Posted Fri Feb 10, 2012, 7:11am Subject: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
I just recently upgraded my setup from a Cunill Tranquilo and Silvia to a Vario-W and Brewtus IV-R. The upgrade had two stages, I got the Brewtus and later the Vario-W. After dialing in the Cunill with the Brewtus, I had no problems with my bottomless portafilter. In fact, I was getting some of the cleanest and most delicious shots I've ever pulled. Eventually, I got the Vario-W, calibrated it and started dialing it in. I can get some delicious shots (although so far, I haven't dialed it in as well as I had the Cunill), but have had trouble with my bottomless portafilter.
Any and every shot I've pulled has had a slight amount of spray. The quick spritz that close on their own. I've tried adjusting grind size, dose etc. I can't shake it. Is this part of the Vario break in period I have heard so much about? Or am I still feeling out the Vario?
Posted Sun Feb 12, 2012, 9:52am Subject: Re: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
Try setting the Vario a full macro step finer. And maybe reduce the dose slightly if it runs too slow.
I was getting similar results at first, so I ended up recalibrating my Vario a bit finer and working in a different range of the scale. Now I'm able to get consistent extractions even when using VST baskets. The end result for me was finer grind and lower dose.
Posted Sun Feb 12, 2012, 2:41pm Subject: Re: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
I had the Vario on Macro step 1, micro around the middle. I recalibrate more aggressively and am now dosing around 17.5 grams (rather than around 19) on the same settings. It seems this is getting a more even extraction, but the problem still exists to a lesser extent. Hopefully Tuesday I will have more time to experiment and finally nix this problem.
How do you transfer the grounds from the container to the basket? I'm trying to decide if a WDT is necessary after pouring the grounds from the container to the basket. It seems like it should be, but I haven't found it really effects the resulting extraction. I have the issue either way.
Posted Sun Feb 12, 2012, 2:57pm Subject: Re: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
avaserfi Said:
I had the Vario on Macro step 1, micro around the middle. I recalibrate more aggressively and am now dosing around 17.5 grams (rather than around 19) on the same settings. It seems this is getting a more even extraction, but the problem still exists to a lesser extent. Hopefully Tuesday I will have more time to experiment and finally nix this problem.
How do you transfer the grounds from the container to the basket? I'm trying to decide if a WDT is necessary after pouring the grounds from the container to the basket. It seems like it should be, but I haven't found it really effects the resulting extraction. I have the issue either way.
I don't do wdt don't dose by weight and on a lot of shots eyeball it. Of course after years of pulling shots daily, this has become second nature and my eyeballed shots are many times better than the ones I weighed when I was a "noob". Mainly cause I had zero understanding of the other factors that affect shots, back then.
Anyway, my rule of thumb Is that sprites are cleared up by grinding one or two notches finer. The Vario will be in it's prime after 5-10 lbs have gone through it. After you've put those first pounds through, you should remove the hopper, the upper and lower burr and do a thorough cleaning of the grinder. Re-assemble it and calibrate with the vario's included wrench. Then you will reach the grinder's full potential.
Posted Fri Feb 17, 2012, 4:11pm Subject: Re: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
So, I've been experimenting the past few days and have resolved nothing. Maybe I've made it worse. Initially, I played with grind and dose resulting in a fluctuation between getting small spray or donut/dead spot shots. After I hit 4-5lbs ground I pulled the upper burr out and cleaned it. Then I unscrewed the lower burr. I recalibrated the Vario and tried to pull a couple shots. Both ran too quickly and sprayed everywhere. There wasn't much left on the micro scale to tighten up and the macro was at 1. I just recalibrated, but didn't have time to pull another shot.
I've never had these problems before and am at my wits end. I tried to calibrate the Vario much more aggressively than I have before, but I also don't want to risk allowing the burrs to rub as I tighten the settings. Right now, if I set both the macro and micro on the smallest settings the grinder really sounds like it is laboring.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,371 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Sat Feb 18, 2012, 1:20pm Subject: Re: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
Have you tried looking for a youtube of someone adjusting their vario to see if it sounds like yours? Maybe watching would give you some clue. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBrDpbCAEs
Coffeenoobie
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Posted Sun Feb 19, 2012, 10:12am Subject: Re: Trouble with a Vario-W and Bottomless Portafilter
I tried searching for one, but couldn't find it. Thanks.
Here is my vario with its current calibration. I think it sounds pretty similar, but as I start getting finer than the K setting it sounds like some sort of grinding starts (although I don't think it is the burrs). For espresso, I need to grind finer than K.
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