Are you wondering if the Baratza Sette 270Wi is a good grinder for you? The Sette 270Wi is undoubtedly one of Baratza’s most affordable and convenient grinders, so it’s easy to see why you might be drawn to it.
We’ll be diving deep into the grinder in this guide. Here is what we’ll uncover for you:
- Some of the Sette 270Wi’s most important qualities and why they’re important.
- Other configurations the grinder is available in.
- Potential alternatives to the 270Wi.
- Our recommended settings for the grinder.
- The prices for the grinders in this review.
Let’s jump right in.
Quick Summary
If you’re a beginner when it comes to grinding your own coffee and espresso, the Baratza Sette 270Wi will feel shockingly simple. It has a unique stepped grind adjustment system that will give novices a selection of easy settings to choose from, and then there’s an additional adjustment wheel that allows you to make further fineness tweaks within a given setting. The result is that this is an excellent home grinder for both experts and beginners alike.
Get the Lowest Price Here >>
Important Features and Why they Matter
Steel Conical Burrs
A logical starting point for any grinder discussion is the burrs of the grinder in question. The Baratza Sette 270Wi uses conical burrs which are made from steel, and they’ll offer users a range of benefits.
First, consider their conical shape. Many experts feel that conical burrs are capable of staying cooler and quieter than their flat counterparts. Because they produce bimodal coffee particles (coffee particles of varying sizes), drinks made from conical burrs also tend to taste light and zesty.
Second, their size should be discussed. The larger a grinder’s burrs are, the faster it can grind. In this case, the 270Wi’s 40mm burrs are a rather modest size, but they should still leave the grinder fast enough to meet the needs of the average home user.
Finally, we should touch on burr material. Like we said above, the burrs here are made from steel. Metallic burrs are long-lasting simply because they are so hard to break.
Macro/Micro Grind Adjustment
The saying, “easy to learn but difficult to master” could be easily applied to the Sette 270Wi. That’s almost entirely because of its fineness adjustment system that you’ll use to make changes to the texture of your grind.
Basically, the 270Wi has a stepped grind adjustment system. That means it has a range of notches to select on a dial going from fine to coarse. Experts may find this limiting, but beginners will undoubtedly be able to pick it up quickly.
If you don’t think this basic dial gives you enough options, the 270Wi has a second dial built into it. Using the second dial, you can make even more precise adjustments within your overall chosen fineness setting.
Read Also: Baratza Sette 270Wi vs Breville
Convertible Device Holder
Most high-end coffee and espresso grinders will come with a portafilter fork on the front. As you can imagine, it’s there to hold your portafilter in place, allowing you to grind directly into your portafilter’s basket without being tethered to the grinder yourself.
What makes the Sette 270Wi’s holder so noteworthy is that it’s far more flexible than most other grinders’ holders. It can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of grinding receptacles, including your portafilter or a grounds bin that comes with the grinder.
This is ideal for those who may want to use their grinder for more than just espresso. You won’t be limited to grinding in a tiny basket – you’ll be able to grind larger batches as you please.
On-Demand Grinding
One basic way to define the Baratza Sette 270Wi is as an on-demand grinder. This is just an abbreviated way of saying that all your coffee is ground in single servings as you need it rather than grinding large batches in advance to use over time.
Because of this, you’re getting the best possible flavor in every drink you make. You will notice this freshness in the potency of all your beverages.
Further Reading: Baratza Sette 270Wi vs 270
Weight-Based Grinding
There are two traditional ways of monitoring your grinder so that you know when to stop: by timing it or by weighing the grounds you have thus far. Of those two methods, weighing is the far more accurate because it actually guarantees you’re getting the amount you need.
That’s what the “Wi” in Sette 270Wi stands for. It indicates that this is a weight-based grinder, so it has a scale built in to help you guarantee you get consistent doses across the board.
Different Configurations
The Baratza Sette 270Wi is the star of this review, so we won’t waste too much of your time covering it all over again in this section. It’s one of a small line of machines that includes itself and the basic 270.
The key difference between them is that the 270Wi is a weight-based grinder. Since it weighs each dose of coffee, it allows baristas to be certain they’re getting precisely as much as they need every time.
Get the Lowest Price Here >>
Weight-based grinding may be the pinnacle of accurate dosing, but it might be overkill for the basic home coffee lover. Unless you’re planning on carefully crafting specialty coffee and espresso drinks at home frequently, the basic 270’s time-based dosing will probably meet your needs.
Because it doesn’t have a scale built into it, the 270 is also slightly more affordable. Thus, it may be preferable for you if you’re looking for the most inexpensive option.
Aside from the lack of a weight-based grinding system, the 270 is identical to the 270Wi.
Get the Lowest Price Here >>
Comparable Alternatives
If you asked us to boil what Baratza specializes in down to a single sentence, we’d probably tell you that they’re best at creating affordable, beginner-friendly grinders. That includes the Baratza Vario W, which is another highly accurate weight-based grinder.
Also similar to the 270Wi, it has that famous macro/micro grind adjustment design. This is perfect for giving novices an easy framework to work with while also providing some increased versatility for the more experienced home barista.
Here are some other intriguing Vario W features:
- Ceramic burrs that will resist dulling for years.
- Programmable dosing buttons that you can save doses into ahead of time.
- Fast grinding that will have a dose of espresso ready in a little under two seconds.
Read More: Baratza Vario vs Vario W
Get the Lowest Price Here >>
About the Brand
Baratza is one of the most unique manufacturers in the world of coffee and espresso grinders. There are quite a few storied and experienced Italian manufacturers steeped in ancient espresso history, but not as many new companies.
This is where Baratza truly sets itself apart. This company was born in 1999 with the express goal of innovating the way the coffee world views grinders.
Since their creation, they’ve continued to win awards and create both budget- and beginner-friendly options.
Ideal Grinder Applications
It’s apparent to us that the Baratza Sette 270Wi is best for use at home. It’s suitable for beginners with its stepped grind adjustment system, but it’s also great for experts with its second adjustment wheel.
For that reason, we say that it’s a wonderful grinder for beginners who want something that will grow with them.
What Customers Say
Our Sette 270Wi customers have all been pleased with it. They report that it’s a consistent grinder which gives them exactly as much as they need time and time again.
Given all the positive feedback this grinder has received, we can definitively say we are proud to offer it in our store.
Pricing Information
Majesty Coffee’s mission is to price our equipment fairly so that people of all budgets have access to the world’s best coffee and espresso gear.
For that reason, we offer our Baratza Sette 270Wi for $549. We also have the basic Baratza Sette 270 for $399 and the Baratza Vario W for $559.
Ask an Expert
Buy with Confidence. Contact Our Experts Today. M-F 10am - 6pm EST
📞 888-978-5224
Tony Barlow, with over a decade of experience in the coffee industry, is the go-to technical sales expert at Majesty Coffee. He's passionate about helping businesses find the right espresso equipment for their needs.