• Integrated Weight and Time based grinding
• Auto-dosing feature that converts weight to grind time, automatically, to allow precise direct grinding to portafilter.

Until they explain what this means and how this is done, this still looks to me like a time based grinding, after you "agreed" that this weight took that much time.

Guessing that burr size is equal to Vario since they are happy with the Vario performance at brew bars?

Stepped adjustment.

"Size doesn't matter"? ... I am slowly coming to somewhat of a realization that size = speed. Size =/= quality. It is the size (length) of the teeth that is = quality. Larger burrs = more teeth = faster grind. It is not necessarily to automatically assume that with a larger burr size, the manufacturer also changed the length of the teeth. My feel is that once they have a burr (teeth) design that works well, they are staying with it, not changing it, but adding more of these to the larger burrs (more room for the same teeth).

They emphasize how good this is in brew bars. So it's not that great for espresso??

Nice to see all that plastic go away.

LaDan wrote:Until they explain what this means and how this is done, this still looks to me like a time based grinding, after you "agreed" that this weight took that much time.

Guessing that burr size is equal to Vario since they are happy with the Vario performance at brew bars?

Just speculating based on the wording used by Baratza, but perhaps you do weight based into a bin like the Vario-W and the grinder times it to know how long it takes. From then on it uses time based into the portafilter holder. This would mean you need to "calibrate" it every time you change coffee or dose. Hopefully they found a better way that is truely weight based.

As for burr size, the grinder itself looks very similar to the Vario. I'm guessing it is a Vario made of metal with a new interface and upgrade internals (motor and belt). The fact that the hopper is a direct replacement on a Vario supports this idea.

Intrepid510 wrote:Shucks was hoping they were going to target the home user not the commercial one. But for all those people that moan about Baratza reliability appears they listen and you get what you pay for.

Sorry, but what do you mean? Baratza has several grinders all targeting the home user. And what is it about this grinder, besides the marketing, that makes you believe this grinder is best suited for commercial use rather than home?

On drip vs. espresso: I'm sure this grinder will do as good of a job for espresso as the Vario does assuming the ceramic burrs and adjustments are the same. I think they just didn't mention espresso because they are targeting cafes where their potential customers will use it for brew since there is already solid support from a wide range of espresso grinders. The only situation I can think of where one of these would be used for espresso commercially would be on a mobile setup, but if you are hauling a big machine, a Super Jolly isn't much more of an imposition. I'm sure they also know that home users will stick their noses in it for both methods anyway despite their marketing.

The reason I figured its more slanted towards commercial clients is because for the most part the only real ++ to this is the increase robustness of the design not actual grinding aspect of it. So if given the choice of buying a Vario or this, I would choose the Vario.

I know there are probably some that won't mind paying double for it in the home, but I am not one of those.

I see. So you were hoping for a grinder that would further step up the grind quality instead of the build quality per the price tag? That's reasonable. I think they have had so much success with the Vario that they are probably content in that market and reluctant to try to hit a higher note for home espresso. I doubt we will see anything new from Baratza for espresso quality in the higher price range. I really wish Mazzer would get it through their thick skulls that it would be beneficial to bring a conical to market in the Mini to Super Jolly size.

LaDan wrote: Stepped adjustment.

What's your point?

Has anyone, ever, in the known history of coffee, needed a setting in-between the Vario's micro settings?

so, I recognize that I will slide my PF around in the portaholder of my Vario to aid in distribution as the grinds exit the chute, but I'm not sure how helpful that really is, I just do it for its seeming helpfulness. Be that as it may --- regarding the weight vs time-based dosing, and the flawed method of needing to calibrate the time based on grinding into a bin before grinding direct to PF... How hard would it be to have a scale built into the base with a sensor that can connect to a PF holder, thereby letting one place their PF in the holder, hit a "tare" button on the screen, input their desired dose and grind away? I'd sooner shell out the dough for that kind of service over a metal shell and belt-drive, any day.

How hard would it be to have a scale built into the base with a sensor that can connect to a PF holder, thereby letting one place their PF in the holder, hit a "tare" button on the screen, input their desired dose and grind away? I'd sooner shell out the dough for that kind of service over a metal shell and belt-drive, any day.

?This? ^^^

Reason I ask, the Esatto is very nearly there. Only thing I could see from a design difficulty would be the massive difference in portafilter tare vice dram weight of the shot.

hamish5178 wrote:What's your point?

New Baratza Grinder - Forte

I like that hopper, and its price point is cool. Would be great if the hopper were air tight, and compatible with the other grinders, like Vario or Preciso, then one could swap around beans at home, too, without flipping the flippin' thing over to pour out the beans.