Posted Wed May 9, 2012, 8:25pm Subject: Re: which do you prefer ?
These kind of grinders do not come up on craigs list very often in my experience. I think I came across 3 total used Mazzers / Macaps worth considering (i.e. not junk pile) in the four months I was actively looking. In the end I lucked out on a sale from one of the major retailers and got 15-20%. I had a workable grinder so was in no rush.
Junior... I hear that this is a great grinder, and you will notice that this is basically a brand new grinder up for sale. I think it is a great price and I say "Go for it."
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,761 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Thu May 10, 2012, 5:37am Subject: Re: which do you prefer ?
The RR 45 is a high quality commercial grinder. They are fairly common and are easy to find in the used market. They are able to grind for espresso without issue. That said, they are a stepped grinder and have the same issues with any stepped grinder, namely, you might be stuck between two steps when adjusting. One is to fine and the next too coarse. If you have no problem with a stepped grinder then it will last a long time.
I have had a couple cross my path and after clean up, I sold them for about half of what the auction is asking.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
diggi Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2011 Posts: 383 Location: Halifax, NS Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Spaz vivaldi S1 V2 Grinder: B Vario, OE LIDO Drip: Chemex, Espro Press,... Roaster: Poppery I
Posted Thu May 10, 2012, 5:38am Subject: Re: which do you prefer ?
emradguy Said:
actually, it is true. There is one thread called Baratza Virtuoso Preciso Problem, and the OP descries what sounds like a broken part. There is, I believe, at least one other thread describing a problem with the grinder itself.
True, but..... this may be a case of base-rate bias. There are thousands of baratza grinders being used by users at home. There are bound to be dozens (or hundreds) of people with issues. This says nothing about those that have no issues with their grinder. Baratza seems to do a great job of dealing with these problems which are bound to arise. It is the customer service of this company that makes it a safe bet. They have the reputation of making things right, when they are bound to go wrong. That being said, the build quality is such that likely there will be problems over time, but that is offset by the affordable price. The titan grinders with superior build quality still have service requirements, but likely at a reduced rate; however, they are much more $$.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,795 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu May 10, 2012, 7:30am Subject: Re: which do you prefer ?
diggi Said:
True, but..... this may be a case of base-rate bias. There are thousands of baratza grinders being used by users at home. There are bound to be dozens (or hundreds) of people with issues. This says nothing about those that have no issues with their grinder. Baratza seems to do a great job of dealing with these problems which are bound to arise. It is the customer service of this company that makes it a safe bet. They have the reputation of making things right, when they are bound to go wrong. That being said, the build quality is such that likely there will be problems over time, but that is offset by the affordable price. The titan grinders with superior build quality still have service requirements, but likely at a reduced rate; however, they are much more $$.
Couldn't agree more. I never meant to bash the Baratza line, but rather was just trying to point out that they do have problems arise often enough to get posts about them here more frequently than the tank-like grinders. I know my last couple of posts in this thread could sound like bashing depending on how you look at them, but again, it wasn't my intended message.
I started with a Solis Maestro Plus which I never had any problems with (other than it was suboptimal for espresso). I now own a Baratza Maestro Plus (older *$$ branded one), which I use only for presspot. It too is in fine shape. I've never had the pleasure of using a Preciso or Vario...and did not intend to comment on their quality - other than to say that lots of users here are quite happy with them.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,371 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Thu May 10, 2012, 9:42am Subject: Re: which do you prefer ?
I almost bought an RR 45 when I was looking. Part of the reason I did not is I thought 300 was too high for the used stepped grinder and the guy would not budge more than 25$ on it. Because I can find jollys at that price. It is still on Craigslist every so often at that price, (6 months) I am not the only one that passed on that grinder at that price. Jollys don't stay up for more than a few days at most.
However, it is better than no grinder and I hated being without a grinder and it is not a bad price, I just don't believe it is a super duper deal.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
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