VARIA VS3 - A Capable Grinder With A Possible Dealbreaker
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- One grinder that's recently caught my eye is the new Varia VS3. On paper it's a lot like many of the other grinders; meaning it's built on a low-retention, single-dosing platform. Yet, there are some things that set it apart from the pack, like its compact, modern, and minimalist design, full metal body, and on top of all that an affordable price tag (relatively speaking).
↓CHAPTERS↓
[0:00] INTRO
[0:52] NOTABLE FEATURES
[2:13] WORKFLOW & PERFORMANCE
[4:09] QUIRKS & DOWNSIDES
[5:47] FINAL THOUGHTS
↓LEARN MORE↓
- Varia: www.variabrewing.com
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#variavs3 #coffee #sprometheus
RESPONSE FROM VARIA regarding the grind travel - “the hopper movement is just from a lack of grease on the threads! We have noted this to our team to ensure this is being checked with greater detail on subsequent rounds.”
good review, thanks for your thoroughness and this follow up comment.
Holy CRAP !!
I just found your video after I already purchased the last Thursday and I will be receiving them on Monday.
Hi own one! Received few days ago here in Italy. It’s very very good for espresso! I was thinking about buying a niche zero but price, custom cost and e pensive shipping made me very upset so I decided to give varia a try. I’m very happy! Planning to buy a new set of burrs that I think will make the vs3 the best choice in the price range
@@gizzimatteo Hello, where did you buy the grinder from ,my friend ?
@@achilleasdimitriadis5264 you can buy direct from the company.
I bought mine on December 14. I have used it every day since, for two 18g espresso grinds, followed by four AeroPress, Chemex, V60, Switch or Clever 20g grinds. Zero movement. None. Ever.
Mine is dead quiet. It sounds like a sewing machine. I can grind to my heart’s content in the wee hours of each morning, and not risk waking the rest of the crew.
I need the bellows. I keep mine running after each grind for four or five pumps, which clears it out.
I still have massive static issues even using a 4 pump RDT application, each grind. I have learned to live with it and don’t mind it now.
The fit and finish of this grinder is impeccable. Mine looks like beautiful industrial art sitting on my counter top.
I can taste notes in both filter and espresso, but especially filter, that I have never tasted before. I have spent a small fortune on coffee related gear and this is perhaps the most fun and rewarding purchase I have made to date.
Apart from the static issue, the only other downside I have noted is that the numbers on the setting ring are tough to read without very good lighting. Whatever.
This grinder did not disappoint. For an all round, espresso to filter flexible grinder, it’s tough to come up with a better alternative. And the price!!! OMG - the price! That’s part of what has made it so fun! And yeah - a grinder can be fun! This one is, anyway.
Your channel is definitely growing on me, keep up the good work - I really like that you keep it “real”
Excellent review. Awesome video quality and videography!
I got one a few weeks ago as an upgrade from my breville oracle inbuilt grinder. I love the look of the vs3 and have enjoyed my new workflow and the ability to do puck prep. The coffee it makes is a notable upgrade from the breville grinder. The espresso produced certainly seems to have more clarity and coffee tasting notes are more easily discernible.
The better grind quality in addition to better puck prep has really allowed me to push my grind finer without puck degradation. Overall very happy with the purchase and seem to have gotten lucky with a unit that has a stable grind adjustment.
This is exactly why I am watching this video. I don't like variability in dose and lack of puck prep.
I had the same grind adjustment issue with my Niche. The solution from Niche was to put a little food safe grease on the threads of the adjustment collar. I used silicon grease and it worked and have not had this issue since.
I bought the VS3 in Dec of 2022 and even though i have a little drift in the grind setting,it's no big deal for me. It is a very good and well made unit.
Handy hint:
I found that the hopper cap magnets are a little too strong and the lid may need a lip for easier removal.
To get around this i simply turn the cap a few mm's so it is not directly over the magnets which then makes removing the lid easier.Again no big deal here as it's all part of my morning routine which i love.
The grind adjustment travel thing seems like a quality control issue on your particular unit, as mine does not have this issue, and I have yet to hear any other RUclipsrs with this issue, either. But glad you pointed that out!
I've been looking for a sideways step from my Vario that really likes to eat drive belts (but otherwise Im heckin happy with). going more expensive didnt really seem like a great option: there was that one Ceado, then the Niche which had no stock ever. then maybe one of the DF64 variants. this seems like a nice (again, purposefully sideways) step for people like me on slightly older grinders.
I definitely think the bellows could use some work, but the one I looked at in the store seemed to be much cleaner cast than yours for whatever reason. I think the walking grind adjustment could be (temporarily) remedied by just holding the thing while you're grinding, but it definitely needs to be addressed.
Your thoughts and experience mirror my own aside from adjustment wander - 2 weeks of daily use and no wandering - certainly very concerning. I hope Varia addresses this issue.
Overall a great grinder for the price!
Received my Varia VS3 2 Gen yesterday. A noticeable upgrade from the built in grinder in my Sage Barista Pro! (Getting my Cafelat Robot tomorrow, yeah!). The grounds are a lot more „fluffy“, and the espresso tastes a lot more fruity now, much more body than with the Sage grinder. Oh, I bought the Hypernova burr set, I have to mention, so not grinding on the factory set. Still dialing it in somewhat, but so far I‘m very pleased, and at 400€ including the Hypernova I think it’s great value for money. Oh, and no grinder dial travel on mine, zero. The noise is higher pitched, but I don’t think it’s unpleasant. This grinder is really quiet compared to the Sage which will wake up the house if you follow your Espresso thirst in the middle of the night…
According to Varia the adjustment moving is happening in a very small batch being made. They know what the problem is and have addressed it. Seems to be a QC thing with very few being slightly out of tolerance. Based on the comments I've been reading in the coffee community, this all makes sense. Most don't experience it but some do. I have faith in the company because they were quickly up front about it. My VS3 will be here in March. Excited
I was one of the early units that experienced an issue and the company was quick to send out a replacement. The new one works great.
hey, how are you finding it? I hope you're brewing some tasty cups
@@casianfd unfortunately mine just stopped working recently. The coffee was nice when it was working but I don’t think the motor is strong enough for fine grinds.
I’ve been giving this grinder a pretty hard eyeball since it became available for sale a few months ago. 95% of my coffee is Aeropress and Moka Pot, with a bit of Turkish as a post fancy dinner treat. I’ve got a decade old Breville 450 (which I think is a rebadged Wilfa Svart) at home and an 1ZPresso J-MAX for travel/work. The latter will do Turkish, but at frustrating 10 minutes for a 7g dose. I don’t do espresso at home, but that may change in the future. So I’m really looking for a grinder that operates on the finer side of things. My desire for an electric single doser that can very occasionally do Turkish is making things difficult! We’re also a family of odd and conflicting hours, so relatively quiet operation is also a requirement. I understand the Eureka espresso grinders can do Turkish and are relatively quiet but their two single dosers are double and triple the cost of the VS3. Any idea if the VS3 can grind fine enough for Turkish? If not, any suggestions?
I personally haven’t done Turkish in awhile, but I can say I was able to completely choke up my espresso machine with the finest settings on the VS3 so I’d venture to say it’s capable of a Turkish brew. And in terms of making the jump from a hand-grinder to an electric, this would be a nice easy one to do.
Been waiting on this!
The time has come!
You should do an update on this video or a burr review on their other options! Great content!
I've had the VS3 for a couple of months. I few extra points... I've had no adjustment travel so far. The bellows is fine IMO, about as good as they realistically can be. However I don't think it's needed, a tap on the top with your hand seems to do the job. I leave the bellows off but keep it nearby, it's really simple to quickly put it on and off at the end of a batch if you want to use it but not leave it permanently on the grinder. I don't have a problem with the noise, it's not an unpleasant whine for me.
I have a VS3. It feels like it was designed by Apple and looks like a piece of art. My adjuster doesn't drift on me, so I'm lucky I got a good one.
Curious that you said you like it more for espresso over filter coffee. For someone brewing ONLY filter coffee, do any of the other burr options that Varia offers seem interesting to you?
great review! off topic, but where did you get your kettle from? I really dig the looks. thanks!
Seems like a great option for someone getting started on a budget! Imagine what the grinder landscape would look like if this came out in 2019!
I’ve had mine for a couple of days now and haven’t experienced the shift of the grind dial. Mine was also a mid January batch so maybe they fixed the issue already. My only concern now is the longevity of the motor as you mentioned. It’s only 100w and that makes me a little nervous. I guess we will find out though! Lol
Seems like a great conical. Yeah I would be interested in the motor specs. The high pitch noise would suggest a smaller brushed motor with a gear reduction gearbox or something????? Either way the price is right so I'm giving this a thumbs up👍🏻
Yeah it’s definitely a brushed motor, I’m not sure if the specs are available, but perhaps the slower RPM would help with its lifespan? Thanks for watching!
I have noticed the travel in the grind selector in filter, but it’s not very significant with my grinder. When grinding in espresso settings there is no drift. I really like the grinder. Static is an issue too but it’s not a deal breaker for me.
I do have the adjustment travel issue, but only really at the espresso level, and I get 10 doses before it moves a step, since I change coffee every 250g bag, I'm dialing in often anyways, so seems inconsequential.
I am in the market for an espresso grinder. And I would like to know the cup quality difference compared with the Sette 270 which gives quite an amazing cup.
Thank you. Very clear and concise, as always. Power brick would be a problem for my space. Guess my Niche lives another day ;-)
Thanks Alan! The Niche is a tough one to beat, but I’m glad I mentioned the power brick, I had never thought about it being an issue before it was mentioned in the Lagom Mini review.
@@Sprometheus In theory it could hide behind an espresso machine depending on the size of course. I could see why it would be a deal breaker to some who like to keep a clean station/counter.
Really interesting review for me. I have a Lelit Mara X at home paired with a Seite 270 which I want to upgrade. Currently I am more leaning towards the Df64 caused to flat burrs and the option to do primarily espresso but daily V60s as well. Other options for me are the Df64P (unfortunately not good for filter) and on the other hand the Lagos Mini or the Varia. Searching a grinder for espresso first and filter second should I go with the Df64 or wait for new grinders like the. ew one from Timemore or something like the Varia?
Had the same setup and same ideas and 2 days ago updated to lagom mini. Its really nice and complex in a cup but you need to smash it at the end a couple of times or a bellow.
Adjustment drifting can be helped if you really clean the inside and outside spiral under the adjustment ring with a towel.
On point as usual Thanks
I have a gaggia mdf (moded to be stepless) would I taste a difference if I upgrade to this grinder?
Thank you my friend.
Of course! Thank you for watching and have a great weekend.
After having it for a week, I really do enjoy it a lot. The only complaint I have about it is that it’s really not 30g capacity in the hopper. I’ve been putting my espresso dosing cup on the hopper to extend it enough for all the beans to fit. After a little has grinder through I will put the cap on. I have experienced 0 retention even without bellows.
it could be that he measured using lighter roasted coffee which is much denser
Have you tried it with the bellows to see whether the "0 rentention" is incorporating grounds from previous grinds? Another youtuber, Kyle Rowsell, during his review ( v=LS07pWB2XR0 ) demonstrates at around 3 minutes how much is left inside the machine. I'd be interested to hear about your experience
I have taken the grinder apart multiple times after a 0 retention grind and found that there really is less than .1 or a gram left in the grind chamber and it is not just 0 retention due to left overs from previous grinds.
Thanks for the great review! Based on your most recent comment, it seems like the only downside is potentially fixed - but I have a different question.
I've been coveting the Niche Zero for its versatility, espresso workflow, near universal acclaim among coffee nerds, and gorgeous design. From what I've read, it's really versatile too - but the price is tough to swallow. I'm thinking I can get away with a VS3 instead, since it has most of what I like about the Niche in an inexpensive package.
Is it versatile enough to switch between grind sizes multiple times a day?
What I mean by that is, my daily coffee routine is an espresso, then a moka pot, then a pourover (either Chemex or V60), and I want something that can comfortably bounce between those grind settings. I'm fine dialling in a little, but I don't want to waste a ton of coffee doing it. My current setup is a Baratza Encore with an M2 burr that I just leave between 4 and 6, and it does espresso OKAY, but it's not as consistent as I'd like - and if I change the grind setting to moka or pourover, it throws my whole espresso dialling out of whack. So my Encore is essentially a dedicated espresso grinder and I just hand grind for everything else. It's annoying.
So: do you think it's doable, and wise, to switch between three different grind settings every day with the VS3? Would it be doable with a Niche, or is this just a pipe dream? I think anything is going to be an upgrade over the Encore, but if I'm ditching it, I'd like to have a multipurpose electric grinder so I can stop hand grinding for moka and pourovers.
Thanks in advance for your help!
It's only inexpenesive excluding VAT, I found. So including 19% in Germany, depending on the day-course of $-€, this may vary and then the pricetag is not that enormous, I guess.
Are the drive gears are metal or plastic?
Does the dosing cup fit the basket of your espresso maker?
Are different diameter dosing cups available?
Is there any spill from the grinder discharge around the dosing cup?
(My niche keeps the area clean)
Does the machine work if you don’t have the dosing cup underneath? Like if you want the grinds to fall straight into your portafilter instead of the dosing cup
Not sure if you're into this kind of tweaks, but did you try putting a couple layers of teflon tape on the knob's thread? The added thickness may add enough friction or dampen vibrations, so that the knob will stop turning. Or maybe not, but that's a cheap thing to try!
I didn’t get into trying to fix the issue, but that may work. Anything that adds a bit more tension. I don’t think it needs much. I just hope this issue is resolved ASAP as it’s truly a solid little grinder.
Nice video! Since you mentioned the Lagom Mini (& I have a Mini) a sentence or two comparing and contrasting these two grinders would have been nice. We watch you as we respect your opinion. VS3 looks good, but doubt I'll abandon my Mini for it.
I've got a Mini too, what's your preferred number of dots from the zero point for filter?
@@David-wh7rm Right now from zero (touching) which reads 3 mark, I go 2 full revolutions + 2 marks ending at 5. This seems to be comparable to about 26 or 27 standard clicks on a Comandante C40 based on eyeballing the grounds and more importantly on drawdown time using an April v2 plastic. If that seems coarse for pourover, it's an April thing
@@simkool77 oh wow, so 22 dots. I've been using 17 dots although I'm trialling going up to 20 dots to see what I prefer. I wonder if the April dripper prefers a coarser grind versus the V60. Are you tempted to buy the Moonshine burrs? Cheers!
@@David-wh7rm I think I have an early version of mini, I don't really have dots, I have more widely placed markers numbered from 0 to 9 with an un-numbered marker at the mid-point between each. Could be a different scale? Also April and Patrik's method uses somewhat coarser grind. In one of his technique video's Patrik clear states range 26 to 30 C40 clicks depending on the dose.
I was immediately in love when I saw the grinder, until I saw that huge powerbrick
Awesome video! Would you recommend this as a first grinder for espresso over one of the Turin grinders? (roughly the same price)
I think it’s a solid choice, and personally I love espresso from a conical. Head to head with the Turin there are a lot differences, and the Turin feels more like a prosumer grinder, with its size and speed. It’s a hard choice, but for espresso only I’d go conical, for all around I’d go flat.
would probably say that its biggest competition is the cheaper, faster, burlier, more powerful, and arguably just as good, Turin SD40. While out of the box, it has a lockable button for stepped adjustment, it's just a matter of pulling it off to make it fully stepless without worrying about adjustment travel.
IMHO the bellow is actually a great tool to be included. You can use it for the cleaning ritual after the daily usage of grinder.
Good video. I live in Brazil and have been thinking a lot about importing this grinder. I like the design and it seems to be very honest for what it proposes, as the import fees here for Brazil are absurdly high, the value of the grinder is also within my conditions. unfortunately here in the national market we have few options and they are very expensive too.
Same bro, I live in Argentina 💔
Eureka Filtro for 209USD can grind both filter and espresso. And can swap the burrs for espresso burrs from the Notte if you want. Its what I have been using for 2 years now without issues. You should definitely consider reviewing it!!
I’ll look into it. I haven’t had a chance to use a lot of Eurekas grinders. I do have a Libra coming though.
@The Real Sprometheus awesome. Definitely give it a look. If you do a search, you will find several people using them here on RUclips as well as Reddit forums. It seems to be a well kept bargain secret for some reason. Not sure why more people don't do reviews on it.
Eureka Filtro is not designed for single dosing, which is a big plus for Varia
@@mateherbay2289 agreed in that sense. But as far as value goes. It deserves some recognition.
Would love to see your review if it has matched the other positive reviews out there of the better Bur sets Varia has on offer for the VS3. Not only in terms of cutting down grinding times but in terms of opening up even more flavours etc of the said coffee bean (whichever one used)
Mine crapped out after 2 months - starting making a strange sound when grinding and now completely stalls. Guessing something is up with the motor. Reached out to varia, hoping to hear back soon.
Did you hear back??
Opus vs. Encore ESP vs. VS3 Brew Off - We need this.
I’ll keep an eye out for the opus, I know Fellow definitely won’t be giving/loaning me one as they only tend to support creators who have overall positive thing to say about their gear.
How do you think it stacks up against the Lagom Mini @Sprometheus?
The grind adjustment travel is honestly a deal breaker for me. I don’t wanna have to fix that every time I grind another dose.
same here. this is not just a minor fault
I have a vs3 and this doesn’t happen on mine. Could be just an isolated issue with his grinder or a bigger issue that I somehow dodged
It happens to mine, unfortunately
Yeah I can completely understand why it would be a dealbreaker for some. It’s a major issue, and I know it’s not just mine, but not all of them. Common enough though, to be a concern to Varia.
@@sammarquardt4090 Same here. I've had mine about 3 weeks and haven't experienced any adjustment travel.
Someone should 3D print a power brick holder for the back of the machine. I think it will still look nice.
Love mine bro 😎
Yessir!
I have an Encore currently and ever since I saw anything about this grinder it’s really grabbed my interest. Seems like a phenomenal upgrade to a cheaper electric grinder
It absolutely is a great step up from the Encore, also considering it’s look and materials feel a lot more premium. But the Encore is still my top recommendation for those wanting to dip their toes into brewing at home. If you’re ready to take the plunge deeper into that hole, and want some espresso control as well, it’s a solid upgrade.
I also have an Encore, and got the VS3 for Christmas. I've been using it mainly for espresso, and it is far better than the Encore. I have also used the VS3 French Press, and the flavour seems better than the Encore. I am not a gourmet, so the best I can say is the flavour profile seems richer.
@@stevenhightop2518How often do you make espresso? My biggest concern is the motor giving out with repeated fine grinds. I know it’s espresso marketed, and it says to grind up to 30 minutes on with at least 60 minutes off, but some reviews say even once a day can ruin it.
How does it stand against DF64/P grinders besides it being conical? Which would be the better pick? Maybe DF83 even?
Personally I love conicals for espresso, but as a primary grinder the size and speed of the DF options just feels more prosumer. And the 64mm option allows for a huge array of burrs that will continue to grow.
I'm in the market for a new grinder, upgrading from my shitty delonghi one. I stuck between this one and the OG Niche zero grinder. I wonder if for a noticeable price difference the niche will actually highly outperform it or not. Would appreciate any advice from someone experienced. Thanks
I really upgraded to the Mignon Specialita at a terrible time looking at all those interesting options nowadays :/ Unfortunately, 3 years ago the market space was quite different. Still wondering what would be my best bet to replace the Mignon for single dosing espresso 80% of time, 20% filter (V60). I guess that's another one to considering. Canadian market prices are also quite different..
Yeah the market has exploded. And honestly, I still really love my P64 and I brew at roughly that same ratio of espresso to filter. Its price and availability is an issue. Personally, I’d aim for a 64mm flat burr grinder because they have tons of burr options and you’ll be able to swap them out, and it’s like a whole different grinder.
@@Sprometheus Appreciate your input, that might have greatly helped me narrowing it down. The Mignon is a quality machine but I have a very hard time with consistency it's ..quite awful. Could be I have a misaligned defective on but regardless, I know I'd prefer a much 'easier to adjust' system than the ludicrous micro knob on the Mignon. Keep up the excellent videos, I really enjoy your approach and tone informative, personal and to the point - great stuff!
Is the Grind Adjustment thing universally a problem or just specific to your unit? Does Varia have a suggested fix? The price point and universal nature has me considering it. Also, does it stall on light roasts?
It’s not isolated to just mine, there have been a couple comments here and in other places that have pointed out the same thing. Other owners don’t have the issue as well, so it’s a bit of a lottery. I haven’t heard from them on a suggested fix. And thus far I’ve had no stalling issues on light roasts.
I had the issue and Varia sent me a replacement which has been good.
I would like to add my own comment to anyone whom might see this. Used the varia VS3 for a year and it broke on me (motor not enough torque to grind the beans). As it was just out of warranty, Varia would not replace or repair the machine. They did offer replacement motor that I have to self install DIY.
Kinda sucks that it has been a good coffee grinder and I'm considered unlucky/lucky that the grinder broke after a year compared to others which is within a year
It looks to me like a leaner and cleaner version of the Baratza Sette 270...it wins on design, while it perhaps loses in durability/reparability, which nowadays is something I care about...taste comparison?
On their site, I see ""Stepless adjustment / (10 Micron) relative vertical burr shift or 0.01mm per increment".
Claiming 10 microns per adjustment without specifying the unit of measure (e.g., 1mm or 1 degree) sounds misleading. Assuming it's 10 microns per 1 degree or per 1mm, I'm curious, from an ergonomic perspective, can a person realistically make such fine adjustments of just one degree or 1mm?
It’s the external power brink that would prevent me to buy it. The aesthetic is beautiful and great to hear it’s well all around grinder. Same time their zero tension claim is commendable unlike Fellows false claims.
At the end of the day (the beginning as well) I am an espresso drinker so 99% of the time I'm using my 83mm flat (a modded MM) but at the price they are asking I am considering one to pit against my NZ, that being stated I would be interested in your thoughts anyhow.
It’s not massively different to the Niche in how it performs and the workflow. I do like the look and feel of the VS3 more, but the Niche has a track record. I do plan on doing a side by side soon though. Curious to see the differences myself.
I've had this for a month now, and agree basically all around. My grinder adjustment travel is nowhere near the level of yours, more like half a notch every 2-3 grinds.
50 seconds for espresso, I definitely would prefer a premium hand grinder. I believe a Kinu M47 Classic would be better choice, in terms of quality, reliability, and taste profile (I find difficult to distinguish the cup grinder by Kinu and Niche Zero.
It's only inexpenesive excluding VAT, I found. So including 19% in Germany, depending on the day-course of $-€, this may vary and then the pricetag is not that enormous, I guess.
One can get spoiled with grind speed especially when grinding for 3+ as I do most mornings. Moving grind setting a small burrs make this a no go for me but otherwise fine for someone who manual grinds.
how does the burr design compare to say Mazzer's offerings?
I think they’re not massively different. I’m sure there are some subtle differences in coatings and geometry, but in terms of flavor and taste I’d say they’re in a comparable range.
Beware that gen 2 has issues with drifting. Varia team replied to me they confirmed the issue with their manufacturing team. I've been waiting for weeks for a solution (they blame it on the springs). I will post an update once I receive the spring replacement (it has been a month since I claimed this issue).
What refractometer do you use??
Do you plan on reviewing Wafo’s new filter baskets?
Yeah, I bought one to try out. At $200 a piece it would cost me $800 to review them and that’s a lot for such a niche product.
@@Sprometheus Awesome. Will you be making videos?
@@Theincrediblespud yeah, definitely will. Probably be sometime next month. May do a short with initial impressions
@@Sprometheus I’d love to see you combine Wafo with the Espcup
The hopper capacity of 30g kind of disqualifies it for filter brewing as I usually grind 33g for 600ml. Too bad :/
Seems everyone can get a good espresso from the original burr but I can’t. Upgrade to titanium fix the issue. Only $40 and some work it is all fine.
Loved the grinder but broke down within 2 months of use and I have been trying to work with the distributor and manufacturer with no success even though they admitted that it may be a faulty item. The support has left me a month later with nothing and still a broken grinder with zero responses from them for over two weeks even after attempting to get a follow up from them.
That’s terrible! Have you gotten a follow up yet?
Can anyone (maybe owner of this machine) tell me if the grinder adjustment travel is still a problem or if the machine got a fix in the 2.gen?
Check the pinned comment for Varia’s response.
The answer was 7 months ago. They said we will ensure to fix it. But there is no answer if it really happend. Thats what I am searching for. I buy it in case the problem is solved.
☕☕☕
Love Is Important
My personal opinion is that $300 is not for me to spend for once a day espresso at home. what is best cheep consisted grinder in the market.
This is the first single dose grinder that I think will work in my limited counter space. For whatever reason, the niche has not appealed to me.
Maybe a stepped adjustment will be a better solution (at this price) -- the ring will be locked in place, and you can still have finer increments (10-12 micron).
the power brick is main deal breaker for me
Simple solid but maybe bit to slow? waiting for new fellow to compare... think Barasta esp still be to noisy
That power brick is an absolute deal breaker. Counter space is at a premium for me and no way is that sitting on mine.
Well depends. The power "brick" is on all machines, some put it outside which makes the grinders tabletop footprint significantly smaller (like the Varia), or they put it on the inside and those grinders are much much bigger and take alot more counter space. On a kitchen counter where you can't drop the brick behind or under a table, then yeah, it's unsightly. But any other grinder is going to take up 2x the footprint, so you don't really save space, just aesthetics.
Nice review. I also shared my thoughts on the VS3. Feel free to check it out. ✌️
My name is varia..
I wonder if you can just dial in your grind, slap some duct tape on the back to keep it in place and call it a day.
The grind setting travel is a headache…
It is, especially for espresso and it took me a while to realize it.
I was initially happy with this unit until the switch went out on my and would not stay on unless pressed the whole time.
I would note that the customer service is atrocious without a reasonable way to fix the issue.
That power brick is a deal breaker for me. Df64 it is then...
I’m glad I mentioned it. I had no idea how many folks found it to be an issue. Is it a space thing? Like for on top of a counter?
@The Real Sprometheus yeah definitely. If it wasn't for that, the grinder would be perfect. There's nowhere on the kitchen counter for that power brick. It's this the only grinder you have tested that has one?
Yeah I was pretty disappointed when I received mine and saw that brick. I use it on a countertop and having the brick behind the espresso maker just seems like it can easily get shorted out if a little water spilled. It’s also a really long,thick cable so you will have a giant power brick and tons of cable to manage. Definitely not a deal breaker for me, but the beautiful minimalist design is undermined by cable management oversight.
could what !!!???????????
@TheRealSprometheus , do you have a telegram page ?
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Looks like you have scammers active in the comments.
Thanks for the heads up, that’s a first. They should be gone now.
I had this grinder for one month before the motor stopped working. DO NOT get this if you're looking to use it for espresso.
The grinder is essentially a higher quality version of a portable grinder. While the materials are high quality, the engine just can't maintain an espresso grind while it can hold up to french press and other drip levels.
While I hoped this was a fluke and a mistake I went online to see if anyone else had a similar experience. There is a reason the VS3 has been nicknamed a "Very Shitty" grinder on multiple threads and reviews. Unfortunately I found this out after buying the unit.
I'm very disappointed in this product and the service by Varia. Do not buy this product.
why do I have the feeling these grinders shouldn't cost more than 100-150 USD? why do we comply with these ridiculous prices for a piece of steel casing, weak electromotor and a set of burr?
I’d say that sure, the materials alone maybe cost enough to call for a price that low. But consider the time and money spent in research and development, then building and bringing it to market. The price of things isn’t just purely the costs of the materials plus a profit margin.
@@Sprometheus I have impression this inflation thing is partly our fault. for example, Universal Studios makes decision to charge 150 USD admission fee per person which is ridiculous, and people still keep paying for it. If we stop paying these ridiculous prices for completely unnecessary items then things might improve. but this is off-topic. I ain't paying 300USD for a faulty grinder with loose dial ring
High performance grinders are also a pretty niche market. It may not seem so to us, because we’re involved in specialty coffee every day. We’re on discourses, reddits, our favourite RUclipsrs every day. This is the nature of echo chambers. These aren’t cars, something practically everybody in the western world owns, where a profit margin of 8-12% is good enough in appropriate volumes to make a company a reasonable profit. Of the many people I know, only one is into specialty coffee and he’s still fighting with an old Hario Skerton and dreams of something better. I, despite having only gotten into specialty coffee a year ago, have the fanciest grinder of anyone I know. A Breville 450XL, that I believe is a rebadged Wilfa Svart, that I got for $125CAD a dozen years ago! My wife and daughter love the coffee I make for them. And have begun to complain t I’ve ruined the Keurig for them. Yet they start they’re day with a pod because they can’t be bothered to brew what I brew. With all the quality grinders out there (at various price points) how many do you think are being sold per model? Everybody I know has a car. The lower the volume of sales, the higher the markup has to be to make a reasonable profit. This is pretty basic economics. To go back to the car example, the typical entry level car has an 8-12% mark up. A Cadillac is in the mid 20s. I suspect a Ferrari would be 50-100%. People complain that the Niche has never been updated. I’m not surprised. From all accounts they’re a tiny company. This is borne out by the constant shortages of product. They’re more of less “hand-made” in small numbers in the UK. Not mass produced, by the millions, like iPhones in China. It’s highly likely that they haven’t yet made a return on their initial investment or have only recently done so. I’m sure the makers of the Niche can’t wait to improve on their product. But if they don’t make money, they go tits up and no more Niches. And no more support (parts, warranty,etc) for current owners. I hope this doesn’t sound too ranty - I know it’s pretty wordy; a failing of mine. It is not intended as a rebuke - there’s too much of that online and not enough sharing of knowledge. I was only hoping to share some information that perhaps, you weren’t aware of.
Is using something like "Grindz" safe with this grinder for easy cleaning?