Baratza Encore M2 Burr Upgrade: Is It Worth Turning Your Encore Into a Virtuoso?

Swapping the stock burrs in a Baratza Encore for the M2 burr set is the most popular grinder upgrade in the home coffee community. For about $35 and five minutes of work, you get the same burrs that come in the Virtuoso+ out of the box. The question everyone asks is: does it actually make a difference? After doing this upgrade myself and brewing hundreds of cups on both burr sets, my answer is a clear yes, with some caveats.

The M2 burr upgrade doesn't turn your Encore into a completely different grinder. It sharpens its strengths and reduces its weaknesses. If you're already happy with your Encore and you brew filter coffee regularly, the M2 burrs will give you a noticeable bump in cup quality. Below I'll cover exactly what changes, what stays the same, and whether you should just buy a Virtuoso+ instead.

What Changes with the M2 Burr

Particle Size Distribution

The M2 burrs produce a tighter particle size distribution than the stock Encore burrs. In plain English, that means more of your grounds end up the same size, with fewer random fines (dusty particles) and fewer boulders (oversized chunks).

I tested this by grinding the same beans at the same setting on both burr sets and spreading the grounds on white paper. The stock burrs had a visible spread: some fine powder, some medium particles, and a few larger pieces. The M2 grounds looked more uniform. Not perfect, but better.

This matters because uniform particles extract evenly. When you have a mix of fine and coarse particles, the fines over-extract (bitter, harsh flavors) while the coarse pieces under-extract (sour, weak flavors). A more uniform grind gives you a cleaner, more balanced cup.

Pour-Over Improvement

Pour-over is where the M2 upgrade shines the most. I brew V60 almost every morning, and after the burr swap, three things changed:

  1. Drawdown time became more consistent. With the stock burrs, my drawdown ranged from about 3:00 to 3:40 depending on the beans. With M2 burrs, it tightened to about 2:50 to 3:15. Less variance means more predictable results.

  2. Cup clarity improved. The reduction in fines means less over-extracted bitterness muddying up the flavors. I could taste individual origin characteristics more clearly, especially with lighter roasts.

  3. I could grind slightly finer without over-extracting. Because the M2 burrs produce fewer stray fines, I could push the grind a notch finer and increase extraction without hitting that bitter wall. The result was a sweeter, more flavorful cup.

Grinding Speed

The M2 burrs grind slightly faster than the stock set. It's not a dramatic difference, maybe 2 to 3 seconds faster per 20-gram dose, but it's there. The sharper cutting geometry pulls beans in more efficiently.

What Stays the Same

The 40 Grind Steps

The Encore's stepped adjustment mechanism doesn't change when you swap burrs. You still have 40 numbered settings, and the distance between each step stays the same. This means the M2 upgrade doesn't add more precision to your grind adjustment. It just makes each setting produce a more consistent result.

The Motor and Speed

The Encore's motor spins the lower burr at the same RPM regardless of which burrs are installed. The M2 burrs don't make the grinder louder, quieter, or change the power draw.

Espresso Limitations

The M2 burrs do not turn the Encore into an espresso grinder. The stepped adjustment is too coarse for espresso fine-tuning, and the overall burr size and geometry aren't designed for espresso-level precision. If you want espresso, you need a different grinder. Our best coffee grinder guide covers options with proper espresso capability.

Build Quality

The plastic hopper, the body, the burr holder, the power switch. Everything else about the grinder stays exactly the same. The M2 upgrade is purely a burr swap.

M2 Encore vs. Buying a Virtuoso+

This is the comparison everyone wants. The Virtuoso+ costs about $170 to $200 new. An Encore with M2 burrs costs about $100 (Encore) plus $35 (M2 burrs) = $135. You save $35 to $65. But is the Virtuoso+ worth the extra money?

What the Virtuoso+ Adds Beyond the M2 Burrs

Digital timer. The Virtuoso+ has a timed grind feature with a digital display. You set the time, press a button, and the grinder runs for exactly that duration. The Encore has a simple on/off switch. This is a convenience feature, not a grind quality feature.

Better motor. The Virtuoso+ uses a higher-torque motor that maintains consistent RPM under load. When grinding dense light roasts, the Encore's motor can slow down slightly, which some people believe affects grind consistency. In my testing, I couldn't taste a difference caused by motor speed variation, but it's a theoretical advantage.

Metal hopper. The Virtuoso+ has a metal portafilter-style hopper instead of the Encore's plastic one. It looks nicer and feels sturdier.

Slightly quieter operation. The Virtuoso+ is a bit quieter than the Encore, though neither one is what I'd call loud.

My Recommendation

If you already own an Encore, buy the M2 burrs. The $35 upgrade gets you the most significant improvement (the burrs themselves) without replacing a perfectly functional grinder.

If you're buying new and the Virtuoso+ is within your budget, go for it. You get the M2 burrs plus the digital timer and improved motor. But if the budget is tight, an Encore with M2 burrs gets you 90% of the Virtuoso+ experience for $35 to $65 less.

For a broader look at what's available in this price range, check our top coffee grinder roundup.

Installation Walkthrough

I've written about this before, but here's the condensed version:

  1. Unplug the grinder.
  2. Remove the hopper (twist counterclockwise, lift off).
  3. Twist the burr holder counterclockwise, lift it out.
  4. Pop the old upper burr out of the holder. Press the new M2 upper burr in.
  5. Lift the old lower burr off the motor shaft. Place the new M2 lower burr on.
  6. Put the holder back, twist clockwise to lock.
  7. Replace hopper, plug in.
  8. Grind one pound of cheap beans to season the new burrs.

No tools needed. The whole swap takes under five minutes once you've done it once.

How to Season the M2 Burrs

Fresh burrs have microscopic irregularities from the manufacturing process. These smooth out during the first 500 to 1,000 grams of grinding. During this break-in period, you might notice slightly more fines than you'd expect and a faint metallic flavor.

Don't use your good coffee for seasoning. Buy a bag of cheap whole beans from the grocery store and grind the entire thing through the Encore. That's usually enough to get the burrs past the break-in stage. Some people recommend two pounds, but one has always been sufficient in my experience.

After seasoning, run a few tablespoons of grinder cleaning tablets through to remove any manufacturing residue. Then flush with a small handful of beans. Now you're ready to brew with your good stuff.

FAQ

Will the M2 burr upgrade void my Baratza Encore warranty?

No. Baratza sells the M2 burrs as a compatible upgrade and their customer support team actively recommends it to Encore owners. Swapping burrs is considered routine user maintenance, not a modification.

How do I know if my Encore has the old burrs or M2 burrs?

Look at the burrs when you remove the holder. The M2 burrs have a slightly different tooth pattern than the stock set. If you bought a new Encore and haven't changed anything, it has the stock burrs. The Encore does not ship with M2 burrs; only the Virtuoso+ does.

Can I go back to the stock burrs after trying M2?

Yes. The stock burrs are the same size and mounting, so you can swap back and forth. Most people don't go back once they've tried the M2 set, but there's nothing stopping you.

Should I replace just the upper burr or both?

Always replace both the upper and lower burr at the same time. The burrs are designed as a matched set. Mixing an old lower burr with a new upper burr (or vice versa) will give you worse results than either set would on its own.

Final Word

The Baratza Encore M2 burr upgrade is the best $35 you can spend on your coffee setup. It takes five minutes, requires no tools, and gives you a measurable improvement in grind quality that you'll taste in every cup. If you own an Encore and you brew pour-over, AeroPress, or any filter method, buy the M2 burr set and grind a pound of cheap beans through it. You'll notice the difference by your second or third brew with fresh coffee.