The Baratza Dilemma: When Your Grinder Can’t Deliver
The verdict is in: a $200 grinder isn’t magic. For years, a user made decent coffee with an Oxo and Moccamaster, relying on Peet’s Big Bang and precise grind settings. Then the Oxo broke, replaced by a Baratza Virtuoso+—a machine marketed as superior. But the results? Bland, sour, and unremarkable. The user tried everything: adjusting grind settings from 20 to 12, tweaking bean weights, and even replacing the grinder under warranty. Still, the coffee felt flat, like hot water with a hint of bitterness. The issue isn’t the beans or the brewer. It’s the grind. Baratza’s recommended settings for drip…