Thought I'd give a shorter overview of these 5 side by side. Have had loads of requests, so figured I'd make something easy to digest. Lot more cuts than usual, but it is in the hopes of giving you the down and dirty deets that may help your decision making process. Give a like and sub if you haven't and appreciate the work! Much love
Thanks for giving honest critique to each of the contenders! Very useful. Do you have any thoughts on Eureka Mignon Zero? (not to be confused with Mignon Single Dose, the angled one, which is a bit larger and more expensive) It's about the same price as Lagom Mini and Varia VS3 (and looks quite nice, too), but it does not appear to have received as much attention among coffee youtubers.
@@victorp.3444 weird how the price thing works across the world. Here in Canada, the Varia is $400CAD and the Eureka Zero is $750CAD. I was messaging Josh at Alternative brewing in Australia, and there it’s the Varia that’s the stupid expensive one. And Varia is a New Zealand company which has free trade with Australia…. He’s done reviews on all these grinders and was talking about a shootout video of his own, but not including the Varia because it’s in a whole different price bracket there.
Of all the grinders to do an abbreviated review: the one I wanted to know the most about!! 🙄 Keep up the excellent work. Ignore the singing-haters. Hater gonna hate.
You mentioned customer service, so I wanted to mention my experience with my Lagom Mini: I busted a little part within the motor chamber while it was out of warranty. I reached out to Option-O in hopes that I could purchase the part. Instead of that, they offered to send over a whole new motor and power brick, as long as I paid the shipping. And then I got detailed instructions to make the replacement myself. Whenever I upgrade, they’ll have my business.
that's fantastic to hear. i think customer service ends up being almost a bigger factor in purchasing a product than just price and features. it's the worst feeling when a company acts like they stand by their product, or give 100% customer satisfaction claims, only to leave you high and dry when something is messed up. i'll definitely look into Lagom now. Option-O sounds great!
@@LanceHedrick i think your shorter ones tend to have better pacing and less.... space? literally just watched a 50m one of yours, didn't realize that long, and i ended up with it on in the background because i couldn't just actively WATCH. (again, pacing.) you did an amazing job here, short and to the point, short and sweet. the ones under 15m i think are really great. or if they are longer, that you are still high paced AS IF it were short. never seen the varia before so thank you for putting on here! :)
I have to say this is the one best video I need at this moment. I am choosing an electrical grinder for my gf and we needs it to be simple, aesthetic, great result and, relatively, good budget. This up-to-date video give the information I need. Thanks Lance
Hard to beat Baratza support. I have a Vario and my parents have an Encore, both which went through Baratza's repair program after about 5-10 years of use and both came back working even better than when they were originally purchased.
This is great. Now we need a "Best Espresso-oriented Grinder for Beginners". Or maybe not beginners, but people who don't want to spend 500+ USD on a grinder, and rarely if ever make anything but espresso.
Introductory pricing on the Timemore 64s is supposed to be $300- and for that you get modern 64mm flat burrs, brushless dc motor, an auger, variable rpm, and a novel chaff/fines catcher on the output that Lance really likes. Plus it's compact. Probably your best option imo
Excellent production and presentation. You sorta give me buyer's remorse on the Opus, but then I listen again and realize that a) I'm not making espresso at home, and b) I am on a budget, so I probably got the right thing.
My first Vs3 was dead out of the box. The adjustment mechanism was almost unmoveable and did not seem to adjust the grind size. When tightening it would get to a certain point (no where near zero) and sort of skip and loose all tension for a bit and then grip hard again, as well as a lot of movement and a screechy grind when the burrs were spinning. Took around a month to get a replacement as the distributor took a long time combined with crap post times. The replacement has been great since it arrived, and I am really enjoying it. I wanted the Ode Gen 2 originaly, but as of when I placed the order (December 26th) there was still not date for the Ode becoming available locally, they only turned up in late Feb, which still gave time for my Vs3 to arrive, be sent back and the replacement to arrive.
I've had my Vario for 13 years now (So old it's the Mahlkonig badged version!). I use it everyday for espresso and the only thing I've had to do is change the burrs out. I also have a refurbed Virtuoso for the past 4 years on filter duty. No problems there either. I know I can get grinders that will produce slightly better cups but it's hard to ignore that reliability!
Do you hsve the plastic geared motor or the updated metal one? If plastic, pretty sure you can buy just the new motor assembly by itself. I remember seeing it listed somewhere.
It's crazy how much prices differ around the world. That Lagom mini is 550 CAD here in Canada, whereas the DF64 is 665. To me it's a no brainer. I think if I were to get a conical grinder I'd tend to get a 250 CAD 1zpresso hand grinder rather than a Lagom Mini. Thanks for this Mr. Hedrick, lovely content as always. We are lucky to have you.
Man, I just enjoyed this video so much. The singing and everything! So much character! Very enjoyable to watch and also packed with really useful insights. I have the Vario and really agree with what you had to say.
Love the new editing, 13 min stacked with info. mini is an AMAZING grinder as an all-around, Personally I don't experience retention with RDT and grind speed is around 25s for 18g espresso light-roast. Never had stalling. Option-o has great customer-service and you can buy directly from them.
Based on everything you stated, if I were in the market for a grinder in this price point I too would choose the Baratza ESP. However, I would definitely look into the upcoming Timemore Sculptor 064S since I'm only interested in an espresso grinder.
The amount of new budget grinders coming out these days is sooo good. Might have to swap my Eureka Mignon at some point, it's so hard to dial with it. Thanks again Lance 🙏 love those two tones corduroy shirts you've been sporting >:)
i'm so so glad for your reviews and effort put into them. You are so meticulous with the research down to the customer feedback for the varia it saved me a lot of work. Really wanted to let you know its appreciated!
Completely agree! The mini is just too expensive for it's value in Canada. The baratza is just messy. Ended up with the opus for the new referral discount, lower rpm, cleaner workflow and totally don't mind the inner ring for dialing in. And it's a second grinder for me so I already get a different cup with my first grinder. 😏
I received my Baratza Encore ESP on 2/25, and my poor Niche has been neglected since then. I’ve ground for filter coffee for my husband, (he prefers it to be ground at the upper end of espresso), espresso for me and also a medium grind for my Instant cold brewer. I really do like my Niche Zero, but if this grinder had been out in November when I bought my Niche, I might not have bought the Niche at all. I also got the single dose hopper which I’m really liking. I just received a bellows for the original hopper that I got from Etsy. I’m hoping that will also keep the lid from trying to jump off the hopper . I really like that cup that came with the ESP. It fits perfectly into my portafilter funnel.
I purchased the Lagom mini in the US directly from Option-O when the moonshine burrs were released, total cost with shipping was approximately $450. I also have the upgraded brick and have also stalled it once on a light roast Ethiopian - but in general haven’t had any serious issues, and really love the small form factor. Overall I’ve been really happy with it - but If I were in the market today I would easily choose the Encore ESP… I don’t think that the mini is worth more than double the cost.
Lance, Im on my second VS3 because of the plastic gearbox, but I wanted to mention that I'm getting zero retention with RDT. Not sure if you tested without or with RDT (I'm sure both), but I have yet to lose more than the usual 0.1 grams of coffee. Great review!
This is exactly the type of video I've been looking for. I am looking to start my journey in home coffee and I enjoy making myself both pour overs and espresso drinks at the coffee shop I work at, so I have been looking for a good budget grinder that can deliver on both espresso and filter. I will most likely act on your recommendation and invest in the baratza, cheers!
I ordered the varia 2 weeks ago, having seen Coffee parts positive review. I like the design and I’m only going to be using it for aeropress for now: I’d been using a 1zpresso Q2 but wanted something that can do espresso one day. Hope it lasts. Thanks for your all your budget reviews in recent weeks.
absolutely! I like to change things up. My youtube started with budget items and that is what I intend to keep the focus on at its roots. Appreciate the support!
Dude.. Great videos bro hands down... I just bought my gaggia classic espresso machine after owning a chefman espresso machine from Walmart haha.. Could you Please 🙏 make a video for beginners on how to make great espresso shots with a stock gaggia espresso machine.. the way you explain things makes much more sense then other videos.. haha Please bro.
Appreciate this review Lance, as I've been looking for something to replace my Oster / Mr Coffee grinder for moka pot, and V60 coffee. And the Baratza Encore ESP is available for sale in a nearby city for me.
Finally making the investment to get into making espresso at home after years of hand grinding an aeropress brew in the morning. I’m on the waitlist for the next batch of the VS3 release at the end of next month. Hoping that the motor issues are sorted, but it sounds like barring that it should pair well with a Gaggia Classic. Nice shootout video, they all seem like they’ll do the job well.
Lance blink twice if you need help!! A 13:33 comparison of 5 grinders isn’t like you haha. Great video as always. Super glad to see all these budget options these days. Crazy to think how far we’ve come these passed few years.
As someone who already has a very good filter grinder (Ode Gen 2), I’d love to see a comparison of espresso-only grinders, for those of us that want to get into espresso after being experienced with filter. Maybe it’s too small an audience, but I think it’d be interesting to look at grinders that focus purely on espresso, without consideration for filter. A reverse Ode, if you will.
This was me exactly and I got the Varia. It was available locally from good local dealers, no wait. Aesthetically it matches the ode perfectly. I've zero stalls in 3 months grinding light roasts for espresso. It is slow but that's not been an issue for me. Can't comment on shot quality versus these others, but I love the shots it makes.
Baratza Esp is the winner for me. The lagom and the varía looks ok but they doesn't offer support on my country and it will be a nightmare to get one. Opus is ok and Fellow is a know brand here and there. I only dislike the inner mechanism. Thanks for this video Lance! Very usel
Great video, based on your 078 thoughts, it looks like the sculptor 064s should blow these out of the water at the $299 kickstarter price. Really excited to see your thoughts on it whenever we all get one
I purchased an SD40 but ended up returning it and going all in on a Niche. My main issues were: stepped grinder, awkward workflow, and an unreliable power button. I found that getting the bellows on and off the grinder was a huge pain, and the opening at the top of the bellows was so small that beans would bounce out all over the table when filling. Playing 52-bean pickup isn't very fun when you're tired and uncaffeinated. And like you noted in your review, the bellows is really non-optional, resulting in a rather ugly top-heavy aesthetic. Regarding the power button, I found that sometimes I would press it and hear a click, but it wouldn't always turn on. The solution was to just press harder and longer, but it was one of those "quirks" which had me second guessing my purchase. That said, if everything I mentioned sounds irrelevant or nitpicky to you, then the SD40 may be your perfect grinder.
I got a refurbed sette for like 250 a few years back. She's a loud girl, and I had to replace a felt ring for the micro adjustment, but she is still going strong and makes delicious coffee.
I'm hoping to get the 078s based on Lance's prediction! Also, I'm wondering if we'd be able to mod the variable speed to lower rpms...with the high wattage, I would assume it could handle the lower speed and grind with more uniformity similar to the 078 (albeit having different burr)
I have the Baratza 270 and you just can't beat their costumer service. Had an issue with the gears slipping, and contacted them about it. No questions asked sent me a whole new gear set and a video of how to replace it, and even told me that if for some reason that doesn't fix it, to tell them and they would just send me a new 270 and have me send the old one to them.
Can you please make a video that talks about the challenge of upgrading from hand grinders to electric ones. I currently own a jx pro but i cant make more than 1 espresso drink at a time because its exhausting 😢 and im scared that if i upgrade to an electric one, i might lose some quality in my coffee
I'm still using a (well maintained and serviced) Solis Meastro plus made by Baratza. They just recently said no more service on it though, so don't expect truly a lifetime of service
Do you think the Ode Gen 2 is a better solution than most of/all of these for filter coffee? I really appreciate your effort and the production value Lance! Keep it up.
@uwotm8 it looks like the timemore 64 might be the version of the Ode that can do espresso. Fellow could probably keep everything the same with the Ode but have a stronger motor and sell it for a bit more as an espresso version, but I think they want the Opus to eventually be the espresso specialist.
Thnx for this video. It helps me a lot in my quest, finding the right budget grinder… Maybe you should make a ‘sing remix’ for the holidays 😂🎉 Greetings from the Netherlands
I gotta ask! Just because it's hard kind of finding this exact scenario anywhere but if I have the Sette 30 upgraded with the 270 burrs for $210 and a Vs3 for $200 what would you specifically keep in your home? (I would like more focus on the espresso but also decent filter coffee)
Hi love the video great over view for all the grinders might look into getting the Encore ESP currently using the OXO burr grinder which works okay but would like something better for my home espresso also looking into possibly a hand grinder instead. But i was wondering where to get the bellows you use in this video, tired looking and am unable to find and the Oxo doesn't have any after market ones available I could find. Thanks and again like a lot of your videos have a bunch lined up to watch.
Great video Lance! This kind of information is hugely helpful for a somewhat beginner home barista like myself. Where would you say these compare to some of the better hand grinders out there? For myself, I currently use the 1Zpresso K Ultra for my daily routine. I’ve been thinking about getting an electric grinder since hand grinding can be a chore sometimes. Are any of these on equal or better footing?
I’m so glad I bought the Lagom directly from option-o (and paid 375 +shipping). They took forever to srrive and after all those releases I was unsure if it would be still a good choice, but it is keeping up. I now want the moonshine burrs (they launched it after I bought mine with obsidian) but don’t know if they are worth the price. I feel I have a very nice spectrum of flavors and possibilities with my Lagom mini paired with my df-64 (with ssp multipurpose burrs).
Thanks @LanceHedrick. This is exactly the review I have been looking for. For an all-purpose, is the DF64 worth the extra money as a longer-term investment?
All things considered, Baratza ESP seems the top choice, but quite close to Opus. But one thing which is rarely mentioned is the sound level. Opus is much more quiet than the ESP, which is important for espresso as it will be turned on multiple times early in the morning, which could bother anyone sleeping. If the only trade off is the extra micro adjustment complexity, then I would go with the Opus.
Great video as always Lance. Appreciate the work you put into each to make this information available to us all. I wonder how these electric grinders compare to many similarly priced all in one hand-grinders?
I was thinking about the Varia and I like fruit forward but a power brick and the fact it might be a brick is a no go lol. I’m gonna pick up the ESP instead. Thanks!
my exprience with varia support was i had issue with the cup. i emailed them at Singapore Time 9am and i got a reply at 915am. without question asked, they say they will cover fully and do a full swap but i just had to contact with the distributor. the distributor in Singapore is quite a famous specialty cafe which i frequent quite a lot so it took a while for their response but the entire experience have been seamless. been using the grinder for 4 months and no issue so far so finger crossed
The singing annoys me in a sense where I'm, for some weird reason, looking forward to it. I personally don't like it, which doesnt matter, but I'll still keep watching your Videos. Thanks for the great content.
In Europe there is the LELIT Fred PL044MMT who seems to be a good competitor in that category (38mm conical burr, stepless, 239e, good metal construction)
Its like youre making these videos for me specifically!!! Lol. Since i got your attention. Im having extraction issues! I got the sd40 and gaggia pro with stock opv. I bought some tools from your amazon link! I wdt and tamp, and i always find my puck with a huge hole on the edge. I have not been able to figure out what i am doing wrong!
Literally singing my favorite song. Beautiful voice!!! Love your videos. Learning so much we just got out flair58 and jmax grinder what grind setting do you recommend grinding at? Shots are sour
For what it’s worth, my Lagom Mini has basically no retention. I just smacked it with the same bellows Lance recommended and had almost nothing come out. I also haven’t had stalling issues but I do think mine is a later model that what he’s using
I also get next to nothing. Total retention is 0.2g. Dose consistency is always perfect. I expect exchange is really low. The caveat is that it takes a while to clear the grounds after it's done grinding at espresso settings. And sometimes the grounds can be a little stuck but this can be helped along with a bellow or tapping the grinder with my palm.
Wondering if you have a list of grinders you’d recommend for those looking to enter the midrange, like the $300-500 range, after using an entry level Encore for about 5 years? Pretty easy question, I know 😂. Just for pour overs.
Commenting for the algorithm, and to say I'm in the exact same spot. I'm ready to move up from my Encore, willing to spend more but not too much more, and 100% pour overs.
Really good condensed vid Lance of the down and dirty deets although I also love your longer detailed vids including blind tastings etc. I feel that I've been taking one step forward then two steps back with my grinder searching journey. I could budget up to $700 (USD) but I'm not sure that I really need to spend that much money to achieve my best espresso (good body, texture & some clarity, med-dark roasts, no filter only espresso). After taking into account the current cons you mentioned about the VS3, I could wait for a Gen 2 version?? VS3 although it would seem the VS3 gives a thinner, less body & texture, more clarity & fruit result although Varia's different burr set options could change that but not sure? If I had to purchase now, I don't think I could go past the ESP and I wouldn't even consider the Opus. Also I thought maybe the Turin SD40 would suit filter better than espresso? I have been more focussed on a conical burr grinder due to my preferred espresso tasting profile however you may disagree so I would appreciate your thoughts. Cheers.
Baratza's have issues with retention as well. People complain that they're messy grinders. Who cares about their stellar customer service when you have to deal with grinds on your counter?
Lance Hedrick how do they do compared to Commandate C40 - taste wise would it be an upgrade to buy Lagom Mini? Or would it just be better to buy Eureka Atom 75
Thought I'd give a shorter overview of these 5 side by side. Have had loads of requests, so figured I'd make something easy to digest. Lot more cuts than usual, but it is in the hopes of giving you the down and dirty deets that may help your decision making process. Give a like and sub if you haven't and appreciate the work! Much love
Please do the same for flat burr / filter grinders 😀
Thanks a bunch! I was just looking at making a leap forward to my next grinder and was having a hard time narrowing it down.
Thanks for giving honest critique to each of the contenders! Very useful.
Do you have any thoughts on Eureka Mignon Zero? (not to be confused with Mignon Single Dose, the angled one, which is a bit larger and more expensive)
It's about the same price as Lagom Mini and Varia VS3 (and looks quite nice, too), but it does not appear to have received as much attention among coffee youtubers.
@@victorp.3444 weird how the price thing works across the world. Here in Canada, the Varia is $400CAD and the Eureka Zero is $750CAD. I was messaging Josh at Alternative brewing in Australia, and there it’s the Varia that’s the stupid expensive one. And Varia is a New Zealand company which has free trade with Australia…. He’s done reviews on all these grinders and was talking about a shootout video of his own, but not including the Varia because it’s in a whole different price bracket there.
Of all the grinders to do an abbreviated review: the one I wanted to know the most about!! 🙄 Keep up the excellent work. Ignore the singing-haters. Hater gonna hate.
You mentioned customer service, so I wanted to mention my experience with my Lagom Mini:
I busted a little part within the motor chamber while it was out of warranty. I reached out to Option-O in hopes that I could purchase the part.
Instead of that, they offered to send over a whole new motor and power brick, as long as I paid the shipping. And then I got detailed instructions to make the replacement myself.
Whenever I upgrade, they’ll have my business.
That’s good to hear! I’m loving my Lagom mini
Agree, option o customer service is excellent. Power brick died and they were very easy to deal with!
I dropped and dented my funnel. I also wanted to purchase it from them and they send me a new one just for the cost of the shipping.
Good to hear. Thank you for leaving a positive comment on a company.
that's fantastic to hear. i think customer service ends up being almost a bigger factor in purchasing a product than just price and features. it's the worst feeling when a company acts like they stand by their product, or give 100% customer satisfaction claims, only to leave you high and dry when something is messed up. i'll definitely look into Lagom now. Option-O sounds great!
Love this format and style. This is perfect for someone that likes your content but sometimes doesn’t have time for the longer vids
yeah! I figured it would be a nice, cohesive overview.
@@LanceHedrick i think your shorter ones tend to have better pacing and less.... space? literally just watched a 50m one of yours, didn't realize that long, and i ended up with it on in the background because i couldn't just actively WATCH. (again, pacing.) you did an amazing job here, short and to the point, short and sweet. the ones under 15m i think are really great. or if they are longer, that you are still high paced AS IF it were short.
never seen the varia before so thank you for putting on here! :)
15 mins is all it takes to capture my recommended. You are deserving of the aid of the Algo
YES!!!!! I hope I have one ride it! I've only had slow burning videos. Would be sick to have the algo boost ya boy
I have to say this is the one best video I need at this moment. I am choosing an electrical grinder for my gf and we needs it to be simple, aesthetic, great result and, relatively, good budget. This up-to-date video give the information I need. Thanks Lance
Hard to beat Baratza support. I have a Vario and my parents have an Encore, both which went through Baratza's repair program after about 5-10 years of use and both came back working even better than when they were originally purchased.
This is great. Now we need a "Best Espresso-oriented Grinder for Beginners". Or maybe not beginners, but people who don't want to spend 500+ USD on a grinder, and rarely if ever make anything but espresso.
I hope the mignon manuale is on that list
Introductory pricing on the Timemore 64s is supposed to be $300- and for that you get modern 64mm flat burrs, brushless dc motor, an auger, variable rpm, and a novel chaff/fines catcher on the output that Lance really likes. Plus it's compact. Probably your best option imo
@@Zirassi 300?
That was definitely the most condensed Lance video to date! Great comparison!
I am offended no one has complimented your singing yet. That was lovely.
ha! Thank you so much!
Excellent production and presentation. You sorta give me buyer's remorse on the Opus, but then I listen again and realize that a) I'm not making espresso at home, and b) I am on a budget, so I probably got the right thing.
My first Vs3 was dead out of the box. The adjustment mechanism was almost unmoveable and did not seem to adjust the grind size. When tightening it would get to a certain point (no where near zero) and sort of skip and loose all tension for a bit and then grip hard again, as well as a lot of movement and a screechy grind when the burrs were spinning. Took around a month to get a replacement as the distributor took a long time combined with crap post times. The replacement has been great since it arrived, and I am really enjoying it. I wanted the Ode Gen 2 originaly, but as of when I placed the order (December 26th) there was still not date for the Ode becoming available locally, they only turned up in late Feb, which still gave time for my Vs3 to arrive, be sent back and the replacement to arrive.
Even after all these years, Baratza is still hitting it out of the park. The new Encore ESP is such a great option!
I appreciate that you're not swayed by flashy new designs/brands and really compare the grinder performance directly.
Just rebuilt my 13 year old Virtuoso. Everything but the burrs, which will be in the future sometime. I’m well pleased with its performance
I've had my Vario for 13 years now (So old it's the Mahlkonig badged version!). I use it everyday for espresso and the only thing I've had to do is change the burrs out. I also have a refurbed Virtuoso for the past 4 years on filter duty. No problems there either. I know I can get grinders that will produce slightly better cups but it's hard to ignore that reliability!
Dude, I just started looking into a grinder upgrade now that I feel I'm outgrowing my Encore. This is perfect timing for me.
I love the format of this review. Very concise, full of information. Super helpful!
I’ve had the Encore ESP for about a week and it is NOICE! To be fair I’m upgrading from a broken Cusinart $50 grinder.
I can't believe you gave such a straight up opinion cuz I'm sure some brands might not like that. But still: I think that's "FANTASTIC"!
I
Not here to please brands- I'm here to help inform buyers! Cheers
My Varia VS3 motor just failed after 11months of use. Great when it worked and looked good but now I have to shop for a new grinder. So here I am.
Can it be replaced? Also what is your frequency of use? How many dose are you grinding each day?
Do you hsve the plastic geared motor or the updated metal one? If plastic, pretty sure you can buy just the new motor assembly by itself. I remember seeing it listed somewhere.
It's crazy how much prices differ around the world. That Lagom mini is 550 CAD here in Canada, whereas the DF64 is 665. To me it's a no brainer. I think if I were to get a conical grinder I'd tend to get a 250 CAD 1zpresso hand grinder rather than a Lagom Mini.
Thanks for this Mr. Hedrick, lovely content as always. We are lucky to have you.
the 1zpresso is great. honestly the grind goes super fast, too.
Wow this video saved me so much time. Been back and forth on varia and encore esp.
Definitely going with the esp now.
Man, I just enjoyed this video so much. The singing and everything! So much character! Very enjoyable to watch and also packed with really useful insights. I have the Vario and really agree with what you had to say.
Love the new editing, 13 min stacked with info.
mini is an AMAZING grinder as an all-around, Personally I don't experience retention with RDT and grind speed is around 25s for 18g espresso light-roast. Never had stalling.
Option-o has great customer-service and you can buy directly from them.
Based on everything you stated, if I were in the market for a grinder in this price point I too would choose the Baratza ESP. However, I would definitely look into the upcoming Timemore Sculptor 064S since I'm only interested in an espresso grinder.
I also feel the same
Will probably get the Timemore
The amount of new budget grinders coming out these days is sooo good. Might have to swap my Eureka Mignon at some point, it's so hard to dial with it. Thanks again Lance 🙏 love those two tones corduroy shirts you've been sporting >:)
thanks for the kind words! and yes. what a time to be alive!
i'm so so glad for your reviews and effort put into them. You are so meticulous with the research down to the customer feedback for the varia it saved me a lot of work. Really wanted to let you know its appreciated!
Completely agree! The mini is just too expensive for it's value in Canada. The baratza is just messy. Ended up with the opus for the new referral discount, lower rpm, cleaner workflow and totally don't mind the inner ring for dialing in. And it's a second grinder for me so I already get a different cup with my first grinder. 😏
oh perfect! Sounds like a perfect match. Opus really does do a nice job. Shockingly good filter.
YES finally, I was eyeing your back counter for a while now wondering when we'd get your input ! Awesome Saturday woot woot !
I received my Baratza Encore ESP on 2/25, and my poor Niche has been neglected since then. I’ve ground for filter coffee for my husband, (he prefers it to be ground at the upper end of espresso), espresso for me and also a medium grind for my Instant cold brewer. I really do like my Niche Zero, but if this grinder had been out in November when I bought my Niche, I might not have bought the Niche at all.
I also got the single dose hopper which I’m really liking. I just received a bellows for the original hopper that I got from Etsy. I’m hoping that will also keep the lid from trying to jump off the hopper .
I really like that cup that came with the ESP. It fits perfectly into my portafilter funnel.
Let me get that niche! My arms are so tender manually grinding my beans lol
I purchased the Lagom mini in the US directly from Option-O when the moonshine burrs were released, total cost with shipping was approximately $450. I also have the upgraded brick and have also stalled it once on a light roast Ethiopian - but in general haven’t had any serious issues, and really love the small form factor. Overall I’ve been really happy with it - but If I were in the market today I would easily choose the Encore ESP… I don’t think that the mini is worth more than double the cost.
for sure. I agree. But damn- the mini looks good!
Lance, Im on my second VS3 because of the plastic gearbox, but I wanted to mention that I'm getting zero retention with RDT. Not sure if you tested without or with RDT (I'm sure both), but I have yet to lose more than the usual 0.1 grams of coffee. Great review!
I RDT as well to keep the mess down. 20.0g in, always 19.9 to 20.0 out.
Yup gen 2 here and zero retention
Will 2nd Lance’s comment about Baratza. I have had an encore as a daily driver for 10 years.
This is exactly the type of video I've been looking for. I am looking to start my journey in home coffee and I enjoy making myself both pour overs and espresso drinks at the coffee shop I work at, so I have been looking for a good budget grinder that can deliver on both espresso and filter. I will most likely act on your recommendation and invest in the baratza, cheers!
I ordered the varia 2 weeks ago, having seen Coffee parts positive review. I like the design and I’m only going to be using it for aeropress for now: I’d been using a 1zpresso Q2 but wanted something that can do espresso one day. Hope it lasts.
Thanks for your all your budget reviews in recent weeks.
absolutely! I like to change things up. My youtube started with budget items and that is what I intend to keep the focus on at its roots. Appreciate the support!
Looking forward to the review of the Fiorenzato Pietro grinder on your shelf :) Very different design from what else is out there!
Thanks for the quality reviews and singing, rock on!
I'm waiting on my Opus after seeing your other review (and having the Ode already)
Well this is the exact content I needed in my life
I love reading this. hope you enjoy it!
I'd like to see an updated review of the Varia VS3 Gen 2 including all of its burr options.
Dude.. Great videos bro hands down... I just bought my gaggia classic espresso machine after owning a chefman espresso machine from Walmart haha.. Could you Please 🙏 make a video for beginners on how to make great espresso shots with a stock gaggia espresso machine.. the way you explain things makes much more sense then other videos.. haha Please bro.
I have! Check it out. From 2021
Appreciate this review Lance, as I've been looking for something to replace my Oster / Mr Coffee grinder for moka pot, and V60 coffee. And the Baratza Encore ESP is available for sale in a nearby city for me.
Finally making the investment to get into making espresso at home after years of hand grinding an aeropress brew in the morning. I’m on the waitlist for the next batch of the VS3 release at the end of next month. Hoping that the motor issues are sorted, but it sounds like barring that it should pair well with a Gaggia Classic. Nice shootout video, they all seem like they’ll do the job well.
Lance blink twice if you need help!! A 13:33 comparison of 5 grinders isn’t like you haha.
Great video as always. Super glad to see all these budget options these days. Crazy to think how far we’ve come these passed few years.
haha! Just trying to give a quick overview for people that might not have patience for a standard lance video lolol
@@LanceHedrick much appreciated!
Thanks for the informative video, great content as always! Would you say that the Varia vs3 is improved with the second generation?
As someone who already has a very good filter grinder (Ode Gen 2), I’d love to see a comparison of espresso-only grinders, for those of us that want to get into espresso after being experienced with filter.
Maybe it’s too small an audience, but I think it’d be interesting to look at grinders that focus purely on espresso, without consideration for filter. A reverse Ode, if you will.
Wouldn’t that be the niche?
This was me exactly and I got the Varia. It was available locally from good local dealers, no wait. Aesthetically it matches the ode perfectly. I've zero stalls in 3 months grinding light roasts for espresso. It is slow but that's not been an issue for me. Can't comment on shot quality versus these others, but I love the shots it makes.
DF64P if you don’t mind taking it apart and adjusting it
The trend towards monolithic designs with primitive shapes is pretty interesting.
I hadn't thought about it in those terms. Interesting observation
Baratza Esp is the winner for me. The lagom and the varía looks ok but they doesn't offer support on my country and it will be a nightmare to get one. Opus is ok and Fellow is a know brand here and there. I only dislike the inner mechanism. Thanks for this video Lance! Very usel
Great video, based on your 078 thoughts, it looks like the sculptor 064s should blow these out of the water at the $299 kickstarter price. Really excited to see your thoughts on it whenever we all get one
it should, assuming they built the 064 with the same quality and taste profiles in mind! I'm giddy with excitement.
Did Timemore confirm in that social media post that they would sell the burr sets separately? Their wording was pretty confusing
sure but kickstarter price is not the real price, at 450$ its real target is the DF64 (which btw is currently on sale at 345$)
I purchased an SD40 but ended up returning it and going all in on a Niche. My main issues were: stepped grinder, awkward workflow, and an unreliable power button.
I found that getting the bellows on and off the grinder was a huge pain, and the opening at the top of the bellows was so small that beans would bounce out all over the table when filling. Playing 52-bean pickup isn't very fun when you're tired and uncaffeinated. And like you noted in your review, the bellows is really non-optional, resulting in a rather ugly top-heavy aesthetic.
Regarding the power button, I found that sometimes I would press it and hear a click, but it wouldn't always turn on. The solution was to just press harder and longer, but it was one of those "quirks" which had me second guessing my purchase.
That said, if everything I mentioned sounds irrelevant or nitpicky to you, then the SD40 may be your perfect grinder.
I got a refurbed sette for like 250 a few years back. She's a loud girl, and I had to replace a felt ring for the micro adjustment, but she is still going strong and makes delicious coffee.
man, i heard one on hoffman's channel and it was like a jet
Varia gen 2 owner here, with rdt there is zero retention even after a fill tear down and weighing grounds within the system less than 0.1 grams
Whoahhhh that cinematic intro felt like a Kubrick horror scene! Don't know if you were going for that but it was very cool.
Thanks 🙏🥺🥺🥺
A bit of a different price segment, but interested to see how the timemore sculptor 064s and 078s perform as all-arounders.
I am waiting to get mine! Hope they arrive this month!
@@LanceHedrick Awesome! I look forward to your reviews!
so am I! haha I made some bold predictions about them so I'm hoping I am not wrong!
I'm hoping to get the 078s based on Lance's prediction! Also, I'm wondering if we'd be able to mod the variable speed to lower rpms...with the high wattage, I would assume it could handle the lower speed and grind with more uniformity similar to the 078 (albeit having different burr)
Really appreciate your videos and dedication to the channel! I'm probably going to buy the Varia VS3. Thank you so much!
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!
This great, and super helpful!
Looking for an all around for the studio. Thank you!
This is the video I didn’t know I was waiting for… thank you!
heck yes! Hope it is appreciated!
Lance be concise AF
a sentence I NEVER thought i'd read lol
Please review the Rancilio Stile grinder, pretty please!!
it’s like you read my mind just started getting into making good coffee needed a recommended grinder already have a hand grinder. 😁
I have the Baratza 270 and you just can't beat their costumer service. Had an issue with the gears slipping, and contacted them about it. No questions asked sent me a whole new gear set and a video of how to replace it, and even told me that if for some reason that doesn't fix it, to tell them and they would just send me a new 270 and have me send the old one to them.
Can you please make a video that talks about the challenge of upgrading from hand grinders to electric ones. I currently own a jx pro but i cant make more than 1 espresso drink at a time because its exhausting 😢 and im scared that if i upgrade to an electric one, i might lose some quality in my coffee
Perfect format for this content! Would the Baratza be a better espresso grinder than the built in grinder on the Breville Barista Express?
“Slurpy slurp” is wild 😂
I'm still using a (well maintained and serviced) Solis Meastro plus made by Baratza. They just recently said no more service on it though, so don't expect truly a lifetime of service
Do you think the Ode Gen 2 is a better solution than most of/all of these for filter coffee? I really appreciate your effort and the production value Lance! Keep it up.
If you aren't doing espresso Ode Gen 2 is a masterpiece imo
@uwotm8 it looks like the timemore 64 might be the version of the Ode that can do espresso. Fellow could probably keep everything the same with the Ode but have a stronger motor and sell it for a bit more as an espresso version, but I think they want the Opus to eventually be the espresso specialist.
TY for caring about the lower-end spectrum
I wonder if you have any thought vs similar price hand grinders?
Customer service has been very good with the Varia in my experience so far.
Thnx for this video. It helps me a lot in my quest, finding the right budget grinder…
Maybe you should make a ‘sing remix’ for the holidays 😂🎉
Greetings from the Netherlands
I gotta ask! Just because it's hard kind of finding this exact scenario anywhere but if I have the Sette 30 upgraded with the 270 burrs for $210 and a Vs3 for $200 what would you specifically keep in your home? (I would like more focus on the espresso but also decent filter coffee)
Hi love the video great over view for all the grinders might look into getting the Encore ESP currently using the OXO burr grinder which works okay but would like something better for my home espresso also looking into possibly a hand grinder instead.
But i was wondering where to get the bellows you use in this video, tired looking and am unable to find and the Oxo doesn't have any after market ones available I could find. Thanks and again like a lot of your videos have a bunch lined up to watch.
The Legend returns ❤
LIttle overview. Nothing exhaustive/exhausting
@@LanceHedrick you’re still a legend
my appreciation runs deep
Great video Lance! This kind of information is hugely helpful for a somewhat beginner home barista like myself. Where would you say these compare to some of the better hand grinders out there? For myself, I currently use the 1Zpresso K Ultra for my daily routine. I’ve been thinking about getting an electric grinder since hand grinding can be a chore sometimes. Are any of these on equal or better footing?
Lance on the grind 💪🏾
Wow, wasn’t expecting the mid-aughts Christian radio Lance appearance but here we are
I’m so glad I bought the Lagom directly from option-o (and paid 375 +shipping). They took forever to srrive and after all those releases I was unsure if it would be still a good choice, but it is keeping up. I now want the moonshine burrs (they launched it after I bought mine with obsidian) but don’t know if they are worth the price. I feel I have a very nice spectrum of flavors and possibilities with my Lagom mini paired with my df-64 (with ssp multipurpose burrs).
I wouldn't upgrade the burrs. I do not think the difference is worth it tbh
@@LanceHedrick thanks for the advice!
definitely! Brew some tasty coffees ;)
@@LanceHedrick thanks for that! I love the passion you have for this stuff! Always look forward to each video you post
thank you sincerely!
Thanks @LanceHedrick. This is exactly the review I have been looking for. For an all-purpose, is the DF64 worth the extra money as a longer-term investment?
Great review. I'll be revisiting this video.
All things considered, Baratza ESP seems the top choice, but quite close to Opus. But one thing which is rarely mentioned is the sound level. Opus is much more quiet than the ESP, which is important for espresso as it will be turned on multiple times early in the morning, which could bother anyone sleeping. If the only trade off is the extra micro adjustment complexity, then I would go with the Opus.
Great video as always Lance. Appreciate the work you put into each to make this information available to us all. I wonder how these electric grinders compare to many similarly priced all in one hand-grinders?
Awesome video - i'd love to see something similar with the DF54 that turn/miicoffee just released
I was thinking about the Varia and I like fruit forward but a power brick and the fact it might be a brick is a no go lol. I’m gonna pick up the ESP instead. Thanks!
my exprience with varia support was i had issue with the cup. i emailed them at Singapore Time 9am and i got a reply at 915am. without question asked, they say they will cover fully and do a full swap but i just had to contact with the distributor. the distributor in Singapore is quite a famous specialty cafe which i frequent quite a lot so it took a while for their response but the entire experience have been seamless. been using the grinder for 4 months and no issue so far so finger crossed
The intros...hyped!
Great review and comparison Lance! May I also have your take on which you think would work best with Flair 58?
The singing annoys me in a sense where I'm, for some weird reason, looking forward to it. I personally don't like it, which doesnt matter, but I'll still keep watching your Videos.
Thanks for the great content.
Hi Lance, just recently got into espresso. Loved the format for this one too. Just curious, how does df54 v2 and niche zero weigh with these options?
In Europe there is the LELIT Fred PL044MMT who seems to be a good competitor in that category (38mm conical burr, stepless, 239e, good metal construction)
oh! Need to check it out!
@@LanceHedrick If you could get your hands on it and do a review that would be very interesting!
Wow! Indeed, the little Lelit Fred got a bit upgraded body.
love your reviews. i hope Timemore new Sculptors (078s, 064, 064s) electric grinders are on their way to you for review
they should arrive by month's end!
Its like youre making these videos for me specifically!!! Lol. Since i got your attention. Im having extraction issues! I got the sd40 and gaggia pro with stock opv. I bought some tools from your amazon link! I wdt and tamp, and i always find my puck with a huge hole on the edge. I have not been able to figure out what i am doing wrong!
I dont need a grinder but I’m here to give you my power to beat the Algo
you are a legend!
Literally singing my favorite song. Beautiful voice!!! Love your videos. Learning so much we just got out flair58 and jmax grinder what grind setting do you recommend grinding at? Shots are sour
For what it’s worth, my Lagom Mini has basically no retention. I just smacked it with the same bellows Lance recommended and had almost nothing come out. I also haven’t had stalling issues but I do think mine is a later model that what he’s using
I also get next to nothing. Total retention is 0.2g. Dose consistency is always perfect. I expect exchange is really low.
The caveat is that it takes a while to clear the grounds after it's done grinding at espresso settings. And sometimes the grounds can be a little stuck but this can be helped along with a bellow or tapping the grinder with my palm.
Lance you’re the best. Great video. I just got the Varia so just curious what dial settings you generally grind at for filter and espresso?
Do want the "HIGH END ALL-AROUND GRINDER" video 🤤
Hey Lance, just curious : what's your full-time job? Anything related to coffee or not at all?
I have been working for Onyx Coffee Lab 5 years now. I am head of international and west coast wholesale. I also do cafe development and strategy.
Lovvveee the longer vids! But thank you Lance! Introducing my parents to the world of espresso slowly but surely with your help! 🤍
Wondering if you have a list of grinders you’d recommend for those looking to enter the midrange, like the $300-500 range, after using an entry level Encore for about 5 years? Pretty easy question, I know 😂. Just for pour overs.
just for pourovers? Look at the timemore sculptor 078 when it releases! (078s is different)
Or Fellow Ode Gen 2 does well!
Commenting for the algorithm, and to say I'm in the exact same spot. I'm ready to move up from my Encore, willing to spend more but not too much more, and 100% pour overs.
ode gen 2 is a good place to go!
@@LanceHedrick It's high on my list ... but I'm in no rush, I want to see the competition before I decide.
Really good condensed vid Lance of the down and dirty deets although I also love your longer detailed vids including blind tastings etc. I feel that I've been taking one step forward then two steps back with my grinder searching journey. I could budget up to $700 (USD) but I'm not sure that I really need to spend that much money to achieve my best espresso (good body, texture & some clarity, med-dark roasts, no filter only espresso). After taking into account the current cons you mentioned about the VS3, I could wait for a Gen 2 version?? VS3 although it would seem the VS3 gives a thinner, less body & texture, more clarity & fruit result although Varia's different burr set options could change that but not sure? If I had to purchase now, I don't think I could go past the ESP and I wouldn't even consider the Opus. Also I thought maybe the Turin SD40 would suit filter better than espresso? I have been more focussed on a conical burr grinder due to my preferred espresso tasting profile however you may disagree so I would appreciate your thoughts. Cheers.
I've just ordered the Gen 2 version of the VS3.
Baratza's have issues with retention as well. People complain that they're messy grinders. Who cares about their stellar customer service when you have to deal with grinds on your counter?
Yep. They should find a way to make a compact Sette, and they'll rock.
Lance Hedrick how do they do compared to Commandate C40 - taste wise would it be an upgrade to buy Lagom Mini? Or would it just be better to buy Eureka Atom 75
Would you recommend the updated version of the Varia?
That Mara X in the background has a flow control mod. We would love to see a video on it.