...to run thru the grinder, instead of Grindz (too expensive). Can use oats (flat, or rolled)? Or something else?

Take it apart and brush out the grinds?

Some people use minute rice.

innermusic wrote:...to run thru the grinder, instead of Grindz (too expensive). Can use oats (flat, or rolled)? Or something else?

The Vario, with its exceptionally low grind retention (very small space between the lower burrs and the grinding chamber walls, short exit chute, overall very good design) is very easy to clean and except for very small accumulations in some cracks (mostly: screw heads, junction of the lower burr and its carrier), almost nothing is retained. Cleaning is probably not needed as much as it is with other grinders (compared to my own experience with the Rancilio Rocky, which needed extensive cleaning, with a shop vac and an hour or so of free time to disassemble, clean and reassemble).

The only issue when cleaning the Vario is grind adjustment. Inevitably, each time the upper burr is removed and put back, the grind shifts in a substantial manner, often justifying an adjustment right after, with the included Allen key, to keep the micro lever in the espresso range (to avoid having to resort to the Allen key later to grind finer than the finest setting or having to play with the macro lever when the micro lever set to coarse is not enough).

Therefore, for those two reasons, I personally don't clean it as much as I thought I would need to and I always find I could still have waited more before doing it.

Shake your grinder vigorously and use the vacuum cleaner.

Maciolus wrote:Shake your grinder vigorously...

Love to see you try that with a 60+lb (30kg) Robur.

Looking for the easier softer way. Also, the Vario gets grinds outside the burrs, on the outer periphery. Perhaps a hand vacuum is best. But - can minute or parboiled rice damage the machine?

Firecracker? Some use instant rice (not slow cook rice). I will occasionally blow some low pressure air through the discharge chute to blow grinds out the burr set but if it really needs cleaned, nothing beats taking the burrs out and a simple brush. I clean my grinder out about once a year and just take the upper burr carrier off and brush it with a small stiff bristle brush.

innermusic wrote:But - can minute or parboiled rice damage the machine?

I've tried minute rice in the past, and I don't see how it could damage your grinder. However, it may be difficult to remove all the rice particles without pulling the burrs and brushing out the grinding chamber. Otherwise it's possible (although unlikely) that residual rice particles could gum up your espresso machine grouphead.

FWIW, I'm not convinced that running rice (or Grindz) through your grinder accomplishes anything useful.

The main issues when using grinders
is
the type of coffee is used and how often the grinder is used,
for example
if you use very oily beans and you use it only once in the week end
yes, that grinder will gummed up and have residues of stale coffee and the taste will be bad,
indeed will need more often cleaning,
then a grinder that get used multiple time a day and with less oily beans
even in the second instance a every few weeks a removal of the collar and cleaning the chute camber will not hurt
I normally use a brush , sometimes a pick (I took a piece of romex copper wire so is soft and just in case will not damage the burrs) for a little more stubborn needs
but you might find it not necessary

Louis wrote:The only issue when cleaning the Vario is grind adjustment. Inevitably, each time the upper burr is removed and put back, the grind shifts in a substantial manner, often justifying an adjustment right after, with the included Allen key, to keep the micro lever in the espresso range (to avoid having to resort to the Allen key later to grind finer than the finest setting or having to play with the macro lever when the micro lever set to coarse is not enough).

Interesting, I didn't know this. Does the change in calibration go finer or coarser? Also, very confused about what you had in parenthesis.