Baratza - Vario (Modified)

I have a fellow opus and baratza vario. Although I like the vario, it’s just so loud. The fellow has a nice fit and finish to it.

Flat burrs seem to bring out the fruit notes more. I have an opus, ceado, and vario.

🤣🤣 after a while I learned to recognize the difference. To me, I taste much more sweetness on the flat burrs.

I have had a vario for 4 months now. I performed the alicorn procedure per the resources provided here and it works great! I can pull high altitude single origin shots and everything. The problem i’m running into is that the grinder falls out of alignment after some time. In 4 months, it’s fallen off twice. I re-align, and am back to winning, but it’s not the quickest process, and I worry that something is wrong. Anybody have the same issue?

My best coffee related purchase was an older Baratza Vario that was half the price of the current retail price. Use it daily and it’s a champ. Facebook Marketplace for the win my friend.

Did people still use the Baratza Vario? It doesn't compete in the burr size race, but actually does a good job with big grind size changes while being relatively consistent.

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to use a conical over a flat from time to time (or even all the time if that's your preference). I just got my Ode Gen 2 to replace my aging Baratza Vario and it is a wonderful grinder. I am very happy with it. I also have an OE Lido ET but I haven't used it in ages. The Baratza is heavily used and abused, so it is probably not nearly as consistent as it once was. I might experiment with the OE again now that I have the Ode that is just so good.

I have a timemore c2 that I use as my travel grinder. When I travel with the family and have to make a pot of coffee, its kind of a pain because I have to fill and empty the grinder a few times to make 10 cups. I would not want to do this all the time, but its fine for a few weeks out of the year. Maybe you can find a decent used burr grinder for a good price. I have a really old vario that is now relegated to grinding for pots of coffee at home.

Baratza is a workhorse. It is not a quiet workhorse but it is a good machine 

My Baratza, ordered from Baratza, ground unevenly (dust, ground coffee, and biggish pieces) with a loud cracking noise at regular intervals (not just the usual burr grinding sound) from the git-go, and broke irreparably within a year -- as I drink coffee only two or three times a month, that would be more like a few weeks for most users. The on/off switch doesn't have a timer and if you fill the top -- if you put in more than a few tablespoons, actually-- and turn your back for a moment it will clog. As I put up with it for about a year, having no other option for grinding coffee, service was nonexistent. The years old Baratza this was supposed to be a replacement for had a timed switch (the same switch from the outside, and the little glitch of turning on until YOU turn it off wasn't mentioned in any review or Baratza's description), ground delightfully evenly at all settings, and never clogged despite my ex-husband -- the main coffee drinker-- never cleaning it and me only cleaning it (running rice or cleaning grains through it) when I thought of it, which wasn't often. I guess the gist is, be sure of what you're getting if you get a Baratza.

Baratza is the answer. I've had mine for over 20 years. I recently contacted the company to buy the little rubber feet that deteriorated on the bottom and they sent me the feet, some extra other parts, stickers and postcards. Years ago I contacted them to buy a few other normal wear and tear parts and they sent those free too. Buddy at work has one, they've sent him new circuit boards and gearboxes for free. Outstanding product and customer service you just don't find anymore.

Baratza is great.