Baratza Virtuoso+ Grind Settings Chart

These are starting points; beans, roast date, brewer and batch size all move the right number. Our coffee grind size chart explains how grind size changes extraction, and the coffee grind size calculator gives a quick starting point for any brewer.

The Virtuoso+ uses 40mm conical burrs turning at a relatively low speed. Rotating the hopper moves the gap between the burrs, with 40 evenly spaced settings from 1 (finest) to 40 (coarsest).

Even steps suit filter coffee: a two- or three-step move is usually enough to fix a cup that's slightly sour or bitter. They're less suited to real espresso, where one step can move a shot from fast to choked. That's the main trade-off to understand before you buy or dial in.

The digital timer on the side lets you set grind time in 0.1-second steps. Once you find a time that gives your usual dose at your usual setting, the grinder repeats it at the press of a button.

Timed dosing is close, not exact: dose by weight shifts with the bean, roast and setting. Weigh a few doses when you open a new bag, adjust the time to match, and you'll stay within a gram or so for daily brewing. Change the grind setting and you'll need to re-check the time.

1. 1

   Weigh your dose, for example 15g for a 250g cup of pour-over.

2. 2

   Set the chart's starting number for your brewer.

3. 3

   Grind, brew and time the brew.

4. 4

   Sour, thin or fast: go 2–3 steps finer. Bitter, harsh or slow: go 2–3 steps coarser.

5. 5

   Change only the grind until it tastes balanced, then keep the setting for the bag.

Most bags settle within two or three brews. For a single pour-over cup, a total brew time of around 2:30–3:30 is a useful target. Our coffee ratio calculator helps keep the dose steady while you adjust.

With a pressurized (dual-wall) basket, yes: the finest settings around 8–12 suit machines like the De'Longhi Dedica or Stilosa. Pressurized baskets build pressure through a small exit hole, so they forgive a less precise grind. Our pressurized vs non-pressurized baskets guide explains why.

With a standard basket, the even steps are too coarse to control shot time well. For real espresso, a grinder with micro-steps or stepless adjustment is a better fit; our best espresso grinders under $300 compares the options.

Taste first, then use time as a check. Two cups can run the same time and taste different because of roast level or water, so the cup always gets the final say. Change one thing at a time, and if a single move doesn't fix it, look at dose and ratio before going further on the grind.

Rotate the hopper to the new setting, then run a quick purge of 2–3g to clear the grounds left in the chute. When going much finer, turn the hopper with the grinder running or empty, because turning to a far finer setting with beans between the burrs can stall the motor. Reset the timer for the new method's dose, since grind time changes with the setting.

Write your two or three regular settings on a small label or in your phone. It turns a morning switch into a quick turn of the dial instead of a fresh dial-in, and it makes it easy to spot drift if a familiar bag suddenly tastes different.

Most "my grinder changed" moments come down to one of these. Fix the basics first, then adjust the grind. A small notebook or a note on your phone with your setting for each bag and brewer saves a lot of re-dialing.

Batch size matters as much as the brewer: a full drip pot extracts more than a single cup, so grind slightly coarser for big batches. Our best drip coffee makers guide covers which brewers spray water evenly enough to reward a good grind.

• Brush the burrs weekly if you grind daily. Buildup is the most common cause of an inconsistent grind.
• Don't rinse the burrs with water. Brush and vacuum instead.
• Season new burrs by grinding some inexpensive beans before you judge the grind.
• Check the burr is seated after cleaning if settings suddenly feel coarser.

Comparing the Virtuoso+ with other grinders? Our guide to choosing a burr grinder explains what burr size, steps and retention mean in daily use.