RJP Senior Member Joined: 17 Dec 2010 Posts: 18 Location: RI Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Tue Dec 28, 2010, 1:56pm Subject: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
Looking for a grinder in the ~$200 range. I could be wrong but these seem to be the best of the bunch for that range. Any help would be appreciated. I should mention this would be to grind espresso ~98% of the time.
Posted Tue Dec 28, 2010, 2:13pm Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
I owned an MDF for a minute and it just seemed a little "jenky". The Virtuoso is a respected grinder. I haven't used one but I know that that is the one I would go with.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Tue Dec 28, 2010, 2:26pm Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
I used an MDF for 25 years -- no problems whatsoever, just needed to replace the burrs once in a while . . . indeed, it's still being used today (gave it to my brother-in-law).
jkoll42 Senior Member Joined: 2 Jan 2010 Posts: 465 Location: Pennsylvania Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: VBM DD V3, Gaggia Baby Class Grinder: Cimbali Max Hybrid, Bunn... Drip: Technivorm, Chemex Roaster: Honey Badger 1K, HG/BM
Posted Tue Dec 28, 2010, 5:51pm Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
I have not used the Virtuoso, but the MDF just barely cut it when I was using it. The most annoying thing was that it too forever to grind enough for a shot. That being said, it was just capable of grinding for espresso and is built well.
Posted Tue Dec 28, 2010, 6:39pm Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
I have not owned the Cunill Tranquilo - but I have read that it is a capable espresso grinder that can sometimes be found on sale for about $200. And I've read many posts that indicate neither the MDF nor the Virtuoso are quite good enough for espresso) Again - no experience with any of these three grinders but from reading many posts the Cunill should be superior for espresso to either of the grinders you mentioned - but list price is probably higher, you would have to find a good sale to get it at your price point.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Tue Dec 28, 2010, 10:33pm Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
jkoll42 Said:
The most annoying thing was that it too forever to grind enough for a shot. That being said, it was just capable of grinding for espresso and is built well.
Obviously it worked well for you - I am not here to crap on others equipment. For ME it took a very long time. I just pulled the MDF off the shelf and dumped in 16g and I was at around 22sec +/-. That was for a single dose so a full hopper might go slightly quicker but that seemed (perceptually) to be similar to what I used to find typical. While not technically 'forever' to me that is too long especially when combined with the grind that was produced. Add to that the required WDT to try and reduce channeling as much as possible and the overall prep time became annoying.
I realize that it is a very different price range grinder, but now with my Cimbali it takes about 9sec to grind, no WDT (unless I am feeling especially geeky that day) and zero channeling/distribution issues.
Now that I have sold the heck out of the MDF, any one wanna buy a used one ;)
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Wed Dec 29, 2010, 6:57am Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
Jon, to paraphrase André Agassi, perception is everything! There are times when the Baratza Vario seems r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w to me. After all, the Mahlkönig K30 Vario grinds the same dose in 3.2 seconds! ;^)
Then again, when I first got my CMH, the noise level of the grinder didn't bother me at all, but . . .
Everything is relative -- it's how it tastes in the cup that counts.
jkoll42 Senior Member Joined: 2 Jan 2010 Posts: 465 Location: Pennsylvania Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: VBM DD V3, Gaggia Baby Class Grinder: Cimbali Max Hybrid, Bunn... Drip: Technivorm, Chemex Roaster: Honey Badger 1K, HG/BM
Posted Wed Dec 29, 2010, 7:07am Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
I think at 5AM the K30 would knock the portafilter out of my hand, across the room, bonk the sleepy dog on the head and 9 seconds later I would finally wonder why there was huge pile of grounds on the counter and double basket stuck on the pup's nose :)
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Wed Dec 29, 2010, 7:39am Subject: Re: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Gaggia MDF
But it would do it in only 3 seconds! ;^)
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My problem with the CMH -- which I loved as a grinder -- was that, at 5am, it would wake up everyone else in the house . . . meanwhile, the dog is smart, and has learned to get out of the way.
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