Great steam pressure, large water reservoir, large drip tray, easy to clean, very versatile machine, the flush is quick, great shots
Negative Product Points
A little loud, casing didn't fit flush with the frame upon arrival, double portafilter broken on arrival (1st Line sent out a new one immediately), a little picky about the water being put into it
Detailed Commentary
Positives:
Steam Pressure: The steam pressure is incredible, it froths milk so fast and so well, it's one of the best attributes of this machine.
Large Water Reservoir/Drip Tray: Because the water reservoir and drip tray hold so much water, you can really spend time focusing on making shots, not on filling/emptying.
Easy To Clean: It takes about 10 minutes to clean this machine including backflushing.
Versatility: Pretty much any sort of coffee drink you want, this machine can produce. Of course you'll still need the right beans, grind, and tamp, but once you get that down, this machine will deliver.
Quick Flush: The flush is usually pretty quick. If the machine has been sitting for a few hours without use, the flush will take about 30 seconds. In between shots, the flush is minimal.
Great Shots: It wouldn't be a great machine if it didn't produce great shots, and when everything is dialed in properly, this makes some of the best shots I've ever had.
Negatives:
Loud: Because it's using a vibe pump, it's a bit loud. I took the case off and put some noise dampening tape around the edges.
Casing: When my machine arrived, I noticed that the casing wasn't flush with the frame (I could see the fill light from the inside). I had to unscrew the case and put it back on properly.
Portafilter: The double portafilter was broken on arrival, but 1st Line had a new one shipped out to me the very same day.
Picky About Water: I can't stress this enough, make sure you're using good quality water. My water oxidized my boiler which caused a funny taste and oxidized crystals in my coffee. Cleaning out the boiler was a hassle, and I burned out my vibe pump in the process (I didn't let the vibe pump rest enough between flushes).
Thoughts: With these machines, you really have to think of them like cars. They take maintenance, and you sometimes have to be willing to get under the hood. My vibe pump went out, so I took off the cover and put in a new one. It's a labor of love. Sometimes a machine like this can be frustrating. Sometimes I just want the machine to do all the work for me. And there are machines out there that WILL do everything for you, but where's the fun in that? The Vibiemme is a great machine that allows complete flexibility, while at the same time producing predictably great shots. There is SO much more that goes into making a shot than the machine, but once you dial in those other factors, the machine will work flawlessly.
Buying Experience
1st Line was great, Jim is the guy to talk to when you need advice or help.
