Electric grinder
Cold brew grind setting for the Varia VS3
13–15
That is where to start with a light roast. It should come out looking like coarse sea salt. Medium roasts go to 14–16 and dark roasts to 15–17.
The setting, by roast
Lighter roasts are harder to pull flavor out of, so they grind a little finer and steep longer. Darker roasts go the other way. The dial runs from 0 to 20.
| Roast | Setting | Looks like | Steep in the fridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light roast | 13–15 | coarse sea salt | 18–22 h |
| Medium roast | 14–16 | coarse kosher salt | 14–18 h |
| Dark roast | 15–17 | raw sugar | 10–14 h |
Where the number comes from
The maker points to 10.1–19.6 for cold brew. Our starting point is 15 for a medium roast, and it moves with the roast.
Maker’s guidance: honestcoffeeguide.com
If you changed the burrs
Different burrs cut differently at the same number. Here is where each set starts.
| Burr set | Light | Medium | Dark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock 48mm Conical (420 stainless, HRC58) | 13–15 | 14–16 | 15–17 |
| Hypernova Ti-Coated Burr SetTitanium-plated, same stock geometry for sharper cutting/less heat; dial numbers unchanged. | 13–15 | 14–16 | 15–17 |
| Hypernova ULTRA-S Burr SetUpdated geometry tuned for light/dense roasts, tighter distribution; no documented dial shift vs stock. | 13–15 | 14–16 | 15–17 |
| Supernova Burr SetTi-coated, espresso-clarity oriented burr; same coarse-end reach as stock. | 13–15 | 14–16 | 15–17 |
How to use it
- Set it. Set the dial to 13–15. That is the light roast setting. Use the table above for anything darker.
- Grind and look. You want pieces about the size of coarse sea salt.
- Steep. Give it 18–22 hours in the fridge, or 12–14 on the counter.
- Taste and adjust. Too bitter? Go coarser next time. Too sour? Go finer. Move about 2 at a time.
Let the app keep track.
Cold Brew Studio shows the dial created for your Varia VS3 with the setting marked, sizes the batch to your brewer, and moves the dial for you when you rate how it tasted.
Free on iPhone and the web. No account needed.
Quick answers
- What grind setting should I use for cold brew on the Varia VS3?
- Start at 13–15 for a light roast, 14–16 for a medium roast and 15–17 for a dark roast.
- How long should I steep cold brew ground on the Varia VS3?
- 18–22 hours in the fridge for a light roast, 14–18 for medium and 10–14 for dark. On the counter it goes faster: 12–14, 9–12 and 7–9 hours.
- What should the grounds look like?
- Coarse. About the size of coarse sea salt for a light roast, coarse kosher salt for medium and raw sugar for dark.
- What does the maker recommend for cold brew on the Varia VS3?
- 10.1–19.6.