Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 2:52pm Subject: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
Okay, this question is mostly directed at CraigA, resident Baratza expert and generally helpful and friendly guy. (Of course, others are welcome to offer input as well.) Forgive me, but I can't find a way to send private messages to other users?
A friend of mine has been seeking my advice on how to start making better coffee, and now he has decided to shop for a grinder. Since I have essentially nothing but positive things to say about my Preciso, and given the respect the company is afforded around these parts I gave him what seems to be a common response on these forums: "Get the Baratza that fits your budget".
This led us to Baratza's website, and to this comparison chart for their grinders: Click Here (www.baratza.com)
Now, here comes my question. The chart rates the Maestro as "Very Good" for manual brew methods (press, pour-over, etc.) and for cupping but the higher end Virtuoso only gets a "Good" rating. Is Baratza saying that the Maestro will out perform the Virtuoso for these functions? Assuming that the grinder won't be used for espresso (the Virtuoso can't really be dialed-in anyways, from what I understand) what are the advantages (if any) in going with the Virtuoso over the Maestro?
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 3:06pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
That *is* kind of funny, isn't it? Soon enough it won't matter, though, since the Maestro Plus is being replaced by the Encore, which AFAIK will have Virtuoso burrs. See here, for example: "Coming soon: Baratza Encore?"
Edit: I see that Kyle has weighed in on that other thread and specified that the Encore will have an entirely new burr set. Sounds promising.
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 1:06pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
Interesting. Looks like it will be set to go on sale soon, perhaps the end of this month. If my friend is leaning towards a Maestro (as apparently it is better than the Virtuoso... :P) maybe I should suggest he hold off for the Encore?
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 1:50pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
Cool, thanks!
LOL, so the new chart has upgraded the Virtuoso from a "good" to "very good" rating for manual brew methods. And, whereas the Maestro was "very good" for cupping, the Encore (and Virtuoso and Preciso) is only "good". Hahaha.
I wonder what would make a grinder "very good" for manual brew but only "good" for cupping? In what way are the grinding requirements different between the two?
Confusing...
Brendan
Edit: Maybe the "upgraded" rating of the Virtuoso reflects the fact that the current incarnation sports the Preciso burr set?
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 3:29pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
iHaveFeet Said:
Cool, thanks!
LOL, so the new chart has upgraded the Virtuoso from a "good" to "very good" rating for manual brew methods. And, whereas the Maestro was "very good" for cupping, the Encore (and Virtuoso and Preciso) is only "good". Hahaha.
I wonder what would make a grinder "very good" for manual brew but only "good" for cupping? In what way are the grinding requirements different between the two?
Confusing...
Brendan
Edit: Maybe the "upgraded" rating of the Virtuoso reflects the fact that the current incarnation sports the Preciso burr set?
You are definitely correct with assuming that the change to the Virtuoso's comparison listing is due to the new burrs. I think that the Preciso's "good" rating was also due to the original old virtuoso style burr as well. The new burrs are coarse grinding champs. It looks as if the Encore was built with a similar goal in mind - to create a more affordable machine with a similar burr set to the Virtoso/Preciso. I would assume that this means deep bean scoops that feed beans faster to the primary cutters resulting in a faster and more uniform grind, but that is obviously just speculation as it hasn't even been released.
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 3:43pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
Sam21 Said:
You are definitely correct with assuming that the change to the Virtuoso's comparison listing is due to the new burrs. I think that the Preciso's "good" rating was also due to the original old virtuoso style burr as well. The new burrs are coarse grinding champs. It looks as if the Encore was built with a similar goal in mind - to create a more affordable machine with a similar burr set to the Virtoso/Preciso. I would assume that this means deep bean scoops that feed beans faster to the primary cutters resulting in a faster and more uniform grind, but that is obviously just speculation as it hasn't even been released.
Yes, as you know, Sam, I love the Preciso for press grind. :) What i mean is, why would they be rated "very good" For manual brew methods (including french press) but only "good" for cupping? Does a cupping grinder need to do something different? Something at which the Preciso, Virtuoso and soon to be available Encore are apparently only mediocre at but at which the Maestro Plus evidently excelled? This is why I am confused, and I apologize if I am thinking that these charts provide a more direct comparison between models than is actually intended.
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 3:45pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
iHaveFeet Said:
Yes, as you know, Sam, I love the Preciso for press grind. :) What i mean is, why would they be rated "very good" For manual brew methods (including french press) but only "good" for cupping? Does a cupping grinder need to do something different? Something at which the Preciso, Virtuoso and soon to be available Encore are apparently only mediocre at but at which the Maestro Plus evidently excelled? This is why I am confused, and I apologize if I am thinking that these charts provide a more direct comparison between models than is actually intended.
Hmmmm. That is interesting. I can't offer any insight, or even speculation. If anything, I would assume that the Preciso/Virtuoso would handle a cupping grind very well.
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 5:26pm Subject: Re: Question about Baratza grinders, CraigA please weigh in.
Sam21 Said:
Hmmmm. That is interesting. I can't offer any insight, or even speculation. If anything, I would assume that the Preciso/Virtuoso would handle a cupping grind very well.
Exactly. And, the Vario is ranked as a "very good" cupping grinder. This, despite the white paper that Mark Prince did for Baratza, which concluded that the Preciso slightly betters the Vario at coarser settings.
Hopefully someone will some cupping experience/knowledge will come along and tell us what people look for in a good cupping grinder. :)
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 