Baratza Preciso Coffee Grinder 685

by Baratza

• Features a pulse button for more accurate grinding
• Commercial-grade conical burrs won't heat up the coffee while grinding
• 440 distinct steps of adjustment for more control over your coffee
• Includes thermal safety device to keep the motor in good shape and prevent overheating
• Easy to clean with the provided bristle brush and removable burrs

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 14 inches ; 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B003JFCRN6
• Item model number: 685
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,319 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #77 in Home & Kitchen > Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso > Coffee Grinders

Product Description

685 Features: -400 stepts of adjustment.-2 gm/second grinding speed.-Espresso to Coffee Press range of grind.-Precision: These burrs produce an exacting espresso grind as well as the demanding uniform grind for French Press, with minimal fines..-Speedy: Coffee throughput is 2.4 times faster than our other conical burr grinders..-The Preciso adds steps of adjustment with the additional of a micro adjust. It retains the 40 grind adjustment steps of the Virtuoso, but a second micro adjustment lever further divides each of the 40 steps into 11 distinct settings. Smaller steps means you have more control over your espresso grind, enabling you to pull that perfect shot.. Includes: -Baratza's innovative PortaHolder is included with each Preciso. The PortaHolder makes grinding for espresso a little easier and helps make clean up a snap.. Warranty: -There is a one-year warranty from date of purchase on all new Baratza grinders purchases in the US and Canada. Refurbished grinders have a six month warranty from date of purchase. If you live in the United States or Canada and your grinder fails within one year, simply call 425-641-1245. Baratza will deliver an identical or comparable replacement to your door free of charge and arrange to have your ''failed'' grinder returned to us. When you receive your replacement grinder, use the carton and packing material and shipping label to return your ''failed'' grinder by dropping it off at any UPS pickup location. Please include your name, phone number and address inside the box..

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best grinder for pour-over, French press, or CafeSolo July 17, 2011

By barkingburro

The expert reviewers say this may be the best grinder for other than espresso anywhere near its price-point. I researched the heck out of grinders under $400 and chose this one. I am very pleased -- it has lived up to the hype. I prepare coffee using a medium-coarse (not exactly road gravel but significantly finer than French press) grind and an Eva Solo CafeSolo brewer. This grinder was a significant step up from my KitchenAid Pro Line and helped me extract a much better result (more flavor and less bitterness) than my previous efforts. The grinder appears to have a very high build quality.

Caveat #1: I don't make espresso at home, so if you are considering this grinder for espresso, by all means look at other reviews. I can't help you except to repeat what the expert reviewers say (see caveat #2).

Caveat #2: If you haven't read the expert reviews from Coffee Geek, Home Barista, Coava, Prima, Intelligentsia, etc., you really should. You'll get a detailed perspective on what to expect from a decent grinder. And you'll be able to better judge the experience level and value systems of your fellow Amazon coffee drinking reviewers (from clueless to elitist).

Detailed review follows...

Consistency of grind: Excellent

My experience is limited to using just a few burr grinders of similar quality to the Kitchenaid. I can't tell you how this grinder compares to other more expensive grinders. The expert reviewers say it is better than grinders costing over $1,000. All I know is that the grounds it produces are more consistent than the Kitchenaid. Fewer large chunks, and overall more even sizing. As for minimizing fine sediment, here is where this grinder really shines.... I was able to produce an amazing cup of coffee with less bitter fine powder than I ever have before. The brew also tasted more flavorful, both because the fines weren't there to mask some of the flavor and also because I could grind a bit finer than I had before (which allowed me to cut back on my brew time and maintain a higher temperature throughout the process). This is Baratza's major selling point for this grinder, because unlike any other model in their line, this grinder has burrs that are optimized for coarser grinds. The burrs feature special cutting edges and a refined angle of attack that not only causes beans to get sliced with less crushing, but causes the throughput to be noticeably faster even though no changes have been made to the motor speed.

Minimizing static: Good (but remember caveat #1--you'll get more static when grinding finer)

I used to prepare coffee using a grinder valued at half the price of this one. I bought the KitchenAid Pro Line burr grinder for its build quality and excellent control of static (all my friends have <$100 grinders that puff clouds of fine grounds everywhere when they open the bin). Others report that the Preciso controls static well MOST of the time. I'm happy with it as well. But here is where you'll find the static problem cropping up: grinding for 30 seconds or more, and with grounds piling-up in the bin, you'll see grounds start to get attracted to the metal front plate. Touching the plate at that point, I got a static shock! Then I read that doing shorter grind runs repeatedly controls that. So now I don't let the grinds pile up to within a couple inches of the top. Problem solved and I've had very good results ever since. Also, I've noticed the plastic catcher bin is very static-free. Baratza supposedly uses a special plastic--not a spray-on coating--that is inherently anti-static, and has paid special attention to minimizing static buildup after listening to customer feedback. Still, there's clearly room for improvement. I think it could be a problem when grinding into a portafilter.

Grounds retention: Excellent

*** Addendum March 2013 *** I now always tilt the grinder forward and pat it on the back to make sure all trapped beans are processed, and to dislodge any grounds in the chute. The Preciso consistently retains only about 0.1 to 0.2 gram of material. Most of the stuck grounds will be released right after grinding. The next day, a few pats before grinding typically releases a bit more.

It is important to qualify how these grounds are retained. Some grinders have nooks that can store old grounds way past their freshness date, releasing the occasional rancid particles into your otherwise pristine grounds. The Preciso does not appear to have such a problem. The path from the hopper to the burrs is short and violent, with a small finger guard keeping you a fraction of an inch from the spinning mass. Once inside the burrs, the exit point is on the outside circumference of the grinding chamber and the exit chute is a short and steep drop into the bin. I saw reviewer after reviewer comment that the burrs looked much cleaner than they expected after a lot of use. I saw Gail from Seattle Coffee Gear open-up several Baratza grinders and find the burrs to be cleaner than she expected.

Motor noise: Very good

It's not too loud--about the same as my KitchenAid.

Grounds heating up: Not noticeable

Other reviewers reported grounds feeling warm when they grind very fine. I haven't had any issues at the levels I grind--but I don't run the motor for a full minute, either (the grounds bin isn't large enough to contain that much grounds!).

Adjustability of coarseness: Very good

The Preciso is special partly because it does such a good job of allowing repeatable fine adjustments. But I noticed that in order to get the coarseness I needed, I had to set it one click before the maximum position. So someone looking to grind even coarser for press pot would maybe need to consult with Baratza on how to adjust the calibration. Others have not reported this problem. Maybe I tend to grind coarser than I realize?

Maintainability: Excellent

I bought this grinder partly because it is so well-designed from a human factors standpoint. The bean hopper and top burr are easy to remove without tools and easy to brush clean. The instructions book is very clear. I almost bought a Rancilio Rocky grinder and cancelled at the last minute when I saw the nightmare that went into maintaining that horrible design. Even my KitchenAid was not fun to clean (place on back, untwist front screws, watch gooey black oil spilling back into grinder housing and onto kitchen counter). I haven't yet tried a repeatability test to see if the calibration is affected when you remove and replace the top burr for cleaning, but I can't imagine how it could possibly change given the design. All parts fit very precisely into their original positions with no slop and no way to alter the position without deliberately changing the grind setting. On this point, I'll mention that one or two reviewers had commented on looseness or travelling settings due to vibration. They followed-up by saying Baratza responded and made sure later manufactured units did not have that problem. The same issue and resolution was reported for the Vario. I can attest to the firmness of the adjustment clicks and the fine tuning lever--I do not believe my grinder will ever change settings due to vibration.

*** Addendum Feb 2012 *** I just finished cleaning my grinder and can attest to how easy it is. Baratza supplies a very small stiff bottle brush, but you'll want to buy a pastry brush to sweep the dust off the burrs and to break up the compacted dust lodged inside the bottom of the burr housing. Even so, it will be necessary to hold the grinder upside down and tap it to dislodge the grinds that get stuck at the bottom. I did find that I started seeing some old shavings coming out the chute with increasing frequency, but after one cleaning, I think they won't make an appearance for another month. Overall, it was quick and easy to get all the parts clean and to reassemble the burrs.

Build quality and predicted reliability: Good

*** Addendum March 2013 *** I had bought the first version of this grinder, which had numerous design issues. When I noticed the grind losing consistency, I called Baratza within warranty and their response was stellar. I received a fully updated grinder with new gearbox, among other improvements. It's been almost a year after receiving the rebuilt grinder and I have been happy with its performance ever since.

Others have reported excellent out-of-the-box build quality, but long-term use may be problematic if you don't want to occasionally replace plastic parts that wear out. You should know that a professional quality grinder will tend to have less plastic around the burrs. The Rancilio Rocky is reportedly all-metal (but unlike the Rocky, there's no slop in the Preciso). And if you bought the Baratza Vario, you would find all-metal construction where it counts. However, Baratza states that they used fiberglass/plastic seating elements around the burrs in the Preciso because it's a cheap part and will be the first thing to break if you accidentally start grinding a rock. One reviewer reported that the company was very good at replacing this part when that exact thing happened--and they did it for free (they mailed the part and it was easy for the user to install). The motor is very robust, but again, you will see even stronger motors in more expensive units (including the Vario). As for my own assessment of long-term reliability, I am happy so far, but reserve judgement until I've used this grinder for at least another year or so.

Customer support: Excellent

*** Addendum March 2013 *** See my comment, above, regarding the warranty replacement. As I've said, Baratza has been stellar in their customer support.

Reviewers say this manufacturer is the best in the industry when it comes to helping their customers, providing fixes, improving their product rapidly based on feedback, and just basically caring about the user experience. Read more ›

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent grinder, but five stars aren't enough for Baratza. March 20, 2012

By Matt Stein

Amazon Verified Purchase

I moved from a city whose name is synonymous with coffee to a barren wasteland (coffee-wise), and decided to take matters into my own hands. The plan: get serious about all my paraphernalia, master drip/pourover/French press extraction, and eventually work my way to espresso. To support this obsession, I needed a good burr grinder that could perform admirably from fine espresso all the way up to coarse French press grounds. In the interest of full disclosure, I was previously using a blade grinder and this is therefore the first burr grinder I've owned.

I selected a highly-rated burr grinder based on Amazon reviews only to realize that Amazon's reviewers may not be sufficiently obsessive, but more practical and more interested in features than grind consistency. After reading reviews on coffee blogs and review sites, and asking around with trusted friends, I ended up choosing the Baratza Virtuoso Preciso because of its consistency, focus on quality rather than features, and apparent praise among pros and devoted coffee nerds. Baratza also seems to have a reputation for good support, but my experience has proved that to be an understatement. More on that later.

After using this grinder for three months or so, I feel great about my purchase. First the lists......

PROS
- reassuringly heavy: doesn't slide around for one-handed operation
- consistent grind: whether fine or coarse, grounds are uniform and accompanied by very few powdery bits ("fines") that add bitterness to a brew
- simple: straightforward controls and no nonsense or ugly lights
- efficient: doesn't hold on to many residual grounds (what goes in comes back out weighing the same according to my scale)
- ridiculously fine-tuneable grind control (I honestly don't even move the micro adjustment knob much yet)
- proved (at least to my wife and I) that the grinder alone can yield a clear, tastable difference
- comes with portafilter holder, which will be useful when I get to espresso
- *Baratza provides insanely awesome support

CONS
- anti-static hopper is pretty good, though not as dreamy as I'd hoped (aka all grounds dump out and there's nothing but clean plastic)
- regardless of grind, I'll end up with a little bit on the counter every time (don't know whether this can be avoided)

* Baratza Support
Lots of people use the word "insane" to describe things they like. I try not to be careless with my words, so let me present my argument...

A week ago, I was happily grinding some freshly roasted coffee when the grinder made an evil, metallic scraping sound and stopped abruptly. I pushed the button on the front only to have nothing happen (!). I unplugged it, dumped out the unground beans, and discovered in them a tiny piece of what appeared to be granite. It's worth mentioning that the granite was not mine; I don't live in rubble or leave the hopper or beans open when not in use. After removing said granite, I ground some more beans and the result was comically inconsistent. I could have done better with a hammer in the dark.

Panicked and uncaffeinated, I contacted the company I bought the coffee from, along with the roaster and Baratza. The days that followed left me feeling like it was my birthday. The merchant and roaster offered to pay to fix the unit and sent coffee, while Baratza set me up with replacement parts quickly and free of charge. I had full, photographic instructions for the replacement process and the physical pieces came in the mail two days later. Baratza managed to set this up for me before even speaking with the merchant or roaster! And Pierce (from Baratza) was incredibly nice and personable both via email and on the phone. Being mechanically challenged, I messed up one of the replacement parts and humbly emailed Pierce to break the news. He offered to either ship another part or send a replacement unit with prepaid return label.

Now please stop for a moment and consider this: Baratza did not introduce the rock that screwed up the grinder, nor is its product intended for grinding rocks. Without hesitation, they sent free replacement parts and instructions. Baratza did not screw up the repair, I did. Yet they're sending a new grinder anyway. They won't even let me pay for return shipping, so the karmic balance is way off. In my case, Baratza has gone far beyond reasonable support: they're just insane. This whole ordeal has made me a loyal Baratza fan and inspired my longest review to date.

In short, great product and insane(ly wonderful) company backing it. I would have already recommended the Preciso, but I can't recommend the Preciso and Baratza strongly enough.

Update 11/2012: I removed a star after a problem with my replacement Preciso. The grind suddenly became inconsistent, and too coarse on any setting to yield a powdery espresso. The support process was outstanding yet again, and Baratza offered to ship me a new unit if I didn't want to ultimately glue down a piece that was lifting during the grinding process. I chose to repair and it worked, but the process didn't inspire confidence in the product. At this price range, I imagine the customer shouldn't need to repair or replace because of issues that develop with normal, intended use. If I purchased another grinder, I would consider spending more just to stay with Baratza - but if there were a similarly-priced, rock-solid grinder with a wide range, it would certainly catch my attention.

Another update from 11/2012: I now understand (thanks to a Baratza representative) that the specific grinder I've got was part of an awkward in-between manufacturing period where the black adjustment ring design had changed but was not yet being glued down as part of the manufacturing process. Newer units shouldn't have this issue. This may help anyone considering a new Preciso, but for me the whole process still claims that fifth star. Read more ›

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Consistent, lots of range, low fines, and very little static April 13, 2012

By Irrevocable Trust

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been looking for a grinder for a while. I spent months hoping to find a deal on a Mazzer Mini, or something else of that quality, hoped to find a deal. I have used a few commercial grade grinders, either borrowing or at friend's houses. I finally became fed up with the search for a deal, and decided to do some new research. After reading a number of reviews I decided to try this grinder. By the way, check out the CoffeeGeek.com "First Impressions Review" - there's great info there.

After using the grinder heavily for a month now, here's my thoughts:

1) This Grinder is very consistent. The particle size is consistent for each setting. I used to work in the screen printing industry, so I have a microscope at home, and I reviewed the ground coffee at a number of different settings. The results are remarkable. As good as my friend's commercial grinder and another Mazzer. If you want to grind for French Press, you will get a consistent large ground size. The same was true for espresso, chemex, and every grind size I tried.

2)The grinder does not produce a lot of "fines". No dusty residue coffee in the container to block up your filters, or change the flavor of your immersion. Once again, on par with commercial high end grinders.

3) It does not require that the container be in the grinder to turn on. If you want to dispense straight into a small bowl, or you portafilter, you can. To many home grinders switch off when the basket/container is removed for safety. This is very annoying and inconvenient.

4) The portafilter holder that comes with the grinder is lacking. It holds the filter too high, and is finicky to get the filter into securely. This was something I found lacking, but not enough to lower the rating....

5) I wish there was a better way to store extra cord. This would make a more cleaner looking counter. The cord is long, and this is good, but without a way to store extra inside of the unit it is messy looking.

6) Static. Almost none. Shockingly so. The grounds will have a very small amount stuck to the container they fall into. But, a gentle tap dislodges them. And they do not go flying around sticking to everything. They just fall into wherever you want them to be. This is one of the joys of the machine. No more counters covered in grounds that went flying when the container is moved. My kitchen counter coffee station is much cleaner. MUCH cleaner. The quality of the grind and this lack of static make this grinder worth the money. Trust me, you will be happier once you realize just how much coffee does not need to be cleaner up every morning.

7) It is fairly quiet. Well, as quiet as a device that chews up hard woody seeds can be.

8) The burrs are just pretty. I know that's not a "technical" point. But, honestly, they are.

9) The variability of the grinder is incredible. you really can go from a turkish/near turkish grind all the way to a "I'm just going to dump the grounds into hot water an let it settle before I pour" size. If you want a professional quality grinder that will do all types of coffee/espresso - this will do it. With the micro controls you can dial in your grind and fiddle with the settings to get just what you need. I've burned through a lot of coffee to adjust to the perfect espresso grind for a particular blend. And, this grinder really let me customize.

10) I don't like the "timer" knob. It is positioned in a place that's hard to see, so it is difficult to use. And it is difficult to set to the same period each use. It doesn't really matter much, I use the instant on button on the front and just hold it. Easy enough because...

11) ...it is fast. It is a fairly fast grinder. Not coffee shop fast, but close enough for heavy home user. I haven't noticed any heating of the grounds caused by speed. Or the machine getting hot. Though a few people in forums have commented that they saw a little heating happening. I've done pretty large grinds. Filled up the container 4/5 of the way, and had no issues.

12) This thing is heavy. No slipping or sliding.

13) Finally, the grind chute is very short. Very little wasted beans. Almost every gram of ground beans ends up in your brew. And to clear it require a quick press of the button. With coffee prices high, it's great to no longer waste coffee because the chute is long and full of grounds.

All in all, I strongly recommend this grinder. It's on the same level as any professional or commercial grinder I've touched. There is finally a grinder for a serious coffee enthusiast that is affordable. In fact, I'd buy this over a Mazzer. Read more ›