DanoBrewer Senior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Midwest Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: DeLonghi - old as dirt Grinder: Kitchenaid Drip: krups Roaster: hot air popper
Posted Fri Mar 12, 2010, 11:03am Subject: Espresso Grinder help. Vario or used rocky?
Hi All.
Not horribly new to the espresso game, but finally getting some fair to decent equipment.
I need a grinder that will be used primarily for espresso but needs to be able to pull french and drip duties on a somewhat regular basis. So I had all but talked myself into the vario after reading tons of reviews stating "get the best grinder you can afford, then get an espresso machine with what you have left." I was looking at Gaggia MDF and a doserless Rocky but eventually decided that the Vario is probably the way to go.
Now the plot thickens. I look for a machine and found someone selling a Simonelli Oscar for a price I can afford. I think picking up an HX model now will keep me from upgrading, at least for a while. Anyway, the guy is selling his DOSER rocky as well, albeit he's asking more than I want to pay and unless he comes down a little I'll stick with just the Oscar and ignore his grinder. Sorry, digress.
I had talked myself out of the doserless rocky looking for something with smaller steps, less wasted coffee, easier for Wifey to use, and better for drip and french as well... when a doser rocky comes available for a discount.
So I'd like some opinions, especially from anyone that uses either the Rocky (for espresso and drip) or the vario. Would you Vario owners have gotten a doser model rocky if you could get it for, say, $200? Anyone have a rocky that wishes, gee, I'd like to save up and spring for a vario? Anyone have a doser rocky and say, man this doser is a pain when I want to make a pot of french?
Thanks for your help! -Dan
PS - if anyone has any negative feedback on the Oscar, please let me know. I was between the new gaggia baby and Miss Silvia, leaning towards the gaggia for Wifey's sake.
I have both & absolutely agree with Tim!, the Rocky since May 2001 & it was good in its day., & the Baratza Vario since Jan 20th 2010 & without a doubt or a seconds hesitation it's the Vario hands down 100%!! {;-D
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,464 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Wed Jul 11, 2012, 8:12pm Subject: Re: Espresso Grinder help. Vario or used rocky?
I owned a Rocky, and have a Vario for a long time now. The Vario has a great company behind it, and it is terrific at switching back and forth, basically instantaneously, and back to the exact place you were. A quick flush of a few grams of the previous grinds (out with the coarse grind, etc) and you're good to go. Perhaps check with Baratza.com on the availability of a refurb.
If the Oscar has been well maintained, and fin the owner can demonstrate it...even with a home video, you'll be happy.
Posted Wed Jul 11, 2012, 8:16pm Subject: Re: Espresso Grinder help. Vario or used rocky?
I will vote for Vario W. I have owned a lot of grinders of all sorts including 2 Varios, and I'm thinking of adding a W to the starting line up as a control grinder to test others against.
Stretch002 Senior Member Joined: 7 Jul 2011 Posts: 48 Location: Southern California Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Mini Vivaldi II Grinder: Mazzer Mini Electronic Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Bodum French Press/Kuerig Roaster: N/A
Posted Thu Jul 12, 2012, 11:33am Subject: Re: Espresso Grinder help. Vario or used rocky?
I used Rocky for six months and a Vario W for about a week. Here's my vote:
Taste in the cup: Vario without a doubt. The Rocky imparts a harsher tasting shot which is not as robust in flavor. I doubted the grinder would have such an impact but it was VERY noticeable. The Varios shots were much better.
Build Quality: Rocky wins and it's not even close. The Vario while a good grinder does not look or feel as solid a Rocky. If you read the threads you will find they sometimes lose calibration, get jammed or have other small problems. The good news is most people find Baratza support to be excellent. That was not the case for me but I am the exception that proves the rule. If you read the forums, you will find lots of posts about Vario troubles (usually resolved) and very few posts about Rocky.
Value: Vario wins as it is better in the cup and easier to use.
Final word: If I was choosing something to use for a couple of years, I would pick Vario knowing it might have some troubles but it will deliver better results in the short term. If I was choosing something to keep ten years or more I'd either save up more money or pick Rocky for it's build quality.
naimnut Senior Member Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Posts: 66 Location: Seattle area Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Brewtus II Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: Braun Aeromaster
Posted Thu Jul 12, 2012, 1:05pm Subject: Re: Espresso Grinder help. Vario or used rocky?
I used to own a Rocky. It's a good grinder, but a Cunill El Tranquilo, which can be found NEW for around $270 is a better grinder (IMHO). I switched from the Rocky to the Cunill and from the Cunill to the Vario. The Vario is definately the best of these three grinders.
BTW, every piece of equipment is a compromise and a balancing act between cost, ease of use, size, noise, suitability for home use, convenience, etc. The Vario gets high marks from me because:
It is a very good espresso grinder, offering near-stepless performance
Small, compact, kitchen-friendly
Quiet. (Relatively) This was a bigger deal to my wife, but I appreciate it to, compared to both the Rocky and the Cunill
Attractive
Great customer support from Baratza, from everything I've read.
It has greatly improved my ability to extract great flavors from beans I would have otherwise thought had gone past their prime. This has saved me money.
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