I put a couple of rubber bands on the fork. They held a bottomless PF in place well. It needs just a bit of friction to hold it well, and the PF also needs to touch the metal of the fork for grounding.

nixter wrote:Oh so there's a safety switch with the hopper? Maybe I'm right on the edge so that sometimes it engages and sometimes not. I'll have a look when I'm home.

Anyone come up with a solution for using a bottomless PF?

My good friend, Mr. JonR10 steered me to a CG thread in which the Vario user created a metal version of a WDT yogurt cup resting just inside the basket.
I did so with my yogurt cup, and just lost the PF fork. Not necessary. I just hold the PF under the spout, maybe 3 inches underneath.
Works like a charm.
I small tap down, a 20# tamp/twist and I'm good to go.
I've gotten a couple of "sprites"...spritzes, etc...haven't had those for a LONG time. I think I need to dial just a little finer. The grind still feels coarser than my Kym, but much finer and I will choke the Cremina.I've got lots of leeway to go finer still if need be.

Well the Vario has been behaving the last couple days. Perhaps it was the hopper not quite tight. It was not at all loose when I checked it though. I took it off and put it back on and it seems fine now. Interesting accident this morning. My oscar ran out of water just before the first drop of espresso fell. Normally this would mean dumping the puck but for whatever reason I refilled the tank very quickly and kept going. The result after this long make shift pre-infusion was a very sweet tasting drinkable shot. Strange.

So far so good with the Vario. I'm very happy that the upgrade has been tangible. Shots are far more consistent and I'm tasting things I never could before. I really like the timed grind feature. I also like the fact that there's very little waste. You pretty much get out what you put in. Very little clumping or static if any. I haven't found the PF fork very usefull with my naked PF but grinding into the bucket and pouring into the PF is fine. It also allows me to shake the grinds first, completely loosing the odd clump, before pouring them into the PF. Other pluses are the quite operation and the very small footprint.

nixter wrote:So far so good with the Vario. I'm very happy that the upgrade has been tangible. Shots are far more consistent and I'm tasting things I never could before. I really like the timed grind feature. I also like the fact that there's very little waste. You pretty much get out what you put in. Very little clumping or static if any. I haven't found the PF fork very usefull with my naked PF but grinding into the bucket and pouring into the PF is fine. It also allows me to shake the grinds first, completely loosing the odd clump, before pouring them into the PF. Other pluses are the quite operation and the very small footprint.

If you do French Press at please, please grind for same, and do a quick report. Lots of folks considering the Vario are wanting this info.
Glad you're happy. I'm enjoying my "loaned" Vario, even though it is 1st generation. Quiet rumble is nice, and the timer makes it easy, once you determine the load weight at your setting.
I'm getting 14.2 grams at 12 seconds.
Of course this will vary according to fineness, and the type of coffee in the hopper, the weather, the position of the moon on Thursday, etc

Just for info, I had a similar problem with the machine timing out without grinding. I called Baratza and talked to the Design Engineer. He told me to twist the hopper till it would go no further, they will replace any that break.. The Poly-carbonate plastic will take all the force needed.The first hoppers were made with a too large detent. You may not hear a click but the hopper will then hold the interlock in position.
Many Happy Pulls!
-Richard

IMAWriter wrote:If you do French Press at please, please grind for same, and do a quick report. Lots of folks considering the Vario are wanting this info.
Glad you're happy. I'm enjoying my "loaned" Vario, even though it is 1st generation. Quiet rumble is nice, and the timer makes it easy, once you determine the load weight at your setting.
I'm getting 14.2 grams at 12 seconds.
Of course this will vary according to fineness, and the type of coffee in the hopper, the weather, the position of the moon on Thursday, etc

Sorry IMAWriter, the drip and press settings will likely never see action on my Vario.

nixter wrote:Sorry IMAWriter, the drip and press settings will likely never see action on my Vario.

Fully understand, though It did a very nice vac pot grind for me.
ENJOY!