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How is your Vario?
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hopper broke while trying to detach it for a clean...damn thing is flimsy as hell for $650, apart from build, im happy with the grinds it produces.
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I have the OE funnel, a schectermatic thingy, and use a small paintbrush to sweep the outlet. I've removed the tines, and the extraneous gubbins inside the doser. I still spend more time managing its shortcomings than enjoying its advantages.
Everthing about the doser works against you. It's an extraordinarily crap design.
The best tweak would be to rip it off and mod it down the toilet. If you could only remove the POS.
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Yep
Got a mm doser and use the el cheapo OE funnel thingy, added tape to vains , pretty well no mess and nothing left in doser.
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Thinking about ditching my messy Mazzer Mini Doser and replacing it with a Vario. The notion of being able to dial in a specific dose without wasting 4 grams or so each time I make a coffee and not spraying grounds from a-hole to breakfast time is really appealling. I'm completely over my Mini. As a grinder, sure it's fine, but ergonomically it's a disaster.
Am I crazy?
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Just bought a second hand Vario grinder and love it. Thanks for the nifty 2 step hint. Can't wait to try it.
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In my case, I went for the Vario with the intention of using it only for non-espresso. Compact & zero-grind retention were a major plus, and seeing all the positive feedback in the US also gave me hope that it was better at coarser grind levels.
It did the job well for what I needed, and for the first 12 months of use was fine. But I won't say the in-cup experience lived up to what I had hoped. Occasionally I'd get better results on the Porlex or Hario hand grinder.
With the new Ditting burr set, however, it's now really starting to deliver as I'd hoped. Funnily it now retains more grinds than it used to, as I find I now get a lot caught up between the top burr and the plate it is screwed onto, but it's now doing a consistently great job for filter / aeropress / whatever. And the team at Baratza HQ have always been really great to deal with for any questions.
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Re: How is your Vario?
I have the Vario. If space is an issue its definitely worth it. Such a compact grinder!
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Re: How is your Vario?
Ah, yeah I have tied that, but really cant be bothered with any extra steps, but each to their own.
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Re: How is your Vario?
I actually just pop a sleeve onto my basket and then dose the full amount in one shot. This way I get zero waste and spill.Originally posted by 4F4151404E574751220 link=1338305303/15#15 date=1338511221Yash, I recommend the same 2 step process mentioned by ACog above. I dont do singles but with 3 buttons you can still have 2 for the preliminary fill (single or double) before tap down and the third for the top up prior to tamp. Very easy and you will find you spill/waste hardly any of the precious brown marching powder!
The sleeve is basically a clear disposable cup with the bottom cut off. Works like a charm.
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Re: How is your Vario?
Yash, I recommend the same 2 step process mentioned by ACog above. I dont do singles but with 3 buttons you can still have 2 for the preliminary fill (single or double) before tap down and the third for the top up prior to tamp. Very easy and you will find you spill/waste hardly any of the precious brown marching powder!
Once set up, and of course after the normal dialling in of dose/grind for a new bean, I dont need any manual eyeballing at all.
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Re: How is your Vario?
Id say it is easier than say a comparable conventional machine like a Giotto (maintenance certainly is), but it does take some adjustment (of the operator not the machine).Originally posted by 353E39393E6868685F0 link=1338305303/12#12 date=1338477178Hey Java, you just got me reading over the last few hours on the Strega. Youve got me really intrigued, looks like a fascinating machine, and the extractions look amazing. Is it hard to use? Would you say its wife friendly if she wants to make a coffee herself not being very tech minded?
If you are looking at a new machine you and your wife should visit a sponsor in any event, and some hands on experience will have you both joining the Strega club shortly!
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Re: How is your Vario?
Some more notes on the Vario. The timer function is super easy to use and adjust. There are three buttons that you can set to different times. I set one to 8.5 secs and a second to 14 secs. These get me close enough to my desired dosage for the single and double baskets 80% of the time. The other 20% of the time Ill have to manually top up or remove some grinds to get the right dosage. In my earlier days I used to weight my grinds now Im pretty confident to just judge it based on the size of the nicely formed mound from the Vario. I also used a NS Grinta grinder, a Sunbeam 480 and commercial quality Bezzera (cant remember the name - but it was big) and the Vario definitely given me the best and most consistent results.
That being said, I cant vouch for the robustness of the Vario compared to something like the equally priced Mazzer Mini Doser. Im betting that although the Mazzer would be more of a pain to use and would retain and waste more grinds, it will last longer and look more impressive on your kitchen bench. Regarding the results in the cup, I honestly think you would be hard-pressed to put one above the other - unless you have a super duper trained palate!
So in my opinion its convenience (Vario) vs good looks and robustness (Mazzer Mini Doser).
Although I love the Vario, if I had my time again Id probably go for a Mazzer (but I suffer from the grass is always greener on the other side syndrome). Between a Vario and the K3, Id take the Vario any day.
My 2.5 cents :P
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Re: How is your Vario?
Hey Java, you just got me reading over the last few hours on the Strega. Youve got me really intrigued, looks like a fascinating machine, and the extractions look amazing. Is it hard to use? Would you say its wife friendly if she wants to make a coffee herself not being very tech minded?
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Re: How is your Vario?
I was initially looking at a Macap4D but then I fell for the Strega, so the combination would have seriously stretched the budget!
Like when I was poring over the specs on the Strega (before I had some first hand experience with two sponsors) I was undoubtedly swayed by the HB second look review and thread. Similarly the Vario thread (Baratza not Mahikoenig) is persuasive and includes the findings from some head to head shoot outs with much more expensive grinders. Id post a link but not sure if that is allowed but you should have no problem finding it.
I truly hate the "in the cup" expression, but I can tell you I am regularly blown away with what my Strega can do ... and it couldnt do that without a grinder that is at least up to the task, and before Id let Santa look at spending another couple of grand I imagine Id insist on some side by side comparisons.
HTH
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Re: How is your Vario?
ok, now you the last few comments from Yash and Java Junkie have got me rethinking. Also the no grind retention sounds like a massive plus to me. Ultimately its what in the cup that matters most to me.
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