Review: Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
By Coffee Expert
Will K
6 photos
The Curated Take
4.0/5
The Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder is ideal for coffee enthusiasts who value durability, versatility, and consistent grind quality. Its robust build, coupled with its ability to easily jump between grind sizes, makes it desirable for various brewing methods like AeroPress, French press, pour-over, and drip coffee. The grinder is known for its ease of cleaning and disassembly. However, its noise level can be noticeable, and it may struggle to achieve the finest grinds required for espresso. This grinder is a great choice for those starting their coffee journey or for anyone looking for a reliable, all-around coffee grinder.
Ideal for
- Bulletproof grinder
- Great for jumping between grind sizes
- Easy to disassemble and clean
Not ideal for
- Hard to sneak a cup of coffee, for someone will hear the grinder
- It struggles to reach espresso-level fine grinds
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning a grinder is never something I want to do, but at least with the Encore, it is easy to do. The hopper funnel easily twists off for access to...Read more
Dose Consistency
The Baratza Encore isn't meant for espresso, so I don't expect, nor need, a steady dose consistency. I personally single dose my beans beforehand (I weigh out 18g for my...Read more
Durability
Over the course of owning my Encore, I have put hundreds of pounds of oily, dark-roasted, gunky beans through it, and it just keeps going. Baratza did a great job...Read more
Consistency
The Baratza Encore is built simple, which I love, because it doesn't allow rogue variables to be introduced while grinding. It is heavy (in a good way), so it stays...Read more
Grind Consistency
The Encore is a testament to why burr grinders are superior and this shows in its grind consistency. When I first started using my Encore, I shook a dose of...Read more
Noise Level
When it comes to noise level, the Encore struggles a bit. It is not a piercing, teeth-grinding noise like some grinders, but I wouldn't use it to grind coffee next...Read more
Versatility
It can't be said enough: The Baratza Encore is not an espresso grinder. The Encore is a great everything-else grinder though! When offering a grinder for this price point with...Read more
Grinding Speed
Regarding grind speed, the Encore is the Goldilocks of grinders. It doesn't grind too fast where it spits out grinds with poor uniformity that have been burnt by the burr,...Read more
Grind Size Control
The Encore design is ideal when it comes to changing the grind size. Simply twist the hopper cone on top, and it's ready to rock. I love that the grinder...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Will K
About the espresso equipment
- Model: Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
Test conditions
- When I bought these: I blame the Baratza Encore for getting me hooked on coffee. I bought my first one in 2015 and have kept buying them as holiday gifts for all of my family.
- Where I’ve used it: The Baratza Encore was my daily driver for years until I started going down the espresso rabbit hole. It will always have a reserved spot on my kitchen counter though.
- How many times I've used it: 998
Expert Reviews of the Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
Will K This was my first coffee grinder and my daily driver until I went to espresso. It is built like a tank while still looking stylish on the counter. I use it for all my AeroPress, French press, pour-over, and drip coffee, and it never misses a beat. The Encore does struggle with fine-grind consistency for espresso but thrives for everything else, especially in this price range for a conical burr grinder. One other downside is the noise. The grinder speed is great, but that comes with a tradeoff with the noise. Secret late-night French press will be tough. Overall, though, I am a big fan and can't recommend it enough for someone going down the coffee rabbit hole.
Product Specs
| Housing material | Plastic |
| Grinding method | Conical Burr |
| Burr diameter (mm) | 40 |
| Bean hopper capacity (oz) | 8 |
| Recommended grind selection | Brew |
Review Ratings
Ease of Cleaning
5/5
Will K gave 5 of 5 stars. Cleaning a grinder is never something I want to do, but at least with the Encore, it is easy to do. The hopper funnel easily twists off for access to the burr. It's easy then to see how simple the machine is and why they last forever. A can of compressed air is helpful but not necessary. I give it a quick blow to get the grounds out, make sure the burr set doesn't look worn out, run the included bristle brush through the chute, and I'm done. Align the red notch and funnel up, twist it back on, and it is ready to rock.
Dose Consistency
2/5
Will K gave 2 of 5 stars. The Baratza Encore isn't meant for espresso, so I don't expect, nor need, a steady dose consistency. I personally single dose my beans beforehand (I weigh out 18g for my AeroPress, using the hopper lid as a bowl on the scale, then dump them in the hopper). Others will keep the hopper full of beans and just count in their head how many seconds the machine is on to get the rough dose. All methods work, and I think most coffee brewing methods, besides espresso, are pretty tolerant of dose variability.
Durability
5/5
Will K gave 5 of 5 stars. Over the course of owning my Encore, I have put hundreds of pounds of oily, dark-roasted, gunky beans through it, and it just keeps going. Baratza did a great job with the design, properly sized the motor, and built it simple, so there isn't much to break — and if it does, it is easily repaired, and there are so many instructional videos on YouTube to help.
Consistency
4/5
Will K gave 4 of 5 stars. The Baratza Encore is built simple, which I love, because it doesn't allow rogue variables to be introduced while grinding. It is heavy (in a good way), so it stays put on the counter and lets gravity do the work of feeding the beans through the burrs. The only issue is when it's down to the last couple of beans in the hopper with none pushing them down. They tend to "popcorn" around for a bit until they get caught in the burr.
Grind Consistency
4/5
Will K gave 4 of 5 stars. The Encore is a testament to why burr grinders are superior and this shows in its grind consistency. When I first started using my Encore, I shook a dose of grinds out on a piece of white paper and was amazed at the uniformity compared to my old hand grinder and blade grinder. The Encore does struggle with very fine grind size, so it is not recommended for espresso because there uniformity is especially important.
Noise Level
3/5
Will K gave 3 of 5 stars. When it comes to noise level, the Encore struggles a bit. It is not a piercing, teeth-grinding noise like some grinders, but I wouldn't use it to grind coffee next to a sleeping baby. I personally enjoy the sound of it mowing through beans.
Versatility
4/5
Will K gave 4 of 5 stars. It can't be said enough: The Baratza Encore is not an espresso grinder. The Encore is a great everything-else grinder though! When offering a grinder for this price point with awesome durability and ease of use, something has to be sacrificed. The Encore struggles with the fine grind, so it's not great for espresso but will not miss a step when grinding an AeroPress, drip, or French press.
Grinding Speed
4/5
Will K gave 4 of 5 stars. Regarding grind speed, the Encore is the Goldilocks of grinders. It doesn't grind too fast where it spits out grinds with poor uniformity that have been burnt by the burr, and it doesn't take so long that one is looking for something else to do while waiting for the grinder to finish.
Grind Size Control
5/5
Will K gave 5 of 5 stars. The Encore design is ideal when it comes to changing the grind size. Simply twist the hopper cone on top, and it's ready to rock. I love that the grinder is stepped, too, so it has a nice, tactile "click" between each grind setting. The last thing I want to do before my morning caffeine hit is struggle with my grinder settings.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Will K There is a lot to love about the Baratza Encore, and durability is at the top of that list. The motor size is great and switching out burrs after they dull (which takes years and hundreds and hundreds of pounds of beans) is a cakewalk.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Will K I love the Encore so much, it has been the go-to holiday gift for a few years, and I have slowly indoctrinated most of my family. Watching my parents light up when they tasted the improvement in coffee flavors when they switched to the Encore from their old blade grinder was awesome and the highlight of my Encore journey.
Why did you choose this product?
Will K I am a sucker for durability and value, and the Encore checked both of those boxes. That is why it is my number-one choice for grinders that are not geared for espresso.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Will K The value of the Baratza Encore comes from its durability, grind uniformity, and ease of use. The machine is built tough as nails while not sacrificing quality. The ability to quickly change between grind settings (fine moka pot grinds to a larger French press grind and back again with just a twist) is awesome for a multi-brew method household.
