Models we service and repair
La Cimbali has been building machines in Binasco near Milan since 1912 and is one of the big commercial espresso brands worldwide. We look after the full commercial range plus the smaller models.
M100 is the flagship for high-volume work. Selectron, Attiva or GT depending on spec. Two or three group heads, separate control per group, robust platform — in Berlin cafés and restaurants often 12+ years in daily use.
M39 is one step down, available as Dosatron (volumetric) and GT (with pre-brewing). Two or three groups, slightly more compact build than the M100. The most common La Cimbali in mid-sized Berlin cafés.
M34 rarely turns up new, but often as a used café setup. Dosatron or Selectron, two groups, solid standard platform.
M27 is the smallest commercial La Cimbali — a single-group machine, often found in restaurants or bars with low espresso volume, or as a light-commercial unit for home users with a plumbed-in connection.
Microcimbali and Junior are the vintage lever machines from the 60s through 80s. Restoration projects, but technically repairable if you know the platform.
Typical problems and how we fix them
M100, one group head pulling weak. A classic. In 70 percent of cases it's the solenoid valve on the affected group — gummed up, slowed down by scale. Swapped in 30 minutes, then pump pressure and pre-infusion pressure (on the GT) readjusted. If the solenoid is clean, we move on to the flow meter and the dose programming.
M39 Dosatron, volumetrics all over the place. Meaning: the programmed shot volumes no longer add up, every button dispenses something different. The cause is almost always a drifting flow meter (Gicar) — scale in the sensor channel. Clean or replace, then reprogram from scratch, all four buttons per group individually. A good hour, and afterwards every programmed button hits its mark.
M100 Attiva, touch display responding sluggishly. First we check the firmware — La Cimbali ships updates, and that fixes some touch drift. If the update doesn't help, the touch foil itself is due — genuine part from Binasco, lead time often two to three weeks, which is why we quote up front.
Water sitting too high in the service boiler. The level probe in the brew boiler is crusted over, misreads the water level, keeps the pump filling. Probe out, into acid solution, back in clean. If the probe is corroded through, a new one goes in — 30 euros, always worth it.
Steam getting weak. First we unscrew the tip and soak it in citric acid — in half the cases that solves the problem completely. If the tip is clear, the steam solenoid valve is next. If that's clean too, it's the steam boiler heating element — one dead cartridge out of three is enough for a noticeable drop in power.
Genuine parts straight from Binasco
We source genuine La Cimbali parts through the authorized distributor and in some cases directly from the factory in Binasco. Solenoid valves, Procon rotary pumps, Gicar flow meters, control boards, heating elements, group head components, tips, gasket kits.
What we never do: fit a generic Chinese solenoid valve into an M100. The thing drips after two months and ends up costing you the hourly rate three times over. A genuine La Cimbali part runs 60 to 90 euros and lasts eight years. Do the math yourself.
For vintage models (Microcimbali, Junior, old M34) we also hunt down parts through collector networks and Italian workshops. Some gaskets are no longer available new — then we make them from standard material to original dimensions.
On site — that's how hospitality works
A La Cimbali in a café means on-site service. The machine is plumbed in, running on mains water, and the café is open. We arrive with spare parts in the van, do the diagnosis and repair on the spot. Call-out flat rate plus hourly rate, emergency surcharge outside workshop hours (Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-14).
24/7 emergency service is available for cafés and restaurants in Berlin and nearby Brandenburg. If the machine dies at 6:30 in the morning before the early shift, we have a plan: phone triage first (some things you can check yourself, which saves a call-out), then we come out with the most likely spare parts, then repair. Realistic response time in Berlin: 90-180 minutes, depending on the time of day.
For a home M27 or a vintage Microcimbali we also collect the machine and work in the workshop — for restoration jobs that always makes more sense.
Maintenance contracts for cafés
For cafés running one to three La Cimbali machines we recommend a maintenance contract: two fixed service dates per year (for ice cream parlors, one before the season starts), guaranteed response time on breakdowns, fixed prices for wear parts (gasket kits, solenoid valves, pump sets). Your upside: predictable costs, longer machine life, priority in emergencies. Our upside: a plannable calendar.
The contract details depend on your volume (kg of beans per week, number of machines, location). The initial assessment appointment is free.
Prices and flat rates
Maintenance M100 / M39 (2 groups): flat rate per visit, standard wear parts included. Maintenance M34 / M27: lower flat rate. Emergency call-out Berlin: flat rate plus hourly rate. Emergency surcharge outside workshop hours. Maintenance contract: based on volume, quote after the assessment appointment.
What we don't do
We don't tamper with counters or sales statistics on an M100 — depending on configuration that's tied into the café's bookkeeping, and we don't touch it.
We don't install unofficial software mods on an M100 Attiva. La Cimbali ships firmware updates through authorized service, everything else is a risk.
We don't do "20-minute quick fixes" on an M100 — café machines need proper diagnosis, otherwise the next breakdown is three weeks away. We work thoroughly; that saves you and us the second call-out.