Description
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VBM Domobar Junior HX Espresso Machine
Enjoy a great latte or creamy cappuccino from a VBM Domobar Junior espresso machine. VBM calls it ‘Junior’ because of its smaller footprint for those customers who do not have the room nor space for the larger Super espresso machines, such as a model with a rotary vane pump or the other with a vibration pump.
A little history… based on the great success of the VBM Domobar Super Heat Exchanger (a.k.a. HX) espresso machines in the USA since 2006, VBM has designed the VBM Domobar Junior HX in 2010 for those customers who need a smaller footprint. The VBM Domobar Junior HX offers the same
- ability to extract espresso and steam milk at the same time, and
- ability to change the pressure in the boiler which is a direct proportional relationship to the temperature.
Please note:
for VBM to offer a lower price when you compare to the Super machines, the following features are different mostly due to the smaller space available inside the machine
- The VBM Domobar Junior’s footprint is smaller for those customers who have less space, but smaller size means less metal (lower cost).
- A smaller pressurestat controls the boiler. This part requires manual descaling.
- The heat exchanger has a 1.0 liter boiler which is smaller when you compare to the larger 1.9-liter boilers found on the Super models.
- The drip tray is smaller on the Junior.
- The grouphead and water tank switches are smaller.
The VBM Domobar Junior HX machine still boasts the exclusive and original E-61 grouphead found on the larger machines, the same ULKA 41 watt pump, gorgeous styling, large adjustable overpressure valve (OPV), commercial-grade steam and hot water valves, multi-directional steam and hot water wands, brew and steam pressure gauges, heavy vacuum breaker valve, and one-way valve to eliminate back pressure from the boiler.
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Heat exchange system:
- Copper, insulation – The boiler is copper which retains heat better than stainless steel. Typically copper boilers are more susceptible to limescale when you compare to stainless steel boilers. Therefore, we highly recommend using a water softener. The manufacturer wraps the boiler with insulation for maximum heat retention.
- Pull a shot & steam milk at the same time – Steam is always readily available. Hence, there is no wait time going from coffee to steam mode.
E-61 grouphead:
- True Faema E-61 – The original E-61 by Carlo Ernesto Valente who brought the design from Faema to VBM. More heavy-duty than other E-61 groupheads on the market.
- Constantly heated – Hot water circulates from the heat exchanger through the grouphead and back to keep the grouphead and your portafilter nice and hot. As a result the grouphead temperature constant and stable when you compare to other groupheads that have a built-in heating element.
- Pre-infusion – Lever next to the grouphead activates a microswitch which turns on the pump to pump water through the coffee grinds. Pulling the lever halfway up will open the valve to allow water into the grouphead without activating the pump. Please note that true pre-infusion requires the direct water connection whereby the water pressure from the waterline creates true pre-infusion.
Vibratory pump:
- Efficient – 41 watts, rated up to 15 bar with air valve bypass. You only need 9 bar to extract perfect espresso, and wattage has no correlation to longevity.
- Cost-effective – Pumps will degrade in performance over time. Replacing a vibration pump will cost less than a rotary vane pump.
Tank/reservoir system:
- Particle filter – Protects the machine from any unseen particles from entering the boiler. You can remove this filter if you are installing an inline water softener.
- Auto-shutoff – Prevents burning out the heating element. The water tank sits on a spring-activated plate. Once the water is low, the plate depresses the tank microswitch which turns off the heating element.
Separate wands for steam and hot water:
- Multi-directional – Allows for more movement and flexibility. The wands connect to the valves on an angle to the side for even more flexibility. As a result, there is less risk of burning oneself from the exposed grouphead.
- 2-hole steam tip – Allows for a slow gradual build-up of microfoam.
- Rotational knobs – Allows for easier control of the intensity.
Separate pressure gauges:
- Steam (boiler) pressure gauge – Located on the left. Measures from 0 to 4 bar. Optimal pressure is between 0.8 and 1.1. Regulated by a Mater pressurstat.
- Brew (pump) pressure gauge – Located on the right. Measures from 0 to 16 bar. Optimal pressure is between 8 and 10. You can find the overpressure valve inside the left near the vibration pump.
Separate indicator lights:
- Heating light – Located on the left side. It indicates when the espresso machine is heating. Once fully heated, there is no need to pay attention to the heating light unless temperature surfing.
- Low water level light – Located in the middle. It indicates when the water level in the water tank/reservoir is low.
- Power indicator light – Located on the right side. This will indicate when the machine is on.
Body panel:
- Stainless steel – Polished to a mirror finish.
- Easily removable – First remove the top cover. Then remove the 6 screws (3 on each side) and the wrap-around body slides off.
Accessories included:
- Portafilters – Single spout portafilter and a dual spout portafilter. The neck has the VBM brand imprint, similar to the one on the grouphead.
- Filter baskets – 1-cup filter basket which holds approximately 7 grams. 2-cup filter basket which holds approximately 14 grams. Blind filter basket which you use for backflushing. 58 mm in diameter.
- Tamper – A cheap plastic tamper. Manufacturers will normally include a tamper like this to keep the overall selling price of the machine low. We recommend upgrading to a better tamper.
- Cleaning brush – A simple brush for cleaning the grouphead. Ergonomically designed with an angle for easier usage.
- Coffee scoop – A simple plastic scoop if you are using preground coffee.
- Instruction manual – 3 separate manuals: a quick start guide, a detailed instruction manual, and a description of the machine components.
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Maintenance
Documentation
Common Parts
- Heating Element
- Portafilter / Grouphead Gasket
- Pump
- Shower / Dispersion Screen
- Water Tank / Reservoir
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Technical Support
- Accessing the Inside
- Beeping Sound
- Heat Shield Installation
- Limescale Leakage
- Not Heating
- Overheating
- Pump & Air Release Valve Repair
- Steam / Hot Water Valve Gasket Fix
- Vibration Pump Not Pumping
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Marc (verified owner) –
I’ve only had this machine 1 month (I choose it because my good friend has had a Vib Domo/ Super for a few years now), but it is everything I was hoping for. A robust build quality delivering the ability to produce top notch espresso/milk drinks at home. Also my experience with 1st-line was flawless. I can refer both without reserve.
Satre S MD, MFA –
This is our first “real” espresso machine. We don’t have a lot of money to spare so we needed to get the best value and most durability for years since we won’t be able to “upgrade” for a while. I had my eye on a couple of other brands until Jim pointed out that the VBMs were made of pretty much the best quality components available. I took his advice and have been completely overjoyed with the Junior. Received it July 1, 2014. I have been using it every day and, though I don’t always get the “golden rule shot” (who does?), I do get it quite often. Regardless, even if not golden, my wife and I have enjoyed every shot. It must be very forgiving to those of us who are not experts with every detail. The espresso is great every time. It’s practically like being back in Italy! (Which is how we fell in love with espresso in the first place). I’ll have to say, though, that while it’s nice going to a cafe and having someone else pull an espresso for me, I do prefer my own from the Junior now. I researched just about every machine out there and after reading how bothered many people were about the noise of a vibratory pump machine, I was a bit nervous ordering it. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet the Junior is. Maybe it’s the amazingly thick steel housing because it’s substantially quieter than my fish tank pump, which is pretty mellow. The Junior has a small footprint so it fit nicely on our small chef’s cart along with our grinder (Quick Mill EVO-60 also bought at 1st-line), knock box and all the paraphernalia. The design is well thought-out with the gauges readily visible and up high where they won’t get messy. The drip tray is huge so it doesn’t need to be emptied until we’re done with all the morning shots. It’s well-made, very heavy — nothing is cheap about this machine. A nice bonus is that it’s gorgeous with excellent craftsmanship! A friend of ours who was a barista back when everything was manual was very impressed with it. After about 6 weeks, we moved from our home where we had softened water to an apartment with hard water and so we put on one of those in-tank softeners. There is a difference in the way the machine sounds. It seems to have to work a bit harder drawing up water, and you have to be sure that there’s always enough water in the tank since the filter adds weight and, depending on the position of the filter, the machine doesn’t shut off when there’s not enough water to enter the pump. The water cutoff spring tension is probably adjustable, but I haven’t looked into it yet. It still pulls the same shots as before, so no real issues there. Of course, I couldn’t help myself to re-research espresso machines in morbid hopes of feeling some twinge of buyer’s remorse, but I have to admit that I’m completely satisfied. This machine is awesome, and I’d buy it again if I had the chance to do it all over. It’s easy to use, yet has the complexity and ability to pull off the best of shots. It steams and pulls shots simultaneously without any noticeable effort. The crema is out of this world – thick and tight. I like that it has all the power/components/ability to do what is needed for the “golden rule”, yet is tolerant of a novice who has practically nothing just right. I’m enjoying making superlative espresso and further developing/refining my technique. It’s great that Vibiemme has packed all these high quality components into an affordable (comparatively) machine. Thank you VBM, and thank you Jim!
Sam Fisher –
I have to say after two years of use I have very few complaints. Everyone at 1st line has been great and very professional. I use it every day and always do the required maintenance / cleaning on the machine. If I am picky I would say that it leaks from the wands more than I would like…but like I said I’m being picky. That being said you have to be prepared to do some of the work on it yourself. I also think it’s a good idea to use bottled water in it (we use Poland Spring) otherwise YAY!
JC S. –
I have been using the Vibiemme Domobar Jr. HX for six months and overall am very pleased with the purchase. We pull 2 doubles every weekday and usually 4 doubles on weekends. Working with 1st-Line was great and they accommodated my request to delay shipping while I was traveling. The machine arrived double-boxed and well packaged by UPS with no apparent damage. After unboxing, I noted the cup tray had been bent. 1st-Line promptly replaced the cup tray after I notified them. The front of the machine had some small scratches and dings, which was disappointing and there was absolutely nothing in the box that was loose or could have caused those, so I have to assume it was caused some time prior to shipping. After considering the cost and hassle of shipping the unit back to 1st-Line, I didn’t feel it was worth it when the machine works just fine. This machine has a fantastic footprint which is perfect for small and medium sized kitchen spaces. It has powerful steam with the stock 2 hole tip and I had to switch to a one hole tip to more easily create great microfoam for latte art when steaming only enough milk for one drink. The boiler pressure and the OPV are easy to get dialed in and the HX with E61 brew group pulls fantastic shots. Make sure you spend ample time getting your water chemistry right to minimize scale and maximize your extractions. I can’t emphasize water chemistry enough and there are plenty of online resources if chemistry isn’t your thing. This is a great machine for the price point and is suitable for beginners to experts when paired with a quality grinder. Here are some of my pros and cons: Pros: Small Footprint, solid build quality, classic E61 brew group, large drip tray volume, ease of adjustability for boiler and brew pressure. Perfect for high-end home use consumer. Very appealing design. Insulated boiler. Powerful steam. Great espresso when paired with a good grinder. Cons: Drip tray cover hole doesn’t line up with OPV opening very well, older style vacuum breaker valve spurts inside when machine first warms up. For home machines I recommend a barbed vacuum breaker with hose to route that spray elsewhere as most home users don’t leave their machines on 24/7. For my unit, the most annoying thing is the steam valve has a tendency to open slightly when the machine heats up and will drip. To some extent, the water tap has done the same thing. You want to avoid over tightening these things, so there is a fine line in getting it to the point where it won’t drip. Because this has occurred since day one, I can only surmise it to be a manufacturing issue or seals/o-rings that are old, so, I am going to install new o-rings and seals to see if that will solve this issue. Not a deal breaker, just an annoyance. Overall, I think this is a great machine and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.
A. P. –
Bought this machine after several months of research. 1st Line and Diane were excellent in helping to select and guide to the right machine. I am novice user and initially was considering Rancillio Silvia. VBM Junior was certainly a step up but the machine is amazing. Its solid makes amazing espresso and milk drinks (although still learning technique for these drinks). This is a commercial type machine for the home small office. It will make espresso as good as any large type machine. Only difference is the number of drinks (less obviously due to tank and boiler capacity, and no direct connection to water line) otherwise as good as any super quality coffee shop machine. (Of course assuming you purchase quality beans). Critical to also invest in a commercial grinder I purchased a Quamar M80 and it is also excellent. If you are serious about your coffee and want a step up from quasi home espresso machines this is the choice. VBM brand is solid, reputation is stellar and quality of build is superb. These machines are not cheap but if you want seriously good coffee then it is absolutely worth it. 1st Line and Diane excellent resource if you are not sure. No pressure and provide lots of fair and unbiased information. Of course its up to you to decide ultimately but do your research make sure this is a investment you will use. These machine require maintenance and care. I follow all the maintenance schedules religiously. If you are looking for convenience and do not have time or cannot be bothered to do regular maintenance then this and other manual espresso type machines are not for you. Just like any other mechanical type machinery it is critical to maintain the machine to ensure longevity and quality of your output. Good luck and if you do purchase may all your espresso shots be stellar!
John S. –
Upgraded to VBM Jr from Silvia after 12 years. The upgrade is significant in how VBM Jr produces cappuccinos. You have to get use to doing cooling flushes to get the right espresso shot. Additionally, Jim Piccinich was very helpful in reviewing the options to upgrade from Silvia, and provided immediate responses when i had a microswitch problem. 1st Line was excellent to work with for both product and service.
Joshua G. –
Out of the box: This is a stunning chrome and stainless machine. Very heavy, solid on the counter. It is a little wonky to get to the water tank. Dials and indicators work well and are intuitive. The grouphead heats up fast and seems very stable. I bought this with a naked portafilter. Shots pull with a gorgeous cone that starts as a brown crema drip, tiger stripes, and finishes beautifully. It steams milk quickly and beautifully. The grouphead and steam/water wands get very hot, of course – be careful! Very easy cleanup and backflush on this machine. I love it.