Baratza Virtuoso - Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Ok, I was skeptical. I've been using a blade grinder for years, and during that time I've scoured the internet for articles relating to blade vs burr grinding, and let me tell you, there are as many different opinions on the subject as their are coffee drinkers : ) Well, after countless hours, days, weeks, and yes, months of reading reviews and articles, I finally decided it was time to try a burr grinder, and the one I decided to try was the Baratza Virtuoso. What swayed me was to this machine was the Baratza USA website. Of course we all want our grinders to give us a lifetime of no hassle grinding, but with a machine like this, after a while, things are bound to need attention. With many grinders you'd probably have no choice but to toss them out and get a new one, but If you go to the Baratza USA website, to the support section, you'll see they have an entire list of .pdf files and videos detailing every possible in-home adjustment and repair that can be done to this machine. During the process of showing how to take the machine completely apart and repair everything from a knob coming off to replacing the motor, you begin to gain an appreciation for how thoughtfully this machine was designed. Are you an espresso person and want a bit more control on the finer grinds? No problem, they show you how to go in and make a simple adjustment that will shift the grind range more toward the fine end. Are you a French press person and want more control over your coarse grinds? They show you how to adjust it that direction too. Do you like dark, oily beans....... then you will probably get better performance by slowing the rotation of the center burr a bit (from the factor set 550 rpm, down to 450 rpm), and they show you how to adjust a potentiometer inside the machine to do that. And, if at some point you experience a problem, they show you how test it to find out what the problems is, then show you the part you need to order, and then show you how to install it yourself, saving you from having to ship your machine back to them. Plus, all the parts are readily available at reasonable prices. Of course that's all after the fact, I mean, what you're really interested in is how well it grinds. Well it grinds beautifully, with very even particle distribution, and after testing, I found that I typically only lose about one tenth of a gram during each grinding, not bad. Plus, it's super easy to clean. Just pop off the bean hopper and the ring burr lifts right out, leaving plenty of room to get a brush down inside the grinding chamber. 5-10 minutes once every month or so and you've got a like-new clean machine. But let's get serious. Bottom line. Can I taste a difference between this and my blade grinder? Absolutely! For one thing, while I occasionally got a good cup of coffee with my blade grinder, after dialing in this burr grinder to the right setting for my pour over method of brewing, I'm getting a consistently excellent cup of coffee. It's all about getting consistently good, repeatable results, and that what this grinder gives me. Now, why the Virtuoso over the Encore. I think the Encore would probably suit many people, but the Virtuoso has a better set of burrs, giving a more even grind, especially towards the coarse end. It also has a 1.5 amp 180 watt motor rather than the Encore's 1 amp 120 watt motor. And it has more metal in the chassis than the Encore, giving a more solid feel. Is that enough to justify a $100 difference in price? That's something each person will have to decide. It was enough for me, and I've been more than happy with my choice. After getting the Baratza, I ended adding a kitchen scale to precisely measure the amount of coffee and water I use, and now I'm finally getting that excellent cup of coffee every single time. Happy brewing! UPDATE 1-5-15 Ok, I finally found a minor issue that needs addressing. On the bean hopper there is a small 1/2" vertical piece of plastic that is supposed to mark the number of the grind setting (between 1 and 40). The problem is that the piece of plastic is the same color as the rest of bean hopper, so for my aging eyes it's extremely difficult to see the grind setting. SOLUTION: I remembered I had some leftover white adhesive backed address labels, so I took one and cut a small sliver off the end, and it's width was a PERFECT fit for the length of that little plastic marker piece on the bean hopper. Then I cut a small piece of clear tape and put it over the top to help keep it clean, and BINGO, I can now easily see where my grind setting is set. Yippeee. The grinder itself continues to be a joy to use.

I thought long and hard about buying a grinder at this price. I was not sure if stories I read about the importance of getting an even grind, and how grinders that grind unevenly and produce some very fine particles can affect flavor and quality of brewing results. I am now convinced. This is a great grinder, and we immediately noticed an improvement in our coffee flavor. Money well spent. The first thing we noticed was that the grinder is quieter and less annoying to operate than the cuisinart we had been using. While it is not silent by any means, it appears to grind at a slower speed, which makes the pitch lower and much less intrusive. Next I noticed that the grind is very even, and I could find none of the fine powder mixed in that we had been getting with our other grinder. This was a rather stealthy purchase and I was not sure if I could justify the price to the rest of the family, and I had not discussed my research into coffee grinders that I went through before getting this one. So the first pot of coffee was sort of a blind taste test. Our son is a bit of a coffee taste bud and usually makes his using a manual pour over technique. The rest of us use a Kitchen Aid coffee maker that claims to simulate some aspects of the pour over technique. Everybody said they immediately noticed a difference in the coffee flavor, mostly that some of the tart, sour acidic undertones seemed to be gone - perhaps due to the lack of fines in the grind. Our son said he would now recalibrate his pour over technique, which he had been tweaking to try to reduce the impact of the fines, which would now no longer be necessary. Two advices when opening the box and getting the grinder ready to use: 1) Only rinse plastic parts - you might be tempted to take out the burr and wash it - don't! Water should only touch the few removable plastic parts like the top and grinds bin. As the manual says, just run a small amount of coffee beans through the grinder to freshen up the burr. 2) Slipping the black cone shaped silicon seal on is a little tricky, and the enclosed quick start instruction sheet is VERY brief, with minimalist diagrams and is somewhat confusing. Take a minute and download the full Virtuoso user guide from the manufacturer's web site, which has a much better diagram (page 14). The seal is actually very easy to slip into place once you can see a better diagram in the full manual. You could download the guide before the grinder arrives and be prepared for a quick and easy setup. As simple as that seal installation is, without that manual you could spend quite a few minutes trying to figure out how to properly slip that seal into place.

I've used it for two months so far, to grind 28-32 g of beans every day. No issues at all. I don't use the timer switch, so don't care how how durable it may or may not be. I tried it exactly once, and it worked. It takes 20 seconds or so to grind 30 g at the 22 setting, so I just hold the push button. I've been using that for french press and pour over. The George Howell beans grind faster than the darker BRCC beans, which are oilier, but not as oily as french. The GH beans are bone dry. I should probably clean it about now, so I guess once every 4-6 weeks will do it at the rate I use it. A word about static electricity causing chaff to fly through the air: it doesn't for me. BRCC beans don't have much chaff, but the GH beans have a ton of it. Read the makers FAQs. The plastic is made of a material that bleeds the electric charge away. My routine is to grind first thing, and then rap the bin with my knuckles 8-9 times or so; most of the chaff falls off the inside sides of the bin onto the coffee grinds. I leave the bin in while I get the press ready or hot the cup and wait for the electric kettle to boil. That takes a few minutes. I believe the plastic bin bleeds the charge, if any, away during that time. Maybe not, I'm just guessing. By the time the equipment is ready for the grinds, when I pull out the plastic bin the chaff doesn't fly anywhere. There is some inside the unit under where the bin was, and when I replace the bin that forces the air out and that chaff gets blown out. I could brush out the chaff before replacing the bin, but it's easier to just sweep the counter with my hand afterwards. Even with the GH beans, there's not all that much chaff. But none of it flies from static electricity. I just don't have any such problem. We do live in the northeast and have a humidifier, so the house is always at a good comfortable humidity level. For comparison, we might get tiny shocks from wall switch plates during winter, but not the big zappers you can get in some environments. So YMMV on static depending on your location and air quality. The grind quality and uniformity looks good to me for the press and pour over use. This model isn't designed primarily for espresso, but you could probably use it for that. Espresso snobs would likely not be impressed. Presumably you might not get the crema as you would from a unit designed for espresso. I haven't tried that. Read the specs; the minimum grind particle size for this unit is larger than it is for the units designed for espresso. It's not intended to make espresso. It's made for pour over and press, and it works fine for me. I recommend reading the maker's FAQs and watching the utubes. It doesn't take all that long to get through them. Many of the complaints I've read are addressed by those info sources, and are due to operator error, not the product. I've only had it for a few months, but no issues so far. IMO it works just fine for the intended use. More expensive brands are unnecessary, and less expensive brands probably not good enough. I think this model hits the sweet spot and has all the function needed for daily home use without the over-board features or expense due only to marketing cost drivers. The outer housing is sturdy enough to sit on a home counter, and probably a mom and pop cafe too for that matter. It's metal is heavy enough to not wiggle around during use. I keep it near the sink which makes it easy to hand sweep what little chaff there is. I've never had any reason to turn it upside down or shake it; just not necessary. So far so good; hopefully it keeps running for years. Only time will tell. I suppose I'll post again if anything bad happens. Unless I'm too lazy. But if it doesn't hold up for at least a few years I'll probably be ticked enough to say so.

We bought this grinder in November of last year to replace a Starbucks Grinder that stopped working after 8 years after the paddle wheel (the part that slings the grounds out of the grinding chamber into the collection bin) had worn down. The very first thing we noticed was that this unit was twice as heavy and felt very beefy - a good sign. It was significantly noisier too - inconvenient when someone is on the phone in the same room, but not a deal breaker. The grind was not consistent, but they do provide instructions on how to adjust the hopper ring and distance between the burrs for your particular range of grinds. That might put some people off, but it wasn't hard to do. The next thing we noticed was that every grind dusted the kitchen counter with lots of fine coffee grinds. You can reduce the messiness if you push the bin in with some pressure into the housing, but be prepared to have to clean up around the grinder when you're finished. I've never had to deal with that problem before on other machines. The biggest disappointment is that the machine stopped working less than 7 months after we bought it. The motor stopped running. Being an engineer with some electrical experience, I checked for a faulty micro switch or burned components, thinking that maybe the machine was jammed and caused the motor to overheat or burned something on the circuit board. The burrs and motor spin by hand, and there are no burned parts. Then I discovered the cause - the motor has a faulty pole or bad commutator segments. I can turn the motor by hand to a certain position (I had to make a mark with a Sharpie to keep track), press the button and the rotor spins as usual. If the motor isn't set in that specific position, it won't run. Well, needless to say, the machine cannot be operated this way. I will try and get a warranty repair on this machine, but if I can't, I will do my best to stay away from Baratza consumer-grade grinders in the future. I am very surprised and disappointed by the short life of this coffee grinder.

I bought the Baratza Virtuoso burr coffee grinder (made in Taiwan) instead of the Encore model, which costs $90 less, due to recommendations of friends and family, including a couple who are in the specialty coffee roasting business, and also due to comments on Amazon and elsewhere online. When the Baratza Virtuoso arrived, I set it up immediately. I initially thought there were no big issues setting it up, but that you do need to follow directions carefully. However, I discovered that perhaps I should have been even more careful than I was in setting up the grinder. I washed the bins and gasket as recommended and also ran a cup of beans through the grinder before actually using it for grinding drinking coffee. Then I filled the bean bin with my favorite whole bean varietal, Ethiopia Hambela from Mountain City Coffee Roasters of Asheville, NC. Then I set the grinder at 20 (on a scale of 1 to 40) as recommended by Baratza for Chemex and also for the cone and filter pour-over that I normally use. At 20, however, the grind was too coarse for my Melitta pour-over, resulting in a watery looking and weak cup of coffee. I reduced the setting to 10, and while better, it was still a bit too coarse and made too week a cup of coffee for my tastes. Finally I reduced the setting to a 7, and my pour-over cup was pretty good. I began to wonder if the calibration of the burrs were incorrect, and I went to the Baratza site. What I learned was that while recalibration is possible it's not recommended as the first step for new machines, at least not before contacting Baratza support. The real issue I faced was this: Either I had installed the upper burr ring incorrectly (or perhaps it came that way from the factory.) On my model the red dot on the upper ring HAS to be at 5 o'clock, not at 11 o'clock as mine was. That's with the center front of the grinder at 6 pm. I don't think the instructions that came with the machine made this entirely clear, but the trouble shooting PDF and video do clarify this. If the red dot is not at 5 o'clock, the calibration will be off, and you will not be able to get proper fine grinds. Once I changed the placement of the upper ring, the calibration seemed fine, and a setting of 18 or 20 seems to be about right for my Melitta pour-over or a Chemex. The Virtuoso looks and feels solid and well made, and it's quite heavy. Although taller than my trusty Starbucks Barista burr grinder, which after many years of use is now on its last legs, the Virtuoso still fits under our kitchen cabinets. I would give it five stars if it weren't for this snafu in set-up. Again, it may have been that we didn't follow the instructions properly, but I think that because this "red dot issue" is so important to proper operation, it should be highlighted even more strongly. in the set-up instructions.

I bought this to replace the Capresso 565 (reviewed separately) that I had to return as it was defective, and it was definitely a good decision to choose this one. Here are the pluses and minuses (the minuses were minor enough that I kept my overall rating as a 5/5. POSITIVES: + 40 grind settings and, to my surprise, a fine espresso ground only needs to go down to 8/40 (leaving plenty of headroom for even finer grinds). I'm used to needing to use the finest or second-finest grind on most non-commercial grinders. The "Preciso" model supposedly provides 10 micro-settings in between each of the settings on the Virtuoso model but really I can't imagine using that fine level of control and this Virtuoso model is more than adequate. + Very solid machine (won't move on your counter-top at all). The motor sounds very regular and solid too. + Quiet (for a coffee grinder) and a more comfortable low-pitched "purring" sound than some high-pitched "whining" sounding ones. + NO static problems at all, even though I first used it in Wisconsin in winter, where it's very dry and static-y indoors, so if there were going to be a static problem, I'd have seen it. In addition, every coffee grinder I've ever had leaves some residue on the counter by the time you grind the coffee and scoop it out, BUT NOT THIS ONE! + Designed to last. Every single part, down to the circuit board, appears to be user-replaceable and their website has detailed instructions on how to do it. Replacement parts are reasonably priced too. And whether or not you would actually be bothering to replace parts 10 years from now, the fact that it is designed with so much care gives one a sense of confidence. + Excellent technical support (more on that below). I talked to 2 different people and both were very knowledgeable about the product and had a very customer-oriented helpful and positive attitude. NEGATIVES (all minor as far as I'm concerned, or more than compensated for by the positives): - The part of the plastic hopper that engages with the body and the grind adjustment mechanism is very thin and delicate. Mine was indeed cracked in that area on arrival (tech support happily shipped me a replacement, in fact they shipped me two when I said I was going to be taking it out of the country and didn't have a way to get a replacement should it chip again). To make matters worse, poorly designed packaging pretty much forces you to lift up the machine out of the box by the plastic hopper, which is more likely to make it break. And thirdly, you have to read the instructions carefully in order to remove the hopper otherwise you are again likely to break it! But once you have it installed and know how to remove it properly, you shouldn't have a problem since it seems well protected inside the machine and the rest of the hopper seems much sturdier. - No way to remove the hopper without emptying the beans first, which involves turning the rather unwieldy and heavy machine upside down, and/or trying to take out whatever you can with a spoon or scoop first). - Rather humdrum aesthetic (brown with a little dull matte metal) but OK, it's coffee-coloured. :-) In summary, keep the caveats above in mind, but don't hesitate in choosing this machine as a high-end grinder for coffee perfectionists! It should work fine in small- to medium-sized commercial applications too, I would think--they sell stackable hopper extensions to enlarge the capacity of the hopper and a Porta Holder (to grind directly into the espresso basket).

I spent a lot of time researching grinders online and interviewing coffee snob friends before purchasing the Baratza Virtuoso. I was looking for something that was quiet so it didn't wake the dead like my grandma's used to, something that didn't make a mess and which you didn't lose a lot of coffee to static electricity, something that produced a consistent grind size that was ideal for my maker, and something that didn't overheat the beans to distort the flavor. I wasn't intending to spend 200 dollars on a coffee grinder, but I wanted to get the right tool for the job considering I was going to use this every day. I don't regret the money spent , and it lives up to all of those things. I especially like the conical burr grinder on this product. It really is consistent: I don't have big chunks of grind and small "fines" (powder) mixed in that you may get with cheaper grinders. Another plus is that there's a minimum of coffee left in the grinder after use (see picture). I don't adjust the size of my grind routinely, but it offers a good range for a home kitchen whether you like expressos, pour overs or a traditional brew. I recommended the Virtuoso to a co-worker, whose finance committee (aka wife) rejected the idea and he ended up with one that produces a more expresso-like grind even on it's coarsest setting. There is an updated product arriving soon, the Virtuoso+, coming out in late Spring / Summer 2019 that is the exact same but has a digital timer instead of manual. Since I only grind enough for one pot at a time, I don't really need this digital setting but it is a nice feature so you don't even have to think about how long you're grinding for. The digital timer looks nice too, but everything else on it is supposed to be the same. The look of this product is nice. I did review the dimensions before purchasing, but even so it's a little larger than I was envisioning. (It's fine, it doesn't look out of place on the countertop.) This grinder is easy to use and also easy to clean up afterward. Pairing it with a good quality coffee maker and freshly roasted coffee will make you some delicious coffee.

I have upgraded my rating to five stars because of the excellent service I received on my dead grinder. The manufacturer, Baratza, really shows care for it's customers by providing high quality troubleshooting information posted on their web site. Their troubleshooting instructions are detailed and even go into checking components on the motor power supply/control - something normally labeled "no consumer serviceable parts". This is great for me as I'm handy with a multi-meter and don't mind getting my hands dirty. Though the guides they post online are not full technical manuals, they are a great help in troubleshooting the device and cover 99% of the troubles you may encounter. I determined my motor was bad, emailed their support group and had a refurbished grinder on the way to me the next day (UPS ground took a week to deliver) under warranty. I would have been happy to get a motor replacement and did not expect a whole grinder. I'm not complaining! This grinder and brand are especially important to me because I know that even after the warranty is up I will be able to service and repair any fault it may have. They are interested in keeping their appliances out of the landfill. I wish more manufacturers cared like this. Parts appear to be affordable and readily available. Highly recommended - 5 stars! OLD REVIEW: Purchased November 2016 and died in July 2017. The grinder does drip grinds well and is good for expresso but only at the first two settings. Adjustment is not nearly fine enough on the bottom end of the scale. Now that it is a door stop, I'd recommend that you spend more for the next step up. I will pursue warranty replacement and an upgrade at cost if possible.

Unboxing I've only had this a couple days, but have gotten the chance to test it a few times. The product looks gorgeous in person and is easy to put together for use (only somewhat tedious part being the rubber component to put around the burr itself). The Virtuoso does come with a brush to clean the metal burr, as you do not want to get it wet to prevent rust. Operation: As my title alludes, it's a simple to run unit without what I think are unnecessary extras. You simply turn the bean container to the desired grind setting and flip the switch on the side to a timer length and let it go. The only downside to the timer is it will take some getting use to to know how long to set it for. I usually make 10 cups of coffee, so so far I've found it's almost perfect for setting it to setting two for how much ground coffee I like to use per pot. Other than that it has a pulser button on the front if you want a little more control with how much you really want. Noise level: I heard a review on YouTube stating that it was loud. While it certainly isn't quiet, its noise level is nothing compared to the loud, shrill screech from the old electrical grinder I had previous. It has a deeper, rich tone to it that I oddly found not the least bit annoying, though that of course is all in the ear of the listener. The Grind: There is a huge range this thing comes with: 1-40 (Extra fine-course). Remember finer for espresso and auto drip, courser for french press and manual pour. The grind was quick and very precise and uniform. The only time it lost some uniformity was when I tested out the max course grind, but I can't see ever using it that course myself, to be honest. Keep in mind with the Virtuoso, you can do espresso, but this one is designed more for an excellent cup of coffee, so Baratza does have other models that will sacrifice a little in the overall coffee grind for a better espresso grind. Result in the coffee maker: Absolutely smooth, great tasting coffee. The look, color, and consistency of the coffee from the maker to the pot were completely different, and all for the best. Now I'm encouraged to look for an upgraded coffee maker to hang with this Virtuoso burr and maximize what it can do.

Macinacaffè molto valido e preciso! La regolazione è molto semplice e permette una macinazione che va da 1 a 40. Adatto a macinare caffè per le macchine espresso, per moka o per il French press. Lo consigliano anche per macinare spezie, facendo un ciclo di pulizia prima in modo da non contaminare i sapori e odori. (In questo caso si consiglia di metterre una manciata di riso e fare un ciclo di macinatura). Consiglio l’acquisto anche se il prezzo è superiore ad altri prodotti simili.

Decir que es mucho más bonito en presencia, no muy ruidoso y que no siendo experto creo que muele muy consistente Me decidí por él basado en las opiniones de Amazon que no son pocas sobre todo por las extranjeras aparte de los videos por internet De momento no tengo nada en contra La uso para italiana y saca un café rico En cuanto al servicio de Amazon, como siempre, sobresaliente.

Me agrado bastante el producto. Llego en muy buenas condiciones y funciona excelente para moler cafe. Yo lo uso especificamente para moler cafe y preparar metodos de filtrado. Pense que seria mas grande pero es de muy buen tamano y no ocupa tanto espacio en tu cocina. Despues de usarlo de 3 a 5 veces es recomendable limpiarlo porque se quedan restos de cafe cada vez que mueles. Lo recomiendo mucho!

"D'you hear the one about the three grinders?" Starting at the punch line for the impatient! - Although early days, the Virtuosa appears to be 'Just right' (For the price)! If you want the full version - please read on... If you are looking for good espresso coffee; having selected the appropriate blend of beans, in my opinion the next most crucial element if you wish to achieve authentic 'crema' is a cool, fine, consistent grind. This grinder produced this without any modification or tinkering pretty well straight out of the box with about 3 to 4 further adjustments left if I needed any finer. I cannot comment on longevity obviously, but it seems very robust and is quieter than any of my previous grinders. It has a comforting solid feel about it and for home use this has exactly met, or even exceeds my expectations. I was disappointed that the timer knob which has a reputation for coming lose according to other reviews appeared to be missing when I un-boxed. I went ahead nevertheless with the first grind and was both elated and bemused to find said knob (and a cleaning brush) in the bin that catches your coffee. (Doh! Perhaps I should have read the instructions.) If you are still reading and want an opinion on two alternative 'grinders' please consider my previous experiences. I did not fully appreciate the importance of the word "grinder" in Coffee Grinder. On reflection, I suppose the clue was in the title? "It is a chopper? Is it a mill?" De'Longhi KG49 90g Electric Coffee Grinder My first recent Amazon purchase in the pursuit of espresso happiness was a De'Longhi KG49 90g Electric Coffee Grinder. Ha, trick title! This is in fact technically NOT a grinder but a very efficient chopper. If you can only afford one gizmo and need to mill coffee and chop herbs, grains, nuts etc; this device is a brilliant compromise. However, as is often the case, compromise generally involves competing needs being partially met. To get the right coffee texture required a great deal of trial and error and I found it very hard to achieve consistency. Another issue with a chopper is that your coffee gets partially cooked in the process of achieving a fine enough ...em - 'grind', This tends to dry out some of the good stuff ideally you want to squeeze through your espresso machine. However, My De'Longhi KG49 is great for general chopping/milling so I kept it. Pursuit of Espresso Nirvana, take 2. Dualit 75015 Coffee Grinder, Black I should have taken more notice of the mixed reviews for this burr grinder, but I liked the look of it and the price. It is very noisy but works well as a general coffee grinder (Filter, French press grinds). However despite manufacturer claims it did not grind fine enough on the lowest setting to achieve a good espresso shot, being pushed through on my De'Longhi machine in under 12 seconds despite extensive tamping (which is nowhere near the compression and brewing required to caramelise for a good espresso). I have since found that some users are modding this Grinder. I did not fancy trying this; hence parting with more cash for the Baratza and returning the Dualit. Sorry Dualit - near miss. Baratza Virtuoso Coffee Grinder; I feel that I have got what I paid for. If you can afford it, treat yourself - with the first espresso I could taste the difference. (I have no affiliation with any of these aforementioned products). Great service Amazon. Thank you. In hindsight, I suppose I should have started with, "D'ya hear the one about the chopper and the two grinders?" Just did not have the same ring to it!