Makes a humming sound instead of grinding

You should call your vendor for service. Especially if this equipment is on loan from them.
*** The following is for information only. Equipment should be serviced by a qualified tech. ****
* Bunn.com has a free download of their manuals.
* Check the parts diagram if you have assembled everything properly. Often people forget the 'button' (looks like a nickel with a dent in it.)
* Perform the following adjustments WITHOUT beans as they will prevent you from hearing to any problems.
* Opening the burrs too wide (turning too far counter clockwise) will have the plate scraping the cover and you get metal flaking along with a teeth chattering/grinding sound. Turn the adjustment several times CLOCK-WISE and try again. If you still get grinding then take everything apart and check for objects in the burr area then reassemble according to the parts diagram. Make sure you have the correct model and diagram.
* Closing the burrs too tight (Clock-wise) will have the burrs touch and lock up together. There is another loud grinding sound but not as bad as hitting the case. Though back it off fast as you will ruin the plates if they over heat.
* Note; Once you get things in range. (No loud metal chatter or grinding sounds. Just a nice hum and whirling sound. The you will need to calibrate the plate. Go ahead and add a few table spoons of beans. Keep it to a very small amount as you will probably end up dumping them (a waste). I use 'expired' or old beans for this.
* Calibration is done by grinding a few beans at a time. You must clear the beans completely before adjusting to the next setting. Keep turning the dial to the fine setting. Keep grinding small doses until you get to the level of grind that matches the finest setting on the dial (usually Turkish grind which is almost a powder.) Adjust this back (Larger) a bit as most people end up burning the beans at this fine a grind. It also takes forever to grind a whole bag, even with only 10 oz of beans. Lock down the adjustment screw once your satisfied with the grind matching the dial.
* Note; If you find the motor trips out often then back off the grinder for a larger (course) grind.
*Finally check with your vendor if your still having problems.

Aloha! ukeboy57

Do the blades and motor turn? Can you manually turn the blade around by hand? Can you put a magnet down there to turn on the magnetic switch? The holes that the food passes through are the same size as a coffee bean so if something metal that size gets caught in there it may jam it up, or if something is thin enough it could get caught between the round grinding plate and the inside wall of the grinding chamber. Keep me posted on what happens.

if you hear it trying to grind, but is not, or hear it spinning and is not grinding, more than likely it is blocked, or so oily that bean will not drop. Coffee beans, have so much oils in them, that after a while it gets caked up, and beans either get jammed, or stuck. If you hear grinder low humming, then it is probably stuck or clogged, if it is on but hear like a spinning sound, beans are not dropping, because they are stuck because of oil build up. If you can get to the grinder, turn machine off, unplug, get all beans out, take like a wooden chop stick and put it in area where beans go and move the chop stick around the gears. you like your reaming it out kind of. turn machine back on, try this procedure a few times. ( MAKE SURE MACHINE IS UNPLUGGED WHEN DOING THIS) As said early if it is a low humming, like motor turning but jammed, do not use until jam is fixed, you will burn up motor, then have more expensive fix. Let me know if this helped and solved problem. Mr Bean Man from Fixya

No solution but I have the same problem.

First, I'm not a Baratza tech, but I have worked on commercial grinders. You should contact your vendor for service.
*** The following is for information only ***
* check on line for your model parts manual. The diagrams will help you identify the parts needed and should provide instructions on replacing/cleaning the burrs.
* As you've figured out, cleaning with rice is not a good idea.
* Burr plates do get dull and needs to be replaced. Longer grind times and frequent adjustments to get finer grinds is an indication of dull plates.
* The oil in the beans used gets caked up under and on the sides of the burr plates.
* Heavy usage and long grind times will melt the oils and fill every part of the burr chamber and even get into the motor and bearings. I've found oil in the on/off switches and rotary switches.
* The burr plates must be removed and chamber cleaned of all oil residue and beans (rice too). Use a vacuum cleaner and stiff brush to clean. Do not use water or any liquids in the burr chamber. You can clean the burrs in wash water once it's removed from equipment. Dry thoroughly before reinstalling.
* The motor should turn freely by hand (no power!) with nothing hitting the sides or under the plate. If it's difficult to turn or makes grinding or whirling noise. Then the lower plate needs to be removed and cleaned. The motor bearings will need to be replaced if the motor does not turn at all.
* Once cleaned and assembled(without any beans) Power up and check the operation. You should have a motor hum without any clanking or screeching (metal rubbing metal) sounds. Stop and power down if you do. Motor bearings are bad.
* If you get nothing then check the switches. Oil probably got in them. Replace.
* Runs okay? Then set the grinder to a large setting (like drip coffee; Turn on and allow to run while you drop some whole beans into the hopper. Use 1/4 cup or less. This should grind through smoothly.
* Placing another 1/4 cup of whole beans. Turn on grinder again. Just hums without grinding? Power down. Replace motor starter capacitor.
* The capacitor is round and usually attached to the motor like a 'hump' on the side or near the top. If you didn't take it apart then one of the wires in the switching side may be miss wired or loose. Check both for loose and correct wired. Careful around the capacitor as it may still have a charge! The capacitor is used to kick start the motor with it's heavy burr plates.
* If your still having problems with low power. Check the motor for burnt smell as you may have overheated and fried the motor. They usually have thermal resets, but if you kept forcing the reset to keep grinding then the motor is defiantly burnt out.
* Final; if everything is working but your not getting the fine grind setting (you should at least get espresso setting but not turkish) then the burrs are gone. It will only be good for drip coffee.
Aloha, ukeboy57

PS I found a cute video on how to clean the burrs (frequent cleaning)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=baratza+virtuoso+grinder+cleaning+burrs&&view=detail&mid=41DCCF0EB0CACFEA9E4841DCCF0EB0CACFEA9E48&&FORM=VRDGAR

Did you cleaned the grinder with any fluids? This will not help , the blades got wet and coffee grounds are stuck (cemented) on to the blades.You will have to cleaned the blades and KEEP it DRY.

Bean grinders expect to grind whole beans as you have just found out. The grounds have clogged the entrance of the grinder. Use a wood chop stick to try and loosen up the 'caked' coffee and remove the coffee with a vacuum hose attachment. Try to **** out as much of the coffee as you can. Please note that this should all be done with the machine unplugged. Try grinding again but don't let it 'Hum' too long if it's not grinding. You can also try to adjust the grinder 'coarser' to give more room for the burrs to clear. Good Luck!

Hi,

If you look at the adjustment knob in the bean hopper, make sure it is in the middle i think it will be "8".
Make sure you not get any damp into the grinder.

Try to make 2-3 cup of coffee.

Let me know if i can help you more

Best regards
/Mirran

Hi Cindy,

Make sure you not get any water in the grinder, if you get water in the grinder then it bean smeary and will not grind the beans.

You have to clean the grinder if you get any moisten in it.

/Mirran

ONE COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MACHINES, SINCE THEY ARE MADE IN CHINA, THE QUALITY OF THE BEARINGS DETERIORATE IN ABOUT EXACTLY ONE YEAR. AND THE GRINDER NO LONGER WORKS. THE BEARING BUSHING ITS MADE OF BRASS, AND THE LOAD OF THE COFFEE BEANS OVER KILL THE BEARING. ITS A RIP-OFF....