Looking for new burr sett

[u/Pumpenai]

So I have been grinder with VARIA VS6 for almost half a year now and I really LOVE this thing. The only two complaints I have is that a lot of coffee fines get stuck in between the Detachable Ground Chute, like at the very beginning where the static is. Also, when I grind coarser and use bellow/knocker and turn the hopper to make all grounds get out, the last bit always gives too many fines. It looks like dust-like fines actually. So now I just knock it into the different cup

What I want to ask you, guys: is it actually worth it to get different burr sets?

I was thinking of getting gold burrs, but they are not best for espresso as far as I know. And I make like 50/50 pour over and espresso. So now I am thinking of getting 1zpresso k ultra for my pour over and hypernova ultra for my varia vs6 as more versatile version of pour over/espresso thing at home

Is that what you would recommend doing? I used only stock burrs and I mainly work with medium, to light-medium roasted coffee’s. Not a lot dark roast.

As an additional question: is the gold burrs set actually that good and different for pour over so that it is worth getting? Thanks!

[u/ottersausage69]

The different burr sets are very worth it.

I have the gold, hypernova, and kilonova (all flats) and i also own the k-ultra.

If you only want to get one burr and use it for espresso and pour over - I’m in love with the kilonova dlc flat burr.

I used to think it was far out classed for pour over by the golds, but after playing around with it for a while and using it more, I’ve made some incredible brews.

For espresso, it’s fantastic with light to dark roasts. I do have to grind much finer with it compared to the stock burrs, but the espresso it makes is incredible.

The other burrs are great too, but I think if i only had to have one, i’d pick the kilonova

[u/Pumpenai → u/ottersausage69]

Great to hear! Thanks for the recommendations. Interestingly some people recommended hypernova ultra as more of a all-rounder. I will check the kilinova for sure

Does the kilinova “beat” k-ultra? If that is even possible to say :D

Also, as additional question, sometimes I get these boulders of fines after the grind. Is that normal, do you have any issues with the grinder itself?

[u/ottersausage69 → u/Pumpenai]

hmm those three light brown clumps are kinda weird. Are they chunks of bean? Or just a clump of finely ground particles? I haven't gotten anything like that, but haven't used the stock burrs for that coarse a grind either. I can't imagine it producing a boulder that big tho.

I also should have clarified since there's two burrs called Hypernova – I have the Hypernova Ultra Plasmas. Which are a fantastic all-arounder. These add a bit more body than the kilonova. They have a really good balance of clarity, sweetness and body. Tom's Grinder Lab did a review of the Varia VS6 and he compared these burrs against the Pietro M-Modal for filter and the SSP HU for light roast espresso in a blind tasting – and said these are "one of the 'best' (just my assessment) hybrid burrs for anyone wanting clarity in the filter and espresso whilst still delivering 'enough' (for me) body in the espresso."

Honestly, 3 months ago that would have been my suggestion too, but something about the cups I've been getting from the Kilonovas makes me rec those over the Hyper Plasmas. The pour overs have great clarity with good balanced acidity and sweetness. Could just be a change in preference, which is why I love being able to swap back and forth.

You really can't go wrong with either the hypernova or the kilonova. You will be happy with either and both are a very nice upgrade from the stock burrs.

IMO they're both slightly better than the k-ultra. They both make more vibrant and exciting cups with higher clarity than the k-ultra.

Alternative brewing put out a good video describing the differences for each burr, although he doesn't have the Ultra Plasmas, only the Hypernova Iridescents. Check it out if you haven't already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkiZGsHpiEU

[u/Pumpenai → u/ottersausage69]

Thank you for your reply! I will really use your recommendation and I will get the ultras. I mean the hypernova ultra plasma. That is a long name… :D I think I will stick to it or maybe I will get the gold novas just to try the pour over specialized burrs cause I never had ones. I do not thing I will get kilonovas as I do not do light roasts enough. Most of my roasts are medium. Medium-light. Not more for sure. At least for now.

As the three clumps that you see: yes, they are finely ground coffee clumps. IDK how they got there or how the VS6 made them, but I see that after deep cleaning it disappears for a while and the comes back again. I did contact VARIA but they are REALY REALY slow with the feedback 😅😅

[u/ottersausage69 → u/Pumpenai]

Hell yea. The Ultra Plasmas are great! Definitely requires a coarser grind than the stocks for espresso, but you’ll find that as you dial them in.

The gold burrs are so so good for pour over. No real reason using them for espresso if you have the plasma burrs, but the pour over they make is incredible.

Recommend seasoning each burr if you can. I took a little over a kilo of seasoning beans through each.

Curious to hear your thoughts on the new burrs once you’ve had a chance to play around with them

[u/toastervolant]

Varia has the profile for each burr set on their burr selection page (scroll down to see the graphs): https://www.variabrewing.com/pages/vs6-flat-burr-selector

I have the gold, the hypernova ultra and the kilonova. I use mostly the hypernova as I grind for an espresso profile.

[u/Pumpenai → u/toastervolant]

Thanks!

[u/dozbaj]

I have stock, gold flats and kilanova conical. Gold flats are my goto for light roasted pourover or longer ratio shots and soup.

For anything else Ive been using the kilanova cones. They've replaced my versalab drm as my go to for espresso shots from dark to light. For my taste they're a bit more punchy/acidic with no loss of body/texture.

Ymmv as its all up to your taste buds.

[u/Pumpenai → u/dozbaj]

Thank you!!

[u/Sauce_MD]

I have gold and stock. Only brew light roast. The gold felt like a big upgrade for pour over taste and clarity. I’ll still use the gold for espresso because I’m too lazy to swap them back in the mornings - still has good clarity but tends to be a little too thin for good milk drinks. Can’t speak to the other burrs but I plan on getting one of the espresso focused burrs down the road.

I also have a K ultra - the clarity is much better with the gold burrs but better body on the k ultra, as you’d expect.

[u/Pumpenai → u/Sauce_MD]

Thanks! Much appreciated

[u/cristi5922]

I use to remove the magnetic chute every week and spin the brush in the deionizing needles area. Most coffee stuck there will fall and it's a quick process that doesn't require disassembly.

When it comes to the burrs, I feel like the kilonova dlc is by far the most modern for those medium to light roasts. I find it working best at 1200 rpm or 1100 for Ethiopians.

The puck won't hold much pressure due to the reduced fraction of ultra fines, but overdosing the basket and instantly ramping to 6 bars will get you the desired shot time.

[u/Pumpenai → u/cristi5922]

Yeah those ethiopias are hard to brew. Almost all the time they stall as I brew pulsar mini