Varia VS3 Coffee Grinder Gen 2 User Manual

Varia VS3 Coffee Grinder Gen 2 User Manual

Important note

VS3 has been made to handle both espresso and filter grind sizes, however, VS3 may find omni/light roasts challenging at espresso settings (depending on the roast degree and type of bean), please ensure to take the utmost care while grinding light-roasted coffees and ensure that you feed the beans in slowly or adjust your dose to suit a slightly coarser grind size.

Safety Measures and Precautions for Use

Please take time to familiarise yourself with the Varia VS3 safety measures and operational guidelines detailed within this manual before operating the grinder.

PLEASE NOTE
the Varia VS3 Grinder incorporates high-speed rotating burrs which are very sharp and have the potential to cause personal injury if any of the following safety measures/precautions or operating instructions are ignored.

1. PLEASE CHECK that your operating power supply and plug outlet type are compatible with the Varia VS3 purchased.
2. ENSURE your Varia VS3 body, power adaptor, and power cord are placed in a dry situation, free from any potential water/liquid situations or any heat sources.
3. BE AWARE that the grinding burrs are very sharp, take extra care when cleaning, servicing, or removing this part. See section
4. ‘Cleaning and maintenance’ for detailed instructions. If removed never leave a burr set unattended on a bench, always store it securely out of reach of children and within a securely sealed protective container.
5. Ensure the finger guard is firmly in place within the bean hopper before operating.
6. DO NOT put your fingers into the hopper when the motor is running or when the power supply is plugged in.
7. ONLY operate with the hopper in place. Exposed burrs can cause injury to fingers, even if burrs are stationary.
8. NEVER allow long hair or loose clothing near the burr housing.
9. DO NOT attempt to clean burrs while the grinder is switched on or operational.
10. If cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, please remove the 4 x springs below the outer burr.
11. Coffee Beans may contain foreign objects – eg. stones, pebbles. Always check your supply for any foreign objects before grinding.
12. DO NOT attempt to grind pre-ground coffee.
13. Varia VS3 is designed for home use, not for continuous commercial use.
14. DO NOT grind for more than 60 seconds in a single grinding cycle, ensure a minimum of 90 seconds of rest between grinding cycles.
15. We recommend the motor be switched OFF before loading beans. 15. DO NOT wash any Varia VS3 parts in the DISHWASHER.
16. DO NOT operate this product in wet/damp conditions or place Varia VS3 near or onto wet surfaces or into water. Do not operate with wet hands.
17. DO NOT wash this product or any components with water or immerse this product or any components in water. Wipe down with a damp cloth and surface dry thoroughly.
18. Should you need to use the RDT process to mitigate static during grinding, DO NOT spray moisture near or at the internal workings of the grinder, ONLY spray moisture (RDT) onto beans contained in the dosing cup before loading the hopper.
19. The Varia VS3 must only be used with the supplied power adapter. DO NOT attempt to use Varia VS3 with another power adapter other than that supplied at the time of purchase. DO NOT alter/modify the adapter or plug in any way. DO NOT use if power cords or plug is damaged in any way.
20. SWITCH OFF the power supply whenever you are cleaning or servicing Varia VS3, after use, or if leaving the grinder unattended for a long time, to avoid accidents.
21. The use of third-party attachments is not recommended, in doing so this may result in personal injury, a fire, electric shock or damage to Varia VS3.

What’s in the box:

• 1 x VS3 Grinder (Stainless Steel Supernova Burr Installed)
• 1 x User manual
• 1 x DC power adapter (Includes selected AC power cord and plug)
• 1 x Magnetic dosing cup
• 1 x Silicone bellows for hopper
• 1 x 5mL RDT spray bottle
• 1 x Cleaning brush
• 1 x Spare parts and service tool kit

Product Overview

1. Hopper Lid (Magnetic)
2. Hopper
3. Hopper Alignment Collar
4. Main Body
5. Grounds Chute
6. Dosing Cup (Magnetic)
7. Magnetic Design Cup Dock
8. Power Switch

Operating Instructions

First use and seasoning:
WARNING: DO NOT turn on the grinder when the hopper is at its tightest setting as you will cause damage to the burrs.

1. Remove all packaging before using.
2. Place the Varia VS3 onto a flat and stable surface.
3. Plug the adapter power cord into a power outlet and receptacle plug into the back of the grinder.
4. Check the power is on by pressing the power button once to turn on the motor, and press it again to turn it off.
5. Remove the lid from the hopper and begin the calibration procedure.

Grind Settings & Calibration

Your Varia VS3 has been factory-calibrated and the hopper should be at the “0” setting.

1. To calibrate your Varia VS3, rotate the hopper in a clockwise direction until you reach the tightest setting past “0”. (When factory new, this maximum tightness may vary from a seasoned thread after use)
   DO NOT turn the grinder on while the hopper is set to the tightest setting as this could cause damage to the burrs as a result of the edges contacting.
   
2. Next, rotate the hopper in an anticlockwise direction until you reach “0”. This is now your calibration “zero point” and you are now ready to grind!

Burr Seasoning

Please be aware, your grind setting alignment may change after burr seasoning. Static retention will also be higher than normal until the charge is absorbed. This will be reduced after grinding your first 2kg of coffee through the Varia VS3 and as the body discharges any residual static.

Finger Guard:
Varia VS3 is fitted with a finger guard inside the bean hopper to ensure its safe operation. It is up to the user’s discretion to remove this part for operation. Please be aware of the risks involved should you remove this guard, especially to yourself or if young children are in the house who may find Varia VS3 interesting. The finger guard is designed to keep fingers away from the sharp burrs. ENSURE fingers, loose clothing, and long hair are kept at a safe distance from the hopper opening while operating or on standby.

Grind Settings Chart

VS3 has been made to handle both espresso and filter grind sizes, however, VS3 may find omni/light roasts challenging at espresso settings (depending on the roast degree and type of bean), please ensure to take the utmost care while grinding light-roasted coffees and ensure that you feed the beans in slowly or adjust your dose to suit a slightly coarser grind size.

Static and RDT
Please be aware, that static charge may be present during grinding when new. This will decrease as the grinder is seasoned however some static retention may exist within the cup during and after grinding as a result of the magnet placed in the base of the cup. The amount of static may vary depending on some external factors, such as your location humidity, burrs seasoning status, and the type of coffee beans. To reduce static retention while grinding, we recommend to use the RDT “Ross Droplet Technique” as per the instructions below:

1. Measure your dose into the dosing cup as per your brew requirement.
2. Take the 5mL water spray “RDT” bottle and ensure it is filled with filtered water.
3. Spray 2-3 sprays into the dosing cup directly onto the beans.
4. Cover the cup with your hand and shake the beans to disperse the water droplets throughout the coffee beans evenly coating the surface in a small amount of water droplets.
5. Pour your dose into the hopper as per normal grinding.
6. Wipe your grinds cup free of any excess water droplets before commencing grinding.
7. Place your dosing cup onto the dock and begin grinding as normal.
8. To ensure the cleanliness of the grinder after using the “RDT”, be sure to wipe the hopper and dosing cup dry with a paper towel or dry soft cloth.

Hopper Bellows

A silicone cleaning bellows has been supplied with the Varia VS3 and this is used for cleaning any remaining grounds or chaff out of the hopper, burr chamber, and ground chute.

1. Remove the hopper lid and place this onto the hopper bellows (top side, which is marked with the Varia ‘VS3’ logo), the hopper lid will fit securely into the bellows.
2. Next, place the hopper bellows (bottom rim) on top of the hopper rim, making sure it fits properly around the diameter and creates a seal, then gently push and release the hopper bellows ‘up and down’ from the top with your hand. (This will create a small blast of air through the grinding system to quickly clean any loose grounds/chaff left in the chamber).
3. Repeat this process until you are sure all loose material has been flushed.

PLEASE NOTE: Varia recommends that the bellows are used after every grind to flush loose grinds/chaff left in the burr chamber, and should not be used as a hopper extension

Cleaning and Maintenance:

Power must be TURNED OFF while cleaning this product. The grinder body and base must NOT be immersed or submerged in water or washed with water to clean.

Cleaning grinder body:
Please use a moist cloth/towel to wipe the body, ensure that the cloth/towel is not wet as no water should enter the body. Ensure that once cleaned the surfaces are dried again. We recommend you discuss this procedure with your reseller if you are not familiar with or confident in replacing a bur set.

VS3 Deep Clean / Burr Change Walkthrough:
A step-by-step reference video is available on YouTube – this will assist you when completing the following tasks. https://www.youtube.com/@variabrewing

• A Ring bearing
• B Outer burr housing
• C Set nut
• D Locking washer
• E Inner Burr
• F Thin washer
• G Locking pin
• H Lower grounds spindle
• I Springs x 4
• J Driveshaft
• K Burr chamber

Full Clean / Disassembly

1. Turn on the VS3 while empty and use the silicone bellows to clean our any residual coffee particles.
2. Remove the power supply.
3. Remove the tools from the parts bag supplied.
4. Remove the hopper by rotating it anti-clockwise, gently place this to the side, and remove the adjustment collar.
5. Carefully remove the small ring bearing A.
6. Next, gently pull the outer burr B up and out.
7. Using the tool provided, loosen the set nut C on the inner burr by cranking the tool clockwise.
8. Once the set nut has been released, you will notice 1 x locking washer D, remove and place to the side.
9. Remove the inner burr E, revealing 1 x thin washer F on top of the lower grounds spindle H, remove this also.
10. Remove the lower ground spindle H.
11. Clean the ground’s spindle and remove any residue coffee from inside the burr chamber K or on drivehaft J.
12. Lastly, remove the 4 x springs I from the burr chamber.

Burr Change / Reassembly

1. Lower the lower grounds spindle H onto the driveshaft J, lining up with the corresponding flat side on the driveshaft J.
2. Then place a thin washer F on top of the ground’s spindle. Replace the 4 x springs I back into the burr chamber K.
3. Place the new or cleaned inner burr E onto the grounds spindle, and rotate until it engages with the locking pin G on the grounds spindle.
4. Replace the locking washer D on top of the inner burr.
5. Replace the set nut C onto the driveshaft thread and use the tool to tighten – in an anti-clockwise direction.
6. Replace the new or cleaned outer burr B back into the burr chamber.
7. Replace the ring bearing A on top of the outer burr housing – ensuring this ring bearing fits inside the cavity before the next step.
8. Replace the adjustment collar and hopper and tighten the hopper to the “0” point.
9. Dial in your required grind setting.
10. Lastly, replace your lid and power supply and you are ready to grind.

Frequently Asked Questions

VS3 grind chamber is blocked?
Check the grind setting is not in the 0-1 setting range. Check that the burr chamber does not have any coffee beans or foreign materials present (rocks, sticks, unroasted coffee beans), that may be stuck in the chamber. Remove any residual beans and clean the burr chamber as per the cleaning process in this manual. Tip: After each grind cycle, the use of bellows is recommended – This will create a small pressured air blast through the grinding system to quickly clean any loose grounds/chaff left in the chamber

The nut/washer is wobbling?
This is normal behavior and is not indicative of a malfunction or problem. The nut and washer are not part of the system that determines the concentricity of the burrs and has zero impact on the precision or alignment of the grinder.

The hopper on my VS3 is moving while grinding?
We apply food-grade metal grease to our threads at the factory. With continued use, this can wear off and allow the thread more slip. To ensure a stable and fixed thread position – please apply a food grade grease to the threads.

Technical Specifications

Limited Warranty

For 12 months after the original date of consumer purchase, Varia Brewing Limited warrants this product against any defects caused by defective material or workmanship. Only the original user is covered by this warranty when a Varia VS3 grinder is purchased from an authorized reseller, and when is fitted with the factory standard parts. To make a warranty claim, you will need the original sales receipt as proof of purchase. This warranty does not cover damage to the product caused by the following:

• Operating with the incorrect type of current/voltage and or plug type.
• An accident, misuse, neglect, or ‘Act of God’. an ie lightning strike to supply circuit or power surge damage.
• Using a non-approved power adaptor.
• Improper maintenance or unauthorized repairs. (Failure to clean the grinder and cleaning/ servicing in according to the manufacturer’s instructions).
• Any damage to burrs unless faulty from new.
• Failure to adhere to all of the safety measures/precautions or operating instructions outlined in this document’s safety measures and operating instructions.

Varia Brewing Limited will not be responsible for any material damage or personal injury resulting from failure to adhere to the Varia VS3 Grinder Safety Measures and or Operating Instructions detailed in this manual.

REFERENCE LINK