Baratza Sette 30 Coffee Grinder Review: Loud, but Badass!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You can check out the Sette 30 directly at Baratza if you like: baratza.pxf.io/Sette30 *DISCLOSURE: The above Kit.co and Amazon links lead to Amazon, and since I am an affiliate, help fund videos like this one, at no extra cost to you. Same goes for Baratza link.

[@johne7100]

You're the first reviewer I've heard pronouncing sette correctly - I've heard everything from sate to settee. Well done!

[@SpicyMelange]

This is also my grinder. I have had it for 3 years. Great work! I have the Breville Bambino next to it, also 3 years old. They are the only items that fit under my cabinets in this apartment with limited space. Thanks for the tips on this. Admittedly, I use mine set for Chemex brews, I need to refine my coffee routine; you’re inspiring me to adjust it. Up next: all those things you suggest for my Bambino.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for sharing! I still really like using this grinder for single dosing, and I honestly like the feel and intuitiveness of the click system.

[@SKG-d2t]

A strong no nonsense review, thank you. I got the sette 30 to go with my Profitec GO and have been using it for 6 months. I single dose and grind directly into the portafilter. I RDT and get no static mess. The grounds are so fluffy (18gr in an 18gr basket) that I had to get a dosing ring as they would overflow the basket before the WDT. The retention does vary but it is minuscule overall, barely a trace. Baratza service is superb: I bent the micro switch the first time I went to clean the burrs, totally operator error, and they fixed it immediately- no hassle. I am using Grindz once a month because I am now a little gunshy, but their videos on things like replacing the motor & gear box look exceptionally easy. Sette is designed to be owner maintained, they sell you the parts at reasonable prices and have comprehensive DIY videos. I got the sette 30 because with single dosing I did not need the more expensive grind by weight feature of the 270Wi. The grinder was less than $300, and all the lovely money I saved I can spend on BEANS. Less FOMO and buy better BEANS. Yes, it is loud and I am a noise sensitive person. I may try some sound deadening mods down the road, but it is 10 seconds of my morning I can live with. I grind med, med-dark beans on #15-14 with which is higher than several reviewers mentioned but my shots draw in the 30 second window and taste fine. No idea why. Yes, it is plastic, but it is a hard, solidly built plastic and I spend almost no time touching it, beyond pressing 1 button. And yes, I like the look and narrow footprint. I am looking to “upgrade” to a stepless ring ($100 self install) and a single dose hopper ($40 just for looks) eventually. This is the last electric grinder before diminishing returns, imho.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hey there - thanks so much for your thorough feedback and review! I also really like using this grinder. I find its ergonomics its strongest suit, and I just have fun using it. Sure, it would be nice if the resolution was a little better, but you can updose or downdose a little to help with that. As you say, super nice fluffy grinds, fast, and it looks cool. Minimal retention. I wouldn't go for the 270wi. I had issues with that one faulting out (it's hard for the PF to stay totally motionless for the whole grind, which would throw off the scale). Have fun with your setup! Btw: how do you like your Profitec Go?

[@SKG-d2t]

So far the GO is excellent. I believe in buying right up to the line of diminishing returns, and this one does everything I need, with room for improvement and experimenting. @@TomsCoffeeCorner

[@PaulLemars01]

Nicely produced video Tom. The Sette 30 was one of my contenders as I peered over the edge of the rabbit hole that is home specialty coffee. What follows is my personal take on why I didn't pull the trigger on the Sette. I had the chance to compare them at my local coffee equipment retailer and these grinders are by far the noisiest and I found out the secret to their zero retention, their noise and their Achilles heel. Because the grind is straight through the motor has to be offset and uses a transmission to get the power to the burr set. That transmission is almost entirely plastic and they don't last long. Baratza's solution is a no questions asked customer service to replace the transmission and anything else that fails on what is a plastic appliance grade grinder. I'd rather have a grinder that's a lot more reliable because it's simpler design and built of high-grade materials. My first grinder was a Eureka Mignon Filtro (all metal) for $215 which contrary to its name grinds espresso just fine. We won't talk about the grinders I ended up with as I fell down the rabbit hole.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks Paul for your interesting comment. I was wondering myself for a while now, whether the Filtro could grind well enough for espresso. At $215, that is an absolute steal for the quality! I have a Specialita, that has beeen going strong for 3 years with no issues whatsoever. As for the longevity of the Sette, I have heard about issues, but I think your mileage may vary. What is undebatable is the loud noise. But, I still find it haptically a very nice grinder to use, and I am currently using this as my 2nd grinder. Cheers!

[@PaulLemars01]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Don't get me wrong, Eureka don't like you doing it but you'll find the 50mm burr set included in the Filtro is exactly the same as the Mignon Notte grinder. An interesting side note is that Eureka do sell an actual unimodal Filtro burr set that is NOT included with the grinder but is a special order. I have that burr set now since my Filtro is relegated to actual morning filter coffee. Also another tip is that the ridiculous and uncomfortable push button that Eureka put on the side of the Filtro is easily swapped out with a standard 2 pole rocker switch. It took me about 10 minutes to mod. I've had my Filtro for 3 years now using it daily and it works perfectly. Have a great day Tom.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@PaulLemars01 Thanks for that, Paul. That's pretty cool to know, because that is a very solid grinder for just $200. Much better, and from a reputable company, than the competition. Is the rocker switch a normed size?

[@PaulLemars01]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Yes, it's a standard KCD1 form factor dual pole with 4 spade connectors. They cost almost nothing (around $2).

[@edwardmarques176]

Thanks so much for this fun, informative video. I just picked up a used SETTE 30 on Craigslist for 125 bucks and it didn’t come with a manual. After watching your video I don’t need one!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That is awesome! I love this grinder for that price! What machine are you using it on?

[@ocrun6765]

Great video. The Sette 270 is about $100 USD more expensive. Nearly identical, same burrs but notably has an additional micro adjuster below making it practically stepless. A few extra timer buttons which are not necessary if you're grinding preweighed single dose and it has an upgraded portafilter holder which is actually pretty clever. The grind is so fluffy right into the basket with almost no retention. It's super easy to take the burrs out and clean with no tools.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, the 270 is definitely worth the $100 upcharge for those features. 👍

[@ocrun6765]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner if you have access to an upgraded adjustment collar perhaps a future mod episode.

[@whiterose7055]

I've been running a Sette 270 for a couple years and have come to love this machine. The noise is a small price to pay for the quality of grind at this price point. The grind is always on point and delicious.

[@elfletes]

I really enjoy your videos! Thank for adding some music!

[@DimHim7473]

Nice video. Solved a lot of things that I was sceptical about. The Sette 30 has a very big gap interval the numbers. 8-10 seconds for click to click is a chaos for espresso. Second thing: I didn’t see any on-off switch. So I have to plug and unplug all the time. BIG NO NO. And third I thought that the retention was 0. Thanks again for helping me choose the 1zpresso j-max with 8 microns adjustment for each click and no retention and almost half the price. I’m saving the money for 1zpresso j-max.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You are right that those are large gaps, 8 seconds in extraction time. Would be nice if the gaps were half of that or better. I don't mind not having an on/off switch, as it goes to sleep. I am sure it doesn't take much energy. The retention is pretty darn good though. My Specialita retains about 1-2 grams, that I puff out each time with a baffles. Cheers!

[@LeeW553]

I got this grinder a couple of years ago on a really good deal, it was less than 200 GBP with a drip brew burr, I've upgraded it with a Sette 270 burr carrier which gives stepless adjustment, the carrier was around 70 GBP. It is a noisy grinder but it's fast and gives nice fluffy grinds

[@robertsoltermann2604]

i have had this model for maybe 6 months now no problems and works great. mine does not lose timer settings when unplugged. also didn't mention a hand hold slot thing at the bottom of the case at the back. i haven't had to instal shims yet either and am getting a 30 second shot 15g coffee 45g out with a grind setting of 9 with my Delonghi Dedica with a bottomless portafilter.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for your feedback! I wonder why you don't lose the timer settings when you unplug it...?

[@KMacuL]

Mine doesnt lose the settings either

[@Robin77436]

Hi, thanks for this review! 😀

[@panikpas]

I have this grinder for 5 years. The only problem I had so far is the legs on the bean hopper, they broke but I've managed to glue them them back. The grind is very fluffy so the trick is to shake the container to get rid of that fluffyness. Also, most of the time I would like to set the grinder in between the setting numbers. What I do now is that I grind half of the timing on the finer setting and I do the other half one step down. It's unusual, I know and I'm probably crazy, but it works. Regarding the retention, I just push the start button a second time and the machine give it all! 😉

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for sharing - I still quite like using this grinder, too!

[@jdel3279]

I have seen many reviews of different grinders and the sette 30 for me is the best value for the price :)

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Good choice!

[@jdel3279]

@TomsCoffeeCorner haha thank coffee master. I ll use to do hario v60 and casually espresso on a flair !!

[@BruceWalkerPhotography]

Re the random retention: have you tried a water drop in your beans? This solves the identical issue for me with their Vario+. And you might want to pick up Baratza’s single dose hopper accessory. I use one exclusively. It can even help with retention because you can pump it like a bellows after grinding. Excellent presentation as always!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thank you for the feedback and ideas! I have not tried RDT, because I was not having issues with static spray, but this could explain some residual coffee staying on the burrs. I will give that a shot. Cheers!

[@Timberjagi]

you can actually buy the second ring seperate to make it the 270 steps version. (yes you miss the more options of it, but how often do you actually use that)

[@hephyones1923]

Hi Tom! Nice video, as always👍 What do you say about making a comparison between this Sette and your Eureka Mignon Specialita? A in-depth one, using same coffee, same quantity and same expresso machine using these 2 grinders?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi there! Perhaps I will do that at some point. Got a lot of content coming up...these two are kind of hard to compare though, because in the USA, the Specialita costs 2x the Sette, and you have the flat vs conical distinction. However, the noise difference would be worth pointing out. Cheers!

[@MozzelMr]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner +1 for this. considering between sette & specialita too

[@windermerewakeify]

Not as loud as my nutra bullet just for some sort of comparison i own the 270wi baratza very easy to talk to gave me good advice prior to purchase

[@NoZenith]

WHAT IS THIS OPENING SONG?! please? Great content as always, I really think this is far too noisy for my personal application but thank you again.

[@NoZenith]

I started Googling the lyrics and I found it haha. I didn't realize how different the song would sound when it was starting so the first results threw me off😅

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It's "I just wanna have fun" by Flint. I got it from Artlist.io. They have a lot of cool songs licensed. Cheers!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Interesting that the cheaper, ESP has the M2 burrs.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I just checked the Baratza website, and you're right. The Sette 30 and 270 both have the M3 burrs, while the Virtuoso has the M2 burrs. According to a video I found on YT, the M2 are better suited to espresso, grinding finer, and have a sharper geometry than the M3 burrs.

[@PepeHmmm]

Hello. I got the Lelit Anita. Do you think it will work just fine as your Lelit machine?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It's probably similar. 57mm and PID, right? I am guessing the result in the cup will be similar therefore. Cheers!

[@Phantoma3]

It's a great design for no retention and the grind looks very fluffy but It's a shame the shell isn't in all metal chrome with that deep Italian luster from their chrome work. How does this grinder compare against the Eureka's for fluffy grind and retention?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I’ve never imagined this machine in metal, but that would be a cool design. The retention is much better than the Eureka. I use a baffle on my Eureka, and I normally get out another 1 to 2 g after grinding. The retention on this Baratza Is less than 0.5 g.

[@greybeard27]

I have a Mignon Manuale I have modded for single dosing with small hopper and bellows. It does have a lot of retention without a good couple of pumps but it is also built like it would survive a direct nuclear attack. My choice was that or the Sette 270, but build quality beat retention for me.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@greybeard27 The Eurekas are built really well, that's for sure!

[@laowai2000]

Opted for the Baratza Encore ESP. Functional for my needs but certainly not as presentable as the Sette Range.

[@Yirgamalabar]

If you grind straight to the portafilter I suggest you skip WDT. The ground coffee is so fluffy and clump-free you can easily get totally consistent shots without WDT. At least I can with my Sette 270Wi, and I expect the Sette 30 to be the same since it uses the same burrs and general design.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for that! I used WDT to kind of try distributing a little more from the middle to the sides, but I can imagine that you're right. How are you liking your 270wi? I used to have one, but it kept faulting out, because it lost its weight/tare. The scale seemed to be too sensitive back then (5 years ago), but I bet it's gotten better by now (the firmware).

[@TreyJustice]

I have the Sette 270

[@moments974]

Wow new videos

[@domainpark4421]

I've had it for a year. It's still incredibly loud and I regret buying it for that reason alone.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@domainpark4421 sorry to hear that! Maybe check out something in the Eureka Mignon line.

[@DmitrijPaskevic]

Baratza always feels cheap somehow. Design is questionable and this model is super loud. Lastly, price wise it's in Eureka Mignon Specialita territory which is a superior grinder for sure.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

The Specialita is better, no doubt. But in the USA, the Specialita costs 2x the price of the Sette. But anyway, I supsect the Eureka will last for years and years, maybe decades.

[@hoomee7605]

Rubbish. Badass? Its rubbish. It cant grind fine for espresso. Even i placed the setting to 2A its giving me rough ground coffee. And they suggest 9E setting. Be warned before buying...

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I've been grinding between 5-10 with freshly roasted beans, and getting great espresso results. Maybe your beans are too old?

[@kumarjatin83]

that looks like too much crema