Great grinder, I bought it to replace my Vario and it performs just as well if not better.
The Bay
Breville The Smart Grinder Pro - $216/Bambino - $288/Bambino Plus - $396
- SCORE+9
- phreezee
- Sr. Member
- Jan 21, 2007
- 512 posts
- 258 upvotes
- Calgary, AB
- Zephyranthes
- Sr. Member
-
- Aug 13, 2011
- 512 posts
- 163 upvotes
How does the Smart Grinder Pro compare to the Baratza Encore or Vario?
- logikol
- Sr. Member
- Jul 4, 2007
- 542 posts
- 537 upvotes
- Pickering, Ontario
Really depends on what you want to use it for.Zephyranthes wrote: ↑ How does the Smart Grinder Pro compare to the Baratza Encore or Vario?
Spoiler:
Baratza Encore - Not made for espresso. Consistent results otherwise.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro - Can grind espresso - barely. Will have variation in grind size. Jack of all, master of none.
- Jruuu
- Deal Addict
- Jun 13, 2009
- 1091 posts
- 841 upvotes
- Toronto
But the breville smart grinder can grind as well, if not better for drip coffee. So I think it edges out the barzata. I've seen, and tasted both in action. I owned the Encore, and had a friend who owned the Breville. I think it was worth the extra $50 he paid.
- AncasterRFD
- Deal Expert
- Jun 15, 2012
- 15482 posts
- 10141 upvotes
- Southern Ontario
The grinds through an SGP at the espresso setting are not as consistent as a dedicated espresso grinder.
And will cause unwanted channelling through a bottomless PF which increases unwanted flavours outside the sweet spot. However it can be mitigated by declumping/mixing using WDT tools, and I'm sure plenty of people are ok using an SGP with a pressurized PF for lack of fine tuning taste.
- riceballer
- Newbie
- Jul 15, 2021
- 2 posts
Deal is dead on the bambino?
- Simagu2
- Jr. Member
- May 13, 2013
- 183 posts
- 216 upvotes
- Montréal
Damn, just missed this sale
- 3ternalis
- Newbie
- Aug 14, 2009
- 54 posts
- 15 upvotes
- jiffylube1024
- Deal Addict
- Jan 5, 2003
- 4550 posts
- 1002 upvotes
- Toronto
Much better job. The question is whether you need the consistency and fine grind or not.YannF39839 wrote: ↑ Are high end grinders really doing a far better job that my 14$ prime day Hamilton Beach grinder or it's just another audiophile 600$ 1 foot golden plated cable that don't give a better sound?
If you're making espresso, it's pretty much essential to have at least a decent burr grinder to get the grinds consistently fine enough for brewing. If you're doing drip or french press coffee, it's much less essential, and you can get away with a cheap grinder.
This grinder is very well suited to go alongside the Breville espresso makers, for example.
- Simagu2
- Jr. Member
- May 13, 2013
- 183 posts
- 216 upvotes
- Montréal
Not as good a deal, but the bambino is on sale at bestbuy: https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/br ... l/14970005?
- D0ntgiveajack
- Deal Addict
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- Oct 13, 2009
- 1746 posts
- 1806 upvotes
I found this Delonghi Dedica ec680 for $279.99. It's a direct competitor to the Bambino
https://www.costco.ca/de'longhi-dedica- ... langId=-24
I just picked up the EC685-white for $327 https://www.amazon.ca/Delonghi-EC685W-A ... B072X2YD2Q
This is an pretty good deal if you got the Bambino for $288
https://www.costco.ca/de'longhi-dedica- ... langId=-24
I just picked up the EC685-white for $327 https://www.amazon.ca/Delonghi-EC685W-A ... B072X2YD2Q
This is an pretty good deal if you got the Bambino for $288
Last edited by D0ntgiveajack on Aug 20th, 2021 7:27 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Wallet safe...
- beancounter6
- Sr. Member
- Jul 25, 2019
- 535 posts
- 220 upvotes