The Baratza Vario Burr Coffee Grinder Review

Ever wondered if you could brew cafe-quality coffee at home if you had the same equipment as your local coffee shop? You, my friend, are in danger of achieving the ‘home barista nerd’ status.

To help you with your first nerdy steps, we've done the hard part and made the review of Baratza Vario Flat Burr Grinder.

Keep reading to see if this is the first piece of professional-grade equipment you should buy.

The Baratza Vario Review

Baratza opened shop in 1999 and quickly became a well-known name in the coffee equipment industry. It took them nearly 10 years of making and servicing their Maestro grinders before they introduced the Vario. (1) And their expertise clearly shines through in the grinder.

Let’s dive into this review to see what makes this grinder a knock-out competitor in the electric burr grinder space.

Design – 4/5

One look at the Vario, and you know it means business. The design language is definitely function-over-form. And that philosophy is built right into this grinder’s heart.

Burr & Motor Design: The Baratza Vario boasts of 54 mm flat ceramic burrs. Most other grinders in this range use steel burrs, so as per the Coffee Technicians Guild, Vario has an advantage over them (2):

To ensure that these burrs run cool and quiet, Baratza equipped the Vario with a high-torque DC motor with belt drive transmission. This setup ensures that burrs spin at a steady 1350 RPM. Despite this, the machine isn’t as loud as you’d expect. Here's where we discussed the differences between flat and conical burr grinders.

Additional Features: Like all Baratza grinders, the Vario has an automatically resetting, thermal cutoff switch to prevent the motor from burning out. It also has a microswitch that ensures the grinder won’t run until the hopper is locked in properly.

Hopper & Grounds Bin: The plastic bean hopper has a decent 230-gram bean capacity, and the collector bin can hold up to 180 g of ground coffee.

This attachment can be fixed in place of the grounds bin, making it easy to grind directly into your portafilter.

Aesthetics: The front of the grinder is dominated by a black plastic control panel that gives it an old-school air. The rest of the body is a mix of steel and plastic that lends an elegant look to this high-performance machine. The Baratza Vario isn't what we would call good-looking, but it means business and its appearance clearly conveys that.

Storability/Portability: Despite being an extremely capable grinder, the Vario maintains a small footprint. It measures 13 x 18 x 36 cm, which means you could stow it away in your cabinet. But at 4.1 kilos in weight, it’s probably best to leave it on the countertop, next to your home espresso machine.

Ease Of Cleaning: Like most home grinders, Baratza ensured that you have access to the Vario’s burrs for regular cleaning. However, unlike its other grinders, you will need a special tool (included in the box) to remove Vario’s top burr. It might not be the most convenient system, but for a precise instrument like the Vario, we don’t mind it. To find out how to clean your burr grinder thoroughly, read our article on the topic.

Durability – 4.5/5

The Vario has been around for ages, and for a good reason — it’s a solid machine that’s built to last. You can find evidence of it forums where several users report being happy with nearly a decade-old Vario (3).

Sure, there may be more plastic than metal on its casing, but that doesn’t mean it can’t take a beating. Baratza even made sure that this grinder is durable enough to be used in a commercial setting. That’s why a lot of cafes use a Baratza Vario as a secondary or back-up grinder. If you’re going to be using it at home, you have nothing to worry about.

Baratza is also known for its quick and efficient customer support. So if you do face any problems with your grinder, you can rest assured knowing that the manufacturer will take care of it.

Ease Of Use – 4/5

All Baratza Vario reviews claim that the grinder has 230 grind settings. And that’s true. It takes a bit of getting used to, though. First, you set the selector switch on the right at one of the 10 major settings. Then you can adjust the selector switch on the left to fine-tune in 23 stepped settings. That might sound like a straightforward procedure, but it is a hassle if you’re changing grind settings frequently.

However, to balance out the complexity of its settings, the grinder comes with 3 programmable buttons. They’re time-based dosing buttons that you can customize as per your needs. The digital display in the centre will count down the dose time until it reaches zero, and the machine stops. However, you will need to set the grind size for each manually. You can also press the “Manual” button and press “Start” to grind manually.

Grinding Capability (Settings, Range, & Consistency) – 4/5

The Baratza Vario has gained a reputation in the industry as a machine capable of delivering a highly consistent grind, thanks to its flat ceramic burrs. Add to that its ability to produce coffee particles from 230 to 1150 microns, and you get one of the most versatile grinders on the market. It is a good grinder for pour-over, espresso, and the majority of other brew methods. And if you’re not happy with the factory calibration, you can use the provided calibration tool to set it as per your needs.

The Vario is also fast when it comes to producing ground coffee and can grind at a rate of 1.6 – 2.2 grams per second. And due to its unique construction, it doesn’t retain a lot of grounds.

A few users reported some clumping at the finer settings, but that issue usually resolves itself after the machine has been used for some time. However, the only sore point is its inability to reach a true French Press grind, even at its coarsest setting.

Value For Money – 3.5/5

We can’t deny that the Baratza Vario is an expensive grinder, especially as it’s meant for home use. It is priced well above other multipurpose grinders with comparable grind consistency. And at this price point, you might even be able to find dedicated espresso grinders with stepless adjustment to help you dial in your perfect shot.

That puts the Vario in a difficult spot. It’s not as flexible as an espresso grinder, neither does it have the range that other grinders have. But it has one thing going for it — this grinder on Amazon could last you for more than five years. And for its price, that’s a bargain.

Don't buy The Baratza Vario If…

You want the least expensive burr grinder – If you insist on freshly ground coffee but don’t want to break the bank, check out the Cuisinart Supreme Grind. Just be aware that its grind is less consistent than more expensive models, so it’s best used when brewing drip coffee. You can read more about its capabilities in our review. If you don't mind the noise, then the Oxo Brew Coffee grinder is another less expensive option.

You want a grinder with a fun style – Take a look at the Bodum Bistro, which has a funky design that’s available in 4 eye-catching colours. It’s also made from materials that reduce static cling, and it grinds fairly consistently. Read our review to find out more about it.

You're a beginner – If you're new to home coffee brewing, you might not be ready to splurge on the Vario. But that doesn't mean you should settle for a sub-par grinder. Instead, we recommend the mid-priced Baratza Encore, which has a stellar reputation. We reviewed it and concluded that it offers incredible value for money.

The Verdict

The Baratza Vario Burr Coffee Grinder is a machine that’s built to deliver highly consistent grinds for a range of brews. That’s why you’ll find this grinder in the homes of many professional baristas.

SEE ON AMAZON

If you’re just getting into home brewing, don’t be daunted by its myriad settings. You’ll soon get the hang of it. That’s part of the fun of it — you get to play around with your toys to perfect your brew.

Have we convinced you to go for the Vario? Then you can check it out on Amazon.

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