THE BARATZA ENCORE GRINDER REVIEW: IS IT STILL A GOOD PICK?

The Baratza Encore has long been one of the most popular entry-level coffee grinders.

It’s versatile, well-made, and relatively inexpensive. However, the home coffee grinder market has expanded rapidly in recent years, and the Encore hasn’t been updated in that time. 

Is it still worthy of the top spot? Or is it coasting along on an outdated reputation? 

I’ve been testing the Encore to answer those questions and more. Read on to find out why I still think it’s a great pick.

The Full Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder Review

The Encore Grinder is a mainstay on lists of recommended coffee grinders from many coffee professionals. It occupies a unique sweet spot in an otherwise crowded market. It’s only slightly more expensive than the cheapest burr grinders while offering significantly higher performance.

This Baratza Encore review is my honest opinion after using this grinder for years. The Encore coffee grinder is ideal for any beginner to intermediate coffee lover with a preference for drip coffee over espresso.

How We Rated It

• Design
• Durability
• Ease Of Use
• Grinding Capability
• Price

4

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Let’s Talk Grind Quality And Consistency

The Baratza Encore burr coffee grinder has a 40-step grind-size adjustment, which ranges from about 250 microns to 1200 microns. It can churn out an espresso grind just as easily as it can produce a French Press grind (1). I was surprised to find it even did a decent job of the extra-coarse grind required for cold brew coffee.

However, it’s clearly designed for brewing filter coffee. The best grind consistency is found in the middle of its grind range, from about medium-fine to medium-coarse. The Encore from Baratza is an excellent grinder for brewing with an Aeropress, pour-over brewer, automatic drip coffee maker, Moka pot, or French press.

Burr Set & Motor

The Encore has a set of 40-mm conical stainless steel burrs. The size and shape are pretty standard for entry-level grinders, but the burr quality is definitely a cut above the competition. 

This electric coffee grinder uses a high-torque 240-watt DC motor and an updated gearbox to rotate the burrs at a steady 550 RPM. This is another area where the Encore clearly outperforms lower-priced models, most of which have far less powerful motors ranging from 100 to 200 watts.

The slow grind has several benefits (2). It reduces heat build-up to ensure a superior coffee flavor. It minimizes static, which means more consistent dosing and less mess. And it limits noise. I clocked the Encore right around 80 dB, a few notches below average grinder volume.

At the same time, the high-torque powerful motor ensures this grinder never stalls, even when grinding denser light roasts – a problem I often encounter with cheaper grinders.

Can a Baratza Encore grind for espresso?

Grinding for coffee shop quality espresso requires three things: a very fine grind, a very consistent grind, and very small steps between grind settings. 

The Encore hits the first two but not the third, which means it’s only suitable for an espresso machine with a pressurized portafilter. For a non-pressurized portafilter, smaller steps between grind settings are crucial to properly dial in a shot. With the Encore, your perfectly extracted espresso shot could easily be sitting right between two settings.

I also wouldn’t recommend this grinder for producing the consistent and ultra-fine grinds of a Turkish coffee grinder.

How To Use The Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

The Encore makes great coffee easy. It may not have all the nifty features of the higher-end grinders, but I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily a bad thing. 

This grinder is relatively simple and easy to operate once you learn the grind size and how much coffee you need for your perfect coffee. Its friendly and easy-to-use design is a hallmark of the Baratza brand (3).

There is an on/off switch on the side and a pulse grinding button on the front. That’s all. To grind with the Encore:

1. Plug it in and add whole bean coffee to the hopper.
2. Twist the hopper to adjust the grind size.
3. Turn it on.
4. Press the button to grind coffee.
5. Release the button to stop grinding. 

The obvious feature missing from the Encore is any sort of dosing control. There is no manual or digital timer. Not only does this make consistency difficult, but it also means you need to stand at the grinder and wait while it grinds.

In my experience, it only takes about 15 seconds to grind beans for a single-serve pour over coffee – no big deal. But grinding 120 grams of coffee to brew a 12-cup carafe takes over 2 minutes, which can feel like an eternity when you’re desperate for coffee.

That said, there are advantages. I like that its simplicity grants you immediate control over the grind, allowing you to play around and tailor each batch to your needs. It’s an intuitive system, and you’ll quickly get used to it. But I definitely recommend pairing it with a coffee scale for brewing methods like pour-over where coffee to water ratio is particularly important.

How often should you clean the Baratza Encore?

How often you should clean your grinder depends on your daily usage habits and your favorite coffee type. 

I generally brew a cup or two of medium-roast coffee daily, and I give my grinder a deep clean every three to six months. If you drink more coffee or enjoy very oily, dark-roast coffee beans, you may need to clean your grinder every four to six weeks.

Cleaning is straightforward. Twist off the hopper to reveal the top burr, which is removable without any tools. This gives you access to the grind chamber. Use a dry brush to dust out any coffee residue. If it’s too dirty to clean with a brush, you can buy grinder pellets designed for cleaning coffee oils. Whatever you do, don’t clean your burrs with water!

The removable hopper and grounds bin are not dishwasher-safe but can be rinsed for quick cleaning. Just make sure they’re completely dry before putting them back in.

Design Features And Aesthetics

I think the Encore’s design has a timeless charm. Despite the plastic body, the finish doesn’t look cheap, whether you opt for the white or black model. And if that’s not hip enough for you, Baratza recently introduced accent kits that let you add a fun pop of color to your Encore.

Baratza designed the Encore to fit comfortably under most kitchen cabinets, with dimensions of 4.7” x 6.3” x 13.8” (WxDxH). I find I have to slide it out from under my cupboards to refill the hopper, but it only weighs 7 pounds, so it’s not a huge hassle. 

The transparent hopper can hold up to 10 ounces of beans, and the grounds bin has a 4.2-ounce capacity – enough to brew 12 cups. 

How Long Does The Baratza Encore Last?

I think this is an area where the Encore really shines. While it was designed to be a true beginner’s tool with few fancy features, it doesn’t compromise on quality like other inexpensive grinders.

True, the visible parts, such as the casing, hopper, and grounds bin, are all plastic. But the important internal components are metal, and a heavy metal ballast stabilizes the whole thing, making this machine quite hefty for its small size.

Those claims aren’t unfounded. While I haven’t had mine for that long yet, there are plenty of testimonials online about decade-old Encores. Baratza takes pride in its outstanding customer service and support. Most parts can be replaced if damaged, and it’s easy to send your grinder in for repairs.

The Encore has a thermal overload cutout that protects the motor from overheating due to excessive use. It can also recognize a jam and stop quickly enough without damaging any parts. These are features I’m always happy to find in an entry-level burr grinder, and they will definitely extend its lifetime.

Is The Baratza Encore Worth It?

Absolutely. 

I rarely offer such an unqualified assessment of a product’s value for money, but the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder truly outperforms its price tag. Priced around $150, it costs roughly $50 more than other entry-level electric grinders on the market, but it far outperforms them in grind consistency, number of settings, motor, and build quality. 

You can expect many years of loyal service in exchange for your marginally larger initial financial investment. Plus, Baratza grinders are some of the most respected machines in the specialty coffee industry, and you can count on their excellent customer service should any issues arise.

Don’t Buy The Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder If…

• You’re on a tight budget – If you can’t justify the cost of the Encore, don’t be tempted to settle for a blade grinder. Instead, consider the Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder, Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder, or the Solis Scala coffee grinder for less expensive home grinder options that don’t compromise on the quality of the grind.

• You want more bells and whistles – If you don’t feel that the Encore will meet your requirements for versatility, consider paying a little more for the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. With 60 grinder settings, a digital timer, and dose control, this machine is the iPhone of burr grinders. 
  
  Or upgrade to the next Baratza model up the price scale, the Baratza Virtuoso, which adds an improved burr set and digital timer to the Encore.

• You want to brew espresso – Baratza recently released a new model of the Encore, the Baratza Encore ESP, designed specifically for those who appreciate the world of coffee and espresso. Compared to the Encore, it has smaller steps between grind settings at the finer end of the grind spectrum, making it easier to dial in the perfect espresso shot. 
  
  Alternatively, consider a hand grinder like the 1Zpresso JX-Pro. A manual grinder does away with the motor so it can offer a superior burr set at a lower price. 

The Verdict

Even as the market heats up with trendy new products, I still love the Baratza Encore Burr Grinder. It provides an easy introduction to the world of craft coffee at home, and it doesn’t surprise me that many coffee experts continue to recommend the Encore. Its quality, versatility, and more-than-reasonable price tag make this grinder hard to pass up.

The Encore is a great grinder for any coffee drinker who enjoys manual brewing or drip coffee. However, if you are an espresso aficionado who values consistent dosing and micro adjustments, planning on spending a bit more for a dedicated espresso grinder.

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