ConsFirst / Coffee grinders

Baratza

Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder: the downsides first

We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we report. Learn more

#2 of 8
$$Electric burrScore 3.5/5
9%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-11)About 2,200 ratings on the black ZCG587 listing.

Serious Eats' pick for coffee geeks, with very consistent grinds and a solid build. But Food & Wine measured it at 88 dB and found it less reliable at its coarsest and finest settings, and Wirecutter dropped it because the ESP Pro offers more for $50 more.

Top complaints

  • Very loud

    Food & Wine measured 88 dB and says it will likely wake every sleeper in the house. Noise level is mixed on Amazon.

    Source: Food & Wine, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Fiddly hopper assembly and chute chaff

    Serious Eats' biggest gripe is that the gasket, ring and hopper aren't intuitive to assemble. Chaff builds in the chute and falls out when you remove the bin, and static takes about 40 seconds to dissipate. Good Housekeeping also notes extra setup steps.

    Source: Serious Eats, Good Housekeeping
  • Weaker at the extremes; pricey

    Food & Wine found the grind got motley at the coarsest end and couldn't dial in top espresso at the fine end. Value and durability are mixed on Amazon, with some units breaking in under two months.

    Source: Food & Wine, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)

What owners love

  • Very consistent grind

    Serious Eats found so few fines its scale couldn't register them. Good Housekeeping saw clearly different fine, medium and coarse grounds, and consistency is positive on Amazon.

    Source: Serious Eats, Good Housekeeping, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Solid build and repair support

    Food & Wine notes stronger metal parts, a robust DC motor and nearly every part sold separately. Serious Eats lists a 2-year warranty.

    Source: Food & Wine, Serious Eats
  • Handles batch after batch

    Good Housekeeping ground several batches without noticing heat, and Food & Wine found little retention after cleaning.

    Source: Good Housekeeping, Food & Wine
Good for
  • Big batches of drip coffee
  • Tinkerers who try many brew methods
  • A timer for repeatable doses

Scores (tap for why)

  • Grind consistency4.0
    Why 4.0?Very consistent in Serious Eats' sifting, but Food & Wine found the coarsest grind motley.
    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
  • Grind range3.5
    Why 3.5?40 settings and the finest grinds in Serious Eats' test, but not adjustable enough for top espresso (Food & Wine).
    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
  • Static & mess3.5
    Why 3.5?Static-free container (Good Housekeeping) and low retention (Food & Wine), but chaff falls from the chute and static takes 40 seconds to fade (Serious Eats).
    Source: Good Housekeeping, Food & Wine, Serious Eats
  • Noise & speed2.5
    Why 2.5?88 dB in Food & Wine's test; noise is mixed on Amazon.
    Source: Food & Wine, Amazon.com product page
  • Durability4.0
    Why 4.0?Metal parts, DC motor, parts availability and a 2-year warranty; durability is mixed on Amazon.
    Source: Food & Wine, Serious Eats, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • Serious Eats: Best grinder for serious coffee geeks; gripes are fiddly hopper assembly and chaff falling from the chute.
  • Food & Wine: Best large-capacity grinder, but very loud (88 dB) and less reliable at its coarsest and finest settings.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Former upgrade pick, still a great grinder, but the ESP Pro offers far more for about $50 more.
  • Good Housekeeping: Best to prevent overheating; cons are extra setup steps and the price.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked coffee grinders whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in coffee grindersTimemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Hand Grinder

Wirecutter's best hand grinder: even grinds from a 42 mm steel burr, a smooth crank and a sturdy aluminum body. But it makes only one or two cups at a time, fine grinds take close to 3 minutes and get tiring, and some owners find the grind adjustment tricky.

Its catch: small batches, slow at fine settings#3 in coffee grindersFellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2

Among the most consistent and quietest grinders in Serious Eats' and Food & Wine's tests, with 64 mm flat burrs. But it can't grind for espresso, it jams if the cup is misaligned, and 24% of its Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, with jamming as the main complaint.

Its catch: jams and clogs#4 in coffee grindersOXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Best overall at Serious Eats and Good Housekeeping and Wirecutter's budget pick, with a tidy steel bin and a simple timer. But it's less consistent at the coarse and fine ends, it can clog with oily beans, and reliability is mixed on Amazon.

Its catch: clogs, especially with oily beans

Head-to-head

See all 8 coffee grinders ranked →