Baratza Vario Grinder

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Manuel Rodriguez

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great Home Grinder

Initially I purchased this grinder to be dedicated for espresso grinds only, relying on a cheaper burr grinder to take care of french press and drip grinding needs. But soon after purchasing, the latter conked out so now we use the Vario for everything and it hasn't disappointed. The range of grinds is great; espresso fine/fine is more than powdery enough for my Gaggia Classic and press coarse/coarse is coarse enough for my french press. It's really quite true that a good quality burr grinder like the Vario makes a huge difference in the espresso end-product. Grind speed is more than adequate for home use, no complaints there. Static is non existent for brewgroup use as far as I can tell - on the other hand, static is noticeable but minor for most grinds that go into the bulk bin. Looks cool and compact size for all that it does and the quality of grind you get. My only wish is that I could trade it in for the new weight-based metering Vario model!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Consistent grind, variety of grind, easy to use, easy to clean

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Bunch of different kinds, variety of roasts, range in shapes/sizes from peaberry to maragogype

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Brewgroup holder could be constructed more solidly; metal clip wobbles in its plastic housing.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Handyman

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Excellent grinder

I've had this grinder for about one month and combined its purchase with the Expobar Brewtus IV. It has the ability to fine tune a grind and then hold it which has been a wonderful experience for me as I master this part of making a great espresso. I find that I prefer the bulk non-static bean container vs. the hands free doserless measuring devise since I can pre measure the grams of beans placed into the hopper and then use the Weiss distribution technique into the portafilter.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Variety of grind

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Check out the U tube videos and read the product manual.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Home roaster. Use a variety of Sweet Maria's beans.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

None

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Bruce F Miller

I have used only Baratza grinders since I purchased my first espresso machine and I purchased this machine rather then rebuilt my Virtuoso which was showing ware. First, the Vario does a good job grinding coffee and I would buy it again as i need a grinder that can easily grind for espresso and for French press for coffee I make at work, but there are a number of things that I consider flaws that I think prospective owners should consider. On my Virtuoso and now on the Vario, the beans do not always fall easily into the grinding burrs. This requires tapping the plastic bean funnel or poking the beans with a small stick. The beans then flow for a while, but will get hung up again. This a small annoyance that I think should not be a problem in a pretty expensive machine. Here are the other things about the Vario that i find problematic (in the context of a grinder in this price range). 1. I did not come with a manual. I found oone online but it did not come with one. I looked carefully on every piece of cardboard and no manual. 2. The funnel did not fit out of the box. I was told that the funnel was close fit and took firm twisting to seat it. I'm fit, but i could not get the funnel on the machine without having to use excessive force. I examined the notch in the funnel that is supposed to fit over the lip in the grinder and it was pretty clear that it was not quite wide enough to fit. I used a sharp woodworking chisel to pare maybe 1/64 inch of plastic off the groove in the funnel and it fit over the lip easily but snugly and firmly. This should not be necessary. 3. The portafilter support plastic has far too much plastic cut away. I found that when grinding enough coffee to nicely fill the portafilter, a fine scattering of grounds fell to the side of the grinder and in front of it. Not a lot, but a fine dusting. I fabricated a modification out of .032 aluminum that mimics the shape of the non portafilter grounds container but with a rectangular cutout in front to accommodate the general width and height of the portafilter. Now there is only a small amount of grounds scatter. Almost anything that does not make it into the portafilter stays within the modified holder. We are not talking about a lot of grounds, but the modification helps minimize the cleanup required. 3. I found that the Vario container for bulk grinding is not antistatic coated like my Virtuoso grinder container is. I was surprised at the difference in having anti static coated vs a non antistatic treated container makes. Not having an antistatic container just adds one more cleanup hassle. If having an antistatic grounds container is not possible I think the solution should be to provide or offer a metal grounds container. So I give the Vario high marks for the quality and adjustability of the grind but lower marks for quality control the kind of smal design features which make the difference between an acceptable machine and one that is good but not as good as it could be.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
officecoffee

After explaining the grinder would be used in an office, the Vario was sold as a semi-commercial grinder. For small amounts of coffee , the unit works very well. It is solidly built and is supported by a great team (Bartza) of people in Bellevue, WA. However, the unit should be used either by individuals or very small offices with a controlled group of users. We were told the unit would support grinding a day's worth off coffee. Unfortunately, we learned (too late to return) that the Vario has an auto-kill switch to prevent over-heating. The switch activates after a fe wminutes of continuous operation. Although it restores after approx 5 minutes, it also means that one person cannot grind the day's needs and move on. The owner of Baratza explained that semi-commercial really means 'back-up grinder' for a coffee shop; not an office. The unit really is a great performer and we have had no problems since understanding the limitations.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Terry Clark

This unit was purchased to go with my Expobar Office Lever and I'm delighted with it. The build quality appears to be good and the grind consistency is great. I've found that having the macro/micro adjustment is very beneficial when customizing for bean type and age; I didn't appreciate how much difference it makes until I put it to use. This is a great combination and I'm very pleased with the level of service from Whole Latte Love.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
David Finkelstein

I've owned this machine for several months now and am very pleased. The ability to switch quickly between grinding espresso, fp, or drip coffee adds to the versatility of the machine and grinding either into the dispensing cup or directly into a portafilter is great. When grinding into the portafilter, some grinds will fly so it is slightly messy, but the loss isn't much and the convenience is well worth it to me. The digital timer is great, but the lcd is slightly difficult to read. Maybe angling the display in the next version might help? Again, not a big deal. The small footprint is another big reason this machine is set apart from its competitors. It grinds as well as the big boys, but takes up less counter space and looks good. It's a winner.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
RICHARDHEALY

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Professional

When I first read about the Vario I was impressed by their use of Mahlkonig burrs. I had used Mahlkonig grinders in my business and knew that they are simply the best. When the modification was made so that the grinder would not lose its settings if unplugged, I decided to purchase the Vario. I was slightly apprehensive that a grinder at half the cost of anything comparable could satisfy my needs but have found this to be almost perfect. It does not overwhelm my kitchen counter. I have found the support for the portafilter to work perfectly with my Expobar. It does not leave a residue of grinds on the counter. I most especially appreciate the timer so that I can perfectly measure the desired amount of grinds for each espresso. I do not use the grinder for anything but espresso so have programmed it for single, double and triple shots. This is a most welcome addition to my Brewtus and Hottop roaster.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Consistency of grind and ease of adjustment

My Experience With Using This Product:

Professional

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Home roasted on a Hottop. Blends based on Brasil or Ethiopia

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Very pleased with the grinder as it is

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Many

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Dotan Naveh

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great grinder for the home!

Great grinder! This grinder combines the advantages of a dosing and a doseless grinder, providing accurate doses without the waste and the stale coffee, leaving out the guesswork. The electronic control provides great accuracy and convenience. The grind settings are accurate and provide fine control. The machine grinds right into the portafilter without any mess, hands free.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

The electronic control, the great customer service.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Calibrate the grinder. Call Baratza customer service if you need help - Kyle is great help and they have great customer service!

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Lavaza

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The machine requires calibration which was not explained in the user's manual. I understand that this has been updated in the new version of the manual.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Tebe

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Daniel Snyder

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great Mixed Use Grinder

This is my first semi-pro grinder. It was important to have something to make the daily pot of coffee (drip grind, timer shut-off), without requiring another grinder for espresso. So far, it is a vast improvement over past bur grinders with a much more consistent grind. It is also very quiet. The ability to control the grind is quite impressive, with nearly step-less flexibility, while maintaining the repeatability of discrete settings. Also, it does a very good job at controlling (non) static. It does come with a portafilter holder for espresso. Also, you can program in 3 different timer settings by the 1/10 second (of course, you need to change the grind on your own).

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Quiet, powerful, works for both espresso and drip coffee.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Ethiopian Sidamo

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Not much.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups, Bruan, Capresso