This Baratza Encore review looks at the best entry-level home coffee grinder.
Its simplicity, high quality and attractive price make it a market leader.
The range of special features and advantages have kept it near the top for decades.
(Updated February 8th, 2023)
TABLE OF CONTENTS – What’s In This Coffee Machine Review? |
Baratza Encore Review : An Overview
Special Features:
- 40 settings to grind between 250 and 1200 microns
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Motor has speed controllers to minimize heating
- Stainless steel conical burrs
- Minimal retention of grounds
- Gears safeguard the motor against overuse
Pros:
- Affordably priced
- Excellent motor and high quality burr
- Consistent grind performance
- Durable and sturdy device
- Versatile, can handle several settings
- Minimal static charge
- Easy to use and clean
- Compact and effective
Cons:
- Might be a little messy
- Excessive plastic, can look unattractive
- Not ideal for espresso
- Noisy while operating
Technical Specifications
Manufacturer: Baratza
Model: Encore
Type: Electric coffee grinder
Wattage: 240 W
Voltage: 110 V
Burrs: 40 mm conical burrs
Burr speed: 550 rpm
Grind levels: 40
Speed to grind: 0.8 to 1.1 g/sec
Bean hopper: 8 oz
Weight: 6.8 lbs
Dimensions:
Height – 35 cm
Width – 12 cm
Depth – 16 cm
Baratza Encore Review
Even if the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder is an entry-level machine, it delivers outstanding performance and is constructed to be durable and sturdy.
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder Review
Performance
Baratza Encore conical burr is an all-purpose coffee grinder. You’ll enjoy better results for Moka Pot, French press or pour over coffee.
Grind quality is excellent. Even a blade grinder or disk-burr coffee grinder will not perform as well as the Encore.
You can use the Baratza Encore coffee grinder for most types of coffee including:
- French press
- Pour over
- Espresso
- Aeropress coffee makers
The coffee grounds have better flavor and you’ll enjoy a delicious brew.
The ground coffee is a lot better than any comparable grinder, and even matches up to results delivered by more expensive high-end coffee grinders.
One limitation is that it isn’t ideal for making espresso. The motor isn’t quite suitable for pulling a great espresso shot. And there really aren’t many options to fine-tune your settings.
To get better particle distribution, you might get the M2 upgraded burrs for an extra modest payment. This might turn your basic coffee grinder into a far better performer.
Advantages:
- Low speed grinding reduces heat generated while operational.
- There are 40 different grind settings allowing extreme personalization of your grind quality.
- You can have your coffee ground to match all kinds of brew styles.
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Review
Ease of Use
Using the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder is easy.
A single pulse button on the front of this device makes it simple to operate. Other grind settings and the Power button are located on the top and side of the grinder.
There is a bin to collect loose grounds. Static electricity makes some of these grounds stick to the inside. This makes operation somewhat messy, and can be a slight nuisance when it comes to cleaning up.
Baratza Encore Review
Design & Quality
The Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder features several design innovations like a better gearbox. This reduces noise and makes the motor run smoothly without overheating.
All the components except the conical burrs are plastic. Gears are of glass-filled thermoplastics to enhance their durability.
The slow 550 RPM rate of this grinder means wear and tear is less, extending the lifespan of the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder.
In appearance, this device is sleek and elegant, compact and lightweight. It will not take up too much space in your kitchen.
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Review
Special Features
Even if this is a basic coffee grinder, there are some interesting twists that make it special.
It has an adjustable calibration system that’s often seen only in high-end grinders. This can help tailor your grind quality to suit your needs.
There’s an impressive 40 grind choices to select from. You can get coarse or fine grinds, depending on your taste and preference.
The grinder doesn’t heat up, and so will retain their aromatic oils until the brewing process. This means you’ll enjoy a rich, delicious strong coffee.
What We Don’t Like
The Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder is somewhat slow. Some like this aspect of it, though.
There are no elements that make it convenient, like dose controls or timing adjustments. However, expecting all this from an inexpensive basic model might sound unrealistic.
The grinder does tend to make a bit of a mess. That’s because static electricity builds up, causing the grounds to stick.
You cannot make great espresso using this grinder. Even if you grind finer, the end result isn’t great.
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder Review
Alternatives To Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
There are some other coffee grinders that make for excellent alternatives to the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder.
Each has unique features that may suit your needs better.
Fellow Ode
With 64 mm flat burrs, this device grinds faster and offers more consistent grinds. It is also much more expensive.
1ZPRESSO JX
Priced around the same level as the Baratza Encore, this grinder offers more consistent grinding and tasty coffee. But it’s a hand grinder, not electric.
Baratza Encore Review
Our Verdict
The Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder is a great choice for beginners and more experienced coffee enjoyers.
It is affordable and offers simple features and a consistent grind. If you’re upgrading from low quality or manual grinders, this is a good choice.
Reliable, durable and easy to use, the Baratza Encore will match most budgets and offers great value for your money.
Backed by excellent customer service and extensive support, you won’t have to worry about long-term care for your coffee grinder.
Baratza Encore Review
Frequently Asked Questions
How has the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder improved since it was first released?
In the beginning, Baratza made high-end coffee grinders affordable with the Encore conical burr model. Later improvements involved aesthetic appeal, durability, and small tweaks that made it easy to set up and use.
How long does the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder last?
With reasonable care and proper maintenance, this coffee grinder could easily last a decade. All material used in construction are premium, including high carbon steel burrs.
Is the Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder quiet?
No, it is rather noisy. Almost as noisy as a blender. However it lasts around half a minute only. So you won’t be inconvenienced for long.
Can the Baratza Encore grind for espresso?
No, the Baratza Encore coffee grinder isn’t an ideal coffee grinder for making espressos. The grind quality is great, but not fine enough to make good espresso.
Which coffee beans are best for the Baratza Encore grinder?
Medium roasts give the tastiest results. Dark roasts are fine, too, just as long as they aren’t very oily. Otherwise it could clog the grinder blades.