This article will serve as a comparison between the Breville Smart Grinder Pro and Baratza Virtuoso, two of the best rated coffee grinders on the market based on the features and functions they offer at their price ranges.
The similarities
Both top rated coffee grinders are Conical Burr type, which means each is equipped with cylindrical sets of jagged teeth moving in opposite directions for grinding coffee beans when they pass through. The size of ground particles is determined by the distance between sets of teeth and each is used for a specific brewing method. Coarse ground coffee is perfect for French Press, while a finer ground is suitable for Espresso, and an extremely fine ground is the best for Turkish Brewing. This feature resembles that of the classic motorized grinders. With the motorized grinders, you simply turn the handle to grind the beans and collect the grounds in the little drawer underneath.
Firstly, we will discuss the similarities that two grinders share. As mentioned, both machines offer consistent ground particles with Conical Burr technique for better coffee flavor.
With the Baratza Virtuoso, you get the ground as fine as you need for brewing Espresso and as coarse as the one for French Press. This is made possible thanks to the high-quality 40mm burrs installed in the grinder. What if you happen to find the perfect dose of grounds and can't recreate it? That issue doesn’t exist with these two grinders. Both mills can help you re-create your prefered recipe by precise time setting features. The Breville's time setting feature can be programmed through its advanced screen. Meanwhile, the Baratza's timing is set by turning the segmented 60-second timer to rerun dosing precision.
The differences
The Breville, which has received some of the best coffee grinders' reviews from coffee lovers worldwide, has prevailed over The Virtuoso in terms of dosing IQ. Different modes are automatically switched when you change the grind. This feature offers a wide range of selections like 'Cups' for AeroPress and French Press brewing method and 'Shots' for Espresso. This means less waste and time-saving processes. Porta holders are small mechanisms installed to hold the portafilter and collect all the freshly-ground beans right after the grinding operation for convenient coffee making.
The Breville scores again, thanks to the fact that its porta holder saves you the hassle of moving your ground beans from grinder to container and handle. The Breville comes with a grind catcher with an airtight lid to protect the ground beans from the air and moist and keep your coffee fresh throughout the day. This innovative feature again has won The Breville plaudits over the plastic grind catcher of The Virtuoso. The Breville offers 60 grinding options compared to only 40 of the Virtuoso. You can try all different kinds of coffee thanks to the broad spectrum of grinding modes of The Breville grinder.
Regarding appearance, The Virtuoso comes in a classic brushed black finish and a simplistic design, which is very suitable for a minimalist. However, it might be tricky if you want to match the machine with other kitchen appliances in your home because of the limited color choice. In contrast to the Baratza Virtuoso, The Breville Pro is manufactured in a wide selection of colors such as dark black, white, and cranberry red. The design of the metalized sculptured top and base is the cherry on top. If you are interested in smart and modern design, then the Breville is the choice to go for.
Let's move on to hopper capacity. The Breville comes with a 16 oz hopper, which is double the size of The Baratza's hopper. It means that you don't have to refill the coffee beans as many times with The Breville compared to The Baratza. This might not be a significant difference if you only make a cup or two per day. But if you're a coffee junkie and brew several cups a day, then a bigger hopper is obviously more convenient. But if you happen to be a Baratza lover due to its design, and the hopper size is the only thing stopping you from buying the machine, you can always purchase a Baratza after-market hopper with a larger scale.
Now let's talk about the price. Obviously, Breville comes with a better price than the Virtuoso. Also, Breville's standardly included accessories and features that must be bought separately for the Virtuoso as extras.
Regarding the accessories, you can choose to purchase Esatto grind by weight device with the tolerance of +/- 0.2g The Esatto can be installed on your Baratza grinder to measure and set the exact weight of the ground beans of your preference. And the hopper extender allows you to increase the standard 8 oz by 9 extra ounces. You can also buy a sperate porta holder, which will help you with hand-free grinding features and better spillage prevention, for your Baratza grinding machine. Though these additions are great, they will add a significant amount of money if you decide to have them since they don't come with the machine when you buy them.
In conclusion
Two grinding machines might seem similar, but the outcome is evident after the comparison. In our opinion, the Breville came out on top as the best burr coffee grinder, due to its color choices, smart dosing feature, bigger hopper, and inclusion of a porta holder.
The answer to the question "What is the best coffee grinder in the market?" is not easy to answer. The best one depends on the personal tastes, budget, and brewing styles of the coffee brewer. Our above comparison is backed up by our experiences and perspectives, and of course, when there is no budget constraint. If you are not concerned by the budget, extras accessories for the Baratza are always in reach. However, the hefty price tags might keep the majority of consumers on the Breville Smart Grinder's side when choosing the best coffee grinder for home.
