A review of the Varia VS3 entry-level grinder for home baristas
Key features, pros and cons
Making espresso at home is becoming more popular than ever! This means many coffee enthusiasts and beginner home baristas are looking for qualitative, yet affordable gear to grind their coffee beans at home.
I always say this: the espresso machine is important, but the budget allocated towards the grinder shouldn’t be overlooked — it’s easier to prepare a nice shot of espresso using a basic espresso machine and a good grinder than the other way around.
Not long ago Varia Brewing launched an entry-level grinder for home baristas, Varia VS3. I had the chance to work with it daily for more than half a year, and so I thought I’d share an overview of its key features and what to expect from it. Hopefully this is helpful to any of you looking for an entry-level grinder for home!
First impressions
The Varia VS3 grinder is a single dose grinder, which means you weigh and grind each dose of coffee beans as you need it. This grinder comes equipped with pretty much everything you need to start grinding right away (including accessories for cleaning and maintenance):
Silicone bellows for the hopper
RDT spray bottle (5ml)
Cleaning brush
Allen key and spanner to remove / replace and clean the burrs
The main aspects that stood out for me from the very beginning:
Premium look and feel
This grinder looks small in comparison to my previous grinders (Eureka Mignon Specialita and Niche Zero). But, it’s a sturdy one nonetheless (total combined weight of the unit and charger is approx 3.6 kg), with a premium look and feel.
Sleek design
What really impressed me right off the bat was its minimalist and aesthetically pleasing design.
Compact size
The small footprint makes this grinder very easy to fit next to an espresso machine. Also, it’s an ideal choice for home users who may have limited counter space, but still look for professional-level equipment.
Great grind quality
This grinder produces fluffy grinds with hardly any clumping. When it comes to grinding for espresso, depending on the coffee beans, the range I use sits mainly between 3 and 5.
Enhanced espresso flavor
The Varia VS3 produces a pleasant and complex espresso, with lots of sweetness and texture. So far I haven’t run the grinder through too many light roasts, since I enjoy more medium - light to medium roasts and I’m very happy with the results. As to other brewing methods, I’ve been mostly using the grinder for pour-overs (grind size range between 9 and 11) and cold brew (grind size around 16).
Versatility
This grinder can handle a wide range of coffee beans and grind sizes, and is suitable for various brewing methods including espresso, pour-over, AeroPress, French press and more.
Key features
The grind adjustments are stepless, which allows for infinite adjustments to the grind size. This is particularly useful when making espresso, where even small tweaks to the grind size can really impact the final taste in the cup.
It comes equipped with 38mm conical burrs (these stock burrs can later be upgraded to their Hypernova burr set, which can be purchased separately). Speaking about burrs, like with many other grinders, the Varia VS3 will benefit from RDT — a little spray of water over the coffee beans prior to grinding, to reduce static and therefore lower coffee retention. I did notice more static at the beginning and less of it as I went through coffee beans, and the burrs eventually got more seasoned.
Some other fine details that I noticed and enjoy:
Super quiet grinder compared with other grinders on the market, so you can comfortably make coffee early in the morning without waking up the rest of the household
Non-slip silicone feet installed at the base of the grinder, keeping it nice and steady on your counter
Magnetic top lid and dosing cup, so they both easily slide back into place
The pros
Overall I’ve been enjoying a lot using the Varia VS3 while making espresso at home! These are some of the pros of working with it in my experience:
Simple workflow, suitable for both beginner home baristas and experienced users
Smooth and precise to switch between espresso and pour-over settings
Very consistent
I love how compact it is and friendly to install in any home espresso setup
The cons
It takes longer to grind for espresso (about 0.5 grams per second, with a dose of 18 - 19 grams of whole beans grinding in about 40 seconds), since this grinder has a slower RPM (190 RPM at no load speed). I’ve adjusted my workflow in such a way that this doesn’t bother me at all. By the time I’m topping up the pitcher with milk and wiping the portafilter dry, the VS3 finishes grinding. Nonetheless, I think it’s important to mention this aspect and manage your expectations.
The power brick that comes with this grinder is rather inconvenient (500 grams battery, external to the grinder), especially because my counter is fixed and runs all the way into the wall. So, I need to strap up the cable and try to hide it behind my espresso machine. But, if you can slide all of that below a table or on a shelf underneath, then that shouldn’t be a problem for you.
Conclusion
Based on my experience, the Varia VS3 delivers great value for money! The combination of user-friendliness, precision grinding, consistent performance and sleek design makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a qualitative, yet affordable grinder for home.
As I was saying at the start of this article — whether you’re a seasoned home barista or just starting your journey into the world of making espresso at home, a good grinder really helps to elevate your coffee experience.
Very happy to share that if you decide to invest in the Varia VS3 grinder, the code BREWINGWITHDANI gives you 5% off on your first purchase on our partner’s website here.
I hope you find these tips helpful and, if you’d like to dive deeper, you may consider our espresso and latte art home barista workshops. Happy brewing!
