Vibiemme Domobar Junior - Manual (Page 5)

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2. Welcome and Thank You!
Congratulations on your choice of a Vibiemme espresso machine (in Italian the name is pronounced
“Vee•Be•Em-may Dough•Mow•Bar”). Regardless of which model you purchased, we regard these
machines as the top of the line in home espresso machines and we think you will as well. We want you
to be successful in your espresso making endeavors, and to that end we have provided this guide to help
you get started.
Although this guide was created with the new barista* in mind, it also contains lots of useful information
about your new Vibiemme espresso machine for those experienced in the art of espresso.
We highly recommend reading this manual in its entirety before using your Vibiemme espresso machine!
Keep this manual handy and refer to it often.
Patience is, indeed, a virtue, and it is so with making espresso. The machine you have just purchased will
last many years with proper care, and your skills will improve over time as well. Don’t expect the very
first espresso you create to be perfect, and if your early efforts are delicious, don’t be surprised if you
make a few drinks sometime later that are not up to that standard. This guide is designed to help you
make as many of the former and as few of the later as possible. It is written to give you an understanding
of the machine, the process, and how to diagnose and overcome some of the more common problems
associated with creating espresso. To help you enjoy your machine as long as possible we have also
included a chapter on maintenance.
The process of getting an espresso machine and its grinder and all the variables involved in making
espresso aligned is called “dialing it in.” Just because you bought a good cut of beef and have a nice
stove, it does not mean that you are about to cook a great steak. Just because you have one of the finest
espresso machines available does not guarantee that the espresso is going to be great every time. It
takes attention to detail and the right ingredients, combined with some skill and finesse to make great
espresso. It is a difficult skill to master.
As you begin learning how to make fine coffee beverages, the best advice we can give is that your early
efforts should be aimed at consistency. Mastery of the machine as well as the process comes from
repetition. The best skill to hone as you begin is the ability to do all the various steps the same way
each time. When that happens, small changes can be made in experiments to improve the flavor of the
espresso. That is the difference between being a person who makes espresso and becoming a barista,
or, if you will, between a cook and a chef! We want to help you go from a person who makes coffee to
a person who creates fine espresso. Follow this guide and practice, practice, practice, and soon you will
have all your friends, family and neighbors clamoring for you to throw yet another espresso party!
3. How it Works
We feel that before you begin using your new Vibiemme espresso machine that it would be a good idea to
give you a basic understanding on its inner workings. This knowledge will give you a better understanding
of the rest of this guide.
3.1. Double boiler general concept
Double boiler technology is conceived to separate the two functions 1) brew espresso) and 2) steam milk by
separating the two boilers dedidated to each function. The coffee boiler temperature setting is made through a
heating part driven by an electronic probe (PID push-button); whereas the steam-hot water boiler setting is
made using another heating part mechanically driven by a pressure stat ( pressure stat screw).
* In Italian, a barista means bar keeper, but here the term is more often used to identify a
person experienced in making espresso.