About 11 years ago I bought a VBM Domobar single boiler. I had some initial problems as I left the steam setting on overnight burnt out the element. This was replaced under warranty as there was nothing in the instructions that told me to refill the tank after steaming if the machine is to be left on.
The machine is mainly used for me as my wife does not like coffee. I guess on average I would make 10 – 12 coffees per week, so there is not a lot of activity. The machine is turned off after I have made my morning coffee.
It has worked fine since then with the occasional trip to the workshop for a service, but nothing very serious. I have cleaned it every three or four weeks and de-scale it every six months or so. It has been about two years since it was in the workshop for a service.
A couple of days ago I got an electric shock when I was making my coffee and immediately took it back to the workshop for advice. I just spoke to the technician and he said that there were several problems they had identified, mainly caused by a buildup of scale causing leakages which have resulted in the electrical problem. He basically said that the machine was only useful for spare parts unless I was prepared to spend a lot of money on it. He recommended that I buy a new machine. By the way they do not sell machines, so I don't see that he was motivated by trying to sell me one.
I am rather disappointed that this has only lasted 11 years, as it was reasonably expensive and I thought it was built like a truck to last forever.
Is the problem the machine; the Adelaide water I am using which is quite hard; or is this really the expected life of one of these devices?
Secondly, does anyone have a recommendation for a single boiler in the $1500 – $2000 range. I already have an excellent grinder.
The machine is mainly used for me as my wife does not like coffee. I guess on average I would make 10 – 12 coffees per week, so there is not a lot of activity. The machine is turned off after I have made my morning coffee.
It has worked fine since then with the occasional trip to the workshop for a service, but nothing very serious. I have cleaned it every three or four weeks and de-scale it every six months or so. It has been about two years since it was in the workshop for a service.
A couple of days ago I got an electric shock when I was making my coffee and immediately took it back to the workshop for advice. I just spoke to the technician and he said that there were several problems they had identified, mainly caused by a buildup of scale causing leakages which have resulted in the electrical problem. He basically said that the machine was only useful for spare parts unless I was prepared to spend a lot of money on it. He recommended that I buy a new machine. By the way they do not sell machines, so I don't see that he was motivated by trying to sell me one.
I am rather disappointed that this has only lasted 11 years, as it was reasonably expensive and I thought it was built like a truck to last forever.
Is the problem the machine; the Adelaide water I am using which is quite hard; or is this really the expected life of one of these devices?
Secondly, does anyone have a recommendation for a single boiler in the $1500 – $2000 range. I already have an excellent grinder.



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