Baratza Virtuoso Grinder, Mark Rabin

Very consistent grind for drip
Build, finish and materials are very good

Noisy (as compared to Baratza Solis Maestro Plus)
Static in bin
Amount of grounds that reside in grinder is noticeably more than Maestro Plus

My review is mostly based on a comparison with the Baratza Solis Maestro Plus. After 14 years of good service, I thought it reasonable to upgrade to something newer and hopefully, a bit better. I’ve only had this unit a few weeks, but it’s identical in design and function to what I’m used to.
I skipped over the Baratza Encore and chose the Virtuoso for the slightly better M2 inner cone burr. The good news is that the grinds seem to be a bit more consistent and the brew has been very good (although I’d expect that almost anything of comparable quality after 14 years should be an improvement).
The disappointments are that compared to the Maestro Plus, the Virtuoso makes more noise, has noticeable static build up and holds more grounds inside the machine between grinds. Oh yeah, the Virtuoso is lighter – but I suppose most new generation stuff is lighter.
So the most important thing – the grind – is what I’m paying for. The other stuff I’ll chalk up to a general cheapening of appliances in the 21st century.

Buying direct from Baratza is a pleasant and professional experience. Help is available by phone and email.