Does the Varia VS6 espresso grinder reside as much as the hype? Be a part of us as we take a look at it to search out out.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Pictures by Vasileia Fanarioti
The world of espresso grinders is more and more shifting towards excessive precision and flexibility, with single-dosing grinders changing into a staple for residence baristas and small cafés alike. The Varia VS6 enters this house with a set of compelling options: interchangeable burrs, variable RPM management, and micron-level grind changes. However how nicely does it carry out in real-world eventualities? This “Check Drive” places the VS6 by means of a number of brewing setups, evaluating every little thing from design and value, to retention and taste readability.
Based mostly in New Zealand, Varia has already made a outstanding identify for itself within the specialty-coffee business, profitable awards just like the 2021 Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) Greatest New Product Award for his or her Varia Brewer, and the 2022 Specialty Espresso Affiliation Japan (SCAJ) Good Design Product Award for his or her VS3 grinder. Figuring out this, it’s protected to say that our expectations for the VS6 have been excessive.
Unboxing the Varia VS6
Proper out of the field, the Varia VS6 makes a robust first impression. In contrast to the same old cardboard packaging, the grinder arrives in a TSU-1 resin arduous case, which is shockproof, waterproof, and dust-resistant. Inside, customized EPE + EVA foam inserts maintain every element securely in place.
Included within the package deal are:
- The VS6 grinder (pre-fitted with 58mm flat burrs)
- A 58mm magnetic dosing cup
- Silicone bellows, to help in lowering grind retention
- A cleansing brush and a spare elements toolkit
- An influence cable (region-specific)
The packaging feels strong, designed to guard the grinder from delivery harm. Whether or not that is needed for many consumers is debatable, however it does trace at a product constructed with longevity in thoughts.
Design and Construct High quality
The VS6 has a compact however substantial presence. At 10.7 kg, it’s heavier than most residence grinders, largely on account of its full aluminum physique. In contrast to some opponents that blend supplies, no plastic elements come into contact with the espresso. The 76.5-degree sloped geometry is designed to attenuate retention, although real-world testing will decide how efficient this really is.
Magnetic parts—together with the dosing cup, hopper lid, and alignment collar—improve usability. The grinder additionally options ionization needles to counteract static buildup and a spring-loaded knocker to assist dislodge any remaining grounds. These additions counsel a concentrate on effectivity, however their effectiveness must be examined in each day use.
Tech Specs and Options
On paper, the Varia VS6 presents a excessive stage of management over the grinding course of:
- Motor & Energy: 300W brushless motor, designed for easy, quiet operation
- Burrs: 58mm flat burrs (default), with an choice to improve to 63mm conical burrs
- RPM Management: Adjustable between 500 and 1600 RPM, permitting for exact grind velocity changes
- Grind Changes: Stepless, with five-micron precision and a revolution counter to trace settings
- Hopper Capability: 80g, fitted to single dosing moderately than batch grinding
The mixture of variable RPM and interchangeable burrs makes the VS6 one of many few grinders able to fine-tuning each grind texture and velocity. Whether or not this ends in a noticeable distinction in extraction stays to be seen.
Setup and Calibration
Organising the VS6 is simple. After inserting it on a steady floor and plugging it in, the hopper is connected with a easy twist. The grind dimension is adjusted by rotating the hopper, with the magnetic sight ring displaying the setting.
A key facet of any new grinder is burr seasoning. The VS6 requires about 4 kilos of espresso to completely season the burrs, permitting espresso oils to coat the surfaces. Till this course of is full, customers might expertise increased static retention. Throughout testing, utilizing the Ross Droplet Approach (RDT) (spraying a lightweight mist of water onto beans earlier than grinding) helped mitigate this concern.
Testing the VS6 Throughout Completely different Brew Strategies
To get a full sense of the VS6’s capabilities, I examined it with espresso, pourover, and immersion brewing (French press) to see how nicely it dealt with completely different grind sizes and changes.
Espresso
The VS6 made nice changes simple, and as soon as dialed in, the grind settings remained constant from dose to dose. Retention was minimal, although I did discover some static, even with the built-in ionization needles. The bellows helped filter out any lingering grounds, however utilizing them each time wasn’t at all times the smoothest workflow. That mentioned, for a single-dosing grinder, the VS6 did a strong job conserving waste to a minimal.
Pourover and Immersion
Switching between espresso and filter grind sizes was simple, and the particle distribution remained impressively uniform. At increased RPMs, the grind consistency was visibly extra even, whereas decrease speeds created a barely softer profile, which I discovered attention-grabbing when brewing delicate, high-acidity coffees.
Dialing in RPM for Taste
One of many extra distinctive options of the VS6 is its adjustable RPM, and I used to be curious to see how it could have an effect on espresso extraction. Testing pictures at 500, 1100, and 1600 RPM produced noticeable variations:
- 500 RPM: A mellow, lower-acidity shot with a easy, creamy texture
- 1100 RPM: A brighter, extra acid-driven espresso, ending shortly on the palate
- 1600 RPM: A balanced sweetness and acidity, with a structured physique and longer end
For filter brewing, I discovered that decrease RPMs highlighted readability and sweetness, whereas increased speeds produced extra physique and texture. Throughout all brew strategies, the VS6 maintained a clear and exact taste profile, making it simple to experiment with completely different approaches.
Upkeep and Cleansing
Accessing the grinding chamber is comparatively easy. The hopper unscrews, exposing the burrs, and the decrease burr could be eliminated with the included toolkit. The comb and bellows assist maintain the chamber clear, although some retention is inevitable.
The proprietary burrs could also be a limitation for some customers, as third-party alternate options are unavailable. Nevertheless, Varia presents a number of burr geometry choices, which supplies some flexibility.
Who It’s For
The Varia VS6 is a grinder designed for individuals who search precision, flexibility, and full management over their grind settings. With interchangeable burrs and adjustable RPM, it stands out as a extremely adaptable software for each residence baristas and small espresso retailers seeking to fine-tune their extractions.
For residence customers, the VS6 presents a excessive stage of grind customization, making it perfect for individuals who take pleasure in experimenting with completely different brew strategies and taste profiles. Its exact changes and minimal retention guarantee consistency throughout a number of grind settings, whether or not for espresso, pourovers, or immersion brewing.
In a small espresso store setting, the VS6 proves to be a flexible and environment friendly choice—significantly for cafés providing quite a lot of brew strategies or in search of a dependable secondary grinder. The flexibility to regulate RPM and swap burrs supplies baristas with an added stage of management, permitting them to focus on completely different traits of their coffees with ease.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior on-line correspondent for Barista Journal and a contract copywriter and editor with a major concentrate on the espresso area of interest. She has additionally been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, offering content material to assist educate folks about baristas and their work.
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