If you can avoid paying hundreds of dollars in shipping by freezing coffee - money which does not benefit the coffee industry in any way - it's certainly a valuable finding. If freezing is not a viable option, then... let's see the scientific studies to prove it.
Tim, obviously Mr. Schecter plans to carry this further...LOL Time to put your moderator robe on and get us back on topic...uh, which was? (Andy...just kidding...lots of respect here.) --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- OK...I got my hands on another Vario...again, temporarily again. Dang. It's the latest iteration. First off, I did what I shouldn't have done. I dived into the slider under the rubber grommet, instead of tweaking the new little 2mm hex screw. SO...after completely messing up the parameters, I got the slider back where it was, just visable at the coarse end, and wgile the machine was running, placing the Micro lever 1/2 way up, I slid the Macro lever toward the Espresso marking at the top. I had turned the little screw 1/4 turn clockwise, facing the grinder. I heard the sound of the motor change, and a couple of burr rubs. I slid the Macro down one notch AND.....
I ended up 1 notch below the top (Macro) and 1/2 way down (Micro)..... Exactly where my previous loaner was! (for most of my blends) And, pretty much where it was when I got the grinder, fresh out of the box. Therefore, I heartily recommend new users let the burrs break in a bit, maybe do quite a bit of vac pot/drip, etc, at least a #. THEN, start locking in the espresso grind. New, these grinders are like lots of new things. They need to be broken in, not messed with.
Yeah, I know, it's the Geek mantra to fiddle with stuff "before the fact." LOL Grind Quality I need to say right now, those who own older Varios need not feel left out. My very early model grinds equally as well as this newer one. As I don't use the PF fork, I can't really comment there, though I did notice that my 49mm PF stayed put, as opposed to the previous version, where it fell off due to the slight vibration. I'll bet older unit owners can update that part.
AGAIN I say, even with the extra added "fine-tuning" the 2mm screw gives you LEAVE THINGS ALONE, till you've had a chance to break the Vario in.
All is relative at first. If you need to lower the Macro a notch lower, DO so, and if the espresso is yummy, then stay there. I garauntee you'll be changing that a bit in the coming week, as the burr (or maybe the grinder itself) breaks in.
NOTE...I have noticed static reducing as well over that last few days, which may be as the beans are aging, though that would see odd as the beans are drying out. Clumping has not been much of an issue. A tap down during grinding, and at the edn of the grind cycle seems to take of that. The grind is VERY fluffy, so I recommend a tap down. (not sure what the pro barista feels about this) Thanks for the time.
germantownrob Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2007 Posts: 1,621 Location: Philadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: N.S. Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Preciso w/Esatto,... Drip: pour over Roaster: Diedrich IR-1, HT B
Posted Sun Aug 16, 2009, 7:24am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
IMAWriter Said:
Therefore, I heartily recommend new users let the burrs break in a bit, maybe do quite a bit of vac pot/drip, etc, at least a #. THEN, start locking in the espresso grind. New, these grinders are like lots of new things. They need to be broken in, not messed with.
All is relative at first. If you need to lower the Macro a notch lower, DO so, and if the espresso is yummy, then stay there. I garauntee you'll be changing that a bit in the coming week, as the burr (or maybe the grinder itself) breaks in.
Ah, that is what happened to me. I came home from vacation and all my setting needed extreme changes finer, I thought it was old beans, or humidity. The changes where just to big of an adjustment to make sense. So now I like the breaking in theory, I re-adjusted the 2mm screw and everything is back on track though I am still searching for the sweat spot and will have to wait for the new bean rest a few more days.
Posted Sun Aug 16, 2009, 9:41am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
germantownrob Said:
Ah, that is what happened to me. I came home from vacation and all my setting needed extreme changes finer, I thought it was old beans, or humidity. The changes where just to big of an adjustment to make sense. So now I like the breaking in theory, I re-adjusted the 2mm screw and everything is back on track though I am still searching for the sweat spot and will have to wait for the new bean rest a few more days.
SpeedStar Senior Member Joined: 6 Dec 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Baratza Vario, Mazzer Mini Drip: Aeropress, Cuisinart
Posted Tue Aug 18, 2009, 6:55am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I have been taking Imawriter's recommendation to utilize the very accurate timer function to dose instead of adding only the beans needed for that shot which I was doing before. I am very pleased with this method also. The timer for me set at 13.2 seconds gives me a perfect 18g for my Synesso ridgeless basket. Very convenient and quick.
I find that I do get small amount of grind retention this way but I think this is inevitable when the grinder stops with beans still in hopper. There is no way to purge the grinds in the burrs or chute but this is a very small amount especially compared to a mazzer or similar. Maybe only .5g worth. I set up my press pre-set for .5 seconds to purge the old grinds for the next shot.
If I am dosing directly into the hopper I just grind a few seconds extra once the grind is complete to purge the remaining grinds leaving the grind chamber relatively empty and ready for the next grind.
Bottom-line for me, either method works great and it is nice to have both options.
Posted Tue Aug 18, 2009, 3:08pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I LOVE the Synesso double and triple baskets. I purchased them (thanks to a group sale from JonR) and they really helped my pulld. I believe one of the most ignored facets of the espresso process is the basket type. In my case, the Synesso's paired with the Anita was great.
SpeedStar Senior Member Joined: 6 Dec 2008 Posts: 227 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Baratza Vario, Mazzer Mini Drip: Aeropress, Cuisinart
Posted Tue Aug 18, 2009, 6:30pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
15.2 seconds seems to be the ideal setting for my Synesso triple baskets at 21g dose. I have it on my drip press-set now. I am really liking this little grinder! The Ipenema Dulce from Klatch is tasing great out of it too.
Posted Tue Aug 18, 2009, 9:12pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
SpeedStar Said:
15.2 seconds seems to be the ideal setting for my Synesso triple baskets at 21g dose. I have it on my drip press-set now. I am really liking this little grinder! The Ipenema Dulce from Klatch is tasing great out of it too.
Do you mean your espresso setting is located where it would normally be for drip/press? If that's the case, you probably need to re-calibrate the little 2mm set screw. Maybe I misunderstood? Wouldn't be a first :>D
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