The sound of a new grinder

Have you just bought our new Virtuoso+, or upgraded from an older Baratza grinder? Out of the box, this brand-new grinder may sound different from the old Virtuoso (or any other grinder) you've had before. Perhaps the sound seems louder, or the grinder makes noises at a different frequency, or maybe just a difference you can't quite put your finger on?

It's understandable to feel concerned, but remember that this machine is brand new and your old grinder is, well, old.

Think of a new pair of shoes. You have to break them in a bit before everything feels just right. The same applies to the internal components of a coffee grinder. Your brand new machine has a fresh motor and completely new gearbox components inside, and they haven't had time to adapt to each other. Essentially, the parts need to be broken in through use. This is completely normal and expected for brand new equipment. You may also experience this when replacing internal components later in the grinder's life.

Your old machine seems much quieter because it has been broken in for many years! In fact, it probably sounded like the new machine does now - back when it was brand new. Over the years, the grinder's sound has changed gradually - so gradually that you haven't been able to notice it until you had something to compare it against.

Naturally, not all sounds are the same. If your machine is making a concerning noise like rattling or scraping, etc., then it's worth a quick check with our support team. They can listen and know right away if something is wrong.
Otherwise, you can continue to use your machine worry-free and enjoy fresh, freshly ground coffee. After a little while, it will sound more like your old grinder - although you yourself will probably stop thinking about it and not even notice!

Taste and grind size will also be somewhat different on a brand new grinder out of the box, but we'll save that for another blog post!

By Alexander Choppin, adapted for Norwegian by Rune Åldstedt