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2. Water
All coffee beverages start with two things- coffee and water. Because the majority of espresso is water, it
should come as no surprise that quality water is important to the taste of the espresso. Additionally, using
the wrong water can eventually cause problems for your machine and even cause part failures. So what
water to use? None of the Vibiemme Domobar espresso machines can use distilled or reverse osmosis
(RO) water because these waters contain virtually no minerals. The water level sensor in the boiler needs
a small amount of minerals to sense the water level. Without these minerals the boiler will be overfilled
and that can cause numerous problems, and can even damage the machine. On the other hand, water
too high in mineral content or water containing the wrong minerals can cause rapid buildup of lime and
calcium deposits that can reduce boiler volume, cause poor heating performance, and can eventually lead
to heating element failure.
Water hardness test strips are available that can be used to make sure that the water you are using is safe
for your machine. Inexpensive TDS meters are also readily available for purchase and these can be used
to test the hardness of your water. If you find that your water is too hard, we recommend using either an
in-tank replaceable water softener cartridge that attaches to the inlet hose.!
If you don’t want to deal with filtering water in the pitchers then another solution is to install an in-line,
under-the-sink water filter designed to filter water to be used in espresso machines. Check with your
retailer/reseller for more details on which of these filter systems would work best for you.
3. Connect the machine
To access the reservoir lift the Cup Warming Tray off the machine and place the cover aside. The
Water Reservoir is located in the rear of the machine: pull them out of the tank and lift the reservoir
out of the machine. Use a small amount of mild detergent and warm water to wash the reservoir, and
rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap. Never use any abrasive scrubbing pads or brushes on the
reservoir as they will leave scratches in the plastic which may eventually harbor micro organisms. The
water reservoir should be washed in this way every two weeks or so to help prevent the growth of any
undesirable organisms in the water.
Re-place the Water Reservoir in the machine. Be sure that both hoses enter the reservoir correctly
and are not kinked or pinched. Once you have verified that your water quality is appropriate for use in an
espresso machine, fill the Water Reservoir. A funnel is recommended to prevent spilling water into the
machine. Do not overfill. Filling it to just below the level where the hoses enter the reservoir is fine.
Replace the cap on the reservoir. Get into the habit of regularly checking the reservoir’s water level. The
large capacity will not need filling as often as smaller machines, so it can be easy to forget to check the
water level. Don’t worry. The microswitch under the reservoir will temporarily disable the machine, including
the heating element, if the water level gets low. If this occurs, simply refill the Water Reservoir.
Replace the Cup Warming Tray and confirm that the steam - hot water valve are closed. DO NOT
tighten the valves until they stop. Lightly hand tighten only: be sure that the brew lever is in the full down
position.
