My NEW Vario

Koffee_Kosmo

UNM wrote:

Be alert, not alarmed.

I think he should be very worried >😃 >😃 >😃 KK

grinderz

AngerManagement wrote:

May have to look at a more formal review and compare to the Eureka.... Different machines in ,many ways for good reasons, but providing the same service when at home.....

Hi AM, is the Vario much quieter than the Eureka?

Lacehim

Its so much quieter than my old K6. The Vario has been great, really happy. Ginderz, I posted up a review in the review thread if your interested.

Brett_H

Lacehim wrote:

Its so much quieter than my old K6. The Vario has been great, really happy. Ginderz, I posted up a review in the review thread if your interested.

It's a great review... Thoroughly recommended.

Gra

Interesting read for those that have a Vario... http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/coffeeatthemoment/04-19-2011 Gra...

Lacehim

The lack of a portafilter holder is a killer for the Vario-E. Would be good if you only did other brewing methods. Can't say I understand the whole weighing everything to the .1 of a gram bit. Far too scientific for my liking, and would you really notice in the cup? Doubtful. Too many other variables to also factor in.

hazchem

Lacehim wrote:

The lack of a portafilter holder is a killer for the Vario-E. Would be good if you only did other brewing methods. Can't say I understand the whole weighing everything to the .1 of a gram bit. Far too scientific for my liking, and would you really notice in the cup? Doubtful. Too many other variables to also factor in.

Indeed there are many variables to control in brewing espresso, a consistent dose being one of them. Surely having a method to precisely weigh in your dose each and every time means you gain control over one of the many variables involved in brewing espresso?

Lacehim

AngerManagement wrote:

So how has your unit been behaving ? Mine is OK, but a few tweaks would be nice... Mind you, Brett and I were both impressed to a point with the "Smart" grinder. Mind you we got KualityMan one for his retirement and he can not get a fine grind out of it... Not sure if it is the Grinder or User or Beans :o

Mine is behaving very well. It's quiet. I have noticed a difference in the dose if the grinder is empty or if I'm grinding for my next coffee. I have to increase the time by around 1 sec to get a similar dose to the second dose. I nearly bought the smart grinder, or a Baratza Virtuoso Preciso. The Breville put me off because they are so similar to the EM0480, in that you have to add shims to the thing to get it to work right. The Vario works straight out the box. No worries. Fivesenses (the only Aus supplier) didn't stock the Preciso at the time I was buying and I couldn't be bothered waiting the few months just to find out if they would. (their purchaser was on holiday for a month)

hazchem wrote:

Indeed there are many variables to control in brewing espresso, a consistent dose being one of them. Surely having a method to precisely weigh in your dose each and every time means you gain control over one of the many variables involved in brewing espresso?

True, but I think we can all get too caught up in the numbers etc and forget about what it's all about. Having a damn nice cup of coffee. I've never weighed beans so I'm unsure if the weight does equal accurate dosing. All beans are different are they not. Not sure, but I can tell you that the container supplied with the Vario-W (It's been renamed) does retain some coffee grounds due to static. If it had the portafiler holder on there I probably would have considered one. Mahlkoenig haven't officially released their version for Australia yet, well it's not listed on their website anyway. I did notice that Baratza sell refurb units damn cheap, and there price is more competative than Mahlkoenig in Australia too. Pity the US ones are 110V. But I'm lead to believe that it's the Aussie importer thats keeping the Vario price high.

hazchem

Lacehim wrote:

True, but I think we can all get too caught up in the numbers etc and forget about what it's all about. Having a damn nice cup of coffee. I've never weighed beans so I'm unsure if the weight does equal accurate dosing. All beans are different are they not. Not sure, but I can tell you that the container supplied with the Vario-W (It's been renamed) does retain some coffee grounds due to static. If it had the portafiler holder on there I probably would have considered one. Mahlkoenig haven't officially released their version for Australia yet, well it's not listed on their website anyway. I did notice that Baratza sell refurb units damn cheap, and there price is more competative than Mahlkoenig in Australia too. Pity the US ones are 110V. But I'm lead to believe that it's the Aussie importer thats keeping the Vario price high.

So if you haven't tried it how can you be sure weighing beans doesn't equal an accurate dose? If weighing beans doesn't give you an accurate reading of your dose what would? Of course it's all about a nice cup of coffee, but perhaps using more numbers as a guide will help with that? After all, we're already coming from a number base of an espresso being approx 30 mls in around about 30 seconds. Give or take ... And of course, you are completely right that every bean is different. I would never expect the dose & grind for one bean to be the same as another, or for one blend to be the same as another. Just as I wouldn't expect the dose & grind for the same coffee to be the same from one day to the next. I certainly agree that getting lost in the numbers would take some of the romance, some of the art out of making delicious espresso. But perhaps, just perhaps, having an understanding of what an optimum dose & resulting brew volume should be for the espresso you find most delicious gives you a good starting point to work & refine from every day. Perhaps. 😉 having now said all of that & taking this way off topic, I wonder if the Esatto attachment really wouldn't work with my Vario.

shape_shifter

I thought everyone weighed their beans, or is that just me being pedantic 😛

RichardM

shape_shifter wrote:

I thought everyone weighed their beans, or is that just me being pedantic 😛

I weigh with my eyes. Have never tried weighing with scales. I did count once, but that was merely to prove a point about statistical improbability of achieving consistency in blends with just 5% of robusta.

Koffee_Kosmo

I use a shot measure glass Just like this one and its always spot on Look at the one on the right For the baskets I use Markings @ 1 1/2 is perfect for a single Markings @ 2 is perfect for a double KK

mycuppa

I also confess to never weighing beans and using my eyes as the gauge. I used an A8 at home that has electronic control of the dosage and manually adjust the time in 0.1 sec increments based on my knowledge of the bean density, it's age and how I think it will grind. At the roastery I have some conicals but it's mostly one of the smaller K3T's that I throw a handful of beans into the hopper and then flick the switch manually until I'm happy with the amount of ground coffee in the portafilter. Sometimes this is so dodgy, but other times I enjoy the challenge of running freestyle. Suppose being a roaster and having an un-ending supply of beans means I can be tardy with my methods.......if that shot was'nt right, just dump it and try again.

Lacehim

hazchem wrote:

So if you haven't tried it how can you be sure weighing beans doesn't equal an accurate dose? If weighing beans doesn't give you an accurate reading of your dose what would?

Fair comment. I suppose I've just never really felt the need to weigh the beans but I realise everyone is different. In my opinion it's just another process to complicate the process in brewing espresso, but I do believe weighing beans has merit for other brewing methods. I do weigh my beans for my syphon, but only one kitchen scales accurate to 5gm. Now is a timer more or less accurate than weighing beans? I'm not sure but for my 1 - 2 cups a day I can't really be bothered to find out. 🙂 My wife would also kill be if I bought another grinder! ;D

hazchem wrote:

having now said all of that & taking this way off topic, I wonder if the Esatto attachment really wouldn't work with my Vario.

Sadly it's not which is a shame. It only works with the Maestro Plus, Virtuoso or Preciso. which have a different shape base. 🙁 Mind you it would probably be about $250 in Australia anyway! ;D

littleroundman

Baratza Esatto from 5 Senses is $176 and they're asking $330 for the Virtuoso Preciso, $273.90 for the Virtuoso and $163.90 for the Maestro Plus, all 3 of which fit the Esatto http://www.fivesenses.com.au/shop/equipment/category/baratza

Lacehim

The Virtuoso Preciso had good write ups in the US. Got me interested, but they didn't stock it at the time. The addition of the Esatto would be good, but it's it worth $500 all up with the grinder? Mmmm

Lacehim

Maybe the ceramic burrs are the issue there AM? Maybe you could find some steel burrs that would fit? Would be an interesting test, ceramic vs steel.

hazchem

AngerManagement wrote:

Well I am going to do some more testing... Played for 4 hrs tonight tuning a 2 group commercial and a grinder (83mm burrs) and while they appear to be almost blunt. Two years at 8kg a week and blunt to the fingernail. I could push the grind and the machine to give a shot that had a almost buttery mouth feel but the shot was a touch on the sour ? Machine was a bit cool to me, as my home made scace gave 88C to 89 C and not even a "hint " even a bit of steam when water was run through the group. Even after sitting for an extended time. I also found that it was running at 8Bar at a pinch... ( Did not have time to tweak the OPV or the Temp ) The issue with the grinder, was that the next step down, would clog the system but the current setting was not quite right. It was also only a couple of steps of zero. The issue re the Vario was that I could get better size (by feel), I could not quite get the cup I was expecting or that the system was giving (even with blunt burrs). I am thinking my next step in chasing the god shot; might yet be another grinder :o Now if only the Mazzer Mini Electronic OR the Macap M4D Coffee Grinder a little more in my range 😉 I realy need to have a selecting side by side so that I can truly compare.

hmm. Blunt burrs are never good but I wouldn't expect that to be causing the sourness. I'd be blaming that squarely on the machine running cool & the OPV setting being off. Blunt burrs are (I think) more likely to result in shots that lack complexity, crema that dies quickly and highly erratic doses. Shame we're not closer mate, I'd happily lend you my Vario to try out!

Lacehim

AngerManagement wrote:

I also had to replace the belt and pulley as did have some miss shaped teeth due to a non metallic item making it's way through the system... Burrs are OK with only one small defect spotted. Love the Vario support and have to say second to NONE. Have just ordered a special mod and once fitted, will post details and costs... Expected to be less than $15 and reduce any mess to almost ZERO...

AM, was it a warranty issue? Did you have to send it away or did you do the belts yourself? Just interested because I haven't had any dramas with mine so far. I will be up for any mod that reduces mess. It's pretty good but there is still that fine spray as it reaches the top of the basket on mine, which is stock by the way.

shape_shifter

It's the portafilter cradle for sure ;D

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