Operation Manual

Also included was a blind basket (with no holes) for backﬂushing. The use of that ﬁlter will be described

fully in Chapter 19.

You were also supplied with two portaﬁlter handles. These are identical as seen on the previous page ex-

cept for one having a double spout to make it easier to pour into two cups at the same time, and the other has

a single sided spout which is designed to pour into one cup.

NOTE: If you will be using cups that are wide enough to sit under both spouts of the double-spout

portaﬁlter, feel free to use the double to make a double espresso into one cup. The double spout

also makes it a lot easier to hold the portaﬁlter while tamping (explained later in this chapter). In

other words, use any basket in either of the portaﬁlter bodies at any time.

Choose the one you will be using to get started, insert the desired ﬁlter basket by simply pushing it in until

is clicks fully into place, and lock the assembly into the brewhead. Always leave the portaﬁlter in place while

the machine is warming up so that it becomes fully warmed up along with the rest of the brew path.

NOTE: It is recommended to lock the portaﬁlter that you will be using into the group when you turn

on the machine. This allow the portaﬁlter to heat up as the machine does.

Now it’s time to wait! Patience is a virtue when it comes to making espresso and here is our ﬁrst example.

The boilers, that huge brass brewgroup, the portaﬁlter, and all the related metal parts connecting them all need

to come up to temperature. As the brew boiler heats up, hot water will circulate through the brewgroup help-

ing to speed things up. For best results allow at least twenty or thirty minutes from the time that the machine

is ﬁrst turned on before the machine will be used. When the PID display ﬁrst shows the target temperature it

only means the water inside the boiler is at the desired temperature. It takes additional time for the rest of the

brewing path to be ready.

WARNING: The entire brewgroup and the portaﬁlter will get hot enough to cause burns. Use cau-

tion when using the machine, and if there are any small children in the home (or guests not ac-

customed to such appliances) make sure that they are aware of the dangers and protect them from

injury. Shiny chrome surfaces invite curious hands!

As the machine begins to warm up you can verify that the machine is operating properly by viewing the

PID display and the steam boiler’s pressure gauge. The temperature displayed on the PID will usually stay

within about one or two degrees of the preset temperature while the machine is idling (on but unused). If the

power switch is in “Position II,” the steam boiler’s gauge will move through a range, upwards and downwards,

of about .3 to .5 BAR after it has warmed up. That is normal.

Enough talk! Let’s make some espresso!

Warm Up

You should have already chosen the portaﬁlter and basket for your current needs (a double basket for a

two ounce shot or a single basket for a one ounce shot). It should have been locked into the brewhead while

the Domobar Super was warming up. Allow the machine to warm up for thirty minutes or more before the

ﬁrst use of the day.

WARNING: The Vibiemme Double is designed so that it can be safely left on all day. An unattended

machine can be a hazard to children, pets, and adults not aware of the hot surfaces, hot water,

and steam that can come from the machine. These all present the potential to cause very serious

burns.

Grind

Let’s take a brief aside to discuss the importance of the grinder itself. A huge part of espresso is an amount

of very ﬁnely-ground coffee with as little dust as possible, and with particles in a controlled size range. We

cannot emphasize too strongly that your choice of grinder is critical for quality espresso. You have purchased