cflorimo Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Newhall, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Mar 11, 2009, 5:56pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
kemperj Said:
How is the range on the vario. Could someone go from French Press to espresso. Do you think it has adequate range for both? I know this is going to be an issue for many of us hoping to find one grinder to do it all.
While talking to Kyle at Baratza he mentioned that there will be an adjustment possible to trade some of the machine-choking powdery range for more press-pot chunky range. After he takes a trip to the factory this weekend that should be worked out and made available. I intend to use mine for both, which is what I had mentioned to him. I'll let you know how I fare.
mhoy Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2008 Posts: 183 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 Grinder: Baratza Vario Roaster: HotTop KN-8828D
Posted Wed Mar 11, 2009, 6:26pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
kemperj Said:
Mark, How is the range on the vario. Could someone go from French Press to espresso. Do you think it has adequate range for both? I know this is going to be an issue for many of us hoping to find one grinder to do it all.
I must say that I've not even tried to do anything other than Espresso so far and I've never used a French Press. Stepping out to the kitchen...
Stepping back from the kitchen... When set to the coarsest on both adjustment, it's not a 'really' coarse grind by my grinding standards but I think it would be fine for drip coffee.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,462 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Wed Mar 11, 2009, 7:16pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I'm curious what people in general feel is 'coarse enough' for press pot.
The test Vario I have here has a full macro click of adjustment left when I grind for press at a grind coarseness that is acceptable (to me at least). On the espresso side, I still have about 20 micro adjustments left when I grind for ristretto shots.
Different coffee grinds differently (ie density of the bean, screen size, etc), but there's over 23 micro steps of adjustment left when I grind for press - to go coarser still!
Posted Wed Mar 11, 2009, 9:21pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Mark...I am often amazed by how coarse I see some of my friends grinding for press Pot. Boulders...lol I found using a bit coarser than drip does it...and not that much coarser. OT.. Alan Frew has a nice instructional on his store's web site. I believe you've published one as well? Anyhow, "bb" sized chunks aren't necessary, IMO. Evenness of grind, with a minimum of dust is the key. Again, IMO.
cflorimo Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Newhall, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Mar 11, 2009, 9:29pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
My plan for finding my press pot grind is to start with a coarse load, dump it ON TOP of the screen and then jiggle a bit to see how much dust gets through. Then empty, grind finer, and repeat. When the dust level starts to climb it should give me an indication that I've gone too fine. At least, that's my theory. I'm having too much fun playing with esspresso grinds right now to worry about it.
pumpkinscastle Senior Member Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 247 Location: Cincinnati, OH Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Quickmilll Vetrano Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Posted Thu Mar 12, 2009, 8:24am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
So, except for the initial hiccups, there seems to be a lot of encouraging news about the Vario. And the company has great customer service. This is very important.
Now, at that price point my only concern is the following: WHy wouldn't one just get a used Super Jolly (or if scored right, even a Mazzer Major) on ebay for approximately the same money? I know some people say that the Mazzers are not good French Press grinders, but in my experience they are, delivering a very, very clean cup. And their Turkish ability is definitely there (not many people here drink Turkish anyway, methinks). I have never tried the SJ for drip, as I just don't drink drip. The Vario might offer ease of dialing in over the SJ (which still needs to confirmed by owners who cover a huge range of grind size and switch back and forth quite frequently with consistency), but other than that, at that price point the Vario must hold its own on more accounts than just ease of dialing in. Any comments on that from people who have used both? Not trying to spread negative vibes, but just honestly curious...
I've followed up on the release of the Vario quite eagerly, and I am glad that Baratza was finally able to produce a grinder that CAN effortlessly grind for good espresso (unlike their other models). Bravo! I'd definitely want to check the grinder out in the store. Any chance it will be at Williams & Sonoma (they have the Virtuoso)?
Have fun with your Varios and keep reporting back, guys! Don't be stingy with your observations!
DaveZ Senior Member Joined: 5 Jan 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Phoenix AZ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Trying to decide Grinder: Baratza Vario Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Bunn, Keurig Roaster: popcorn popper
Posted Thu Mar 12, 2009, 5:29pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
MarkPrince Said:
I'm curious what people in general feel is 'coarse enough' for press pot.
The test Vario I have here has a full macro click of adjustment left when I grind for press at a grind coarseness that is acceptable (to me at least). On the espresso side, I still have about 20 micro adjustments left when I grind for ristretto shots.
Different coffee grinds differently (ie density of the bean, screen size, etc), but there's over 23 micro steps of adjustment left when I grind for press - to go coarser still!
I received my replacement grinder and it is working just as it should.
As far as the grind, I am not real sure how to describe it other than to say the coarsest setting appears to be just a bit finer than what you would normally get out of a can/plastic tub/bag of pre ground stuff from the coffee aisle at the grocery store. It is a bit finer than the pre ground stuff *$ sells by the bag.
It is fine enough to about double the brew time in the little brew basket (mesh of some kind) you can buy to use your own coffee in a Keurig Single Serving coffee machine.
I have yet to try it in my Yama with the Cona Rod but it added about 20-30 seconds to the draw down from the previously mentioned canned or bagged pre ground coffee using the cloth filter.
On a different note, I really do like the size. Fits really well in a home kitchen without sticking out.
Posted Thu Mar 12, 2009, 5:39pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
DaveZ Said:
I received my replacement grinder and it is working just as it should.
As far as the grind, I am not real sure how to describe it other than to say the coarsest setting appears to be just a bit finer than what you would normally get out of a can/plastic tub/bag of pre ground stuff from the coffee aisle at the grocery store. It is a bit finer than the pre ground stuff *$ sells by the bag.
It is fine enough to about double the brew time in the little brew basket (mesh of some kind) you can buy to use your own coffee in a Keurig Single Serving coffee machine.
I have yet to try it in my Yama with the Cona Rod but it added about 20-30 seconds to the draw down from the previously mentioned canned or bagged pre ground coffee using the cloth filter.
On a different note, I really do like the size. Fits really well in a home kitchen without sticking out.
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