Baratza Encore Review 2026: Still the Best Coffee Grinder for Most People?

The Baratza Encore is one of the best entry-level coffee grinders for most (serious) types of coffee drinkers. After 8 years of daily use, we can confidently say it’s excellent for pour-over, drip, and French press (though not for espresso).

If you want a simple, reliable grinder without overpaying for features you won’t use, the Encore is still one of the safest buys.

If you’re going to go through the trouble of making coffee at home rather than in a coffee shop, you should definitely be making it with fresh-ground coffee. We love and use our Baratza Encore coffee grinder to do that most of the time, and we’d love to tell you why.

So without further ado, let’s get to our *dun dun dun* Baratza Encore review.

Quick verdict

• Best for: Pour-over, drip, French press, AeroPress, cold brew, etc.
• Not for: Espresso
• Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
• Verdict: Excellent value, limited precision

Baratza Encore Review (2026): Overview

The primary reasons to write this Baratza Encore conical burr grinder review is that we’ve had one now for about 8 years. And in that time, we’ve learned a lot about its good and bad qualities. So we want to share those lessons with you.

Before getting the Encore, we were using a manual burr grinder, called a JavaPresse. It was fine and functional, but after a few months, it had gotten wickedly inconsistent in its grind size. Plus, we were just sick of sitting there and grinding coffee by hand every time we wanted a cup.

So we did a lot of shopping and comparing. And we ended up feeling like the Baratza Encore was the one for us. It was a fair price, a brand that lots of people we talked to trusted, and had the features we needed (grind-size setting as easy as numbers) and nothing we didn’t (lots of grinders have features like timers we couldn’t discern the use of).

But before we go any further on this particular grinder…

Is the Baratza Encore Good for Espresso?

Can the Baratza Encore grind espresso? Sorry pal, no — the Baratza Encore is not a true espresso grinder.

Espresso is generally the finest grind of coffee. You make espresso with a fancy machine which heats water perfectly, pressurizes it through a basket, and usually steams milk too. One point I need to make in this Baratza Encore review is that this isn’t really the grinder for that, according to every source I consulted.

We repeat: Baratza Encore + espresso don’t really go together. 

That said, we’ve never *really* tried to make espresso with the Baratza Encore. Maybe it does work well. But from our experience, the grind size adjustments are more for the journey from AeroPress (approaching-espresso-fine) to French press (rather coarse). This grinder isn’t really for you to dial in the perfect and specific extraction for your precious latte, as the “Baratza Encore espresso setting” simply doesn’t exist.

We use it to make coffee

Our Baratza Encore works to brew drip, pour over (V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave), AeroPress, French press, and cold brew coffee. All the different home coffee brewing methods!

The idea that the Baratza grinder isn’t an espresso grinder posed no significant problem for us, though. We’re not making espresso. For us, espresso is the thing we want to order at a coffee shop. Usually as a 1:1 Cortado (our cafe drink of choice!).

For the way we brew coffee at home, the Baratza Encore is great. We regularly rotate between pourover systems like Hario V60, the Kalita Wave, and the Chemex, as well as AeroPress, cold brew, and French press.

Baratza Encore grind settings are easy to set with clear number-based markings. It conveniently clicks at every adjustment. And while there have been a few times I forgot to adjust it (and was dissatisfied, d’oh!), that’s more my fault than the machine’s. 

What We Like (After 8 Years)

The most important part of this review of the Baratza Encore is the reasons we love it. Some of these features are common across the Baratza range, some are very specific to this machine.

Improvement over blade or manual grinders

First and foremost, every electric burr grinder is going to be better than a blade grinder (for reasons discussed above) and better than a manual system for the reasons of physical labor.

While I concede that the labor of grinding some coffee beans is light when compared to, say, building the Egyptian pyramids, I’d rather not have to do that, especially first thing every morning. 

If you buy the Baratza Encore, you’ll have access to all the things that you’d want an electric burr grinder to do, quickly and easily. And in doing that, it’s a huge upgrade from either a manual burr grinder or a blade grinder.

Affordable

A good electric grinder is expensive. First, the bottom of the electric range is the blades. They’re very cost effective. But as we covered more above, they’re also inconsistent and hard-to-do-right. Especially first thing in the morning, when must of us our grinding our coffee.

What’s nice about the Baratza Encore is that it’s got exactly what we wanted, without paying for features we have no use for.

Here are the coffee grinder features we were after:

• Electric burr, first and foremost.
• An easy ability to control grind size. The manual grinder I used before the Encore didn’t have marking at all. So squinting at ground coffee was all I had to test size. Setting the Baratza to “14” is just 100 times easier.
• No need to hand-turn. Simple enough. I hit a switch, not sit there twirling a crank by hand.
• Easy off-and-on. The Encore has both a button, for quick pulsing of coffee. And an “on” switch on the left side, where it’ll run until you turn it off.

Features the Baratza Encore doesn’t have we don’t care about missing:

• Grind timing. Most “dosing” grinders do so with a timer. You run it for “3.7 seconds” and calculate out that that’s 30g of coffee. If you store all your coffee beans above the grinder this is useful. We don’t, so it was a superfluous feature.
• Quick hopper-swapping. We measure then grind our beans. Always. 32 grams for a Kalita brew, 14 for the AeroPress, etc. So the most beans we ever put in the bean-feeder hopper is that amount. So the swapping of different collections of beans you keep in the hopper is a cool feature we didn’t want to pay for.
• Multi-adjustment grind-sizing. Many grinders have complex interfaces for dialing in exactly your perfect size. Think a coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment. This would be, I imagine, especially useful if you were trying to get a perfect espresso extraction. It all seemed too fiddly for us.

Easy to repair

Another big boon for why you should buy a Baratza Encore makes it very clear how and where to buy replacement parts. Not only have I heard almost exclusively good things about their phone and email support (I’ve not used it) but I found it trivially easy and reasonably priced to buy a replacement gasket for the machine that I ripped while cleaning.

Few items manufactured today have replacement parts available anywhere, but on the Baratza site, I ordered my part, paid a reasonable price on shipping, and had it in a few days. That’s a strong testament to their quality.

An industry standard, of sorts

A final benefit (that I kind of expected because I’m a nerd, but you might not) is that you’ll see reference to Baratza’s Encore coffee grinder all over the coffee world. Lots of directions for different brewers (either online or with the included manual) will actually specify grind sizes for the Baratza Encore.

This is all kind of tribute to the fact that Baratza is selling and supports one of the best grinders on the market, and has for years. It’s been doing it for so long that lots of informational writing about coffee cites its grinder settings.

Downsides to Know Before Buying

The static and debris

One thing I think it’s necessary for any Baratza Encore grinder review to cover is that the grinder does have one significant downside: the amount of bean debris it produces, especially when used without sufficient care (read: often for me) is notable. ;(

What do we mean? A typical run with the Baratza for me is that I measure out 30 grams of coffee, dump them in the hopper, turn on the machine, let it run until it stops sounding like it’s grinding anything at all, and then turn it off.

Especially if I immediately remove the grind basket (without waiting a bit, or rocking the machine) I’ll get about a half-gram of mostly bean paper (a fine, light-brown paper that most beans have in the middle) on the counter. What’s worse: because it’s so finely ground and naturally scatters, it’ll spread all over your counter and/or floor.

Rawr.

Other Baratza Encore reviews often note this issue, and trust us, this doesn’t mean we don’t highly recommend the Baratza Encore. As my first electric conical burr grinder, I think it’s possible that all do this. I’ve heard some testimony to the contrary, but not enough to be convinced. And there are things you can do.

Common recommendations to reduce the chaff-spread from the Baratza Encore include:

• Lightly wet the beans, like a briefly patting them with a wetted-spoon of water.
• Let the machine sit ~15 seconds after you turn it off, for some of the static holding the chaff to dissipate.
• Rock the machine, to knock more of the bean-paper-flecks into the ground basket.

All of these have helped when I’ve tried. None has been easy and reliable for me that I can not-mention this topic in this Baratza Encore review.

I dive deeper into the topic here: Why Coffee Grinder Static Happens & How to Cope

Still an investment

We paid about $140 for the Baratza Encore that was refurbished. That’s no small amount, so we think mentioning it in our world famous (someday?) Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder review makes sense.

Update: The price has increased $10, to about $150, as of this year.

In the world of “nice burr electric coffee grinders,” $150 is a pretty low price. In the world of “general coffee grinders,” that’s pretty expensive.

Electric blade grinders, manual burr grinders, heavily discounted second hand equipment, and even some used grinders all make this look overpriced. But for us, it made sense. And was the perfect Valentine’s Gift to each other. *Aw*

Buying a Baratza Encore is not something we’d recommend to someone who rarely drinks coffee. As an investment, especially when compared to driving to-and-from a nice coffee shop and paying retail prices for brewed coffee, it’s a bargain. But if you’re NOT committed to home-brewing great coffee, this is just too expensive. Buy a cheaper hand-grinder or blade-grinder for your guests and call it good.

» Learn more: The cost of brewing coffee at home vs. buying at the coffee shop

Baratza Encore vs. Alternatives

Baratza Encore vs. Baratza Encore ESP

The Encore ESP takes everything we like about the original Encore and expands it into espresso territory.

The biggest upgrade is the grind adjustment system. The first half of the dial is dedicated to espresso, with much smaller adjustments that make it possible to dial in shots far more precisely than the standard Encore ever could. Once you move past those settings, it functions much like the original, making it equally capable for pour over, drip, AeroPress, French press, and cold brew.

If you only brew filter coffee, we’d still save the $50 and buy the standard Encore. But if there’s even a decent chance you’ll buy an espresso machine in the next few years, the Encore ESP is probably the smarter investment.

Baratza Encore vs. Fellow Opus

If you’re deciding between the Encore (or the Encore ESP) and the Fellow Opus, the choice is less about coffee quality and more about workflow.

The Fellow Opus is the newer, sleeker option. It’s quieter, takes up less counter space, and looks fantastic in a modern kitchen. It also has enough grind range for espresso.

The tradeoff is that the Opus is more complicated to adjust. Fine espresso changes require both the outer grind ring and the inner micro-adjustment system, while the Encore keeps everything straightforward with a single adjustment dial.

If you’re willing to pay about $50 more because you want to make espresso, we’d actually point you toward the Baratza Encore ESP over the Opus because its adjustment system is easier to understand.

Baratza Encore vs. the Breville Smart Grinder Pro

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro sits on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Encore.

Where the Encore keeps things simple, the Breville leans all the way into features: digital display, timed dosing, dozens of grind settings, and a design that clearly has espresso drinkers in mind.

And to its credit, it’s far more capable when it comes to espresso.

But all of that comes at a cost — not just in price, but in complexity. If espresso is your goal, the Breville is the better fit. If it’s not, the Encore is probably the smarter buy.

Baratza Encore vs. Virtuoso

The Virtuoso+ is basically the Encore’s more polished (and pricy) older sibling. It uses upgraded burrs, which means a more consistent grind, especially in the mid-range where most pour-over and drip brewing happens.

In practice, that translates to slightly better-tasting coffee… but not dramatically so.

The bigger difference is features. The Virtuoso+ adds a timer and a more premium build, which some people love and others (like us) don’t really care about.

Baratza Encore Grind Settings Chart

One of the biggest advantages of the Baratza Encore is how easy it is to adjust for different brewing methods. We find these settings are a great starting point, though don’t be afraid to tweak them slightly based on your beans, roast level, and personal taste.

Baratza Encore AeroPress Setting

Starting at the low end of the range, use the 10-14 grind setting for the AeroPress (I prefer the higher range).

Baratza Encore V60 Setting

We dial it to 18 every morning for our V60. The specs say down to 14 can work for a pour over—just dink around and see what you like. If you prefer the Kalita Wave, you can grind up to 20. Its three small drain holes and a flat-bottom bed naturally slow the flow compared to the conical V60.

» The best pour over coffee makers we’ve found

Baratza Encore Chemex Setting

From there, you can adjust for your Chemex grind, which generally works best between 18 and 22. Because of the thicker paper filters, a slightly coarser grind helps maintain a steady drawdown and a clean, sweet cup.

Baratza Encore French Press Setting

We recommend starting between 28 and 32 for French press. If your coffee tastes weak or sour, move a click or two finer. If it’s overly bitter or muddy, try grinding a little coarser.

Baratza Encore Cold Brew Setting

Back to coarse grind for cold brew—even coarser than for French press. We recommend grinding between 30 and 35 to make a big batch of Toddy. A coarse grind helps prevent over-extraction during the long steep and makes filtering the finished concentrate much easier.

Baratza Encore Cleaning Tips

Here’s our very basic overview of how to clean a Baratza Encore.

• Clean the burrs semi-frequently—monthly is recommended. We admittedly are lazy about this and haven’t paid the price *yet,* but maintenance always outweighs replacing parts, IMHO.
• Remove the hopper and upper burr, then brush or even vacuum out old coffee grounds.
• Consider grinder cleaning tablets quarterly or annually to help remove built-up coffee oils.
• Avoid washing the burrs or grinding chamber with water.
• After cleaning, make sure the burr is seated correctly before reassembling the grinder. We’ve spent a LOT of time futzing with this, unfortunately, so pay close attention.
• If you notice more static than usual, clean out accumulated chaff around the grounds chute.
• Replace worn burrs after several hundred pounds of coffee if grind consistency starts to decline. More on this in the next section.

Baratza Encore Replacement Parts

Baratza sells replacement parts for just about every component, making the Encore one of the most repairable home coffee grinders on the market.

Replacing the Burr

Burrs gradually wear down after years of grinding coffee, so if you’re a frequent flyer, replacing the burrs can make the grinder feel almost new again.

Replacing the Gasket

This is the only replacement part we’ve personally needed after years of daily use.

During one cleaning session, we accidentally tore the rubber gasket while removing the burr. Ordering a replacement from Baratza was quick, inexpensive, and much easier than we expected. Swapping it out only took a few minutes, and the grinder was back to normal immediately.

Replacing the Hopper

If your bean hopper cracks, becomes scratched, or simply looks worse for wear after years on the counter, you can replace it without buying a new grinder. The hopper twists off without tools, so its one of the easiest parts to swap.

Where to Buy Parts

We personally turn to Baratza directly for replacement parts (Here’s a quick link). It reduces the chance of ending up with low-quality aftermarket parts, and their store stocks everything from burrs and gaskets to hoppers, grounds bins, lids, and internal components.

Delivery was relatively quick and easy, too.

FAQs on the Baratza Encore

Burr grinder vs. blade grinder

This is why you want a burr—not blade—electric coffee grinder.

When you’re getting started in coffee making, most people make the chasm leap from buying ground coffee to grinding fresh with a blade grinder. These remain the most popular and best-selling coffee grinders, and for good reasons: they’re simple, they’re cheap, and they do the job well-enough. 

That said, don’t let a coffee snob know you use a blade grinder. Snobs (like us, at times) look down their noses at blade grinders. The reason is simple: variability. Because of how a blade grinder works, it’s always going to “lose track” of individual beans and bits, and so it’ll make some into fine powder, while leaving other bits as big half-bean hunks.

Large variation in “bean-chunk size” or grounds is bad for brewing. What’s worse, when you have both too-fine and too-coarse at the same time (which is the basic problem of blade grinders), this means you’ll never get a good cup.

So when it comes to burr grinder versus blade grinder, always choose burr—regardless if electric or manual—if you actually want to make a good cup of coffee.

Is the Baratza Encore worth it?

Yes, assuming you’re brewing anything other than espresso. If you rarely make coffee or don’t care much about grind quality, it’s probably overkill.

Is the Baratza Encore noisy?

It’s pretty noisy. It’s not a quiet grinder like the Fellow Opus. But it only runs for 10–20 seconds at a time, so we’ve never considered it a dealbreaker.

How about the Baratza Encore M2 Burr upgrade?

If you already own a Baratza Encore and want better grind consistency without buying a new grinder, the M2 burr upgrade is worth considering. It replaces the stock burr with the same burr used in the Baratza Virtuoso+ for only $35, which will give you a faster grind and a slightly more uniform particle size.

That said, we’d consider it a “nice-to-have,” not a must-have. We’ve been perfectly happy with the stock burr for years, and for most home brewers, it’s unlikely to transform your coffee. We’d only consider the upgrade if your original burr is worn out or you’re looking to squeeze a little more performance out of an Encore you already love.

How long does a Baratza Encore last?

The Baratza Encore is built to last for many years with normal home use. We’ve used ours almost daily since 2018, and aside from replacing a torn gasket we accidentally damaged during cleaning, it’s still grinding coffee reliably.

How much better is coffee from an Encore compared with a blade grinder?

A blade grinder chops coffee into whatever-sized pieces it happens to catch. Some grounds end up almost powder-fine, while others are still big enough to resemble tiny pebbles. That’s a problem because coffee extracts at different speeds. The powder over-extracts and turns bitter. The larger chunks under-extract and taste weak or sour. So you end up with both problems in the same cup.

Baratza Encore’s conical burrs replace spinning blades so the grind is much more consistent. That means more even extraction and a more balanced cup.

Will every person on Earth immediately notice the difference? Probably not. But if you’re using decent beans and using different brew methods, I’d bet you notice the upgrade fairly soon.

Who is the Baratza Encore right for?

Buy the Encore if you…	Skip it if you…
Brew pour over	Primarily make espresso
Make drip coffee	Want cafe-level espresso
Use an AeroPress	Need timed dosing
Make French press	Want a grinder under $100
Brew cold brew	Prefer all-in-one espresso equipment

How to keep your Baratza Encore running for years

Most Encore owners who report getting 10 years or more out of the grinder all seem to follow the same routine: grind only what you need, keep the grinder dry, and clean it occasionally.

Grind only what you’ll brew right now

The Encore works best as a single-dose grinder. Instead of filling the hopper and grinding several days’ worth of coffee at once, measure only the beans you need for your next cup.

For example:

• One 10-ounce cup: 15–18 grams of coffee
• Two cups: 30–36 grams of coffee

Grind the beans and brew immediately.

Don’t store coffee beans in the hopper

The hopper is designed to feed beans into the burrs, not to function as a storage container.

Instead, store whole beans in the coffee bag itself (our go-to strategy) or an airtight container like the Airscape. Then add only the amount you plan to brew, and empty the hopper when you’re finished

Keep moisture away from the grinder

This is the most common warning that appears in Encore troubleshooting discussions.

Before reassembling the hopper after cleaning, make sure every component is completely dry.

Even small amounts of moisture can cause grounds to clump together inside the grinder. Oily, dark-roasted beans can also contribute to buildup over time.

Plan for ongoing, regular maintenance

You don’t need to deep-clean the Encore every week, but give it a little love every couple of weeks. Brush loose grounds from the burrs, remove any coffee buildup from the chute, and replace worn parts as needed.

Wrapping up our Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder deep dive

To wrap up our Baratza Encore review, we’re very happy with our purchase. Our continued strongest misgiving about this grinder is the quantity of chaff or debris that it leaves behind. But a quick wet-rag wipe gets rid of that fine. As does a bit more patience after a grind.

On the whole, it’s hard to go wrong with the Baratza Encore. If you remember that it’s for non-espresso home brewing, it’ll put both blade and manual grinders to shame without skipping a beat. And at the (relatively) affordable starting price of $150, it’s not a steal but it’s a very good deal. Baratza offers great warranty and out-of-warranty service, even for refurbished versions, and these grinders are an industry standard for a reason. Highly recommended! :)

Buy your Baratza Encore today on Amazon. Or find a retailer from Baratza’s website.