Vibiemme Domobar Junior - Manual (Page 5)

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2. Water
All coffee beverages start with two things- coffee and water. Because the majority of espresso is water, it
should come as no surprise that quality water is important to the taste of the espresso. Additionally, using
the wrong water can eventually cause problems for your machine and even cause part failures. So what
water to use? None of the Vibiemme Domobar espresso machines can use distilled or reverse osmosis
(RO) water because these waters contain virtually no minerals. The water level sensor in the boiler needs
a small amount of minerals to sense the water level. Without these minerals the boiler will be overfilled
and that can cause numerous problems, and can even damage the machine. On the other hand, water
too high in mineral content or water containing the wrong minerals can cause rapid buildup of lime and
calcium deposits that can reduce boiler volume, cause poor heating performance, and can eventually lead
to heating element failure.
Water hardness test strips are available that can be used to make sure that the water you are using is safe
for your machine. Inexpensive TDS meters are also readily available for purchase and these can be used
to test the hardness of your water. If you find that your water is too hard, we recommend using either an
in-tank replaceable water softener cartridge that attaches to the inlet hose!
If you don’t want to deal with filtering water in the pitchers then another solution is to install an in-line,
under-the-sink water filter designed to filter water to be used in espresso machines. Check with your
retailer/reseller for more details on which of these filter systems would work best for you.
3. Connect the machine
To access the reservoir, lift the Cup Warming Tray off the machine using the two handles and place the
cover aside. The Water Reservoir, located in the rear of the machine, has two hoses inserted into it. Pull
them out of the tank and lift the reservoir out of the machine. Use a small amount of mild detergent
and warm water to wash the reservoir, and rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap. Never use any
abrasive scrubbing pads or brushes on the reservoir.
These will leave scratches in the plastic which may eventually harbor microorganisms. The water reservoir
should be washed in this way every two weeks or so. This helps prevent the growth of any undesirable
organisms in the water.
Replace the Water Reservoir in the machine. Be sure that both hoses enter the reservoir correctly and
are not kinked or pinched. Once you have verified that your water will be of a quality appropriate for use
in an espresso machine, fill the Water Reservoir. A funnel is recommended to prevent spilling water into
the machine. Do not overfill. Filling it to just below the level where the hoses enter the reservoir is fine.
Replace the cap on the reservoir. Get into the habit of regularly checking the water level in the
reservoir. The large capacity may not need filling as often as smaller machines, so it can be easy to forget
to check the water level. But not to worry the switch under the reservoir will temporarily disable the
machine, including the heating element, if the water level gets low, and the Low Water Indicator Lamp will
be illuminated on the front panel alerting you to the situation. Too remedy this situation if it occurs, simply
refill the Water Reservoir.
Relocate the Cup Warming Tray and check to see that the steam valve as well as the hot water valve are
closed. DO NOT tighten the valves until they stop. Lightly hand tighten only: be sure that the brew lever
is in the full down position.