I talked to Baratza in November, and they said it would be out in mid December, but recently, I saw a post at CG where someone said they talked to Baratza, and they were now saying next year for the updated model. I would give them a call, they were very willing to answer my question when I called them.

Randy

gj91 wrote:So when is the new vario coming out. Maybe I will hold out for the new version.

There is no reason to wait, the only update relative to the current version is the board and you can buy that and install it yourself now (they were expecting the new boards any day now). The board is $20, but the new grinder is also going to be $20 more.

It is supposed to be easy to install. The board adds in an optional sleep function and memory if it gets unplugged (setting the times is easy and quick, so this is a nice feature, but not a big deal if you don't have it).

gj91 wrote:So when is the new vario coming out. Maybe I will hold out for the new version.

No need to wait whatsoever! Read this.

zin1953 wrote:No need to wait whatsoever! Read this.

Jason you once again answered my questions without me having to state them. Get out of my head already!!

Thanks for the link! All I have to do now is ensure that I receive a unit with a higher serial number than 270!

They are up over 1100 now and they keep selling out so it is unlikely that you will get one with that low a serial number since inventory doesn't seem to sit around for long. Stefano ordered mine from the factory and he had it in hand the next day, so if you order from him I know you will get one of the latest releases, but I don't think there are many vendors with really old stock sitting around since they are selling so well.

Great post, Jason. Thanks.

I'm having difficulty rationalizing this prospect: going from a Mazzer Mini-E to the Vario at roughly half the cost is an upgrade. But, from all the research and contributions I've read here on H-B, that is the conclusion I'm drawing.

I would love to get an Elektra Nino but it's purchase price doesn't include a kitchen remodel.

I'm in the same boat, I want a 2nd grinder and i've been talked out of a vario a couple of times over my Mazzer Mini. I just wish I hadn't found the 25% discount for the Mazzer mini.

I forecast a sharp decline in resale value for the used market Mazzer Mini.

-C

another_jim wrote:+1. When I was testing, the thought crossed my mind that if I'd had it a few years ago, no Mini, no Versalab, and no K10. The only reason I kept upgrading was to get good and consistent shots from light roasted, acidic coffees The little Vario handles these with aplomb.

So Jim, are you saying that if you had to do it all over, and the Vario was available at the time, you would have chosen the Vario over the K10? I ask, because I was thinking of ditching my Mini for a K10 WBC. The one BIG issue I have with the K10 is the size. The Vario will actually fit under my cabinets, so that's a plus. Also, if there's not a huge difference in grind quality/taste, why spend the extra $1000 on the K10.

Chris

Chris, I cannot speak for Jim -- nor would I ever attempt to! He has far more experience, and with a wider array of equipment, than I do, as well as being a much better cupper/taster . . . so let me pretend you asked me that question, if you don't mind, though I certainly hope Jim will soon answer for himself . . .

So I was quite content with my Mazzer Mini until I started reading the Titan Grinder Project (TGP), its various off-shoots, and, specifically, the TGP: Can It Beat the Robur? thread. As a result of that, I was seriously tempted by, and thinking about purchasing, the Compak K10. I couldn't justify the price, and the early experience/damage in shipment made me nervous. (This, of course, has been rectified.) But what I did end up buying was a Cimbali Max Hybrid, and I loved it . . .

Then, apparently being unsatisfied (though I didn't realize it at the time), and after reading lots of discussion on it, I moved on to the Mahlkönig K30 Vario, and "banished" the CMH to my office, where it still gets used 5 days a week.

Not being completely happy with my secondary grinders, either at home or the office, I bought the Baratza Vario (aka Mahlkönig Vario HOME) for the house. (The secondary grinder is less important in the office.)

OK, there comes a point of diminishing returns. That point varies with everyone, with their individual tastes, experiences, expectations, and so on. A professional in the coffee trade (think Jim Schulman or Chris Tacy, to name but two) will have a different "point" than I -- an "experienced newbie" -- will have, let alone someone who is just starting out and quite content with their daily venti lattè from you-know-who . . .

So my two home grinders are the "Varios." There is, in terms of what I paid for them, an approximate $1,000 difference in price. (Saying that out loud sounds really stupid to me -- there's a voice inside my head saying, You spent HOW much on WHAT?!?!?! Oysh!)

Question No. 1: Is the Mahlkönig K30 Vario a better grinder than the Baratza Vario (aka Mahlkönig Vario HOME)? Absolutely!

Question No. 2: Is it one thousand dollars better??? Uh . . . that's a much more difficult question to answer.

The Baratza Vario was not available when I bought the K30 Vario, so obviously it came first. But I may not have ever purchased the K30 if I had purchased these grinders in the opposite order. As I said above, the things that bother me about the Baratza are silly things (12+ seconds to grind a double, vs. 3+ seconds for the K30). If I had the Baratza first, I would never have become used to the speed of the K30, and 12 seconds would seem really quick to me! The new sleep/memory function soon to be available will resolve my other "silly" concern.

Face it: we passionate hobbyists/aficionados/enthusiasts do like our fancy toys, be it a hot espresso machine, the latest grinder, whatever. But like I said above,

zin1953 wrote:how many of us truly need a grinder capable of producing between 120-720 doubles per hour (in our homes)?

There IS a strong undercurrent of "over-kill" among passionate "geeks" of all sorts, whether it's coffee, wine, cars, stereo equipment, whatever, and that will never go away. But the Baratza Vario can potentially keep a lot more money in people's wallets than any other grinder I can think of!

Cheers,
Jason