Sometimes even a workhorse deserves a bit of an upgrade. That’s exactly what Baratza has done with the Vario, the Bellevue, Washington-based company’s mainstay prosumer grinder. The new series keeps much of the original concept of the all-around grinder but adds significant improvements to usability and construction.
The announcement came on Friday, October 1st (International Coffee Day) via a virtual release held by Baratza. Both grinders in the line—the Vario and the Vario-W, the grind-by-weight version of the original—received the upgrade and are now known as the Vario+ and Vario W+, respectively. Keeping with its slim counter profile and inclusive approach to grinding, offering grind settings from espresso to French press, the new Varios feature a range of improvements and updates. These include steel burr sets on the Vario W+, “high-visibility backlit LCD” on both units, an improved user interface, and “LED barista lights to monitor output,” per the press release.
But perhaps the most welcome changes—speaking as a Baratza user here—come in the construction. A sturdy upgrade has been issued top to bottom on both grinders, particularly in the precision micro- and macro-adjustment systems, providing a total 220 total grind settings. The grind chamber has been given and all-metal makeover to increase the durability even further.
Per the press release, the new Vario+ and Vario W+ will begin shipping out resellers and home users in late November 2021. Prices (in the US) for the new grinder series range from $529 for the Vario+ up to $599 for the Vario W+. For more information on the new Vario+ and Vario W+, visit Baratza’s official website.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Disclosure: Baratza is an advertising partner with the Sprudge Media Network
