Which to buy · Every setting
Eureka Mignon Specialita vs Varia VS3 (2nd Gen)
Conical against flat — the VS3 (2nd Gen)'s scale curves where the other runs straight. The Mignon Specialita turns 0–24 rotations; the VS3 (2nd Gen) is numbered 0–19.
Which to buy
Choose the
Mignon Specialita if you…
- grind several doses from a 300 g hopper, with two timed doses
- want 55 mm hardened steel flat burrs
- want a hands-free fork that holds the portafilter
Choose the
VS3 (2nd Gen) if you…
- single-dose — a 30 g hopper, and Varia quotes under 0.1 g retention on a 10 g dose with RDT
- want 48 mm conical burrs (38 mm inner diameter)
- want a small grinder — 3.5 kg and 310 mm tall
Sources: Eureka — Mignon Specialità · Varia — VS3 Grinder
| Mignon Specialita | VS3 (2nd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Eureka | Varia |
| Scale | Rotations | Numbered dial |
| Dial range | 0.0 rotations – 24.0 rotations | 0 – 19 |
| Burrs | Flat | Conical |
| Espresso → filter | 6.5 rotations | 5 numbers |
| Filter → coarse | 7 rotations | 13 numbers |
Converting a setting
If a recipe quotes a setting for one of these grinders, read across for the equivalent on the other. Rows are spaced evenly by grind size, not by dial number — on a conical burr those are not the same thing.
| Mignon Specialita | VS3 (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 1 |
| 3 | 3.2 |
| 4 | 4.7 |
| 5.5 | 5.2 |
| 1+1 | 5.4 |
| 1+2 | 6.2 |
| 1+3 | 7.9 |
| 1+4 | 10.1 |
| 1+5 | 12.2 |
| 2+0 | 14.1 |
| 2+1 | 15.7 |
| 2+2 | 17.4 |
| 2+3 | 19 |
| VS3 (2nd Gen) | Mignon Specialita |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.5 |
| 3.2 | 3 |
| 4.7 | 4 |
| 5.2 | 5.5 |
| 5.4 | 1+1 |
| 6.2 | 1+2 |
| 7.9 | 1+3 |
| 10.1 | 1+4 |
| 12.2 | 1+5 |
| 14.1 | 2+0 |
| 15.7 | 2+1 |
| 17.4 | 2+2 |
| 19 | 2+3 |
Side by side, by brew method
Where each grinder lands for the same brew, worked out from its own dial curve.
| Method | Mignon Specialita | VS3 (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Moka pot | 4 | 4.5 |
| AeroPress (short steep) | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| Pour over — V60 / cone | 1+1.5 | 5.8 |
| Pour over — flat bottom | 1+2.5 | 6.8 |
| Drip / batch brew | 1+3 | 7.9 |
| Chemex | 1+4 | 10 |
| French press | 1+5.5 | 13.4 |
| Cold brew | 2+1.5 | 16.6 |
The shape of each dial
Where the connectors bunch, that grinder’s dial is compressed and single steps count for more. Comparing the two shapes tells you which gives finer control, and where.
Eureka Mignon Specialita
Varia VS3 (2nd Gen)
Dialing in the Mignon Specialita
A stepless espresso grinder first, everything else second. The micrometric adjustment means small movements do real work at the fine end, and the settings below should be read as starting positions rather than detents. It will grind for filter and does it competently, but you are working at the far edge of a dial designed for a different job.
Dialing in the VS3 (2nd Gen)
A compact grinder that tries to cover espresso and brew in a small footprint, and mostly succeeds. The second generation improved the burr alignment that limited the original. Expect to work harder at the espresso end than on a dedicated machine.
Decided?
Where to buy
These are affiliate links: if you buy through one, BrewMark earns a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change the numbers on this page — the settings above are worked out from each grinder’s own dial curve, and were written before any of these links existed.
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