ggcadc Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 146 Location: San Diego, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: QM Alexia Grinder: Mazzer mini E, Virtuoso,... Vac Pot: Yama 3 cup Drip: All of them Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Tue Dec 25, 2012, 12:20pm Subject: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
Ive had a Preciso and Virtuoso for a couple years now... the preciso produced great espresso, when it works, the virtuoso, for pourover, started great, and is still ok... these seem to wear and not work so well over time, I clean them, and I make sure none of the internals have snapped as everything is made of plastic inside. even with everything intact and in working order the preciso sometimes refuses to get fine enough for espresso, with all the adjustments way way down...
This morning my wife asked me for a cappuccino, which I could not produce and instead smashed the preciso to pieces. as much as the rocky had its drawbacks, it didnt have a bit of plastic in it and was consistent over time. guess it;s time for something with metal innards.
anybody want bits and pieces of my preciso? (it isnt really in pieces, im just venting)
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,738 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu Dec 27, 2012, 6:42am Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
sounds to me like you may need to do a thorough internal cleaning and recalibrate your Preciso (wasn't clear if you destroyed it or not). There are guides on the Baratza support pages, there's also a good troubleshooting guide.
Posted Thu Dec 27, 2012, 7:03am Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
emradguy Said:
sounds to me like you may need to do a thorough internal cleaning and recalibrate your Preciso (wasn't clear if you destroyed it or not). There are guides on the Baratza support pages, there's also a good troubleshooting guide.
...and an excellent, responsive customer service/maintenance dept if your cleaning and following troubleshooting doesn't provide relief. Depending on volume of coffee put through those, two years may call for fresh burrs.
ggcadc Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 146 Location: San Diego, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: QM Alexia Grinder: Mazzer mini E, Virtuoso,... Vac Pot: Yama 3 cup Drip: All of them Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Thu Dec 27, 2012, 9:37am Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
I know guys, im on the third preciso, they are great, I just dont think I should have to get a new grinder every three months and go through the frustration of not being able to have a shot when I want one. I ordered a Mazzer mini e, this should solve the problem, at least for espresso.
ive gone through the cleaning and calibration, this is on the finest setting with the set screw all the way to the right. Baratza supports their products very well, but any site with that much DIY tech support, especially a fix involving scotch tape, something is definitely wrong there...They obviously get it right when it comes to grind quality, but these machines just dont seem to hold up very well. I'd pay good money if someone could CNC some metal internals(burr carrier, and adjustment mounting rings) for this burr set and put a stronger drivetrain on the motor with a better thermal cutoff, that would make this grinder a force to be dealt with.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,738 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu Dec 27, 2012, 1:10pm Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
plastic brings the Baratza line's costs down, allowing them to sell them cheaper, pleasing both consumer bank accounts and their volume product distribution analysts...at a price...people like me opt for more expensive better built machines.
I agree that Baratza support is fantastic. They actually spent a great deal of time in email exchanges with me while I refurbed an old Solis 166 I got from a friend. They even sent me some free gaskets. It's up and running well for presspot, but even there, my Lido outperforms it incredibly. I may end up gifting it to someone...though in it's used condition it would be a "hey, you want this?" kind of gift. But that would have to wait until I get a replacement electric for when my Mom visits.
are the internals on a vario plastic as well?, i see the burr carrier is metal////
but i'd love to have a conical burr grinder (the preciso burr is amazing) with metal internals and a slow rpm motor that can handle more than this one.
MJJ Senior Member Joined: 2 Jan 2013 Posts: 22 Location: Montreal Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia PID Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: Hario V60
Posted Thu Jan 3, 2013, 8:53pm Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
Hi, Have you tried shimming your Preciso or Virtuoso? This involves adding little shims underneath the bottom burr to move the whole grind spectrum finer (you could do the opposite by removing shims). Baratza will send you shims for this and they have instructions on their website. It's a bit of a job though, interesting for those who are interested in the inner workings of coffee grinders. You can get a much finer grind this way then won't need to smash your Preciso, and your wife will be happy. The Vario has plastic on the inside too but at least the top burr carrier is metal. The Vario is easier to adjust the grind, no need to open up the grinder, just tweaks with allen wrenches. I much prefer the taste of the Vario's espresso grind, hands down better.
ggcadc Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 146 Location: San Diego, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: QM Alexia Grinder: Mazzer mini E, Virtuoso,... Vac Pot: Yama 3 cup Drip: All of them Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Fri Jan 4, 2013, 12:43am Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
I had not thought about shimming it, it sounds like the burrs are touching at about the 3 marker. Not sure that would solve it, so now it's my office drip grinder.
I went out on a limb and bought a mazzer mini e to resolve my issues with build quality.
Iluvdabean Senior Member Joined: 7 Mar 2005 Posts: 1,060 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra/Gaggia... Grinder: Baratza Preciso/K-A Pro... Drip: Capresso MT 500/Pour Over Roaster: Nesco 1010/Behmor 1600
Posted Sat Jan 5, 2013, 7:49pm Subject: Re: Preciso and Virtuoso Woes
How did you clean it?
ggcadc Said:
Ive had a Preciso and Virtuoso for a couple years now... the preciso produced great espresso, when it works, the virtuoso, for pourover, started great, and is still ok... these seem to wear and not work so well over time, I clean them, and I make sure none of the internals have snapped as everything is made of plastic inside. even with everything intact and in working order the preciso sometimes refuses to get fine enough for espresso, with all the adjustments way way down...
This morning my wife asked me for a cappuccino, which I could not produce and instead smashed the preciso to pieces. as much as the rocky had its drawbacks, it didnt have a bit of plastic in it and was consistent over time. guess it;s time for something with metal innards.
anybody want bits and pieces of my preciso? (it isnt really in pieces, im just venting)
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