Capresso Infinity Plus
The Capresso Infinity Plus is a conical burr grinder that sits right around the $80-$120 mark, making it one of the more affordable burr grinders from a reputable brand. I've owned one for over two years, and my overall impression is that it's a solid performer for drip and pour-over coffee with a few quirks you should know about before buying.
If you're comparing it to the original Capresso Infinity, the Baratza Encore, or the OXO Brew Conical, this review will help you figure out where the Infinity Plus fits in that lineup and whether it deserves a spot on your counter.
Overview and Key Specs
The Infinity Plus is Capresso's updated take on their long-running Infinity grinder line. It uses conical steel burrs powered by a gear reduction motor, which spins slower than standard motors to reduce heat and noise.
Here's what you're working with:
- Burr type: Conical steel
- Grind settings: 16 (4 zones with 4 micro-steps each)
- Hopper capacity: 8.8 oz
- Grounds container: 4 oz, with clear viewing window
- Motor: Gear reduction, low RPM
- Housing: Zinc die-cast (upper), ABS plastic (lower)
- Timer: Adjustable dial, approximately 5-60 seconds
- Colors: Black, stainless steel
The zinc die-cast upper housing is the biggest physical upgrade over the original Infinity, which used all-plastic construction. It gives the Plus a more solid feel and better vibration damping during grinding.
Grind Performance by Brew Method
I've tested the Infinity Plus across every brew method I use regularly. Here's how it handles each one.
Drip Coffee
This is the Infinity Plus's comfort zone. On the "regular" settings (roughly settings 9-12 on the dial), it produces medium grinds that work beautifully in flat-bottom and cone-shaped drip brewers. My morning routine involves grinding for a 10-cup drip brewer, and the results are consistent day after day. Even extraction, balanced flavor, no complaints.
Pour-Over
For V60 and Chemex, I use settings in the fine-to-regular range (around 5-8). The grind consistency is good enough to produce clean, sweet pour-over cups. I wouldn't call it competition-level precision, but for daily home brewing, it gets the job done without fussing.
French Press
The coarse settings (13-16) produce chunky, fairly uniform grounds suitable for French press and cold brew. There's a small amount of fines mixed in, which is normal for conical burrs at this price. You might notice slight sediment in your French press cup, but nothing excessive.
Espresso
I'll be blunt: the Infinity Plus is not an espresso grinder. The "extra fine" settings (1-4) can produce grounds that look fine enough, but the steps between settings are too wide for espresso dialing. Espresso requires micro-adjustments that this grinder simply can't deliver. If espresso is your priority, look elsewhere.
For more options across all brew methods, our best coffee grinder roundup covers the full range of price points and capabilities.
Daily Life With the Infinity Plus
Beyond grind quality numbers, what matters is how a grinder fits into your daily routine. Here's my honest take on living with this grinder.
Morning Noise Level
The gear reduction motor keeps the noise genuinely low. It's a deep hum rather than a high-pitched whine, and it doesn't carry through walls the way some grinders do. I grind at 5:30 AM most mornings, and my family members in the next room have never been woken up by it.
The Timer
The side-mounted timer dial lets you set a grinding duration. It's analog and not perfectly precise, but after a few uses, you'll find the spot that gives you your desired dose weight. I mark my setting with a tiny piece of tape so I can return to it reliably.
Static and Mess
This is the Infinity Plus's biggest weakness. The grounds carry a lot of static charge, making them cling to the container walls, the chute, and your dosing vessel. In dry weather or air-conditioned rooms, it gets noticeably worse.
My workaround is the RDT technique: I add a single drop of water to the beans before grinding by dipping a spoon in water and stirring the beans. It cuts the static by about 80% and makes grounds transfer much cleaner. It's an extra step, but a quick one.
Retention
About 1-2 grams of coffee remain in the grinder between uses. For most home brewers, this isn't a big deal since you're usually grinding the same beans day after day. But if you switch between different coffees often, those retained grounds will cross-contaminate your next batch. Running a few grams of the new beans through as a purge solves this.
Infinity Plus vs. The Original Infinity
If you're wondering whether the "Plus" upgrade is worth it over the original Capresso Infinity, here are the actual differences:
- Housing: The Plus uses zinc die-cast for the upper body. The original is all plastic. The Plus feels noticeably more solid.
- Upper burr lock: The Plus has a locking mechanism that lets you remove and replace the upper burr without losing your grind setting. The original doesn't have this, so cleaning requires re-dialing.
- Grounds container: The Plus container has a slightly better seal and clear window.
- Everything else: The burrs, motor, grind settings, and hopper are functionally identical.
Is it worth the $20-30 premium? If you're buying new, yes. The upper burr lock alone makes maintenance much easier, and the zinc housing makes the grinder feel like it'll last longer. If you already own the original Infinity and it works fine, there's no reason to upgrade.
Infinity Plus vs. Baratza Encore
This is the comparison everyone wants, and it's a fair one since both grinders target the same buyer.
The Baratza Encore has 40 grind settings compared to the Infinity Plus's 16. That extra granularity matters if you're trying to fine-tune for specific brew methods. The Encore also has a much better parts and repair ecosystem. Baratza sells every component of their grinders individually and provides repair videos. If something breaks, you can fix it for $10-20 instead of replacing the whole unit.
The Infinity Plus is quieter than the Encore, which is a real advantage for early-morning grinding. It also has a slightly smaller footprint and a lower price tag.
My honest recommendation: if repairability and grind versatility matter most, get the Encore. If quiet operation and budget are your priorities, the Infinity Plus is a solid choice. You'll make good coffee with either one.
Check out our top coffee grinder guide for a broader comparison of grinders in this price range.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The Infinity Plus is relatively easy to maintain. The upper burr lock lets you pop out the burr for brushing without tools, and the grounds container is dishwasher-safe.
Weekly, I remove the upper burr and brush out retained grounds with a soft brush. Monthly, I run Grindz cleaning tablets through to remove coffee oil buildup. Every 3-6 months, I do a deeper clean with the burrs fully removed and wiped down.
The conical steel burrs should last years under normal home use. Capresso doesn't publish a specific replacement interval, but grinding once or twice a day, you're looking at 3-5 years before they dull noticeably.
FAQ
Is the Capresso Infinity Plus good for beginners?
Yes. It's one of the better entry-level burr grinders. The 16 settings are enough for most brew methods without being overwhelming, and the low noise level makes it easy to live with. If you're upgrading from a blade grinder or pre-ground coffee, you'll notice an immediate improvement.
Can I grind directly into a portafilter with the Infinity Plus?
Not easily. The grounds container is the intended receptacle, and the clearance under the chute isn't designed for a portafilter. You could remove the container and position a portafilter underneath, but it's awkward.
Does the Capresso Infinity Plus have a built-in scale?
No. It uses a timer to control dose size, not a scale. For accurate dosing, I recommend weighing your beans before grinding (or weighing the grounds after) with a separate kitchen scale.
Where is the Capresso Infinity Plus made?
The grinder is designed by Capresso (a subsidiary of Jura, the Swiss company) and manufactured in Taiwan. Build quality is consistent with other mid-range grinders in this category.
The Verdict
The Capresso Infinity Plus does what most home coffee drinkers need: it grinds beans consistently enough for drip, pour-over, and French press at a price that doesn't hurt. It's quiet, compact, and reasonably well-built. Its weak points are static, limited espresso capability, and fewer grind settings than some competitors. If those trade-offs work for your brewing style, it's a reliable daily grinder that will serve you well for years.