a third heat exchanger so that water is 3-4 degrees C less than the boiled water.

4. The first company to put the motor and pump inside the machine.

5. The Domobar, developed in 1983 (Domus for home, Bar for cafe) is the first machine for the home market with commercial performance and is still the leader in the field.


Vibiemme is currently run by Christiano Orsanto, the son of Pietro Orsanto who had become a major shareholder during the late 80's and early 90's. Pietro had kept the focus of the company on quality and innovation. Christiano is also a firm believer in these features.

The steam tip is larger than most and will NOT fit other wand tips.

History of the Domobar
DOMOBAR SUPER SHORT STORY

Both models Domobar and Domobar Super were born between the end of the 70s and first of the 80s, while testing the E61 group on a machine conceived for domestic use only.

This first attempt gave its results approx. at the end of the 80's when the sales of the Domobar model began to increase; anyway the Domobar Super model is at that moment still "unlucky", considered too much binding for family use.

At the beginning of the 90's other companies try the same path (such as Isomac and ECM); they also understand that outside appearance is important (even more important) than technical features and in this period Vibiemme (focused on the sale of commercial machines) leaves the way to the above mentioned companies and to other new brands.

Anyway, between the year 2000 - 2001 the market conditions change, the end-user becomes more informed and demanding (thanks also to the internet forums) and a new class of consumer demands more performing machines.

Thanks to some of our importers we made a re-styling of the Domobar Super model taking care of raw materials quality and renewing the product both from the technical and from the aesthetical point of view, so obtaining a performing, reliable and aesthetically new machine.

1) Main changes in safety terms:

- 2-positions switch (easy and intuitive)
- new safety valves
- 3rd tension light
- re-design of the by pass: trebled in its sizes and with new gaskets
- new wiring following UL laws
- safety rele in the boiler

2)aesthetical / technical changes:
- use of the double manometer
- use of steel feet
- introducing of the semiautomatic and electronic versions
- new refinishing on the drip tray and cups warmer
- new handles on the cups warmer
- 4 liters tank

3)ALREADY EXISTING TECHNICAL FEATURES :
- 1800 watts element or 1600 (american market)
- 2,7 litres boiler
- steam / water taps section doubled in comparison to ECM and Isomac brands
- Vibiemme Group produced on our own project and die (other brands' groups are standard)

This allowed us to have a really superior product from the technical side and really reliable: the machines coming back under guarantee are less than 3%

stefano65 wrote: you will still need a 20amp receptacle

bdbayer wrote:Mine is on a standard 15 amp circuit. Is this why the pressure drops when the heater kicks on. I have been considering wiring a 20 amp dedicated circuit to see if it would help that small issue.

Barry B

cannonfodder wrote:I wait until he heater has hit the end of the cycle, or is almost at the end before I start my shot. I can usually get through the shot before the heater kicks on.