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Hello All,
I just thought I'd start a thread for any Vibiemme Domobar Super 2b owners out there.
ESPRESSO
I've had mine for about 1 month now, and it's performed faultlessly. Then again, I've never had to make more than two coffee's in a row in that time, so I don't know how it goes with more - does anyone know?
I find it needs about 30min minimum to make espresso, but 45 min appears to be better, which means it may be closer to the hour mark to reach true temperature stability. I will generally wait the hour now, and I'm never disappointed by the quality of the espresso - it comes out with a very think crema every time.
The heating seems to take longer than my old Expobar Minore 3 - I'll put that down to the somewhat larger E61 grouphead.
STEAM PRESSURE & MICROFOAM
For anyone that tries one in store - be aware that the stock steam tip has a plastic 'restrictor' (I don't know the proper name for it) on the inside, that once removed, increases the amount of steam by a bit more than double.
I previously owned an Expobar Minore 3 - it made wonderful espresso, but I was always disappointed in the steam pressure. Even increasing the pressurestat on the Expobar and changing to a larger steam tip did not noticably increase steam pressure. I now put that down to the set up of the 'no burn steam wand' which has a plastic tube on the inside of the wand - separated from the wand. This means that the plastic tube itself restricts the steam. I noticed that the Rocket r58 has a 'no burn steam wand' and I steered away from it for that reason.
By contrast, the Vibiemme (and I'm sure many that don't have no burn steam wands) has a large passage for the steam to travel down - meaning you can make use of the full range of steam pressure.
Prior to the discovery that the plastic restrictor was removable, I was having trouble achieving microfoam. From what I read, I seem to be one of the few who finds it easier to microfoam the more pressure I have - I even prefer that this is done quicker. With that restrictor in the steam tip, there was no swirl, and definitely no (as I prefer) rolling swirl (it sort of folds back in on itself as it swirls) in my milk jug. After removing that little plastic restrictor, I suddenly had both swirl and roll going, and without really trying, ended up with microfoam.
STEAM TIPS (as in the tip of the steam wand, not tips on how to microfoam)
Prior to discovering the plastic restrictor in the stock steam tip, I tried ordering other 10mm steam tips...but there's a problem with this. The Vibiemme's steam wands thread stops about 1mm before the conical part that is supposed to meet up with the steam tip...but aftermarket steam tips have thread right to the end. What this means is that when you put an aftermarket steam tip on it, it doesn't meet up with the conical part of the steam wand that it is meant to join with...and when you turn the steam one, water then leaks out.
Does anyone know suitable steam tips? I've tried doing searches without luck.
ROTARY PUMP
The rotary pump is a lot quieter than a vibrating pump, but I was still surprised by the level of noise. Don't get me wrong, it's not at all irritating - I was just under the impression that they were fairly silent - but this is obviously in comparison to a vibrating pump. Overall the rotary pump is much quieter - you can actually have a conversation while pulling a shot.
ASCETICS, STAINLESS STEEL, and FUNCTIONALITY
The Vibiemme is a wonderful looking machine. It sits well on my standard sized kitchen benchtop.
The stainless walls looks like about 1.5mm thick, but that's just a guess.
The thickness of the stainless steel cover of the driptray is quite thin - you can feel flex in it with even a moderate amount of pressure. This however is only minor criticism...and one I make probably only because I was so spoiled by the thickness of my old Expobar's stainless steel.
I do have a more major criticism of the drip tray. Once you remove the drip train and empty it - it is rather fiddly to re-insert. First you have to fit the drip tray down over the vertical walls - but in order to do this on my machine, you have to push one of the walls in so that drip tray can hook over the top of both vertical walls. Then when you push it forward - it has to squeeze under a horizontal piece of metal just prior to the main machine - meaning I have to lift the drip train on an angle and 'force' it under. It's not difficult to do this - but it is really poor designing to make something that should be simple, fiddly.
You will need space above it to allow the water tank to be removed - you have to lift it upwards.
The water reservoir itself is a pathetic 2L. This means plenty of refilling. It is also an open top water container, which means you can't fill it all the way to the top, as when you put it in the machine, you would be likely to spill some (if it was too full). I prefer tanks with a hole in the top.
But I would rather use the water tank than plumb it in, because I have a very good water filter, and using filtered water saves on maintenance and machine life...and I don't want the coffee taste tainted by chlorine. Likely one would be able to attach a filter in a way that allows the 'plumbed in' to work, but I don't think I can be bothered.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Despite some shortcomings, the actual espresso making ability of the Super 2b is absolutely wonderful. To me it is a definite step up from the old Minore 3.
I just thought I'd start a thread for any Vibiemme Domobar Super 2b owners out there.
ESPRESSO
I've had mine for about 1 month now, and it's performed faultlessly. Then again, I've never had to make more than two coffee's in a row in that time, so I don't know how it goes with more - does anyone know?
I find it needs about 30min minimum to make espresso, but 45 min appears to be better, which means it may be closer to the hour mark to reach true temperature stability. I will generally wait the hour now, and I'm never disappointed by the quality of the espresso - it comes out with a very think crema every time.
The heating seems to take longer than my old Expobar Minore 3 - I'll put that down to the somewhat larger E61 grouphead.
STEAM PRESSURE & MICROFOAM
For anyone that tries one in store - be aware that the stock steam tip has a plastic 'restrictor' (I don't know the proper name for it) on the inside, that once removed, increases the amount of steam by a bit more than double.
I previously owned an Expobar Minore 3 - it made wonderful espresso, but I was always disappointed in the steam pressure. Even increasing the pressurestat on the Expobar and changing to a larger steam tip did not noticably increase steam pressure. I now put that down to the set up of the 'no burn steam wand' which has a plastic tube on the inside of the wand - separated from the wand. This means that the plastic tube itself restricts the steam. I noticed that the Rocket r58 has a 'no burn steam wand' and I steered away from it for that reason.
By contrast, the Vibiemme (and I'm sure many that don't have no burn steam wands) has a large passage for the steam to travel down - meaning you can make use of the full range of steam pressure.
Prior to the discovery that the plastic restrictor was removable, I was having trouble achieving microfoam. From what I read, I seem to be one of the few who finds it easier to microfoam the more pressure I have - I even prefer that this is done quicker. With that restrictor in the steam tip, there was no swirl, and definitely no (as I prefer) rolling swirl (it sort of folds back in on itself as it swirls) in my milk jug. After removing that little plastic restrictor, I suddenly had both swirl and roll going, and without really trying, ended up with microfoam.
STEAM TIPS (as in the tip of the steam wand, not tips on how to microfoam)
Prior to discovering the plastic restrictor in the stock steam tip, I tried ordering other 10mm steam tips...but there's a problem with this. The Vibiemme's steam wands thread stops about 1mm before the conical part that is supposed to meet up with the steam tip...but aftermarket steam tips have thread right to the end. What this means is that when you put an aftermarket steam tip on it, it doesn't meet up with the conical part of the steam wand that it is meant to join with...and when you turn the steam one, water then leaks out.
Does anyone know suitable steam tips? I've tried doing searches without luck.
ROTARY PUMP
The rotary pump is a lot quieter than a vibrating pump, but I was still surprised by the level of noise. Don't get me wrong, it's not at all irritating - I was just under the impression that they were fairly silent - but this is obviously in comparison to a vibrating pump. Overall the rotary pump is much quieter - you can actually have a conversation while pulling a shot.
ASCETICS, STAINLESS STEEL, and FUNCTIONALITY
The Vibiemme is a wonderful looking machine. It sits well on my standard sized kitchen benchtop.
The stainless walls looks like about 1.5mm thick, but that's just a guess.
The thickness of the stainless steel cover of the driptray is quite thin - you can feel flex in it with even a moderate amount of pressure. This however is only minor criticism...and one I make probably only because I was so spoiled by the thickness of my old Expobar's stainless steel.
I do have a more major criticism of the drip tray. Once you remove the drip train and empty it - it is rather fiddly to re-insert. First you have to fit the drip tray down over the vertical walls - but in order to do this on my machine, you have to push one of the walls in so that drip tray can hook over the top of both vertical walls. Then when you push it forward - it has to squeeze under a horizontal piece of metal just prior to the main machine - meaning I have to lift the drip train on an angle and 'force' it under. It's not difficult to do this - but it is really poor designing to make something that should be simple, fiddly.
You will need space above it to allow the water tank to be removed - you have to lift it upwards.
The water reservoir itself is a pathetic 2L. This means plenty of refilling. It is also an open top water container, which means you can't fill it all the way to the top, as when you put it in the machine, you would be likely to spill some (if it was too full). I prefer tanks with a hole in the top.
But I would rather use the water tank than plumb it in, because I have a very good water filter, and using filtered water saves on maintenance and machine life...and I don't want the coffee taste tainted by chlorine. Likely one would be able to attach a filter in a way that allows the 'plumbed in' to work, but I don't think I can be bothered.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Despite some shortcomings, the actual espresso making ability of the Super 2b is absolutely wonderful. To me it is a definite step up from the old Minore 3.
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