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Vibiemme Domobar Piccolo - Steaming issues

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  • Vibiemme Domobar Piccolo - Steaming issues

    Hi guys.

    I'm wondering if there's anyone out there with some advice on steaming with the VBM Piccolo.

    I'm brewing my shot after letting the machine heat up for 30-45 minutes & having no issues there. Brew pressure reading around 9-10 bars which I believe is good.

    After I brew my shot, I hit the steam switch & purge out any water from the steam wand until I get dry steam. Then I close the steam knob & let the pressure increase.

    The machine reads "2 Bar" steam pressure & then the heating light turns off.

    I begin to steam & the pressure drops rapidly (withing 4-5 seconds) to ZERO. I can't texture milk at all as it just seems to release all pressure at once.

    I'm using a 2-hole steam tip, which other users have a lot of success with.

    I've tried various other routines listed in forums (both here & externally) but with absolutely no luck.

    Any ideas or maintenance that might be required?

    Thanks in advance.

  • #2
    One possible cause is that the water level in the boiler is too high. Too little headspace = too little steam volume in reserve.

    Comment


    • #3
      How might I go about reducing the volume of water in the boiler?

      This seems to make sense. The first jug of milk I steamed was absolutely perfect but I may have overfilled the boiler somewhere along the way…

      Comment


      • #4
        You could have a faulty anti-vac valve.

        As Lyrebird said maybe too much water, you could adjust the depth of the water level probe. Have a look for some pictures of Piccolo machines to see where people set the water level probe.

        Comment


        • #5
          There is no anti-vac in the piccolo, it is a single boiler

          The gauge is only for brew pressure, ignore it when steaming

          It sounds like the machine is not heating up into steam temp and is just staying at brew temp . How long is the gap between pushing the steam button and the light going out? the piccolo usually takes quite a while and produces alot of water before steam, but is usually very powerful long lasting steam once you wait for it

          My guess is either the steam button or steam thermostat is faulty - how long have you had the machine? is this a new occurance?

          Comment


          • roosterben
            roosterben commented
            Editing a comment
            Ah sorry poster, I had forgotten how these work, I have worked on a couple it is a two mode.

            kofekitt - Is it pstat for brew and high temp cutoff for steam pressure?

          • kofekitt
            kofekitt commented
            Editing a comment
            This thread should help;
            https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...olo-thermostat
            You're even in it RoosterBen basically a bulb thermostat adjustable for brew temp, and a button thermostat 150 degrees for steam

          • roosterben
            roosterben commented
            Editing a comment
            Haha, too funny that is my thread. Wow my memory is bad!

            I have worked on so many HX machines since I had pretty much forgotten.

        • #6
          Originally posted by kofekitt View Post
          There is no anti-vac in the piccolo, it is a single boiler

          The gauge is only for brew pressure, ignore it when steaming

          It sounds like the machine is not heating up into steam temp and is just staying at brew temp . How long is the gap between pushing the steam button and the light going out? the piccolo usually takes quite a while and produces alot of water before steam, but is usually very powerful long lasting steam once you wait for it

          My guess is either the steam button or steam thermostat is faulty - how long have you had the machine? is this a new occurance?
          I’ve only had it a week. Second hand machine.

          it gets to “steam temp” within 20-30 seconds after pressing the steam button.

          Comment


          • Caffeinator
            Caffeinator commented
            Editing a comment
            Agreed with kofekitt Will be steam button and/or thermostat which are cactus

        • #7
          Okay - so I can confirm it takes about 1mim 30 seconds to “heat” to steam temp. However, after purging out the residual water from the steam wand until dry steam appears, then letting it “re-heat” again, I can literally hold my hand under the steam wand because the “steam” is barely hot at all.

          Im assuming this means that the water isn’t being heated to correct temp - fair assumption?

          Sam.

          Comment


          • #8
            It's hard to say without seeing it and testing in person. If it's heating for 1 min 30 sec's that sounds about right and should be getting plenty hot enough for steam . When re priming the boiler after, are you getting plenty of steam /flash boiling from the group as the boiler refills?

            Comment


            • anst1ssa
              anst1ssa commented
              Editing a comment
              Not getting steam/flash boiling from the group. Basically just 2-3 seconds of nothing, then a steady stream of water as normal. Basically as if it’s not even having to cool down.

          • #9
            I think I'm getting to the bottom of it. Let me describe what's happening.

            Turn machine on - gets up to temp after 30-45 minutes as normal.
            Press steam button (which should turn on heating element & heat to 150c)
            Steam button illuminates as it should.
            Heating light comes on which suggests that the steam button may be working fine.
            The heating light turns OFF after 1 minute or so, BUT there is no audible noise to suggest the boiler heated further than brewing temp.
            If I purge water from the group head (with the steam button ON & apparently at temp) the water dispensed is clearly at regular brewing temp, not steam temp.

            Does this mean that it's possible the steam button is OK, but the steam thermostat is the culprit?

            Cheers to all.

            Sam.

            Comment


            • #10
              Am I correct in saying the steam thermostat should be a 150C thermostat??

              I opened up the machine & it's got a 130C thermostat for steam... Could have been replaced with the wrong one maybe last service.

              Comment


              • #11
                I think you have found the problem.

                I can't link it here as they are not a sponsor, but if you search for cafeparts Vibiemme Electrical-Parts Domobar, when you look at the parts diagram part number 13 is 150 degree 250volt

                Part Number: 1443076
                SKU: 1443076
                Contact Thermostat 150°c 16a 250v

                This is from cafeparts.com but you should be able to find the part in Australia. I think the Vibiemme part reference is ELETGLDOM .

                Comment


                • #12
                  Good news - installing the 150c thermostat solved the problem. Must have been replaced with the wrong one when it was last serviced.

                  Thank you all for your help.

                  Comment

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