mariog7 Senior Member Joined: 7 Mar 2011 Posts: 183 Location: NJ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quickmill Vetrano Grinder: Vario
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2013, 8:03am Subject: Dull Burrs Producing Horrible Tasting Espresso
Hello, All.
Haven't pulled a good tasting shot for months now and it was driving me crazy. Cleaned out my Vario today and checked the burrs. Seemed very dull to me - I can drag my finger across them with no resistance and they felt smooth, not sharp. Vario is only a year old, but I do recall a couple of rocks going through my Vario a few months back. My small artisan roaster doesn't have a machine to filter out rocks and debris... So I tried extracting the same beans through my Encore (burr grinder that I use for drip) and the taste was spot on once again! So I'm assuming my dull burs are the culprit for crappy tasting espresso. Strange, because I could indeed grind fine and consistent, the only sign of dull burrs was bad tasting espresso.
Just curious if anyone else could attribute bad tasting espresso to dull burrs?
And does anyone have a procedure to replace them or do I simply unscrew the 3 screws holding them in place?
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2013, 5:56pm Subject: Re: Dull Burrs Producing Horrible Tasting Espresso
Well, the ceramic burrs on the Vario dont exactly FEEL sharp.. But the pure essence of proof that using the Encore, with the same beans, produced a good shot, is proof something is wrong.
Could even be the burr carrier is out of alignment.
Id call Baratza, see what they say. They may want you to send the grinder in so they can have a look. Dont worry, Baratza defines customer service excellence.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2013, 10:51pm Subject: Re: Dull Burrs Producing Horrible Tasting Espresso
Well, you couldnt. If its out of alignment, it would be a defect, or something caused it to break(possibly a rock). But i dont personally know of this happening to anyone so I wouldn't worry just yet.
the only thing might be, is the top burr, is held in place by supports that the burr itself locks under. Sorta hard to explain, but kinda how a portafilter locks into a grouphead.(hard to illustrate, but once you remove the hopper you'll see clear as day how it works) If that was installed improperly, it could be slightly out of alignment. Its easy to remove the top burr, make sure the mounting points are clean, and re-install it, but do so at your own risk.(its easy, just know there is always the chance of breaking something when you take it apart, so be aware of that before you do so)
Then again, dull burrs certainly COULD be the answer as well. Im just throwin out another possibility.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
I'd be surprised if your year old burrs are dull. They should last you 10, unless you throw an espresso party for 20 friends every night. I'd put my money on something else being the problem.
I'd be surprised if your year old burrs are dull. They should last you 10, unless you throw an espresso party for 20 friends every night. I'd put my money on something else being the problem.
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