Baratza Encore Electric Grinder: Why It's Still the Go-To Starter Burr Grinder

The Baratza Encore is the electric burr grinder that most coffee people recommend to beginners, and after using one for three years before upgrading, I understand why. At around $150 to $170, it gives you 40 grind settings, conical steel burrs, and enough consistency for drip coffee, pour-over, French press, and Aeropress. It won't blow your mind if you're used to high-end grinders, but it'll blow your mind if you're coming from pre-ground coffee or a blade grinder.

I'll walk you through the grind quality, what each setting range actually does, the common complaints (and which ones are valid), maintenance tips, and how to decide if the Encore is the right grinder for your daily routine. I've also upgraded the burrs in mine with the M2 burr set, and I'll share whether that's worth the $35 investment.

Grind Quality Across Brew Methods

The Baratza Encore uses 40mm conical steel burrs with 40 stepped grind settings. That's a wide range, and it covers everything from fine drip coffee to coarse French press. Here's how it performs for each method I've tested.

Drip Coffee and Pour-Over

This is the Encore's sweet spot. Settings 15 to 22 produce a medium grind that works well in a standard drip machine or a V60 pour-over. The particle consistency is good enough that my brewed coffee tastes clean and balanced. There are some fines mixed in, which is normal for a conical burr grinder at this price, but they don't overpower the cup.

For pour-over specifically, I settled on setting 18 as my starting point for most medium-roast beans. Lighter roasts might need a notch or two finer.

French Press

Settings 28 to 35 work for French press. The grind is coarse, but you'll still see some fines mixed into the grounds. This is the Encore's biggest weakness at the coarse end. Those fines slip through the French press filter and add silt to your cup. It's drinkable, and most people won't notice, but if you're picky about clean French press coffee, you might be disappointed.

Aeropress

The Encore handles Aeropress beautifully. Settings 12 to 18 give you the medium-fine grind that the Aeropress loves. Because the Aeropress uses pressure and immersion, it's more forgiving of minor grind inconsistencies, and the Encore delivers consistent results here.

Espresso

Here's my honest take: don't buy the Encore for espresso. The finest settings (1 to 5) aren't fine enough or consistent enough for proper espresso extraction. You'll get sour, under-extracted shots. If espresso is your goal, look at grinders in the $250+ range. Our best coffee grinder roundup covers options across all brew methods and budgets.

The 40 Grind Settings Explained

The Encore uses a stepped dial on the side of the hopper. Each click is one setting, and the numbers run from 1 (finest) to 40 (coarsest). In practice, not all 40 settings are useful.

  • Settings 1 to 8: Too fine for most brew methods unless you're attempting Turkish-style coffee. Not fine enough for espresso.
  • Settings 9 to 14: Fine to medium-fine. Good for Moka pot and Aeropress.
  • Settings 15 to 25: Medium. The sweet spot for drip and pour-over.
  • Settings 26 to 35: Medium-coarse to coarse. French press and cold brew territory.
  • Settings 36 to 40: Very coarse. Honestly, these settings are too coarse for anything I brew. The grounds look like cracked peppercorns.

I spend 90% of my time between settings 14 and 22. That's where the Encore delivers its best consistency.

Common Complaints (And My Take)

The Baratza Encore has been around for years, and the same complaints come up repeatedly. Let me address the ones I've actually experienced.

"It's too loud"

Fair. The Encore is not a quiet grinder. It runs at about 75 to 80 decibels, roughly the volume of a vacuum cleaner from across the room. Grinding a dose takes 8 to 15 seconds depending on the setting, so the noise is brief. But if you're grinding at 5:30 AM next to a sleeping partner, they'll hear it.

"The grounds retention is too high"

The Encore retains about 1 to 1.5 grams of coffee in the burr chamber and chute. For most people, this doesn't matter because you're grinding the same bean each day and the retained grounds get pushed out by the next dose. If you switch beans frequently, give the grinder a quick tap on the side after grinding to knock loose grounds into your container.

"The grind isn't consistent enough"

This one depends on your reference point. Compared to a $300+ flat burr grinder, yes, the Encore produces a wider particle distribution. Compared to a blade grinder or a sub-$100 burr grinder, the Encore is a massive improvement. For drip coffee and pour-over, the consistency is more than adequate.

"It can't do espresso"

True. This is a valid complaint only if you bought it expecting espresso capability. The Encore isn't marketed as an espresso grinder, and it shouldn't be used as one.

The M2 Burr Upgrade

Baratza sells an upgraded burr set called the M2 (also known as the Virtuoso burrs) for about $35. It's a direct replacement for the stock burrs and installs in about 10 minutes.

I installed the M2 set after about a year with the stock burrs, and the improvement was noticeable. The grind consistency tightened up, especially in the medium range. Pour-over cups tasted cleaner, with less muddiness from fines. The coarse end improved too, with fewer small particles mixed into French press grounds.

Is it worth $35? If you plan to keep the Encore for a few years, absolutely. It turns a good grinder into a notably better one. The installation is simple: unplug the grinder, remove the hopper, unscrew the outer burr ring, swap in the new burrs, and reassemble. Baratza has a video on their website showing the process step by step.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Baratza Encore is one of the easiest grinders to maintain, which is part of why it's so popular.

Weekly: - Remove the hopper and brush out the burr chamber with the included brush - Wipe down the grounds bin

Monthly: - Remove the outer burr ring (it twists off without tools) and vacuum the chamber - Run grinder cleaning tablets through if you notice oily residue

Yearly: - Check the burrs for dullness. If your grind consistency has degraded and cleaning doesn't help, it's time for new burrs ($25 to $35)

One thing I appreciate about Baratza: they sell every individual part for their grinders. If the motor dies in year 4, you can buy a replacement motor for $30 instead of buying a whole new grinder. That repairability sets Baratza apart from most consumer appliance companies.

Who Should Buy the Baratza Encore

The Encore is the right grinder if:

  • You're upgrading from a blade grinder or pre-ground coffee for the first time
  • You primarily brew drip coffee, pour-over, or Aeropress
  • You want a simple, reliable grinder that doesn't require a learning curve
  • Your budget is $150 to $200

Skip the Encore if:

  • You make espresso (spend more on a grinder with finer adjustment)
  • You already own a grinder in the $200+ range (the Encore would be a downgrade)
  • You want a dead-quiet grinder for early morning use

For a wider selection, our top coffee grinder roundup covers options from budget to premium, including grinders that handle espresso and drip equally well.

FAQ

What's the difference between the Baratza Encore and the Baratza Virtuoso?

The Virtuoso uses the M2 burr set (the upgrade I mentioned above), has a digital timer for dose control, and a slightly more refined body design. If you're buying new and can afford the extra $80 to $100, the Virtuoso is a better value. If you already own an Encore, just buy the M2 burr set and save the difference.

How long does the Baratza Encore last?

With basic maintenance, the Encore should last 5 to 10 years of daily home use. Baratza's parts availability means you can repair rather than replace, which extends the lifespan even further.

Can you grind directly into a portafilter with the Encore?

The grounds bin opening is designed for a container, not a portafilter. You can remove the bin and position a portafilter underneath, but it's awkward and grounds scatter. This is another reason the Encore isn't suitable for espresso workflows.

Is the Baratza Encore ESP different from the regular Encore?

Yes. Baratza released the Encore ESP specifically for espresso, with a finer range of grind adjustments. If espresso is your goal, the ESP version is a much better choice than the standard Encore, though it still sits at the entry level for espresso grinders.

My Bottom Line

The Baratza Encore has been the default recommendation for beginner burr grinders for years, and that reputation is earned. It does drip coffee, pour-over, and Aeropress well at a fair price, and it's built to be repaired rather than replaced. It won't satisfy espresso enthusiasts or grind snobs, and the coarse end has room for improvement. But for someone stepping into freshly ground coffee for the first time, the Encore is still the smartest first purchase. Add the M2 burrs after a few months and you'll have a grinder that can keep up with you for years.