MDiddy Senior Member Joined: 3 Oct 2012 Posts: 89 Location: PA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra ii Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: Cuisinart DCC-1200
Posted Sat Jan 19, 2013, 11:21am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Hey guys, new Vario owner here. I've recently upgraded from a Breville 840/Smart Grinder combo to a La Nuova Era Cuadra ii/Vario setup. An odd thing I noticed...
From pretty much all the reading I've done and video's I've watched, most people have the grinder set with the macro all the way to the top and use the micro switch for adjusting the grind. There are a few that keep the macro maybe one notch down, but for the most part, it's almost always near the top.
I've found with my machine, I need to keep the grind set at about 4-k in order to not choke out the machine. Not tamping very hard, maybe 15-20 pounds, and I can get a good 2oz, 27 second shot. Any lower, on the grinder and the coffee is just dripping out, or not coming out at all. Does this sound normal to you? Or do you think my Vario is set too fine?
I've also noticed, when doing the calibration (starting with both levers at the bottom) that I hear a change in motor speed simply moving the macro lever to the top. It's not drastic, but there is definitely a change in sound. Should it be doing that?
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 Sat Jan 19, 2013, 11:53am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
MDiddy Said:
Hey guys, new Vario owner here. I've recently upgraded from a Breville 840/Smart Grinder combo to a La Nuova Era Cuadra ii/Vario setup. An odd thing I noticed...
From pretty much all the reading I've done and video's I've watched, most people have the grinder set with the macro all the way to the top and use the micro switch for adjusting the grind. There are a few that keep the macro maybe one notch down, but for the most part, it's almost always near the top.
No, that's not a fact. Actually, I'd say most are set one notch down, and a few 2 notches down.
I've found with my machine, I need to keep the grind set at about 4-k in order to not choke out the machine. Not tamping very hard, maybe 15-20 pounds, and I can get a good 2oz, 27 second shot. Any lower, on the grinder and the coffee is just dripping out, or not coming out at all. Does this sound normal to you? Or do you think my Vario is set too fine?
Yes, too fine. Clean your grinder, and perform the calibration again, making sure both levers are all the way down before commencing.
I've also noticed, when doing the calibration (starting with both levers at the bottom) that I hear a change in motor speed simply moving the macro lever to the top. It's not drastic, but there is definitely a change in sound. Should it be doing that?
Yes, normally, I suggest going one notch down, THEN raising the Micro lever up till you hear a change. If no change, then use the tool to go finer.
MDiddy Senior Member Joined: 3 Oct 2012 Posts: 89 Location: PA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra ii Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: Cuisinart DCC-1200
Posted Sat Jan 19, 2013, 12:53pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Something may be amiss with my Vario. Looking at this video, you can see when the macro side is moved all the way to the top, there's no change in sound.
On my grinder, I loosened the adjustment screw pretty much as far as it could go (actually took it the whole way out and had to screw it back in) and mine is still changing motor sounds when I move the macro all the way to the top:
greekespresso Senior Member Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 170 Location: Ptolemaida, Greece Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia V3, Gaggia... Grinder: Mahlkönig Vario Home, Anfim...
Posted Sat Jan 19, 2013, 1:37pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Hi Matt, someone had the same issue (not problem) like yours a few post before. "Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread" Unfortunately, I cannot find the Craigs' detailed instructions so until he comes for a help you might find the following reading about PRIMARY CALIBRATION helpful. Click Here (www.baratza.com)
PS If you do not use the grinder for french press, I assume you have to do nothing.
MDiddy Senior Member Joined: 3 Oct 2012 Posts: 89 Location: PA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra ii Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: Cuisinart DCC-1200
Posted Sat Jan 19, 2013, 1:45pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
greekespresso Said:
Hi Matt, someone had the same issue (not problem) like yours a few post before. "Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread" Unfortunately, I cannot find the Craigs' detailed instructions so until he comes for a help you might find the following reading about PRIMARY CALIBRATION helpful. Click Here (www.baratza.com)
PS If you do not use the grinder for french press, I assume you have to do nothing.
I found the instructions on Baratza's site to calibrate for a more coarse grind. Removed the upper burr, cleaned both, loosened the front screw down to one turn, and then removed the rubber seal to uncover the other screw. Found it was set more towards the middle-back, so I loosened it up a bit, moved it towards the front a bit, and then tightened back up.
Once I had that done, the grinder was no longer changing sound when I moved the macro lever to the top. I then followed the basic calibration to tighten up the front screw until the motor slowed at bit when the micro level was in the middle and I think I'm now good to go.
I haven't pulled a shot yet, but I tested some grinds, and it looks now that on 3-E, I'm getting close to the same consistancy I was getting on the 4-K grind previously. I'm going to attempt pulling some shots later on today and see what I can get.
Tert Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Norway Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Jan 19, 2013, 2:11pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
As I wrote three weeks ago, I received the Vario-W with steel burrs and was unable to make expresso fine grounds. Now I have installed ceramic burrs ordered from Baratza in the US, and to my big satisfaction the grinder works so well that I donīt even need to calibrate the machine. The warranty seal covering the calibrating hole is unbroken -- still a virgine Vario -- and she gives me excellent coffee one notch down on the macro side and half way for the micro.
bglenden Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Posts: 11 Location: Socorro NM Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Jan 19, 2013, 3:18pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Following up. I was the person who couldn't grind coarse. Following the advice here and from Baratza I reported:
"I ordered a burr remover and it arrived today, so I did a thorough cleaning (upper and lower burrs, took both out). I noticed that when I put my finger on the lower platform that I can feel it change "thunking" and changing position from about 1 through 5, but as far as it feels to my fingers its stationary for 5+ (and no longer "thunks"). Is this consistent with the adjustment plate being out of position? How can it be put back in position?
I did a calibration, and it was out by about a third of the fine scale (on the coarse side)."
Baratza (Pierce) suspects a problem with gearbox alignment, and at their initiative are sending me a replacement (machine is about 6 months old).
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 Sat Jan 19, 2013, 3:37pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Tert Said:
As I wrote three weeks ago, I received the Vario-W with steel burrs and was unable to make expresso fine grounds. Now I have installed ceramic burrs ordered from Baratza in the US, and to my big satisfaction the grinder works so well that I donīt even need to calibrate the machine. The warranty seal covering the calibrating hole is unbroken -- still a virgine Vario -- and she gives me excellent coffee one notch down on the macro side and half way for the micro.
That is about where they should be to give you a good range for espresso, yet allow for a nice french Press. Not referring to you, I'm seeing a bit too much 'fiddling" without READING. Folks, PLEASE read the entire manual, and listen NOT for motor strain, but just a change of pitch when performing the calibration procedure. Remember, these are NEWW burrs, and may grind a wee bit differently than they will after 5 #'s. In my case, the grind actually got a bit finer after a few weeks. Instead of recalibrating, I just changed my settings a bit. Once calibrated, there should be no need to perfrom that again, except if something drastically changes.
ethom Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2012 Posts: 63 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: NS Oscar, Silvia broken :o( Grinder: Vario Drip: Bosch
Posted Sun Jan 20, 2013, 9:47am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
MDiddy Said:
Something may be amiss with my Vario.
On my grinder, I loosened the adjustment screw pretty much as far as it could go (actually took it the whole way out and had to screw it back in) and mine is still changing motor sounds when I move the macro all the way to the top:
I have a similar condition, and an additional concern, with a brand new Vario. With the macro at the top and micro at lowest setting, I can hear a slight sound change. With any micro above the lowest setting, the burrs audibly make contact with a snicking sound as if some ceramic is being shaved off. I too loosened the calibration screw until it felt very loose, though it didn't quite fall out, but I still couldn't rid the burr contact sound. I don't hear the motor laboring or tone change, maybe because I'm so focused on the burr contact noise.
I calied Baratza where Colin said hearing the burrs making contact was perfectly normal and the sounds I was hearing were fine. Removing the upper burr, I could see that the outermost edges were newly worn down a bit, more on one side of the burr ring than the other.
Now I'm at an impass. In other situations with coffee equipment, if it sounded bad or somehow felt wrong, there usually was a problem that resulted in some type of failure. However, the manufacturer is saying all is fine with the Vario.
What do you all think? Should you be able to hear the burrs hitting each other with an almost-but-not-quite-metallic shaving sound and then see ceramic dust from the burrs inside?
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