Customer Reviews

Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Espresso Grinder - Baratza ABAR585K1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been using this for three weeks. It grinds gorgeously and you can choose how fine/coarse you want the grind. I put it at 16 for my drip coffee.

It's easy to use if you don't have some hand issues (ie, arthritis). Anyone with hand/joints issues, this has no handle to pull out the container that holds the ground coffee. You have to grasp it by the edges and pull, which can be hard for some folks.

The only reason I worry about the quality is that the little knob that you turn to choose how long it will grind has already fallen off once. No biggie. I put it back in. But a grinder THIS expensive should not have loose parts coming off after only 2 weeks of use. So, I'll be a bit anxious about how long it will work effectively and intact.

Still, I'm happy with how it works so far, just not so happy that I'd give it a perfect score.

Mir

I've had this grinder for a couple of years now. I have been VERY happy with it! It makes an amazing range of grinds, is very consistent, and fairly easy to clean.

It can do anything from a very coarse to a very fine (Turkish) grind. I LOVE making Turkish coffee with this, and is one of the main reasons I got it (as many grinders can't go to that level). It comes out looking like finely ground chocolate powder, and is perfect for Turkish!

The only problem I've had, as noted in other reviews, is the timer handle kept falling off. VERY annoying! I moved a few months ago and the handle went missing, so I ended up having to use a knife to turn the dial - not fun. I finally ordered a new one ($2.50 on their site), and plan on using a touch of glue to keep it attached this time.

Again - I highly recommend this grinder!

I bought this grinder when it was a new product a couple of years back and it has performed well with near daily use all this time. They have excellent FAQs and documentation on their website for people who have any questions on operation or need to troubleshoot a problem. If you call or email them, you get a response or person on the line quickly who will walk you through assessing the problem and will send you out a replacement part, at no charge, asap. Companies like Baratza(and amazon.com) still understand how to create customer loyalty. If you need a conical burr grinder (any coffee enthusiast does), you'll get years of use and enjoyment out of this one.

I bought this grinder at a little coffee store in Lynnwood, WA. 2 1/2 years ago and had to call the factory right off the bat to get a new timer knob. They were great and I had the knob in two days. It has been absolutely trouble free except for once I neglected to clean it and it refused to start until I did. It is very simple to clean and use, dependable and the grind is good over the entire 40 point range. I use different settings as I like to change my coffee habits every now and then but mostly it's on 20.
Really this is the only machine you need for household or light commercial use. It does the same thing the $400.00 unit does and by far , it is better than any blade grinder. This is not a toy, it is a very heavy machine made from metal with very little plastic.
I would recommend it to any one looking for a good grinder. It's one of those set it up and forget it units that sets on the counter and just keeps going and going and going. It's just a little loud, Not noisy, but after all is is grinding beans. Sometimes I wonder as I get older if it is me or the coffee pot that is really making the noise.

I just want it relate my experience with this grinder. I read the reviews and decided on it and order it. It arrived damaged. I called their number but got a recording and the recording used a different company name than Baratza. The message didn't even say leave a message at the tone but just "bye". I did leave a message and my phone number though. I waited all day and never got a call back. I email them and within 4 hours I go an email that a replacement had been shipped. It arrived and they sent a return UPS label to send the other one back. The problem with the first one was the hopper was crooked at an angle from an inpact in shipment I suppose. There was a worse problem inside. The cheap plastic calibration ring which holds the top grind burr and hopper base is held in place by three small plastic tabs about 1/32" thick and 1/8". Two of these were broken and the top grinding burr was at an angle causing an elliptical rotation which gave an inconstant grind. The replacement had one of these tabs broken also. I think it is just a result of a poor design for that part. The grinder on the whole is well constructed like a army tank but that design flaw and the lack of some feature like not being able to set a grinding time and the timer being on the side plus the fact that you can't actually talk to a human being with them, at least I couldn't. I tried two different numbers and never got a response. I even emailed them my home phone and cell phone numbers. I emailed through Amazon for a refund and didn't hear from them for two business days and then that was I think as a result of a phone call to Amazon and a second email through Amazon at the customer service rep's request. I then hear from them in a few hours and they sent me a return label by email and issued me a full refund even before I return the second grinder. I can't fault how they stood behind there return policy only to say you can only contact them on their terms and you can't talk to a human. If I could have spoken to a person and resolved my problem I would have keep the grinder. I am glad it worked out the way it did because I bought the Breville BCG450XL from Amazon for half the price and it is a much better conical burr grinder. See my review on it.