Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder: A Complete Guide
The Baratza Encore is one of the most recommended entry-level burr grinders on the market, and it's held that position for over a decade. If you're trying to figure out whether the Encore is the right first upgrade from a blade grinder, or whether it's worth keeping in your setup long-term, here's what you need to know.
The Encore uses a 40mm conical burr set driven by a DC motor. It has 40 grind settings, grinds into a removable grounds bin, and runs around $170-$200 new. It's designed primarily for filter brewing methods, drip coffee makers, pour over, and AeroPress, though it can produce acceptable espresso at its finest settings on some machines. Baratza makes it, services it, and sells replacement parts for it, which matters more than it sounds.
Who the Baratza Encore Is Actually For
The Encore is built for people who are serious about fresh, consistent coffee but are new to grinding their own beans. It's not a beginner grinder in the sense of being low quality. It's beginner-friendly in that it's simple to use and hard to mess up.
If you've been using pre-ground coffee or a blade grinder and you want to understand what freshly ground, consistently sized coffee actually tastes like, the Encore will show you. The difference in a cup of pour over made from freshly ground beans from an Encore versus pre-ground coffee from a supermarket bag is substantial. It's the kind of difference that makes you wonder what you were doing before.
The Encore is also the right call if you want a grinder that does not require much thought or fiddling. You set the grind size, load beans, press the pulse button or set the timer, and grind. It doesn't ask much from you.
Grind Settings and Performance
The 40 numbered settings on the Encore cover a solid range for filter brewing. Setting 1 is the finest and 40 is the coarsest.
- 1-5: Too fine for most use on the Encore; these settings are near espresso range but the Encore is not optimized for it
- 5-15: Suitable for Moka pot and AeroPress (depending on your recipe)
- 15-25: Pour over range (V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave)
- 25-35: Drip coffee makers
- 35-40: French press and cold brew
The step increments between settings are even, which makes it straightforward to adjust and document what works. If setting 20 produces slightly under-extracted pour over, you move to 19. The adjustments are repeatable.
Conical vs. Flat Burrs in the Encore Context
The 40mm conical steel burrs in the Encore produce a grind that's good for filter coffee. Conical burrs tend to produce a slightly bimodal grind (a mix of larger particles and fine particles) which isn't problematic for most filter methods. Pour over and drip are forgiving enough that the grind distribution produces clean, flavorful coffee.
For espresso, the conical burr distribution at fine settings can make dialing in harder. The grind isn't as uniform as dedicated espresso grinders. The Encore can pull a passable shot on machines like an older DeLonghi or a lower-pressure machine, but on a proper 9-bar machine, you'll quickly want something better for espresso.
If espresso is your goal, it's worth looking at dedicated espresso grinders in our best coffee grinder roundup before settling on the Encore.
The Baratza Service Network: Why It Matters
Baratza is an American company with a genuinely good reputation for customer service. They sell replacement parts directly on their website. They have a refurbished unit program where they recondition used grinders and resell them at a discount. They employ repair technicians and answer support questions.
This is different from most grinder companies. When a cheap grinder's motor dies or a burr chips, the product is basically disposable. When an Encore part fails, you can buy the specific component and fix it yourself. Baratza publishes repair guides. The community around the Encore is large enough that most problems have documented solutions.
Practically, this means an Encore bought today is likely a machine you'll use for 5-10 years before you outgrow it, not 2-3 years before it fails.
The Encore ESP vs. Standard Encore
Baratza updated the Encore lineup with the Encore ESP, which adds a few features targeted at espresso users: a tighter grind range at the fine end, a portafilter holder, and slightly more consistent particle distribution at fine settings.
If your primary use is filter brewing, the standard Encore is the better value at its lower price. If you want to experiment with espresso on a home machine, the Encore ESP gives you a better starting point, though I'd still suggest a dedicated espresso grinder for serious shot-pulling.
Build Quality and What Breaks
The Encore is made mostly of plastic externally with metal internal components. The grind bin, hopper, and upper housing are all plastic. This keeps the weight low and the cost down, but it doesn't feel premium.
The motor and burrs are where Baratza spent the engineering budget. The DC motor is appropriately sized for home use and the burrs are sharp from the factory. The grind adjustment ring moves smoothly and the settings stay put during grinding.
Static is the most common complaint. The plastic bin accumulates static charge, especially with light roasts, causing grounds to cling to the walls and fly around when you tap the bin. The Ross Droplet Technique (a single drop of water on beans before grinding) eliminates this almost completely. Many Encore users also swap the plastic bin for a metal cup as a permanent static fix.
The hopper holds about 230g of beans, which is enough for a few days of typical use.
Comparison With Other Options at This Price
Encore vs. OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder: The OXO runs around $100 and uses flat burrs. It's simpler and faster to use, with an integrated timer. Grind consistency is good for drip coffee but not quite as strong as the Encore for pour over. If you want a simpler experience and mostly use a drip machine, OXO is a good choice. For pour over and more precise brewing, the Encore wins.
Encore vs. Capresso Infinity: The Capresso Infinity is around $100 and uses conical burrs. It's quiet and has a gear-reduction motor that grinds slowly, which reduces heat and static. For drip coffee, it's a legitimate competitor. Build quality and longevity are generally better on the Encore.
Encore vs. Timemore Chestnut series: Timemore makes well-regarded hand grinders and a few electric models. At similar prices, Timemore's electric grinders offer good grind quality. Baratza's service infrastructure is significantly better for US customers.
For more comparisons across price ranges, our top coffee grinder guide has you covered.
Using the Encore Day to Day
The grinding process is straightforward: fill the hopper, set your grind size, either hold the pulse button for on-demand grinding or set the timer for a specific duration dose. The timer feature requires calibrating how many seconds equals your desired dose weight, but a quick weigh-in session with your scale gets you there.
One practical note: the Encore grinds into the bin and the bin sits in a specific spot in the body. It doesn't have a portafilter holder like some grinders. If you're grinding for a drip machine, you tip the bin contents into your filter. For pour over, you pour from the bin directly or transfer to your dripper.
Cleaning is easy. Wipe the bin, brush out the burrs every few weeks, and run Grindz cleaning tablets through periodically.
FAQ
Can the Baratza Encore grind for espresso? It can produce a fine enough grind for some espresso machines, particularly those with lower extraction pressure or less demanding requirements. On a proper 9-bar machine with a quality portafilter, the Encore's grind will not produce the consistency needed for precise espresso. For serious espresso, the Encore is not the right tool.
How long does the Encore last? With normal home use, the Encore typically lasts 7-10 years or longer. Baratza's service network means you can replace burrs, motors, or other components if something wears out. Some users report using the same grinder for over a decade.
What's the grind capacity on the Baratza Encore? The Encore has a 230g hopper and a small grounds bin. For filter coffee, a typical dose is 15-30g depending on your brew method and serving size. The hopper holds enough for 7-15 doses.
Is the Baratza Encore worth upgrading from? Eventually yes, depending on where you go. If you move to serious espresso, you'll want a dedicated grinder. If you move to manual single-dose brewing with premium beans, grinders like the Niche Zero or a capable hand grinder will show you the gap. But for many home brewers, the Encore is a long-term solution that never gets replaced.
Bottom Line
The Baratza Encore conical is a workhorse entry-level grinder that earns its reputation. It grinds consistently for filter methods, it's simple to use, and Baratza's parts and service support means it's a long-term investment rather than a disposable appliance.
For anyone starting out with pour over or drip coffee and wanting a reliable grinder under $200, the Encore is the easiest recommendation in its class. Buy it, use it, and don't overthink it until you've actually developed a taste for what more expensive grinders can produce.