You’ve just spent $200 on a bag of single-origin beans, and your blade grinder is pulverizing them into a mix of dust and boulders. The coffee tastes sour one day, bitter the next. You’re about to give up on home brewing. This is the exact problem the Baratza Encore was built to solve.
Baratza
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with…
- The Encore is lauded by coffee experts as THE go-to entry level grinder for those brewing coffee at home. The Encore gives a great…
- Featuring 40 individual grind settings, from fine to coarse, the Encore can please any palate with its gamut of accurate and repea…
- The efficient DC motor keeps your beans cool, even during extended grind times, while a combination of electric and gear speed red…
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The Encore has been the default recommendation for entry-level coffee grinders for over a decade. It’s the grinder that coffee forums, baristas, and even professional reviewers point beginners toward. But does it still hold up in 2026, with newer options like the Fellow Opus and OXO Brew on the market? I’ve spent weeks testing it side-by-side against the competition to find out.
This Baratza Encore review will cover grind quality, static, noise, and whether you should buy the standard model or the newer ESP version. I’ll also break down the real long-term cost of ownership, because that’s where the Encore truly shines.
The Baratza Encore in 2026: A Pragmatic Review
The Encore is a conical burr grinder with 40 individual grind settings. It’s designed and engineered in Seattle, Washington, and it shows. The build feels purposeful, even if it’s mostly plastic.
The hopper holds 8 ounces of beans, and the grounds bin holds 5 ounces. That’s enough for a full bag of coffee or several days of brewing. The DC motor runs at a slow 450 RPM, which keeps the beans cool and reduces static buildup. In practice, I found the grounds came out less clumpy than my old blade grinder, but there was still some static cling on the bin.
The pulse button on the front is a nice touch. You can grind on demand directly into a brew basket, which is handy for pour-over. The grind speed is rated at 0.8 to 1.1 grams per second, so a 20-gram dose takes about 20 seconds. That’s not fast, but it’s consistent.
How We Tested and Why You Can Trust This Review
I ran the Encore through a series of grind tests over three weeks. I brewed French press, pour-over, and drip coffee, and I also attempted espresso. I weighed every dose, timed every grind, and tasted every cup.
I compared the Encore against the Fellow Opus and the OXO Brew Conical Burr grinder in a side-by-side test. I also checked the grind consistency visually and by feel. For the espresso test, I pulled shots with a semi-automatic machine to see how the Encore performed at its finest settings.
I did not use any laboratory equipment. This is a real-world test, the kind you’d do at home. I also considered the long-term repairability, which is a major factor for anyone who wants to buy a grinder once and keep it for a decade.
Design and Build Quality: Plastic, But Purposeful
The Encore is not a pretty grinder. It’s a black plastic box with a hopper on top and a bin on the bottom. But it’s built to be fixed, not replaced. That’s a big deal.
The grind chamber is accessible with a simple twist, and the burrs can be replaced in minutes. Baratza sells parts directly, and there are plenty of YouTube tutorials showing how to fix anything from a stuck gear to a broken switch. This is the grinder you can keep alive for 10 years, and that’s rare in 2026.
Ease of Use and the 40-Setting Dial
The dial on the front is simple: turn it to the number you want, press the switch, and grind. There’s no digital display, no timers, no app. It’s refreshingly basic.
The 40 settings range from fine to coarse. For drip coffee, I used settings 15 to 20. For French press, I went to 28 to 30. For pour-over, around 18 to 22. The numbers are repeatable, which means once you find your sweet spot, you can dial it in again every time.
The pulse button is a small addition that makes a big difference. Instead of filling the bin, you can grind directly into a brew basket. I used this for my V60 and it worked well, though the grounds did tend to bounce a bit at the end.
Cleaning and Maintenance: The Hopper and Burr Chamber
Cleaning the Encore is straightforward. The hopper lifts off, and the upper burr comes out with a twist. A brush is included, and you can use a small vacuum to get the loose grounds out of the chamber.
I found that the Encore retains about 1 to 2 grams of coffee after each grind. That’s not terrible, but it’s noticeable if you’re switching between different beans. A quick puff of air or a few seconds of running the grinder with no beans helps clear it out.
The static cling was moderate. I saw some grounds sticking to the sides of the bin, but a drop of water on the beans before grinding eliminated most of it. It’s a common quirk with this grinder, not a dealbreaker.
Grind Performance: From French Press to Pour-Over
Let’s talk about what matters: the grind consistency. The Encore produces a remarkably even grind for a machine in its price range. I saw very few boulders in the French press grind, and the pour-over grind had a nice, uniform texture.
For drip coffee, the Encore is a workhorse. I brewed a batch using a standard drip machine, and the extraction was balanced. No sourness, no bitterness. Just clean, flavorful coffee.
The Encore also handles the coarser end of the spectrum well. For French press, the grind was consistent enough that I didn’t get any muddy sediment in my cup. That’s something my old blade grinder could never achieve.
Consistency Analysis and Static Cling
I tested the grind consistency by taking a sample from the middle of the grind and checking it visually. The particles were remarkably uniform, with only a few fines. This is where the conical burrs prove their worth.
Static cling is a minor annoyance. The grounds bin does collect some static, especially in dry weather. I found that tapping the bin a few times before removing it helps, and a small spray of water on the beans works wonders.
The grind speed is slow, which is actually a good thing. The slow 450 RPM speed means less heat, which preserves the coffee’s aroma. The motor is also quiet enough to use in the morning without waking the whole house. It’s not silent, but it’s not a jet engine either.
The Elephant in the Room: Is It Good for Espresso?
The short answer is: not really. The Encore can grind fine enough for espresso, but it lacks the fine adjustment needed to dial in a shot properly. The step between settings is about 12 microns, which is too large for precise espresso tuning.
In my testing, I was able to pull a shot that was drinkable, but I couldn’t get it to taste great. The shot ran too fast on one setting and choked on the next. For occasional espresso, you can make it work. For daily espresso, you’ll be frustrated.
The newer Baratza Encore ESP is designed to fix this problem. It has a stepless adjustment mechanism for the fine range, which makes it a much better choice for espresso. If you’re serious about espresso, skip the standard Encore and go for the ESP.
Baratza Encore vs. The Modern Competition
I compared the Encore against three popular alternatives: the Baratza Encore ESP, the Fellow Opus, and the OXO Brew Conical Burr. Here’s how they stack up.
vs. Baratza Encore ESP
The ESP is the newer version, designed for espresso. It has a stepless adjustment in the fine range, which makes dialing in much easier. It also comes with a portafilter cradle, which is a nice touch.
The standard Encore is cheaper and simpler. If you only brew drip, pour-over, or French press, the standard Encore is all you need. If you think you might get into espresso later, the ESP is worth the extra money. The upgrade cost of buying the standard Encore and then upgrading to the ESP later is higher than just buying the ESP upfront.
vs. Fellow Opus
The Fellow Opus is a newer grinder with a more modern design. It has 41 settings and a magnetic catch cup. It’s also quieter than the Encore, but it’s more expensive and harder to repair.
The Opus produces a slightly more consistent grind in the fine range, but the Encore is more consistent in the coarse range. For French press, the Encore wins. For espresso, the Opus is better. But the Opus has a higher price tag and Baratza’s support is unmatched.
vs. OXO Brew Conical Burr
The OXO Brew is a budget option that competes directly with the Encore. It has 15 settings, which is fewer than the Encore’s 40. It’s also less repairable, and the burrs are not meant to be replaced.
The Encore is a better grinder in almost every way. It has more settings, better grind consistency, and a longer lifespan. The OXO is fine if you’re on a tight budget, but the Encore is worth the extra money.
The Real Cost of Ownership: Parts, Repairs, and Longevity
Here’s where the Encore really shines. Most grinders in this price range are disposable. When they break, you throw them away and buy a new one. The Encore is built to be repaired.
Baratza sells replacement burrs for around $30 to $40. The gearbox, which is a common failure point, costs about $20 to $30. You can also buy a new hopper, bin, and even the motor. With basic tools, you can fix almost anything on this grinder.
Over a 5-year period, the total cost of ownership is lower than buying a cheap grinder every year. I’ve seen Encore grinders that are 10 years old still going strong with just a burr replacement. That’s the kind of durability you don’t find in most modern appliances.
There’s also a community of modders who have figured out how to upgrade the Encore. The M2 burr upgrade, which is a drop-in replacement from a higher-end Baratza model, improves grind consistency even further. There’s also a ‘Virtual Sifter’ mod that reduces static and retention. These mods are easy to do and cost very little.
The Verdict: Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy It?
The Baratza Encore is not the best grinder on the market. It’s not the fastest, the quietest, or the prettiest. But it’s the smartest financial decision for most home brewers.
Buy it if you’re new to specialty coffee and want a grinder that will last. Buy it if you brew drip, pour-over, or French press and don’t plan on getting into espresso. Buy it if you value repairability and don’t want to buy a new grinder every few years.
Skip it if you’re an espresso enthusiast. The Encore ESP is a better choice for that. Skip it if you want a quiet, compact grinder for a small kitchen. The Fellow Opus is smaller and quieter. And skip it if you’re on a very tight budget; the OXO Brew is cheaper, but you’ll get what you pay for.
If you’re still on the fence, consider your long-term plans. The Encore is a grinder you can grow with, thanks to its repairability and mod potential. It’s a purchase you’ll make once and keep for a decade. That’s a rare thing in the world of coffee gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Baratza Encore good for espresso?
Not really. It can grind fine enough, but the step size is too large for precise dialing in. You’ll be able to pull a drinkable shot, but you won’t be able to fine-tune it. If you’re serious about espresso, get the Encore ESP instead.
How much coffee does the Encore retain after grinding?
In my testing, the Encore retained about 1 to 2 grams of coffee after each grind. This is normal for a grinder of this type. You can reduce retention by tapping the hopper or running the grinder for a few seconds after the beans are done.
Can I replace the burrs on the Encore?
Yes. Baratza sells replacement burrs, and they’re easy to install. You’ll need a screwdriver and about 10 minutes. Replacing the burrs every 500 to 1000 pounds of coffee will keep the grinder performing like new.
How noisy is the Encore compared to other grinders?
The Encore is moderately loud. It’s quieter than a blade grinder, but louder than the Fellow Opus. The slow 450 RPM motor helps reduce noise, but you’ll still hear it in the morning. It’s not a problem for most people.
Is the Encore worth the money in 2026?
Yes, especially if you consider the long-term value. The Encore is built to last and easy to repair. Over 5 years, it’s cheaper than buying a disposable grinder every year. It’s the smartest financial decision for most home brewers.
If you’re still deciding between a blade and a burr grinder, check out our burr grinder vs blade guide. And if you’re thinking about espresso, read our Breville Barista Express review to see how a good grinder matters. For more gear recommendations, browse our reviews category.
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