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Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

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Discussions > Espresso > Grinders -... > Virtuoso Preciso...

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MisterJohnnyT
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 59
Location: S.E. Florida
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Crossland CC1
Grinder: Compak K3 Touch

Posted Mon Jan 23, 2012, 6:41pm Subject: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

So I have been struggling for too long now, trying to get a decent shot. EVERY shot no matter how fine or course, over/underdosed, light/heavy tamp is giving me horrific early blonding and sprays/sprites with my bottomless PF. Then I noticed the Burr Holder, the white plastic ring that holds the upper burr ring, seems to be broken. I think it has been like this since I got it, so I didn't realize it was broken... but now from looking at every other picture of it online, I guess that it is indeed broken.. Oh man I have wasted so so so much coffee trying to get a decent shot the past week. I will attach pics. Is that definitely broken and not supposed to be like that? I have only had it for about 2 weeks, and I was having some good shots the first few days, but then it's been down hill. (Click for larger image)

MisterJohnnyT
Senior Member

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 59
Location: S.E. Florida
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Crossland CC1
Grinder: Compak K3 Touch

Posted Mon Jan 23, 2012, 6:42pm Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

It's really annoying I can't upload more than 1 pic per post. (Click for larger image)

jbviau
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jul 2010
Posts: 647
Location: Baltimore, MD
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Gaggia Classic
Grinder: Preciso / LIDO
Drip: Trifecta MB / Eva Solo...

Posted Mon Jan 23, 2012, 8:28pm Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

Yup, broken (sorry)--call Baratza tomorrow. I'm sure a mod will be along soon to give you more info. if you're curious.

MisterJohnnyT
Senior Member

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 59
Location: S.E. Florida
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Crossland CC1
Grinder: Compak K3 Touch

Posted Mon Jan 23, 2012, 10:41pm Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

Thanks. I see I can buy replacements for a couple bucks, but I'm wondering if I should just return the whole thing while I can and get something else. I have not abused this machine at all, so I don't want to have to buy a new ring every week with normal careful use. This looks like it's clearly a week point in the mechanism for it to already be giving me issues. Mostly I'm annoyed at all the coffee and time I have wasted trying to get a good shot this past week.

MisterJohnnyT
Senior Member

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 59
Location: S.E. Florida
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Crossland CC1
Grinder: Compak K3 Touch

Posted Sat Jan 28, 2012, 5:36am Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

I did return the Preciso. I have a Compak K3 Touch on the way that I think I'll be very happy with. The K3 supposedly is not the best option though if I want to frequently switch between grinds, from espresso to drip. Since my wife mostly makes drip, I have a Baratza Maestro on the way as her drip grinder. Maybe I can also use it as a backup espresso grinder, but I know this might be a stretch.

ptrck2184
Senior Member

Joined: 1 Dec 2009
Posts: 23
Location: New Jersey
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Mon Feb 20, 2012, 6:39pm Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

I just noticed tonight that I have the same problem on my preciso. I will contact baratza tomorrow and keep you updated on the response. Anyone else experience this problem or have a solution?

dyqik
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Oct 2011
Posts: 351
Location: Cambridge, MA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Bezzera BZ07 PM
Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Preciso...
Vac Pot: Cona D
Drip: Bona-Vita, CCD, Aeropress.
Roaster: Gene Cafe, Modded Poppers

Posted Mon Feb 20, 2012, 7:04pm Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

I had this problem last week - emailed them on Sunday with the details, got an email reply on Tuesday, and a warranty replacement burr holder in the post on Thursday. My grinder was 6 months old at this point. Fortunately I also own a Porlex that I use for travel, so I just switched to drip with breakfast. As their rep said in their email - this part does act as a sort of fuse to help prevent damage to the rest of the grinder if a stone or extra hard bean gets in - although I'm not sure it was designed that way :) I might order a couple of spares at some point - I figure it's better to have a grinder that will fail in a known and easy to fix way than an unknown way (a philosophy I also applied to my last car - an MGB).

MisterJohnnyT
Senior Member

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Posts: 59
Location: S.E. Florida
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Crossland CC1
Grinder: Compak K3 Touch

Posted Tue Feb 21, 2012, 6:41am Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

I've also read about this being the machine's "fuse." With that being the case, they really should include at least 2 extra ones for free. Mine broke after only 1 week, with VERY careful use. I have been using my Compak K3 for the past few weeks, and it works great... much better than the Preciso did before it broke.

Intrepid510
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Dec 2010
Posts: 303
Location: California
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Tue Feb 21, 2012, 2:56pm Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

I noticed mine had developed a crack, was still able to grind, but it would break at somepoint. A quick email and a few days later it was replaced. Quick and easy. Even if Baratza hadn't replaced it free of charge at only two dollars it's not really a big deal imho. So all things considered if Baratza is going to get people into espresso grinders that work as well as others a few hundred dollars more and what we have to deal with are some parts breaking every now and again that are easily replaceable/inexpensive/or free, then what do we have to worry about?

Less water, more grounds.

GlennT
Senior Member

Joined: 13 Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Location: SF Bay Area (Silicon Valley)
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Kraps Il Primo Steam Wanabe...
Grinder: Baratza Priciso
Drip: Aeropress & "Don't ask don't...

Posted Tue Feb 21, 2012, 4:06pm
Subject: Re: Virtuoso Preciso - Broken Burr Holder causing my early blonding and sprites?

MisterJohnnyT Said:

I've also read about this being the machine's "fuse." With that being the case, they really should include at least 2 extra ones for free. Mine broke after only 1 week, with VERY careful use.

Posted February 21, 2012 link

Using standard margins, a $2.00 spare part should have a fully burdened cost between $0.50 & $0.70. I would be surprised if they could process the warranty order and ship the nearly weightless part for less than $10-15. Depending on warranty failure rate, it may well be cheaper for Baratza to include a couple of spares, making the "fuse function" more a design feature than a hassle. It would certainly be consistent with their customer-oriented philosophy.

It should be a no-brainer to supply no-cost spares to foreign distributors. International warranty support is EXPENSIVE!

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