ginalola Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 203 Location: USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II; Pasquini... Grinder: (2) Baratza Vario
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 3:22pm Subject: Two Vario Grinders?
I need a second grinder for decaf. The Baratza Vario that I purchased last summer is great; its size and power is perfect. So far, the Vario is working well with the Alex Duetto II that joined the family last month.
Is it crazy to buy another Vario just for decaf? Suggestions?
jammin Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 658 Location: Boise Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Speedster, Cremina Grinder: K10, Vario-W with Ditting... Vac Pot: Hario Drip: manual Roaster: quest m3, hottop b
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 3:27pm Subject: Re: Two Vario Grinders?
Have you tried single dosing with your Vario? It takes too it quite well. If you utilize a scale, you can get great dosing accuracy this way due to the low grind retention which translates to increased shot consistency. Most importantly, in your case, you will be able ot change beans on the fly, not to mention, never again worry about beans drying out/going stale in the hopper.
Joel_B Senior Member Joined: 9 Oct 2007 Posts: 1,823 Location: Pacific NW Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astra Mega II Grinder: Mazzer SJ, Virtuoso Vac Pot: Yama 5 cup Drip: nope, french press Roaster: Behmor, WP, BBQ drum
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 3:42pm Subject: Re: Two Vario Grinders?
I'm a big fan of having 2 dedicated espresso grinders. The ability to choose from two coffees is just so nice. Unfortunately I'm down to one :( At any rate, if it fits in the budget and you pull enough shots of decaf, I say not crazy at all!
jammin Said:
Have you tried single dosing with your Vario? It takes too it quite well. If you utilize a scale, you can get great dosing accuracy this way due to the low grind retention which translates to increased shot consistency. Most importantly, in your case, you will be able ot change beans on the fly, not to mention, never again worry about beans drying out/going stale in the hopper.
I have never used a Vario, but do you not still have to dial in the grind? Do you not need to run some coffee through the burrs first? If that's the case I'm certainly impressed but I'm wary that it just somehow "works". I have nothing to offer other than my own experience, but a loaded hopper "seems" to work better.
With single dosing, you can change the coffee as often as you want. I use this method with my K10 as well. I find the b.vario requires more adjustment but if you know the beans it's quite trivial. I've been running about 4 different coffee's daily for the last week.
I could understand the steps of the vario taking out some of the hassle vs. stepless. Are you saying zero beans need to be run through the grinder when switching beans? Or perhaps what I'm really asking is that you need to run zero beans through when switching beans with different setting requirements?
ginalola Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 203 Location: USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II; Pasquini... Grinder: (2) Baratza Vario
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 4:41pm Subject: Re: Two Vario Grinders?
I'm confused, too. When I'm 'changing' beans (getting rid of what is invisible but still in the grinder) there's more than expected. Then it seems that you kinda have to prime the empty grinder with the new beans. What am I doing wrong?
I agree with having the hopper filled with a few beans more than you plan to use...seems to work better for me, too.
jammin Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 658 Location: Boise Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Speedster, Cremina Grinder: K10, Vario-W with Ditting... Vac Pot: Hario Drip: manual Roaster: quest m3, hottop b
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 5:02pm Subject: Re: Two Vario Grinders?
Next time your hopper runs out, give single dosing a try.
After running the grinder dry, load in one dose of beans. Using a scale is ideal to get the dose precise. You then just hit the manual button and run it till' dry. The first time will be a learning experience with how the grinder grinds in this fashion and your first shot will probably be off. Once you are adjusted, you're good. When changing beans, obviously the first shot will be a bit off - so again, adjust but remember what it took(ie +3 micro clicks etc..). Now to run the previous bean, back it off accordingly. Make sense?
It's easy once you get rolling with it. I was on the same trip about adding a second grinder until I used this method. After that, I couldn't figure out why I would want another grinder.
In regards to flushing grounds/melanging flavors. Everyone has their own degree of sensitivety to their palate, but the vario holds at very small amount of coffee in the chamber after letting it run "dry", er, until no more grounds fall out of the spout.
ginalola Senior Member Joined: 2 Jul 2009 Posts: 203 Location: USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II; Pasquini... Grinder: (2) Baratza Vario
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 5:16pm Subject: Re: Two Vario Grinders?
I don't own a scale....I never measure anything, and after doing this for 20+ years, I doubt if I'll begin now. However, you seem to have a good method, and I could give it a 'visual' test-run. Thanks for the info!
Joel_B Senior Member Joined: 9 Oct 2007 Posts: 1,823 Location: Pacific NW Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Astra Mega II Grinder: Mazzer SJ, Virtuoso Vac Pot: Yama 5 cup Drip: nope, french press Roaster: Behmor, WP, BBQ drum
Posted Tue May 11, 2010, 5:17pm Subject: Re: Two Vario Grinders?
jammin Said:
In regards to flushing grounds/melanging flavors. Everyone has their own degree of sensitivety to their palate, but the vario holds at very small amount of coffee in the chamber after letting it run "dry", er, until no more grounds fall out of the spout.
The minimal grind retention is one of the selling points of this grinder. I'm not sure the small amount would be detected by my palate. But again only speculation on my part.
jammin Said:
After running the grinder dry, load in one dose of beans. Using a scale is ideal to get the dose precise. You then just hit the manual button and run it till' dry. The first time will be a learning experience with how the grinder grinds in this fashion and your first shot will probably be off. Once you are adjusted, you're good. When changing beans, obviously the first shot will be a bit off - so again, adjust but remember what it took(ie +3 micro clicks etc..). Now to run the previous bean, back it off accordingly. Make sense?
sorta. I understand the mechanics of single dosing and changing beans, but your description is still too vague to answer my question; which is:
Joel_B Said:
Are you saying zero beans need to be run through the grinder when switching beans? Or perhaps what I'm really asking is that you need to run zero beans through when switching beans with different setting requirements?
You say when changing beans the first shot will be off. Now, are you saying it's off everytime you go back to that bean? or just when you don't know where the setting is? For example, you say you're using 4 different beans. Assuming you know the setting for each bean, can you do four back to back shots (1 of each bean) and each will turn out properly?
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