Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder Review: Let’s Hear It Again for a Great Performer!

Good coffee beans are the most important ingredient for great espresso or drip coffee. Still, even the best beans will turn into bad coffee if you butcher them in an unsuitable coffee grinder. In this Baratza Encore review I’ll tell you about a great alternative to your old blade grinder.

If you love pour over coffee, like to fire up the French Press or enjoy experimenting with your Aeropress, the Baratza Encore is definitely worth checking out. In my opinion, it’s an absolute classic. It’s neither the most professional grinder on the market, nor is it a true all-rounder. Plus, achieving a perfect espresso grind is not one of its strengths.

However, its price-performance ratio is still so outstanding that it still sells like hot cakes, despite having been around for years.

In my Baratza Encore review you’ll learn how this machine fares in a head-to-head comparison with similar models, and what you need to keep in mind when using it. You’ll also find all the reasons why I think the Baratza Encore is one of the best burr coffee grinders of all time.

best mid-range electric grinder

Baratza Encore

The Best Coffee Grinder for Drip and Chemex

Minimal Static Charge

Easy To Clean

Easy To Use

Compact and Reliable

Consistent Grind

Not Suitable for Espresso

Quite Loud

	CHECK PRICE
	CHECK PRICE

All specifications

Baratza Encore
Current price on Amazon	$149.95
All specifications

Baratza Encore Review: First Impressions

When you go looking for a coffee grinder, there are three things you should keep in mind:

In all three respects, the Baratza Encore has, for years, managed to find the perfect middle ground between price and performance. Although at $149.95, it’s close to the minimum I’d spend on a grinder. This is reflected in the range of functions.

You can buy the Baratza Encore in either black or white. I’m partial to the black, but can imagine that some people would prefer something brighter.

The grinder is equipped with pretty effective stainless steel conical burrs. This is what makes the Encore more compact and less expensive. That said, you may be disappointed to hear that achieving a super-fine grind for espresso will be rather difficult.

In addition, there are no features that could make dosing easier for you. You’ll just find an on/off switch on the side and a pulse button on the front. Grinding only happens when you hold down the button. It doesn’t stop automatically at a given weight or after a certain amount of time.

Also, there’s no optional portafilter holder. I don’t want to sound negative, I just want to make it clear to you that this thing has its limitations. Still, the Baratza Encore gets everything done that needs to be done, as long as it’s above espresso in terms of fineness.

For a more in depth look at grind levels, be sure to check out my coffee grind size chart.

Baratza Encore Technical Specifications

Baratza Encore vs the Competition

When purchasing any coffee grinder it’s important to understand how it stacks up against the competition. Below, I’ll compare the Baratza Encore to similarly priced offerings.

Baratza Encore vs Virtuoso

In my first Baratza Encore review, I mentioned the Baratza Virtuoso as an identical alternative but with more stainless steel. However, the Virtuoso is no longer available.

Why? Because no one wanted to pay the higher price for (allegedly) less static charge. At this point, I should mention that static buildup is surprisingly unproblematic with the Encore anyway. The same logic applies to the Baratza Virtuoso+.

But what about all the other competition on Amazon? After all, the Encore is always being compared with the same set of grinders. Let’s have a look.

Baratza Encore vs Capresso Infinity Plus

Capresso is a Swiss company that just happens to be owned by our old friends, Jura Inc. The manufacturer has built a strong reputation for offering solid and very affordable home espresso machines, and the Capresso Infinity Plus Conical Burr Grinder fits right in with the budget vibe.

You’ll only pay $99.80 for the Infinity Plus, but you’re not going to get a life-altering grinder. There are 16 grind settings in total, ranging from extra-fine to coarse. At the finer settings, you’ll experience quite a lot of blockage and static buildup. That said, you should get pretty convincing results if you’re grinding for Chemex or French press.

See Also: Capresso Infinity Plus Review

Baratza Encore vs OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder

Costing $109.94 on Amazon, the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder is an affordable model that has quite a few things going for it.

There are 38 grind settings and a one-touch start timer that’ll keep your last setting. Plus, the OXO has a tinted bean hopper which protects your coffee beans from the harmful effects of UV radiation. I’m often surprised at how many manufacturers seem to forget about adding this feature to their grinders.

Having tested the OXO coffee grinder, I got to see firsthand that reports of excess static buildup and unacceptable noise levels were a little overstated. In fact, I’d say this entry-level burr grinder performs really well for drip coffee and pour over.

See Also: OXO Grinder Review

Baratza Encore vs Encore ESP

If you’re determined to have a coffee grinder that’ll be suitable for espresso preparation, I’d definitely recommend checking out the Baratza Encore ESP. With that said, at $199.95, the Encore ESP is quite a bit pricier than the original.

So, what does the extra investment get you? Well, Baratza did something very clever with this updated Encore grinder. The first 20 grind settings are in a dedicated espresso range, wherein each setting change represents just 9 microns of burr movement. That means you can precisely dial in your espresso shots. Above the 20th grind adjustment setting, the burrs move 45 microns, which is perfectly sufficient for other preparation methods.

I have to say this was kind of a genius move, and it almost feels like you’re getting two grinders in one. Sure, the Baratza Encore ESP isn’t perfect, but it does offer a lot more versatility than the original model.

See Also: Baratza Encore ESP Review

Adjusting the Grinder: Different Points of View

In the Baratza Encore manual, you’ll find optimal grind setting recommendations for a variety of preparation methods, including espresso, AeroPress, Chemex and French press.

The fact is that all coffee beans are different and any given preparation method may frequently require a new grind setting. Still, it’s worth pointing out that the suggestions in the Baratza user guide differ greatly from my findings.

My recommendations for Baratza Encore grind settings aren’t set in stone, either. However, they do come closer to helping achieve the optimal extraction:

To adjust the grind, turn the bean hopper and listen for the clicking sounds. This works easiest directly at the base, or with a finger on the grind scale.

As with all electric grinders, you should only adjust the Baratza conical burr grinder while it is running. Even if most grinder manufacturers say otherwise. You’ll just have to trust me on this one.

Unlike super automatic grinders, you’ll quickly notice any grind setting changes you’ve made, which means you won’t waste a bunch of coffee.

Similar to super automatic grinders, the Baratza’s conical burrs are quite loud. Seeing as they’re installed almost directly on the surface, you’ll have no problem hearing them in action. Grinding coffee at four in the morning? If you live alone on a desert island, it’ll be fine. Otherwise, your neighbors might start giving you dirty looks.

The Baratza Encore in Operation

One nice feature of this coffee grinder is the two-way on/off switch. It doesn’t matter which way you turn it, so you don’t have to worry about somehow using it incorrectly.

Additionally, the grinder has a pulse button on the front. This is suitable either for grinding a little extra or for low-volume grinding into a portafilter.

However, as I already mentioned, this isn’t a dedicated espresso grinder. So you’ll need to position your portafilter well below the grind outlet, hold it steady and press the pulse button until it’s full. This is tricky and, of course, doesn’t work without some amount of spillage. Still, with a little practice, it can be done.

For larger volumes of ground coffee — when you’re using a coffee maker, for example — you simply use the included catch cup. That way you won’t make a mess. The grounds container creates almost no static charge, so you’ll get practically all the coffee you’ve ground.

If you also use a coffee scale, you’ll get the right amount of coffee — even with the Encore’s non-existent dosing aids — without wasting half of it along the way.

As soon as you know how long the Encore takes to grind X amount of coffee, you may even forget the scale altogether.

Using the Baratza Encore: A Few Tips

You’ll only find the correct Baratza Encore grinder settings through a little trial and error. However, as always, there are a few practical tips that will get you in the right neighborhood from the start. That way, you won’t waste too many of your best coffee beans.

Apropos: For adjusting, you should always keep a separate batch of “test beans” handy. Something cheaper and less tasty will work, as long as it has a similar coffee roast profile to the good stuff. Don’t go too cheap and corporate, though. Otherwise, the unholy market power of the mass-market coffee industry will never be stopped!

Baratza Encore for French Press

While the perfect coffee grind for French Press is always on the coarser end of the spectrum, following Baratza’s instructions will make your full immersion coffee too bland and boring.

I believe that the folks at Baratza tend to treat this preparation method with some disdain. That or they underestimate their skills. As it happens, the Baratza Encore coffee grinder is ideal for the French Press — as long as you set the grind to a much finer-than-recommended setting.

In this way, the grind will be super consistent, and the water can perfectly extract the many nuances from your beans as you brew coffee.

Baratza Encore for AeroPress

The AeroPress is tailor-made for experimentation. That’s why it’s no big deal that my grind setting differs from Baratza’s suggestion.

Depending on the contact time with the water, the volume of ground coffee and the method (inverted or normal), you’ll always tease new facets from your favorite beans.

My general AeroPress range is the first level where the Encore coffee grinder is really convincing. From here on up, the grinder can work cleanly and efficiently, and the results are very consistent.

Baratza Encore for Pour Over

The pour over is my litmus test for any coffee grinder. If it’s no good for that, you don’t need to buy it. I do set the grinder a touch coarser than the manufacturer’s recommended level, but again, that’s a bean issue. I can say with confidence that the Baratza Encore plays in the pour over A-league.

Baratza Encore for a Coffee Maker

It used to be that pairing a “simple” coffee maker with a decent coffee grinder seemed strange.

However, everyone now knows this combination is a game-changer when it comes to how the coffee tastes. It’s no wonder the Baratza Encore is sometimes available bundled with the fabulous Technivorm Moccamaster.

The differences in terms of the perfect grind setting vary depending on the machine. It all comes down to the way the coffee maker distributes water over the bed of ground coffee, what temperature it reaches, etc.

I recommend starting with a medium grind, then adjusting up or down in small increments, depending on how the coffee tastes.

Baratza Encore for Espresso

Despite my mistrust of the Encore as an espresso grinder, there’s nothing to say you can’t give it a shot (pun very much intended). However, you’ll have to live with the fact that the finest grind may be too coarse and a bit too inconsistent. In short, you’ll have a hard time getting espresso that isn’t under-extracted.

In addition, a grinder unsuitable for espresso quickly tends to jam during the grinding process. This happens because the burrs are too close together at the finest settings.

The Encore definitely has this problem. Only from level 6 and up does the grinding run smoothly, with the grounds falling evenly into the portafilter.

How To Clean the Baratza Encore

I’ve heard through the grapevine that some of you have been using your coffee grinder for years without cleaning it. Eew!

True, there’s no water in a grinder, so you don’t run the risk of finding moldy coffee in there. However, coffee beans have plenty of oils and fats. And they go rancid. So, regular cleaning is just as important here as it is in a super automatic grinder.

What “regular cleaning” means in terms of frequency depends on the frequency of use. However, once a month is probably a good starting point. To clean an electric grinder, you have two options:

Both options have their fans, but I tend to prefer the second method. The grinder consists of an easily removable outer ring burr and a fixed cone burr. The easiest way to clean the burrs is to remove the ring burr then do your best to brush off the cone burr while it’s still in place.

First, remove the bean hopper, vacuum up the excess coffee beans and then take care of the grinding mechanism. You don’t need a screwdriver for this.

Once you have the upper ring burr in hand, you can either brush it or wipe it with a paper towel if needed. Again, I recommend vacuuming and brushing the fixed cone burr without trying to remove it.

Be careful: the ring burr has sharp edges. After cleaning, make sure you gently replace it in the correct position. In addition, you’ll need to readjust the grinder settings after cleaning.

Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder: The Best in Its Class?

best mid-range electric grinder

Baratza Encore

The Best Coffee Grinder for Drip and Chemex

Minimal Static Charge

Easy To Clean

Easy To Use

Compact and Reliable

Consistent Grind

Not Suitable for Espresso

Quite Loud

	CHECK PRICE
	CHECK PRICE

All specifications

Baratza Encore
Current price on Amazon	$149.95
All specifications

Even after many years and tons of new alternatives, I still think the Baratza Encore is one of the best coffee grinders in the “sensible” entry-level bracket. As long as you want to prepare and grind everything except espresso, that is. It certainly won’t break the bank.

Of course, $149.95 is no small amount. Plus, there are plenty of high-performance alternatives in my guide to the best budget coffee grinders. Still, if you’re serious about your coffee, it just doesn’t make sense to skimp on coffee gear, and the Baratza Encore has a lot going for it.

Baratza Encore Review FAQ