Vibiemme Machines – All, Eric Carter

I purchased this machine in Spring 2007.  It is now Spring 2020 so here is how we are doing 13 years later!  In short this is a solid, well built, machine.  It is an electro mechanical device so it is unrealistic to think it would go 5, 10, 15… years without maintenance (more on this later).  Based on my whole bean coffee purchases over the years I estimate that this machine has pulled over 26,000 shots- and still going strong.

There is a learning curve.  It took me a few years- that is right – a few years to get consistent great crema.  My biggest mistake was trying to create awesome espresso with a $50 grinder from Target.  After purchasing a $450 Rancilio Rocky grinder and some adjusting the setting based on the beans, I was able to produce the crema that I desired.  This was operator error and not a negative against the machine.

The machine is at pressure a few minutes after turning it on; however, I have found that the grouphead needs at least 30 minutes to warm up for great crema.  

There is some art to this- the right dose, grind, tamp.  This is not a ‘push one button and the machine does the rest’ machine.  I don’t mind, but this may not be for everyone.

Over the past 13 years I have had this machine on a timer (12 hours/ day year round).  I have replaced the vibration pump and 4 button control panel each twice.  I have replaced the reed switch under the water reservoir and rebuilt the OPV each once.  And every 4- 6 months as part of my preventative maintenance routine I descale the boiler, replace the grouphead gasket, and replace the frothing wand silicone seal plus O- rings on valve stem.  As I mentioned earlier, maintenance will need to be performed either by you or someone else.  If you are comfortable with basic tools (screwdriver, wrench) you should have no problem performing this maintenance yourself, especially with the proliferation of repair videos on YouTube.  

If economics are part of your buying criteria (they always are to me), at ~ 2000 shots/ year with whole bean coffee costing me between $11- $12/ pound, I estimate that each shot cost me $0.23 (coffee only- not machine, grinder, maintenance).  Considering it can be just as good (if not better) than you could buy, I believe the value is truly there!

Purchased from 1stLine.  I called them in 2007 to get some advice.  Jim the owner answered the phone himself and provided his guidance.  I asked for a high quality built to last machine and he recommended this one.  Highly satisfied with machine and service from 1st line.  At some point this machine will cost more to repair than it is worth and I will certainly buy another Vibiemme.  The only change I will make is go with a manual (lever operated) instead of the electronic pushbuttons.