Compare Grinders


	Varia	Rancilio
MSRP
MSRP	$299	$440
Skill Level
Skill Level	Beginner	Beginner
Type
Type	Electric	Electric
Activation
Activation	Press Button	Rocker Switch
Grind Method
Grind Method	Conical Burr	Flat Burr
Burr Diameter
Burr Diameter	38 mm	50 mm
Adjustment
Adjustment	Stepless	Stepped
Adjustment Scale
Adjustment Scale	1 micron	10+ micron
Dosing Method
Dosing Method	Manual On/Off	Manual Switch
Dosing Type
Dosing Type	Single Dose	Hopper
Retention
Retention	< .2 g	1 - 1.5 g
Grind Range
Grind Range	Full - Pour Over to Espresso	Espresso
Time to Grind (18g)
Time to Grind (18g)	20	30
Motor RPM
Motor RPM	190 rpm	1350 rpm
Swappable Burrset
Swappable Burrset	Yes	No
Adjustable RPM
Adjustable RPM	No	No
Weight
Weight	3.2 kg	7 kg
Material
Material	Painted Steel	Plastic
Dosing Cup
Dosing Cup	Magentic Catch Cup	No Information

EspressoBot Comparison

Machine Overview

The Varia VS3 and Rancilio Rocky SD are both semi-automatic espresso grinders aimed at beginner skill levels. The Varia VS3 is priced at $299, making it the more economical choice compared to the Rancilio Rocky SD, which retails for $440. Both brands are well-regarded in the coffee community, but the price difference could influence new coffee enthusiasts seeking affordability.

Brewing Comparison

In terms of grinding information, the Varia VS3 uses a conical burr grinding method with a burr diameter of 38mm and offers a stepless adjustment option, enabling precise grind size control for various brewing methods from pour-over to espresso. On the other hand, the Rancilio Rocky SD employs a flat burr method with a larger burr diameter of 50mm and features a stepped adjustment, which provides a fixed range of grind sizes, optimized mainly for espresso. The Varia has a single-dosing hopper design, allowing for more consistent dosing, while the Rancilio utilizes a hopper that allows for bulk storage but may lead to retention issues.

Features Comparison

Regarding key features, the Varia VS3 does not offer adjustable RPM but has a grind range that spans from pour-over to espresso and supports swappable burrs for customization. Conversely, the Rancilio Rocky SD operates at a higher RPM of 1350 but has a more limited grind range focused solely on espresso, and it lacks swappable burrs. Thus, the Varia may offer more versatility and customization potential, whereas the Rocky SD emphasizes consistency specifically for espresso.

Note: Espresso Setup Chris is expirementing with generated summaries for dynamic pages (we have 10,000+ so I can't write for all of them!) If you found this useful, or awful, please shoot me an email with feedback Chris@EspressoSetupBuilder.com. May your shots be perfectly extracted and milk frothy.

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