Lagom Mini vs. Varia VS3 vs. Comandante C40 Coffee Grinder Comparison

[@ianburton9030]

Great review. Appreciate your honest (and earnest!) struggles in trying to separate the brews. Love your channel, keep it up. As an aside. Have spent a couple of $k with AB over the last 18 months in large part because of your honest reviews.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

wow! thanks so much appreciated! 🫶 glad i can help

[@MELJENKINS-p2g]

Great review as always. I'm thinking about getting de Varia and I always resort to your channel when I need an in depth review. Thanks a lot for your work! :)

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Thanks so much ! 🫶

[@benho5736]

I have the lagom mini (Obsidian burrs) and my work flow involves using the palm of my hand as a makeshift bellow.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

oh nice! Ill have to try that 👌

[@amitmargalit4551]

Same here

[@bowieknife]

Thanks for doing this review! I have the C40 for the longest time... Enjoy it for filter and although capable for espresso, it was too much work for me. So glad I got the VS3 for espresso workflow only!

[@jslanfranchi]

Thanks for your review, and vids. Love the vibe you put into them. Although I have plenty options, I do have to admit that the c40 is one I always go back to for filter (and espresso on the go).

[@AlternativeBrewing]

🫶 Totally agree

[@amitmargalit4551]

Nice review! We have to address the build quilts of the Lagom vs Varia… And I personally appreciate the mini’s 0 mess on my bench

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Totally agree! There is a different feel to the Grinders. The Lagom is much smoother - and is more obviously more compact, and minimalist. The build quality from a UE would be the Lagom having a better build - however the latest varia VS3 gen 2 grinders are very good! I still prefer the Varia VS3, however - my biggest gripe would be the mess :(

[@coreycannon4511]

Thanks, Josh! I guess I was premature with my ask for a comparison on yesterday’s video. It looks like, to me, the VS3 v2 is going to be my next grinder.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

haha! all good. Made me work extra hard to get it out sooner 🫶 You won't regret it !

[@jcsibal]

Great review, like your no-nonsense style a lot. Hoping for a comparison with the Timemore 064s vs Varia 3.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Noted!

[@TheJolam80]

Nice work as always Josh 👍 It's obvious you put a lot of time in your videos, especially when you compare burrs or grinders. It's super informative! Well done!✌️ After watching this video, I was curious to know why is the VS3/Hypernova your main grinder for espresso? You have a bunch of other grinders, notably the DF83 and DF64V. Is there something that the Hypernova burrs bring to your cup that the others don't or is it related to workflow or ease of dialing in? Cheers!

[@AlternativeBrewing]

thanks for the kind words! 😀 & Great question! You're right - I do have pretty much any grinder at my disposable to use daily, including 2 x Eureka Mignons (Manual & SDG) a Niche Zero & Niche Duo, DF64, DF83, and currently playing with the P64 ... and a pick of any hand grinder - but the Varia is that perfect balance of value for me. It is reliable when it comes to brewing - the grind adjustment is super easy to use and dial in an espresso. The workflow is comfortable, albeit occasionally a little messy around the catch cup - no more than a Niche 😂 -- it's very quiet, nicely compact - and the flavour profile just blows my mind away - for how juicy, bright and clean the coffees are - and I could be chasing these exact qualities in a DF64 or DF83 or P64, but I find there's more of a knife edge to the consistency of these grinders - and whilst they may provide the better ultimate shot - the Varia brews a consistently great coffee without too much fuss, and going back to my original point - it's a relatively affordable Grinder - and that value is hard to beat.

[@chriswyatt5303]

Does your Varia VS3 shifter the grind setting while grinding? That was a common problem with the first model which I’ve found with mine. There is a new version that just came out and have you heard from Varia if they’ve fixed the shifting and the problem with stalling while grinding for espresso. Great revue as always.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Mine does not no, never had an issue either - but can confirm it was a thing. Yes, the newer version is a better design - improved materials in the motor as well. Thanks so much 😀

[@decky1990]

Thanks for the review! Have loved my Comandante for the longest time, but recently upgraded to a Niche Duo - looking forward to tasting the differences.

[@SarntAKluss]

Keep us posted please

[@decky1990]

@@SarntAKluss no problem! Will do 👍🏻

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Good choice!

[@coreycannon4511]

@@SarntAKlussditto

[@bluemystic7501]

I used the Comandante for about 10 months before switching to a flat burr electric grinder for espresso. The only difference I really noticed was that I could perfectly dial-in on the stepless electric grinder and that's where the principal difference was between the two grinders. I'd be surprised if you could tell them apart in a blind test.

[@sunshineflyer]

Got the D3 coming as a Chrissy prez… very excited!

[@Matanzm]

Beautiful comparison, thank you so much for it

[@AlternativeBrewing]

My pleasure! 😀

[@Buddhanatur3]

Thanks for nice a review! When you say your go to grinder is the Vario vs3, is that with the stock burrs or did you upgrade these? I'm thinking purchasing the grinder with the new Hypernova Ultra Plasma Coated burrs, but not sure if it's worth it. Hope you can answer this. Thanks.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Both! Yes. I had all the additional burrs - and after tasting the difference with the Hypernova Ultra Burrs - it's a no brainer. Not a huge difference between Supernova coated and default burrs - but the Hypernova are much much better 👌

[@TC_Prof]

Love it Josh can’t go wrong Dante and VS3 🎉🎉🎉

[@jackgtravis]

It’s RDT man, every time haha 😂 Another great review 👍🏻

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Indeed it is! 😂 I think I need to make t-shirts up !

[@helenburns2186]

👍🏾😄 I'm pretty sure it's, Ross The Droplet.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

lol 😂 @@helenburns2186

[@SeanGordon-ym4yf]

Nice comparison! 3 great grinders for sure. My biggest gripe with the VS3 is the tiny catch cup. If you grind more than maybe 18g at filter settings, you can expect a lot of mess. With an advertised 'hopper capacity' of 30g, you should really get a catch cup to match.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Great point!

[@pdinio]

Ah yeah. You made it happen! ❤️ nice work.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Thank you! 😁

[@SMspazzle]

Really awesome review.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Glad you think so!

[@papec122]

Which one is better? Varia VS3 Gen2 or DF64V?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Review coming 🔥

[@papec122]

@@AlternativeBrewing you could also add the DF64 Gen 2 to the pack as I believe many people try to choose between these 3

[@robs1714]

1zpresso k-plus vs. VS3, what do you think? Currently using the varia hand grinder but I suspect there are better grinders that produce better tasting coffee

[@AlternativeBrewing]

If you've already got a hand grinder and chasing that clarity and sweetness you won't be disappointed in the Varia VS3 🔥

[@ToddParker]

Have a lagom mini and love it. Seems to me with the moonshine burrs this grinder is in a sweet spot dealing up a balance in espresso and filter having given comandante a run in filter and Varia a run in espresso for both of your taste tests. For what it is worth, the only thing with workflow I wish was better with lagom mini is the bean chamber holding more than 35g. Some times I want to filter for the family and do a batch of 55g and in that I do two bean pours. How much does the Varia hold?

[@argomedoreds]

30 gr hopper. Maximum recommended continuous grind time: 60 seconds grind time, +90 seconds rest. According to their website.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Totally agree. Varia isn't much better - and actually has a smaller catch cup than full capacity - so as @SeanGordon-ym4yf mentioned - at filter grind settings - taking up more space in the cup - it can be a mess over 18-20g doses.

[@felixhoklay2377]

how about SD40 ?

[@alarcilam]

Josh.. my Mignon Manualle broke down and I am thinking on replacing it with a df64, Varias3 or another eureka. It is purely for milk best espresso nothing else and I only like medium, medium to light roast. Any recommendations there? Also.. do you have them in stock at the shop?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

het! I'm sorry to hear about the Eureka! 😥 IMHO, the Varia VS3 or the DF64... these would be my top 2 grinder under $1000 right now. They're spaced apart enough in price I'd say if you're happy to spend the cash - and have the space - the DF64 is the way to go - and it's likely to last a lot longer than the Eureka Mignon Manuale. The Varia VS3, is great - this is what I use at home for Espresso - but hold off on this purchase until we start shipping the Gen2 of the Varia VS3. (which won't be long) and it's every bit bang for you buck ... and in either case you wouldn't be disappointed.

[@alarcilam]

@@AlternativeBrewing thanks mate.. already picked up the Df64 from your warehouse.. grinder looks better in person than in the videos :-)

[@AlternativeBrewing]

@@alarcilam haha! Unreal, enjoy! and happy brewing 👌

[@alarcilam]

@@AlternativeBrewing thanks Josh.. the grinder is well built and I just checked and happy that burrs are aligned ootb. The only question I have is wether burrs need any seasoning. My first shot ran very well though

[@tuandatn]

Great video! I've noticed in a few videos now that you tend to say "RTD"--I think you might mean RDT for the Ross Droplet Technique :)

[@AlternativeBrewing]

You are correct 😳 hahaha gonna just say the whole thing out next time 😀

[@After_GF]

Joshy I would like a review about kingrinder K4 and K6 and a comparison with C40

[@Mandragara]

What grinder produces the most espresso 'texture' I wonder

[@AlternativeBrewing]

That's a great question! Niche does alright - but there's gotta be a real standout. Would be looking for Good texture, but not unbalanced body -assuming bitterness. I'm on the look out now 👌

[@9abe9]

Maybe kinu?

[@simoncook1778]

Hand grinder for camping like v60 is perfect electric grinder for espresso is the only way in my experience unless you wanted a quick turbo shot while camping then a hand grinder will do it BUT it’ll be hard work cause the burs are so close together it would be like trying to loosen a rusty bolt using a hand grinder to grind the espresso .so don’t drink espresso drink filtered & enjoy a long shot👍great vids man…

[@AlternativeBrewing]

thanks so much! 😀

[@friendlyghostkinda]

Varia motor and button lasted a week. Espresso