ohills Senior Member Joined: 14 Mar 2012 Posts: 14 Location: oceanside,ca Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Rocket Giotto Evoluzione V2 Grinder: Vario
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 3:23pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Hi all... I've had my vario for three weeks now and it's been great. Today I did my first cleaning by removing the upper burr, and vacuuming it out. It wasn't that bad only have run 2.5 lbs through. My setting has been 3m to 3s. I tried to recalibrate using the 2mm wrench. Slid the macro and micro sliders all the way to the bottom (no beans) then macro up . No sound change till I hit two. More of a labored sound at one. Went back to three and moved micro up about half way and it sounded to labor.. Is this ok ? I'm just going to run at macro 3 instead of many people running at 2 or one. Pairing with the Rocket Giotto Evoluzione V2. A great pair! Thanks, Roy
jjsaustin Senior Member Joined: 3 Dec 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Austin
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Fri Dec 21, 2012, 4:39pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
ohills Said:
Hi all... I've had my vario for three weeks now and it's been great. Today I did my first cleaning by removing the upper burr, and vacuuming it out. It wasn't that bad only have run 2.5 lbs through. My setting has been 3m to 3s. I tried to recalibrate using the 2mm wrench. Slid the macro and micro sliders all the way to the bottom (no beans) then macro up . No sound change till I hit two. More of a labored sound at one. Went back to three and moved micro up about half way and it sounded to labor.. Is this ok ? I'm just going to run at macro 3 instead of many people running at 2 or one. Pairing with the Rocket Giotto Evoluzione V2. A great pair! Thanks, Roy
I received my Vario about a week ago and have it paired with a Duetto. I also have my setting around 3M. I thought that seemed a bit high. but maybe they re-centered the grind settings on the newer versions.
Posted Tue Dec 25, 2012, 4:21pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I've owned my Vario since July and it's simply been a pleasure. I used a Black and Decker CMB210->Hario Slim->Krups GX610050->Breville Barista Express (Onboard grinder)->Baratza Vario. Didn't quite realize what a leap I'd experience by upgrading to the Vario but it's been incredible to say the least. Not only is it suited to my CC1 but the anti-static nature, portaholder, triple presets, and microadjusting have proven how well it was thought out. I had my grinder bust on me in October (three months in to owning) and contacted Baratza. I had it replaced without any headaches or costs on my end. I'm happily grinding away months later. I nearly purchased a Mazzer Mini but figured size would be too big and issue and I was right. The Vario is pushing the limits but it's just right!
nomad_hatter Senior Member Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 1 Location: Kingston, Ontario Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed Dec 26, 2012, 12:38am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I realize this is the Vario owner's thread, and admit that I don't own a Vario (yet) but I figured that you all would be the best pool of knowledge (and by posting here I wouldn't clutter the board). I'm in the process of buying my first grinder and have the opportunity to buy a used Vario for the same price as a new Preciso. Since this will be my first grinder, I'm not sure what sort of telltale signs of misuse I should be looking for. I've been flip flopping between the two models and have been having a hard time justifying the $150 price difference - the Vario has more conveniences than the Preciso, but from what I've read they're pretty closely matched.
So, that said, I have two questions:
1) Would you recommend the used Vario or the new Preciso, taking into account that the machine will only be used for espresso and that the used Vario is no longer under warranty.
2) If I go with the used Vario, what should I look out for before buying it?
Thanks for your help, and I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas/happy holiday.
Posted Wed Dec 26, 2012, 12:17pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
nomad_hatter Said:
II've been flip flopping between the two models and have been having a hard time justifying the $150 price difference - the Vario has more conveniences than the Preciso, but from what I've read they're pretty closely matched.
i have a vario and love it to death. i have not a single problem with it and don't see replacing it with anything but a titan, if ever. but i do NOT use the convenience features. at. all. IMHO, it's single best feature is it's near-zero grind retention, so i single dose. if it is really true that the preciso grinds as well as the vario and the only difference is the convenience features, i would get the preciso too. in fact, i'm tentatively starting to shop for a second grinder, (for the vacation house), and if the preciso is as good at espresso as the vario, i'll get one. espresso is my main thing. i couldn't care less about drip and press.
do you have any links that compare the grind results of the precisio to those of the vario?
Posted Wed Dec 26, 2012, 12:34pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I believe I read somewhere that because the Vario has flat burrs that it is superior for espresso to the Preciso which reigns king for french press or drip.
The vario also has features more conducive to espresso so it makes it a pleasure to use with a portafilter.
Tert Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Norway Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012, 4:08am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
mrelephant Said:
Dummies, proceed with caution! On my 2 month old (Great Britain) Vario, there is a warranty void sticker disguising the hole for the adjustment screw. So at first I assumed the adjustment screw must have been under the rubber cap just behind it. There is indeed another hex screw in there which is 2.5mm and wound tight. So in my stubbornness, the hex hole in this screw is now burred because I tried to force tighten it further :P Fortunately though, I didn't seem to damage the function of the machine.
It was only after referring to this seattle coffee video that I figured out my mistake. It also made be a bit miffed that the US model seems to actually come (or came) with a fancy adjustment allen key and obviously no warranty void warning, so I took a chance and removed the warranty void sticker on mine, rather than drive across town for my service centre to turn a screw. Let's just hope my stubbornness doesn't slap me in the face one more time here :P
I just received the Vario W, German made, and failed to grind fine enough for espresso. A closer look reveiled that is has STEEL and not ceramic burrs, and the manual says: "The steel burrs are specially designed for filter coffee grinding" and "The Vario-W is exclusively designed for filter coffee grinding and is not capable of producing espresso-fine grounds!" There is a sticker covering the calibration screw with a warranty void warning, and no allen key comes with the kit.
Does it mean that it is impossible to calibrate the grinder in order to make finer coffee?
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,480 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012, 10:54am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Tert Said:
I just received the Vario W, German made, and failed to grind fine enough for espresso. A closer look reveiled that is has STEEL and not ceramic burrs, and the manual says: "The steel burrs are specially designed for filter coffee grinding" and "The Vario-W is exclusively designed for filter coffee grinding and is not capable of producing espresso-fine grounds!" There is a sticker covering the calibration screw with a warranty void warning, and no allen key comes with the kit.
Does it mean that it is impossible to calibrate the grinder in order to make finer coffee?
Tert, welcome to CG. This seems to be an issue in some areas of Europe. Apparently, it's getting harder to find the ceramic burr manufactured Vario/Vario W. I believe I/we need to let Kyle, president of Baratza explain what's going on. In fact, this issue popped up a few weeks ago, either on this thread, or another.
Lets give him a day or 2 after New Years?
BTW, a most happy forthcoming New Year to All CG'ers!!
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012, 11:07am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I just happened to watch a video this weekend, made by Baratza, on changing the Vario burrs. It seems the steel burrs are recomended over the ceramic for courser grinds, and the video was about switching from ceramic to steel. It would seem then that if you have one with steel burrs and want to switch to ceramic for espresso it shouldn't be a problem. That's just my view of the situation of course, as Rob said it would be good to hear from Kyle/Baratza on this.
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012, 11:07am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
IMAWriter Said:
Tert, welcome to CG. This seems to be an issue in some areas of Europe. Apparently, it's getting harder to find the ceramic burr manufactured Vario/Vario W. I believe I/we need to let Kyle, president of Baratza explain what's going on. In fact, this issue popped up a few weeks ago, either on this thread, or another.
Lets give him a day or 2 after New Years?
BTW, a most happy forthcoming New Year to All CG'ers!!
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