Baratza Vario Burr Grinder - with Upgraded H2 Display

Great build quality and great consistent grind quality!

(Posted on 4/11/13)

My first burr grinder. Very consistent grind, lots of settings, pretty quiet, grounds have some static in them but that is reduced a lot by stirring with a fork, who knew? Been using about a month now and I am happy with the purchase.

(Posted on 4/8/13)

I've been using this grinder daily for over a year and a half now. This thing is great, no complaints. It's always consistent and quiet with very low mess, unless your using very oily beans.

(Posted on 3/5/13)

It was hard for me to buckle down and purchase a grinder so expensive compared to what I've had in the past, but boy was it worth it! SO many settings, each being 100% consitant in texture and grind-size.

(Posted on 2/22/13)

Great build quality, quiet and consistent grinds. I am making nice shots with plenty of room to move either way on grind size. Wish it was a little less messy and expensive, but that's just way it goes with this stuff.

(Posted on 12/11/12)

It is a decent grinder and the main positives are that it is small and easy to fill your basket with grinds while not wasting much coffee. I'm not too impressed with the grinds, my folks old beat to hell mazzer seems to make more flavorful coffee out of my olympia machine. Every once in a while I will accidentally swipe the grind adjusters. My biggest complaint is the lag time for the grinder to actually change its grind settings, it can take a few baskets worth of coffee till it fully adjusts to where you moved the dials. Also every once in a while without making any adjustments the grinder will start grinding finer for no reason resulting in waste. Overall I would say this grinder is good if space is a concern otherwise go with a mazzer or something else.

(Posted on 12/4/12)

So far, this grinder has been nothing short of perfect. I have had the grinder for just over 2 months. Using it almost everyday. I am very glad I spent the money. I was on the fence for quite awhile. I have used the grinder mainly for espresso/lattes, and have used both very fresh whole beans to approx. 1.5 month old (stored in Air Escape container), and with the variable settings, even on the older beans, I am still able to get what I would classify as drinkable product. Much more so than what you get at the coffee chain locations. I am using my long standing Silvia V2, but now am looking to upgrade my machine. Dual Boiler or HX will be my next thing to conquer.

(Posted on 11/14/12)

The Vario is perfect for what I need. It's exactly what I wanted. Just keep a record of the settings when you get what you want. Do it for every time you make a change, for a different brand of beans, for a different roast, for a different style of grind, a different quantity or weight. Keep written records and it will pay off. There are lots of variables in what I may be looking for at a particular time, and the grinder has the range to do whatever I want. It adjusts from a very coarse press to nearly a Turkish "powder." The best at oily beans I've ever seen. Very quiet for what it does.

(Posted on 9/27/12)

So far does everything advertised and more. Incredilby quiet and consistant grind. The container seals perfectly and we are no longer making a mess in the morning.

(Posted on 9/11/12)

This is the best grinder I have had. I love the fact that settings are repeatable.

Pros:


Cons:

(Posted on 4/6/12)

I use the Baratza Virtuoso Burr Grinder daily. I didn't think there would be a difference in the taste of the coffee, but using this type of burr grinder has delivered a great experience! The coffee has a much smoother richer taste. My thoughts are why do I need to buy coffee at a coffee shop, when I can make it at home. The taste is the same, or even better. This was a good purchase.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Sleek look, Easy To Clean, Great size

Cons:
None at this time

(Posted on 1/10/12)

Overall I think this grinder is very good and at a great price. It's very consistent and is easy to clean. There is one problem that I have encountered. The rubber sliders that you adjust the settings with will move on you. If you dial in a grind that works for you then I would suggest making a note of it because eventually it will move. During several grinding sessions I actually saw the slider on the left move down a couple of notches, and if you have to clean or move the grinder they will move. I wish you could lock the settings. I am pleased but it's a little frustrating when your running low on coffee and have to dial the grinder in again!

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 1/7/12)

This a great grinder. It is easy to use and produces a wonderful, consistent grind. The one thing it could use is an easy way to change beans as it has no shut off for the hopper. So, if you like to use a lot of different coffees, you my find this inconvenient. Other than that, I would highly recommend this item.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quiet, Commercial Grade

Cons:
No shut off for hopper

(Posted on 12/30/11)

I watched the you tube comparison video and saw all the pluses about the virtuoso. I am very happy I chose this model.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 12/15/11)

i bought this so i could grind for my press pot and the occasional drip. it's my first "real" grinder-- all the others i've had are the $20 mill style ones. if i wanted to make french press, i'd have to get my beans ground at a coffee shop, which is great for a few days, but they'd loose their freshness pretty fast. otherwise it would be grinding with the cheap mill for drip. it was never that great, which is probably why i rarely made coffee at home. anyhow, i've made many cups of press pot and drip coffee and i'm totally stoked by how awesome it tastes. this grinder is really easy to use and clean. the only SLIGHT negative side is that there can be a bit of static build up that can make things a little messy, but it's really a super minor thing. i'm happy about this purchase.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 12/15/11)

Great grinder except the knob keeps falling off . . .

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 12/14/11)

Replaced Capresso Infinity and this is a much better grinder. Grind is more consistent and basket holds more grounds. More mess with the Capresso. The only draw back was the initial settings would not ground the coffee fine enough for my Saeco Aroma. Help was easy to find from SCG, videos, and Baratza web site. Once the setting was adjusted everything is running great. This is a great grinder for the price.

Pros:
Static free container, Smooth even Grind

Cons:
Settings needed adjusting

(Posted on 10/10/11)

I was looking for a grinder to give me a consistent coarse to medium grind for my press pot and d.i.y. cold brew coffee. I am upgrading from your $20 blade grinder which was not a good at all. I plan to use it also for pour over and chemex in the near future. I am not sure of the consistence for a more fine grind for espresso, but I do recommend this for press pots, drip, and pour over. It is very sturdy built grinder and I like that I get very minimal static from the collection box. I also like the pulse feature. I am very happy with this product[...]

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Consistent Grind, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 8/23/11)

Consistently perfect grind with very minimal heating. The level of control over grind type is exceptional. Very quiet operation. Three minor things would make it unbeatable.
1. Ability to lock down the grind settings so they can't get bumped off.
2. Set markers for different grinds/beans.
3. Display was back-lit.
Definitely recommended.

Pros:


Cons:

(Posted on 7/7/11)

After using the Baratza Virtuoso Burr Grinder everyday since receiving it, we have gone from casual coffee drinkers to every morning coffee drinkers. We use a french press and could not be more satisfied. We ordered whole coffeebeans online which are fresh, unlike the beans one buys at a grocery store. We are in coffee heaven. After watching your grinder tests, we knew what we needed. We would buy this unit again. Thank You. Dean and Linda

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 6/23/11)

Initially I had a tough time getting the hopper to seat on the grinder base but once I did so everything worked perfectly. I think the ultra bright blue lights are a bit much but I put the grinder back to sleep after using it so I don't have to see those blue lights. I upgraded from a previous lower model Baratza.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 5/29/11)

I got this to replace a grinder unit I got for christmas a year ago. This is hands down the best Ive ever used.
It makes little or no mess. The grind is amazingly consistant. It's quiter than most, and very easy to use. And the way it's built it looks like I'll never have to buy another.
I'm very happy with my purchase.

Pros:
Very consistant grind, No mess, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Quite, No hopper clogs, Easy grind adjustments

Cons:
None at this time

(Posted on 5/27/11)

I had the capresso infinity stainless steel model and the virtuoso is way better. The big difference between the two is that virtuoso is much easier to clean and it doesn't leave a bunch of coffee in the grinder to deal with after each grind. The grind is also pretty fine. I have the via venezia with the pressurized portafilter and pulled my best shot on it with this grinder on the first try. I've also gone too fine with it on 10 to almost choke it. I'm going to step up to the non-pressurized portafilter at some point when I get some cash saved up. We will see if I can get a fine enough grind out of the machine at that point. I suspect I can based on what I've seen so far.

Is there a way to tell what setting my grinder is on out of the box without opening it up? I'm curious to know if it will go even finer if I fine tune it.

Pros:


Cons:

(Posted on 4/3/11)

I use this daily for espresso and regular coffee. This is the first burr grinder I've owned, and what a difference in taste! I can't believe I went this long without one. It's easy to switch between regular and espresso grind. I get a perfect shot of espresso every time. It took me a couple of tries to get the setting right, but now that I know what it is, it's extremely consistent. The build quality is on the higher end of many of the units I've looked at. This thing is built like a tank! I would definitely buy this again.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 2/21/11)

Coffee dust is at a minimum.
Timer setting is not long enough.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 2/19/11)

Wish they did not cost so much

Pros:
Great Taste, Good design, Easy To Use, Good size, Easy To Clean, Commercial Grade

Cons:
Expensive, A little messy

(Posted on 1/27/11)

This is my first burr grinder, but it has surpassed my expectations after almost a month of non-stop usage. I use this for both espresso and French press, and the grind is consistent, there's virtually no static issues with the basket, and it's quiet as can be. Two thumbs up.

Pros:
Great Taste, Quiet, Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 12/31/10)

Well worth the money. We waited too long to get a good grinder, and if I could do anything different it would be to invest in this grinder as soon as we purchased the espresso maker. The hopper is nicely designed, the blades are perfect and the grind is exceedingly consistent. Fits nicely on the kitchen counter.

Pros:
Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 12/29/10)

I just switched from a cheap Capresso burr grinder to this model. The difference is night and day. This machine is remarkably heavy and solidly built. The anti-static cup for the grounds REALLY works. The coffee falls neatly to the bottom without sticking to the sides and flying out every where when you take it out. It is much quieter and the grounds are more uniformly ground. The grind selection process has a precise, smooth feel to it. I love this grinder and it is worth the investment.

Pros:
Anti-static grounds cup, Commercial Grade, Quiet

Cons:

(Posted on 11/24/10)

It does not grind as coarse for french press as my Breville. It's too soon, 3 weeks, to know if it is important.

Very easy to use and lots of control.

Quiet for a grinder. Timer and manual-very nice.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 11/10/10)

The Baratza Vario is easy to use and definitely produces much better coffee crema than my old Rancilio Rocky (using a Silvia espresso machine). On the downside the portafilter holder is a bit flimsy. Watch out for the small screw that holds the portfilter stand to the base. It's easy to lose it when you are unpacking the Vario. The grinder does spray some coffee past the portafilter and you do need to frequently clean the portafilter holder, but it can be removed and easily washed.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste

Cons:
Messy

(Posted on 11/9/10)

I bought the Baratza Virtuoso based on the video reviews Seattle Coffee Gear posted; I found them very helpful figuring out what was important to me in a grinder. The Virtuoso has surpassed my every expectation: it's quieter than my old blade grinder, the consistency and control of the grind is spot on, it's easy to switch settings instantly for my Aerobie press, drip maker, or french press, and there is absolutely none of the static mess I always associated with burr grinders at home. I've recommended this grinder to all my coffee loving friends.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 10/29/10)

We can get the exact grind size we want with the dual grind levers and it does not change. The consistency throughout a grind batch is wonderful. We also greatly enjoy being able to grind directly into our espresso filter baskets.

Pros:
Easy To Use, High grind consistency, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 10/1/10)

I did lots of research before buying both my espresso maker and grinder.
It is very true what is said about having a good grinder!!!!!! I had a great espresso machine, but so-so grinder. And thus so-so espresso.
This grinder changed it all. HUGE difference.
Moral of the story-- do not scrimp on the grinder!!!!

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Small footprint, Commercial Grade

Cons:
None yet

(Posted on 9/27/10)

Works very well

Pros:
Quiet, Easy To Use, Great Taste

Cons:
None

(Posted on 9/22/10)

I have a Rancilio Silvia and thought I needed a higher-end grinder to get a grind. My espressos are coming out perfect.The Virtuoso is an excellent grinder.

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:
None

(Posted on 8/21/10)

Grinding for espresso is rough on a grinder. I killed a Breville Ikon after 6 months grinding for a Rancillio Ms. Silvia. If you are grinding for espresso and you have good machine do yourself a favor and look at this grinder.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 8/18/10)

Although it's a hundred bucks more than the Rocky, the Vario really wins hands down. Interestingly enough, there are reports maintaining that the Vario can really compete with the likes of Mazzers. I think they're undervalued a bit.

If I never drank drip coffee, I would have purchased a Mazzer Mini; but I do, so the Vario is the perfect machine for me.

Bottomline: If you want a superb grinder for espresso, you ought to consider the Vario. If you want a superb grinder for both espresso and drip coffee, don't hesitate and buy the Vario.

I forgot to mention: this machine doesn't weigh that much and doesn't take up much space, and this is a huge benefit.

The only downside concerns personal preference - I think the Mazzers and Macaps (and even the Rocky) look better.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 8/10/10)

The Best feature is it's anti-static quality--no more coffee grounds all over the countertop! In addition, the grounds bin is very easy to get in and out of the machine and the consistency of the grind is very good.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 8/3/10)

I am a daily user, although still a bit new to the world of making my own daily espresso's- what a treat. We have been making French Press for a number of years and have honed our skills and tastes in that realm. This one has been fun and easy to undertake so far. The Cellini may seem a little daunting at first, but it really does make the job fun, easy and attractive!

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quick Brewing, Large Water Container, Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Commercial Grade

Cons:
None

(Posted on 8/2/10)

Had problems getting a good grind for french press at first. It seemed to produce a lot of fines, resulting in a muddy cup and a clogged press. Had great support from the company and reset the calibration adjustments with good results. Now I get good grinds for press-pot without a lot of fines. For espresso, this grinder is SPECTACULAR. It delivers extremely consistent results in my Anita. The portafilter holder and bin work great. Grinds are fluffy and low in static charges. I don't really use the presets as I switch frequently between decaf and regular espresso, so I just weigh what I need and grind it.

Pros:
Perfect espresso grinding, Consistent grinding, Good for press and drip

Cons:

(Posted on 6/8/10)

Bought this as part of an "upgrade" for our Seaco Aroma along the way to conversion to non-pressurized handle.

This machine produces nice consistent grind. There have been complaints about the timer handle dropping off. Yes it happens from time to time but you just need to make sure if is pressed on completely with each use. No big deal. I would like to see a more accurate timer but not an easy thing to do with a rotary timer. For accurate timed grind, use botton on the front. For convenience, use the timer.

One negative, I had to remove and clean the burr wheel when we received it. It was not machined very well, metal edges and flakes were present. I worked on the rough flaked edges to prevent possible metal filings from getting into the grind. I am kind of particular about things so most likely, others would not have noticed or would notice.

All in all, very happy with the grinder. Great part of the "upgrade" package.

A little on that. Converting to the non-pressurized handle is great. Takes a little while to get used to it. You don't get as much crema but you do get much more flavor punch. After a while of non-pressurized dialing in and use, we did a blind taste test. The stock pressurized handle produces amazing looking shots (much more crema compared to non-pressurized) but the taste is lacking the punch. Converting to non-pressuzized is the way to go!!!

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use

Cons:
Needed work

(Posted on 5/21/10)

Give the grinder a workout every morning and some afternoons. Its quiet plus has a great range of settings. Unfortunately the four feet pads are not long enough to clear the diameter of the power cord, so it rocks arround a but. They need to either put taller feet or smaller diameter power cord on this machine.

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 5/21/10)

I purchased this grinder both for everyday use (press pot and drip grind) as well as for temporary duty as an espresso grinder while waiting for a more elaborate grinder to arrive.

Baratza has made great strides with this range of grinders compared with the earlier models. The Virtuoso impresses you right out of the box with its generous size and weight. It is sturdy and stable enough so that there is no walking around on the counter while in use. Also, the new anti-static coating on the grounds bin really works, completely eliminating the feared ground coffee cloud that accompanies emptying bins from lesser grinders.

The grind range does easily encompass everything from french press to espresso. Regarding the latter, you could get away with using this grinder for espresso all the time, but it arguably does not offer the ultimate in fine-tuning that the semi-commercial grinders (Mazzer, Macap, etc.) do. See the SCG YouTube videos for more on that.

Finally, I needed a grinder that could handle the dark, oily beans that I generally use, and this one works like a champ. There is ample power to avoid clogging the burrs, and the short, straight-drop chute eliminates the problem that some more expensive grinders have with oily beans.

Highly recommended.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 3/31/10)

This grinder really does all that it says. You can really "dial in" the grind to exactly the one you want. It makes great espresso grind.

Pros:
Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 3/22/10)

Surprisingly heavy construction with solid small parts (i.e. - timing knob). Grinds very consistently with good beans. Like with other sub $500 conical burr grinders, cheap beans (read: Starbucks) can jam the burrs, but there is no issue with quality and fresh roasts. However, the product comes preset from the factory to cover a certain range of grinding sizes and mine needed to be adjusted to cover a coarser range (I use it for both espresso and french press). Doing so requires taking the machine's casing off and resetting a calibration screw (instructions online), but it was not that big of an ordeal. Now, the machine easily covers the range from espresso to french press. I am thoroughly happy with the product and I would purchase it again.

Pros:
Heavy Construction, Commercial Grade

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 3/21/10)

Investigated numerous burr grinders and ultimately decided on the Baratza Virtuoso as the best value. Very pleased with our decision. The unit is easy to use and the noise level is not really noticeable. Grind settings are approximate (as others have noted) and you need to adjust to find the correct grind for your espresso machine, drip pot, etc. Can't comment on durability as this is a recent purchase.

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 3/20/10)

Much quieter than the Le'Lit it replaced. The hook on the portafilter holder is too high and doesn't hold my e-61 portafilter even, so you always have to hold it. Small potatoes, though. This is truly a great grinder and worth every penny.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Comparatively Quiet

Cons:

(Posted on 3/19/10)

Recommendations are that the grinder is possibly the most important part of an espresso setup. Our experience bears this out. We got the Vario before our new Expresso machine came in, and used it with our extremely geriatric older machine. The difference with the new grinder was incredible. It's easy to use, and does not throw grounds over the counter.

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 3/19/10)