darkow Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2012 Posts: 105 Location: Wisconsin Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: NS Oscar Grinder: Vario W Drip: Breville YouBrew
Posted Tue Feb 19, 2013, 5:15pm Subject: Clumping
I bought a Breville Smart Grinder last month and the grinds can clump badly. Does this happen on the Vario grinder? I was going to return the Breville and get the Vario instead.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,462 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 Tue Feb 19, 2013, 11:28pm Subject: Re: Clumping
darkow Said:
I bought a Breville Smart Grinder last month and the grinds can clump badly. Does this happen on the Vario grinder? I was going to return the Breville and get the Vario instead.
As much as i love my Baratza Vario W (and my previous Vario_ and Preciso I'd ask you couple of questions. Do you have high humidity, or oily beans? Those 2 things can cause clumping. Are the beans freshly roasted within 2 weeks? Have you tried the WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique)? Google it if you're not conversant with it.
That said, MOST here would tell you that the Vario does an excellent job of espresso grinding, as well as the coarser grinds. If you're looking to go as inexpensively as possible for a Vario, go for the regular Vario. It grinds by timer, and does a great job.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,613 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 6:48am Subject: Re: Clumping
I know that clumping can be bothersome, but it's not really an issue, because usually those clumps easily dissolve upon distribution (WDT can be helpful) and/or tamping without causing further extraction problems. With some grinders clumping even gets less after running through a few pounds of beans.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
darkow Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2012 Posts: 105 Location: Wisconsin Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: NS Oscar Grinder: Vario W Drip: Breville YouBrew
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 8:16am Subject: Re: Clumping
NobbyR Said:
I know that clumping can be bothersome, but it's not really an issue, because usually those clumps easily dissolve upon distribution (WDT can be helpful) and/or tamping without causing further extraction problems. With some grinders the clumping even gets less after running through a few pounds of beans.
Lately I've been grinding into a small jar, then use the WDT, and then scoop that into the portafilter. Do I need to grind directly into the portafilter this to work? Maybe I should do the cut-up-yogurt-funnel thing.
IMAWriter Said:
As much as i love my Baratza Vario W (and my previous Vario_ and Preciso I'd ask you couple of questions. Do you have high humidity, or oily beans? Those 2 things can cause clumping. Are the beans freshly roasted within 2 weeks? Have you tried the WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique)? Google it if you're not conversant with it.
That said, MOST here would tell you that the Vario does an excellent job of espresso grinding, as well as the coarser grinds. If you're looking to go as inexpensively as possible for a Vario, go for the regular Vario. It grinds by timer, and does a great job.
brianl Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Chicago IL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic (w/PID) Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: chemex
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 8:46am Subject: Re: Clumping
I have the regular vario and I would not say that it clumps (at least not so it affects the shot). Sure, you will see a little soft clump that breaks up when you touch it every so often. However, i have never noticed bad results with those. You just want to avoid the harder ones.
I already had a small AWS scale before I got the vario so I didn't think the W version was needed. I also felt that it works best for people that don't single dose (i wouldn't recommend a full hopper but maybe a third would be fine depending on your use with the W).
You don't have to, but you certainly can. Using a funnel in combination with the WDT works very well for me. If you don't want to cut plastic yoghurt cups, you'll find aluminium funnels like this one from Orphan Espresso or the one from Tidaka as well.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 1:07pm Subject: Re: Clumping
For me, it all depends on the beans I use. Sometimes I get a few clumps, other times it never ends up an issue. I gently shake the the grinds bucket on the Vario-W after grinding before sifting the grinds into my PF, using a funnel (a plastic party cup we cut up). I don't use the WDT, but nutate when I tamp to make sure the coffee seals against the flat walls of my VST basket.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,684 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 2:58pm Subject: Re: Clumping
Kind of like above. I dose straight into the basket, I don't have many, if any clumps nor do I WDT either, just groom the grounds evenly in the stock Pf basket and tamp then pull. Works for me.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
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