The Baratza Encore has been the entry-level burr grinder recommendation for home coffee enthusiasts since it launched in 2010. Fifteen years later, it still appears on more “best grinder” lists than any other machine in its class.
That kind of staying power is either genuine quality or inertia. After testing it alongside current competition, the answer is mostly genuine quality—with some caveats worth knowing.
The Encore is still a very good grinder at $170. It produces consistent grounds, has 40 grind settings that cover drip, pour-over, and French press well, is easy to use, and Baratza’s customer service and repair program are exceptional.
Where it falls short: Espresso grinding is marginal (doable but not great), the grind adjustment is a bit coarse between steps at fine settings, and newer competitors offer more features at the same price.
Bottom line: Buy the Encore if you primarily drink drip, pour-over, or French press and want something that works reliably for a decade. Skip it if espresso is your focus.
The Short Version
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Conical burr grinder |
| Burr size | 40mm conical steel burr |
| Grind settings | 40 (numbered 1–40) |
| Hopper capacity | 8 oz (227g) |
| Speed | ~1.1g/sec |
| Motor | DC motor, 110W |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs |
| Dimensions | 6.25” W × 4.75” D × 13.75” H |
| Price | ~$170 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Specifications
Grind Consistency
The 40mm conical steel burr produces a consistent grind for drip and filter methods. In particle size analysis, the Encore’s output at medium settings (15–25) shows a clean distribution with minimal fines—the small, powdery particles that cause over-extraction and bitterness.
For filter coffee (drip, Chemex, Kalita Wave, Hario V60, Aeropress), grind consistency at these settings is genuinely good and produces noticeable improvements over blade grinders and most pre-ground coffee.
40 Grind Settings
The numbered dial goes from 1 (finest) to 40 (coarsest). In practice:
- 1–10: Espresso range (marginal — see below)
- 10–20: Moka pot, AeroPress, strong drip
- 15–25: Pour-over, V60, Chemex
- 20–30: Standard drip, flat-bottom brewers
- 25–40: French press, cold brew, percolator
The step increments are fine enough that you can dial in a repeatable setting for each brew method. Once you find your numbers, you just set it and forget it.
Ease of Use
Plug in. Fill hopper. Turn the bin on. Push the button and it runs until the bin is full or you stop it. Single speed, no modes, no settings to configure. The pulse button lets you run it for shorter bursts.
For people who don’t want to think about their grinder in the morning, the simplicity is a real feature.
Repairability
Baratza is unusually committed to repairability. They sell replacement parts directly at cost, publish repair guides, and run a refurbished unit program where they buy back broken grinders, fix them, and resell them at a discount.
In an appliance market where most manufacturers design for planned obsolescence, this is remarkable. Encore owners have units 10+ years old that have been repaired twice and still run.
What the Encore Does Well
Espresso Grinding
The Encore grinds fine enough for espresso (settings 1–5), but the grind adjustment steps are too coarse at that range. The difference between setting 1 and setting 2 is significant—you can’t micro-adjust the way dialing in espresso requires. Shots come out inconsistent: setting 1 might choke the puck, setting 2 might run too fast.
If your primary use is espresso, buy the Baratza Encore ESP (the espresso-specific version with 40 macro + 11 micro settings) or a dedicated espresso grinder. The standard Encore isn’t the right tool.
Grind Speed
At ~1.1 grams per second, grinding 18g of coffee for a pour-over takes about 16 seconds. For one cup, that’s fine. For grinding multiple doses back-to-back, it gets slow. Grinders like the Fellow Ode or the Breville Smart Grinder Pro are noticeably faster.
Retention and Static
The Encore retains about 1–1.5g of coffee in the burr chamber between doses. At $170, that’s expected. But it means there’s a brief burst of old-grind (from the previous session) before fresh grounds fall into the bin. Most users accept this; perfectionists won’t.
Static causes grounds to stick to the sides of the grounds bin and spray slightly when you remove it. The “RDT trick” (spraying one drop of water on beans before grinding) eliminates static almost entirely—but it’s an extra step.
Where the Encore Falls Short
The Encore ESP ($215) is the updated version designed for espresso and filter brewing. It adds a stepped micro-adjustment ring that lets you fine-tune grind size without moving the main dial—critical for dialing in espresso shots.
If you drink any espresso at all: get the ESP. The extra $45 buys you real espresso capability that the standard Encore can’t deliver.
Baratza Encore on Amazon →
Baratza Encore ESP on Amazon →
Baratza Encore vs Encore ESP
vs Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder (~$100)
The OXO Brew is a legitimate alternative at $100 and is frequently found on sale. It has 15 grind settings (vs Encore’s 40), a built-in scale (certain models), and similar burr quality for drip brewing. Grind consistency is slightly less even at fine settings.
Verdict: OXO wins on price if you primarily drink drip. Encore wins on grind range and adjustability.
vs Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2 (~$300)
The Fellow Ode is purpose-built for filter brewing—it doesn’t go fine enough for espresso at all, by design. It produces exceptional grind quality for pour-over and drip, with a single-dose workflow (no hopper), low retention, and minimal static.
Verdict: Fellow Ode produces better coffee for filter brewing. At $300, it should. The Encore wins on espresso range and repairability.
vs Breville Smart Grinder Pro (~$180)
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro has 60 grind settings (vs Encore’s 40), a digital timer for dose control, and a faster motor. Grind quality is comparable to the Encore for filter brewing; slightly better for espresso due to more precise fine-setting adjustment.
Verdict: Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the better all-rounder at a similar price. Encore wins on simplicity and repairability track record.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro on Amazon →
How It Compares to the Competition
Buy the Baratza Encore if:
- You primarily brew drip, pour-over, AeroPress, or French press
- You want a grinder that lasts a decade and can be repaired
- You value simplicity—no settings to configure, just grind
- Budget is $170 and you want the most reliable option at that price
Skip the Encore if:
- Espresso is your main brewing method (get the Encore ESP)
- You want a faster, more precise grinder (get the Breville Smart Grinder Pro)
- You want to single-dose for filter brewing (get the Fellow Ode)
Who Should Buy the Encore
The Encore hasn’t kept pace with the competition on raw features—the Breville Smart Grinder Pro matches or beats it on specs at a similar price, and the Fellow Ode Gen 2 produces better filter coffee at $300.
But the Encore’s combination of consistent grind quality, broad brew method compatibility, and genuine repairability still makes it the most reliable default recommendation at its price. If you don’t know what you want in a grinder yet, you won’t outgrow the Encore quickly—and when something breaks, Baratza will help you fix it.
That’s rare enough to be worth paying for.
Related: Best Burr Coffee Grinder for Beginners · Best Coffee Grinder Under $100
Editorial
The coffeegare team tests and reviews coffee gear to help you brew better coffee at home. Every recommendation is based on real use, not spec sheets.