Vario-W 986

I had a vario, 886, and upgraded it to steel burrs. I really enjoyed it and being able to also do espresso. But I found that I got more rounded notes and changed it up to try and seek out those specific flavor notes. Ultimately a personal preference

A burr grinder is far superior to a blade grinder without question. And don't cheap out. A good burr grinder will last you for many years. I purchased my Baratza Vario-W(built-in scale for consistent grind and weight) over 15 years ago and it is still going strong. It wasn't a cheap date, but I have absolutely no regrets. HTH

Look into the Baratza vario W. Amazing grinder from a super reliable brand. Goes from espresso to French press. Service is excellent

Same here, I second the W. On weekends I usually make a pot of coffee, so grind‑by‑weight is a huge win. During the week I’ll weigh everything out on my scale, but on weekends I can just fill the hopper and brew a pot whenever I need it.

You may be able to find a used Baratza Vario-W around that price. The ceramic burrs are not recommended for multipurpose use, so if you're interested in more than espresso or want to pull something more modern, try to find the steel burrs instead.

I use a baratza vario-w (grind by weight). Its been pretty good for pourover. It doesnt handle espresso well, and it doesnt grind coarse enough for French press, but I feel it accels at pourover

Same setup here…except I’ve got the Baratza Vario-W. If I were to do it again, I’d skip the Vario-W and get the Encore.