Posted Thu Oct 27, 2011, 9:52pm Subject: Re: Baratza Vario or Preciso - Which one would you get?
My Baratza Virtuoso Preciso was ordered today - It should be up and running when the Crossland CC1 comes to visit - this will help those looking for their first set up with a "What should I get - my budget is under $1,000." type thread that is very common here. If the Crossland and the Preciso play nice together perhaps this can become a trusted answer to this question.
For comparison to this part of my gear, a person could buy (based on my prices paid) the Quick Mill Silvano and the Baratza Preciso for under $1200 so it could be a good answer too provided the Preciso and the Silvano prove to be compatible. I should know the answer to this question by the end of next week.
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
I like mine a lot - both machines. I might still be in the "honeymoon" stage with my Preciso but I am liking the ride.
The retention is negligible - since I was looking for a single dosing grinder this part is very important to me. I put 18g into the grinder and got back 17.4g in the portafilter even though I spilled some.
My first dial in shot:
(Click for larger image)
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
germantownrob Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2007 Posts: 2,043 Location: Philadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Duetto 3, A Dead Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Preciso w/Esatto,... Drip: Brazen Roaster: Diedrich IR-1, HT B
Posted Sat Nov 5, 2011, 3:04pm Subject: Re: Baratza Vario or Preciso - Which one would you get?
EricBNC Said:
Well, now we are a pair! ; )
I like mine a lot - both machines. I might still be in the "honeymoon" stage with my Preciso but I am liking the ride.
The retention is negligible - since I was looking for a single dosing grinder this part is very important to me. I put 18g into the grinder and got back 17.4g in the portafilter even though I spilled some.
Mine has been sitting here with the Esatto since Tuesday and if I am a good boy I might be allowed to open them tonight. My wife says yes but my daughter says no since my birthday is not until Wednesday, fatherhood is biting me in the butt. I should have let her eat more candy on Halloween.
Posted Sat Nov 5, 2011, 7:39pm Subject: Re: Baratza Vario or Preciso - Which one would you get?
Congrats back at you! I used the Baratza Preciso with the Esatto - very nice item there since it turns the Preciso into almost a conical version of the Vario with the programmed controls. I can see one of these in my future even though I was skeptical at first.
Happy Birthday too. : )
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
Posted Fri Nov 11, 2011, 10:27am Subject: Re: Baratza Vario or Preciso - Which one would you get?
Eric,
I certainly don't want to highjack your thread here but I wonder if I could ask you a question and get other feedback as well. I have an anfim best right now and for the most part I am thrilled with it. It produces fantastic results for my espresso, but I want a grinder that is more flexible for french press and drip. I was thinking about the vario, but with all this talk about the preciso I may rethink it. I wouldn't have to but I may sell my anfim because I think either of these grinders would be more than sufficient for my espresso.
My initial thoughts are that if I keep the anfim I would go with the preciso, but if I sold the anfim I would go with the vario. Any thoughts?
Posted Fri Nov 11, 2011, 11:29am Subject: Re: Baratza Vario or Preciso - Which one would you get?
dtsuther Said:
Eric,
I certainly don't want to highjack your thread here but I wonder if I could ask you a question and get other feedback as well. I have an anfim best right now and for the most part I am thrilled with it. It produces fantastic results for my espresso, but I want a grinder that is more flexible for french press and drip. I was thinking about the vario, but with all this talk about the preciso I may rethink it. I wouldn't have to but I may sell my anfim because I think either of these grinders would be more than sufficient for my espresso.
My initial thoughts are that if I keep the anfim I would go with the preciso, but if I sold the anfim I would go with the vario. Any thoughts?
I haven't used the Anfim Best but it looks like a strong espresso grinder from the reviews here.
I have a decent dedicated espresso grinder that I like but it works best with some bean mass in the hopper - it is not a super practical single doser unless you want to perform a cleaning ritual after every session (not that there is anything wrong with that) which I do not.
Instead I was looking for excellent medium to coarse grinding as well as single shot dosing capability when testing my home roasted espresso SO's and blends. I feel like I have that now with the Preciso though I would have been happy with the Vario too. Low grind retention on either model would give me quick changing ability between beans.
For me it came down to not seeing enough difference in the grind quality to justify the added expense for the Vario. The Preciso lacks the timer feature (very nice to have) but with the introduction of the Esatto weight based grinding system the Preciso can be upgraded to a similar level of refinement. My other grinder has this timer feature so I did not fee the need to duplicate it on this secondary grinder too but it is nice to know I can if i decide to later on.
Maybe others who have a grinder similar to your Anfim as well as one of these Baratza grinders can help out.
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
I have both Vario and Anfim Best but unfortunately I cannot be of a great help here as I have never used both grinders for anything other than espresso. From what I have read here and elsewhere, I think that the best option would be to keep the Anfim Best and go for the Preciso.
PS Not knowing much about the french press method but I cannot see something more practical than a classic stepped grinder as the Anfim Best for changing between brewing methods but I might be wrong here.
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