Currently I have a Hario Skerton hand grinder and I'm using a Pavoni Pro lever machine. After a couple months I've gotten tired of using a hand grinder (grinding by hand+lever machine=way too much work for coffee) and I'm shopping for an electric grinder. I know that the Pavoni is a very finicky machine and I want a grinder that I'll be able to fine tune to get a fantastic shot of espresso, does anyone have experience with the preciso?

Did not use a lot the preciso, but both the preciso and vario will be flexible for your fine tuning.

However, Vario as a better grind quality/consistency, not by big, but still.

If you're on a budget, preciso is the way to go. If you can go with a little higher, I suggest Vario.

mthilen wrote:Currently I have a Hario Skerton hand grinder and I'm using a Pavoni Pro lever machine. After a couple months I've gotten tired of using a hand grinder (grinding by hand+lever machine=way too much work for coffee) and I'm shopping for an electric grinder. I know that the Pavoni is a very finicky machine and I want a grinder that I'll be able to fine tune to get a fantastic shot of espresso, does anyone have experience with the preciso?

CoffeeGeek has done comparative tests on Baratza (current) grinders; Vario came on the top, if I am not mistaken. Try this: http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/firstlook/baratzavario/details
also in here
Baratza Vario vs. Virtuoso Preciso

I've used the Vario and Preciso, and I have to say that I like the Vario a lot more. You'll be able to fine tune for espresso and get a fantastic shot on both grinders. Grind quality aside I like the extra features on the Vario and I believe it doses directly into the portafilter better (more evenly distributed). I also like the extra room on the portaholder for the Vario. It may be a bit harder (more inconvenient) to get an exact dose weight on the Preciso without pre weighing your coffee because it doesn't have an accurate timer like the Vario.

With that said I went from using the Vario first before trying out the Preciso, and it felt like going from luxury features to something a bit more normal, which is hard to do with anything. I'm going to echo what others have said and that's to go with the Preciso if the Vario is out of your budget. You'll be able to fine tune for espresso and get a fantastic shot on both grinders.

I bought my Preciso on the strength of the Coffee Geek review. I upgraded from a Iberital MC2 which is a bit rustic and am pleased with the results.

Obviously the Vario has a timer facility which must be good. Having said that I find weighing my dose out beforehand does the job perfectly and with very little ground coffee retained. Nearly two months in and it is a model of consistency which I hope is how it stays.

The only thing that has surprised me is that I prefer to grind into the supplied bin, shake then dose rather than into the basket directly. Grinding directly into the basket seemed messy and a bit clumpy, maybe I should fiddle around with the height of the porta-holder some more.

What else to add? Its quiet compared to the Iberital, its easy to take the top burr off and clean, solid in feel and ,erm, likeable.

I've had my Preciso for about 2 months as well but have only had my Alex II my first espresso machine for a couple of weeks. I agree with your assessment concerning weighing first and grinding into the bin. I also do the same shake the bin take a whiff of the contents then shake into my PF level, tamp, lock and pull a shot. Trying to grind into the PF directly was too messy for me as well.

All in all I like the Baratza Preciso which I also use for pour over drip coffee.

jw

Just a recommendation:
I bought an aluminum "funnel" - actually a cylinder - from Orphan Espresso (I believe) that fits nicely onto the top of my 58 mm topless portafilter. With proper height adjustment this slides into the portafilter holder on my Vario, snug between the prongs and the top where the chute is.
It stays in "no hands" while grinding and with NO stray grounds. I take it (them) out and do a brief WDT before removing the "funnel". Then tamp and go.
No mess whatsoever and I find it faster and neater than grinding into the bin and pouring into the portafilter. While the grinding is taking place (13.5 seconds for my current Redbird Espresso) I can go retrieve my pitcher from the freezer nearby, pour some milk, and be ready to pull the shot while steaming the milk. Start to finish a couple of minutes without significant cleanup.
When my Vario was stone-wounded and I had to use my Macap M4 waiting for the replacement parts, the mess reminded me how much I like this procedure.

Bruce

Thanks for the suggestion Bruce.

I may get one of those dosing funnels and add that to my procedure.

jw

Does anyone supply the OE dosing funnel in the UK?