Recently, I've started to use my vario for french press in addition to the normal use for espresso. Unfortunately, I can't just flick back to my usual espresso settings as the pour will be WAY too fast. It seems that every time I've used french press settings, I have to go 5 micro steps finer for espresso... Do I need to tighten a calibration screw somewhere?

I have been running the grinder (mostly with beans) when I have made the settings finer.

Thanks for any help!

That's a issue I've seen on a video by David Walsh of The Other Black Stuff. It's about 2 years old if I recall correctly. Might be worth contacting them if you don't find another solution...

I had the same issue...it seems that the calibration screw loosens when running it at much coarser settings (or that's what Baratza told me when i called to ask...seems odd to me to be honest)...i've had to readjust mine 3 or 4 time, ever time after going to french press and back..

having said that, i haven't had to adjust it in a while and have gone coarse and back a number of times...maybe it was b/c the grinder was new and breaking in? Now sure...i can't say i'm 100% impressed with the vario...

Thanks, has it helped to tighten the screw in any way? Did Baratza have any solutions?

I will try to tighten the screw a bit and see if it helps..

This happens on mine, too, but I don't think the grinder is recalibrating itself. If I grind for FP or use Grindz it will take a long time to settle back on the old settings (I usually reset it grinding with an empty grinder but sometimes getting something other than a gusher after that takes 15 shots or more) but it will always settle back onto the old settings eventually so it is more temporary than a recalibration. I'd stopped using it for FP and I don't view that as a major sacrifice since I have no qualms with an espresso dedicated grinder.

I saw recently that someone on CG (or perhaps it was a CG moderator but in a thread here - I can't remember) commented that they run the Vario with the grinder empty and push the lever to a much finer setting than he would use for espresso and then he backs off to the espresso setting. I used Grindz a few days ago for the routine cleaning and I tried this and it worked so hopefully this is a fix, but I've only tried it once.

EBH wrote:Thanks, has it helped to tighten the screw in any way? Did Baratza have any solutions?

I will try to tighten the screw a bit and see if it helps..

Well, it helped in that it recalibrated it....yah...
no solution from baratza.

da gino wrote:I saw recently that someone on CG... commented that they run the Vario with the grinder empty and push the lever to a much finer setting than he would use for espresso and then he backs off to the espresso setting. I used Grindz a few days ago for the routine cleaning and I tried this and it worked so hopefully this is a fix, but I've only tried it once.

I haven't experienced the problem with my Vario. I routinely switch between pour-over and espresso, all the way up on the macro for espresso and one click below mid for pour-over (Chemex, CCD, Vac Pot). I've also set the grinder for press (all the way down on the Macro) but not that often.

I may be doing something like the quote above, though, which may be the reason I haven't seen any issue. I always run the grinder when adjusting it finer--that's required--but I often move the micro lever up and then back down before pulling the first shot. I think I'm sort of checking the calibration each time and I'm hearing the same noise at the same position. Maybe this will help.

After switching back to espresso settings be sure that you purge a a good amount of coffee through the grinder and there will be some of your french press grinds in the burrs and pathway.

Same problem here. My Vario has been taking a long time to "settle in" to a new grind setting. I don't use it for coarse grinding though - only espresso. Cleaning has helped a bit but the problem does not go away completely and gradually becomes worse. It has made dialing in different coffees and even different doses very frustrating at times. I've contacted Baratza a couple times and they have only recommended cleaning. I get the impression the internal adjustment mechanism is prone to sticking after a small build up of grinds. Baratza has constructed the grinder so it is not obvious (to me, at least) how to disassemble and verify this proposition so I can't say for sure what is causing the issue. I would LOVE to hear of a fix if anyone has one. If it wasn't for the Vario's unbeatable ergonomics, I would switch to something more robust.

da gino wrote:This happens on mine, too, but I don't think the grinder is recalibrating itself. If I grind for FP or use Grindz it will take a long time to settle back on the old settings (I usually reset it grinding with an empty grinder but sometimes getting something other than a gusher after that takes 15 shots or more) but it will always settle back onto the old settings eventually so it is more temporary than a recalibration. I'd stopped using it for FP and I don't view that as a major sacrifice since I have no qualms with an espresso dedicated grinder.

I saw recently that someone on CG (or perhaps it was a CG moderator but in a thread here - I can't remember) commented that they run the Vario with the grinder empty and push the lever to a much finer setting than he would use for espresso and then he backs off to the espresso setting. I used Grindz a few days ago for the routine cleaning and I tried this and it worked so hopefully this is a fix, but I've only tried it once.

Thanks for the tip, I will try this and report back Sorry to hear that so many have this problem...