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Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

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Discussions > Espresso > Grinders -... > Problem with New...

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mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Sat Nov 26, 2011, 7:17am Subject: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

Hello. I just received this grinder a couple of days ago. I notice that whenever I grind, the vibration is making the micro adjustment lever float at random! In other words, I set the micro at "E" and the vibration makes it slide over to "A" in a few seconds. Any way I can fix this myself, because I don't want to send it back and wait for a replacement. Thanks.

jbviau
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jul 2010
Posts: 649
Location: Baltimore, MD
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Preciso / LIDO
Drip: Trifecta MB / Eva Solo...

Posted Sat Nov 26, 2011, 8:20am Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

This problem can be solved by removing and reseating (or replacing, if necessary) the button on the micro adjustment lever. You'll find some discussion and pics on pp. 7-8 of the main Preciso thread IIRC. I'm away from my computer and can't post the link right now (update: here it is). In my case, a free replacement button from Baratza did the trick (easily installed by the user). In the meantime, just hold the lever in place, I guess.

mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Sat Nov 26, 2011, 10:43am Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

Thank you very much for the post. I have send Baratza an email with my problem and hope to hear back. This is very furstrating - I spent $300 on this grinder and they don't do any quality control! Not a good sign.

jbviau
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jul 2010
Posts: 649
Location: Baltimore, MD
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Preciso / LIDO
Drip: Trifecta MB / Eva Solo...

Posted Sat Nov 26, 2011, 1:31pm Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

I understand the frustration, but IMO it's premature to leap to "no quality control." Have you tried just taking the button off and firmly pressing it back down and on?

mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Sat Nov 26, 2011, 1:55pm Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

Thanks for pointing me to the thread discussing this. Yes, I tried removing and reseating, and the problem still persists. I'm sure Baratza will make good and send me a new button, or replace the grinder. But when you shell out $300 on a "precision" grinder, it's frustrating that it doesn't work out of the box. And even more frustrating when companies allow this to happen due to a lack of quality-control checking their products.

mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Sun Nov 27, 2011, 1:28pm Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

Pierce from Baratza had replied to my inquiry. He said this could be due to lack of friction or contact between the micro lever and ring. So he is sending me a replacement unit and prepaid tag to return the defective. Excellent customer service!

mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011, 7:31pm Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

I received my replacement today. Here is my email to Baratza summarizing: Pierce, I have received the replacement grinder today, but I am still experiencing issues: The micro adjustment arm is much tighter than the original and the dial no longer floats when grinding. However, the micro adjuster does not index positively at stops A - E. In other words, stops F - K continuously click into place, ensuring repeatability. However, there is no positive index at stops A - E - these settings are continuously variable. This does not ensure repeatability. For example, how do I know I am on B and not B-and-one-half. This contradicts your advertisement stating "there are 400 step settings to choose from" Also, the replacement grinder appears to be more used than the original. I understand you said that you would run some beans to test through prior to shipment, however the condition in general does not appear brand new. Further, the serial number of my original unit was 111579 and the replacement is 111053, which leads me to believe it is significantly older. Not a big deal, but you could have also cleaned out the grinder before shipping it to me. There are grinds all over the inside and outside of the unit. You will see the one I ship you back will be much cleaner. I will ship back the original tomorrow with your prepaid sticker. Should we try this again?

steven_meyer
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Jul 2003
Posts: 456
Location: San Bruno, ca
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Alex Duetto 3.0, ECM Giotto...
Grinder: mahlkonig vario, Mazzer Mini

Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011, 7:35pm Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

Here we go again. Maybe you should have your discussion with Baratza before you post your dissatisfaction here. Maybe, just maybe there may be some operator error going on here.

mariog7
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Mar 2011
Posts: 183
Location: NJ
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano
Grinder: Vario

Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011, 7:43pm Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

Thank you for your reply. Regarding operator error, is the grinder only supposed to index at second half of the settings? Because if not, I am unsure how this can be attributed to operator error.

jbviau
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jul 2010
Posts: 649
Location: Baltimore, MD
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Preciso / LIDO
Drip: Trifecta MB / Eva Solo...

Posted Thu Dec 8, 2011, 9:22pm
Subject: Re: Problem with New Baratza Virtuoso Preciso

mariog7 Said:

The micro adjustment arm is much tighter than the original and the dial no longer floats when grinding. However, the micro adjuster does not index positively at stops A - E. In other words, stops F - K continuously click into place, ensuring repeatability. However, there is no positive index at stops A - E - these settings are continuously variable. This does not ensure repeatability. For example, how do I know I am on B and not B-and-one-half.

Posted December 8, 2011 link

Well, if you're no longer getting any drift, you'll know you're on B when the micro adjustment button is covering the B! I guess you just want to feel more pronounced detents at the finer end of the micro range. Anecdotally, before a new button solved a similar problem with my Preciso, I noticed firmer "clicks" at the coarse end, too. As I've used the Preciso over the past few months, the micro lever has been clicking into place with increasing authority. Maybe you should consider giving it a few weeks before deciding what to do?

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