Baratza Encore 2022 Review - Staff Pick Award

This is a review of the Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder, one of the best burr coffee grinders for french press on the market today. We broke it down to discuss some important topics when it comes to choosing a grinder such as price, usability, and features.

The most crucial purchase you will ever make toward your craft coffee experience is a burr coffee grinder. Gone are the days of buying pre-ground coffee at your neighboring grocery store.

If you ask any barista anywhere, they’ll reassure you that having good quality coffee beans and precise grinding your beans fresh are the most important steps in making the perfect cup of joe.

But once you’ve decided to purchase a burr coffee grinder for your french press, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one. Grinders come in all different types, sizes, capabilities, and price range, and finding the one that will suit you best will take some research.

This Baratza Encore Review will hopefully help you decide if the Baratza Grinder is the best burr coffee grinder for you.

But first, what is a burr coffee grinder?

Burr coffee grinders are the most commonly used type of coffee grinder today, and it is most easily explained when compared to the blade grinder.

A blade grinder is usually made up of about three or four blades, and it resembles something you would find in a smoothie blender or food processor.

Some coffee grinders use a blade like this, but the grind settings are not as accurate as that found on a burr grinder, and blade grinders usually produce a more inconsistent grind size per bean.

Burr coffee grinders look like two blades on top of each other, and the beans are ground between the two blades. You can change the grind to be finer or coarser, which is done by changing the amount of space between the two blades.

Setting up your Baratza Grinder

Setting up your Baratza Grinder is a straightforward process that takes only seconds. It comes with only a few pieces, making it easy to put together and take apart if you need to.

After purchasing the Encore grinder, you’ll find in your box the base, the hopper (the cone shaped piece that holds and funnels the beans through to the steel burrs), and a lid to place on top of the Baratza grinder.

Not only is the Encore made of finely sharpened burr coffee grinder blades, but it is also one of the easier-to-set up coffee grinders for french press coffee makers on the market.

Baratza Encore Grind Settings (extra fine - coarse grind)

(NOTE: Encore grinder setting for French Press use 28)

One of the most amazing qualities of the Baratza Encore is the amount of grind settings that it comes with. Plenty of burr coffee grinders on the market today are advanced and well-made, but sometimes they lack grind accuracy due to not having enough settings.

You will not have this problem with the Baratza Coffee Grinder. The Encore's settings are advanced and numerous.

Some people who are new to brewing coffee in their home don’t realize that not only is it important to grind your beans fresh before you use them, but it is also crucial to have a closely accurate grind.

This can be achieved with a burr coffee grinder made with a large number of settings, something that the Encore certainly has.

The Baratza Encore has 40 different grind settings that give the user the ability to grind coffee for anything from a ultra-fine (Turkish coffee) or shot of espresso to a cup of french press coffee.

Different grind settings work best for different types of coffee as well, and it’s easy to experiment and test out grind settings with the Baratza Encore. The Encore grind settings are not only advanced and easy to use, but they set it apart from other burr coffee grinders.

The Encore grinder settings are worth every penny and will change the trajectory of your coffee experience. 

-Grind Settings for Espresso

The correct grind setting for espresso is around an 8.

-Grind Settings for French Press

The correct grind setting for French Press is around a 28.

-Grind Settings for Aeropress

The correct grind setting for Aeropress is around a 12.

How to Use the Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder

Using the Baratza Encore coffee grinder is simple. First, you'll want to lock the hopper into place by setting it on top of the burr coffee grinder base. Next, grab your favorite fresh, whole bean coffee and pour the beans into the top of the burr coffee grinder hopper. Then you can place the lid on top of the hopper to keep the beans inside while they grind.

It's now time to adjust the Encore's grind settings. You can do this by setting the hopper in place and twisting it to the left or right. 

Twisting it to the left makes the Encore grinder setting finer, and twisting it to the right makes it coarser. Once you’ve adjusted the grind, you can press the button on the front of the Baratza grinder to start.

There is a retractable drawer on the front of the Baratza coffee grinder that catches the coffee grounds. This is where you'll retrieve your freshly ground coffee. 

The burrs, hopper, hopper lid, and retractable drawer can all be easily removed for cleaning and drying. Baratza Encore cleaning is very simple, and we'll talk about that in detail later.

Baratza Encore Parts

The Encore is made up of many tiny parts, but there are a few key Baratza's parts that make up the Baratza grinder. Some of the main parts:

-BPA-free plastic hopper

-hopper lid

-Metal portaholder

-Silicon gasket

-burrs

Can I Replace the Parts on My Baratza Grinder?

Most of the Baratza Encore parts are fairly simple to replace. You can go through Baratza's website for some of the Encore parts we mentioned above.

Some of the smaller parts might be harder to find, but the manual (which we'll mention later on in the article) will include each part of the burr coffee grinder. Overall, Baratza's burr replacement is easy to do.

Size, Aesthetic, and Price

The Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder is about 5 x 6 x 14 inches and weighs only six pounds, making it a perfect size for any kitchen countertop.

This burr coffee grinder is very powerful for its size, and it’s difficult to find a coffee grinder this compact with the same capacity and variation of grind settings.

The design of the Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is sleek, narrow, and efficient. It’s small enough to fit in most spaces and fits perfectly next to other kitchen appliances.

The Baratza grinder would be a great addition to the coffee corner of you kitchen next to your french press and collection of coffee mugs.

The price point for the Encore is incredibly affordable for what you’re getting out of the entry level grinder. It is one of the more affordable electric burr coffee grinders and the price is perfect for an entry-level purchase.

When you purchase a Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder from French Press Coffee, you’ll receive a competitive price of $169.

Pros & Cons

The Baratza Encore grinder is an effective burr coffee grinder for french press coffee makers with both entry-level and experienced coffee users.

If you’re ready to decide whether or not this is the grinder for you, a list of positive and negative qualities can help in the decision making process.

Pros 

• 40 different grind settings with excellent accuracy
• Affordable price for level of burr coffee grinder 
• Baratza's parts are easy to clean
• Baratza grinder is lightweight and small in size

Cons

• The Baratza's grinder doesn't hold a lot of coffee beans at one time
• The Encore grinder costs over $100 

Is the Baratza Encore the Best Burr Coffee Grinder for French Press or Aeropress?

To be honest, the Encore Home Grinder is an excellent burr coffee grinder for both French Press and Aeropress. The settings are easy to use for both types of coffee makers.

As a reminder, the Encore grinder settings for an Aeropress are around a 12, and the settings for the French Press are around a 28. 

Because of its impeccable accuracy, the Baratza Coffee grinder can be used for any type of coffee maker.

The wide range of grind settings allow you to fully experiment with over 40 settings until you find the perfect cup of coffee for yourself.

The Aeropress and the French Press are two of the most popular coffee brewing methods, and we highly recommend that you use the Baratza Encore as your coffee grinder of choice for both of these methods.

Baratza Encore vs. Virtuoso

The Baratza Encore and the Baratza Virtuoso are for the most part very similar burr coffee grinders. You'll notice that they are similar in size and physical appearance. They both have a wide range of grind settings, and they are almost identical in shape. 

The Virtuoso is heavier than the Encore by a few pounds, and is slightly bigger in size. The grind range and grind settings are the same, but the Encore grinder is just a tad bit slower than the Virtuoso.

It is important to note that the Virtuoso is one step above the Encore. For one, it features a 60-second built-in timer, something that the Encore grinder does not have.

We mentioned earlier that the Encore grinder grinds coffee a little slower than the Virtuoso, which is a big deal to some customers.

The Virtuoso is a little more difficult to figure out, but everybody can understand it after some practice. You'll want to watch out for signs of overheating, a problem you won't face with the Encore grinder because it grinds at half the speed.

You can buy the Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder on our site for $169.99. You can purchase the Virtuoso for $249.99.

Ultimately, when it comes to Encore vs. Virtuoso, they are both reliable, accurate burr coffee grinders, but the Virtuoso is one step above the Encore.

Baratza Encore vs. Capresso Infinity

The Encore Coffee Grinder and the Capresso Infinity Coffee Grinder are some of the best burr coffee grinders on the market today.

They are similar in a lot of ways, but there are a couple of key differences to pay attention to.

For one, the Baratza coffee grinder has over 40 Encore grinder settings, whereas the Capresso Infinity coffee grinder has 16 Infinity grinder settings.

Although the Capresso still has excellent accuracy, the Encore has more than twice as much. The Capresso might be okay for coffee lovers who use the same type of coffee maker every morning and don't need much variety.

The Baratza Encore is better for those who want to experience a wide variety of grind settings for multiple different coffee making methods.

You can use both grinders in the same way, by twisting the top hopper to adjust the grind setting and removing the front drawer to retrieve the fresh coffee grounds. 

The Encore grinder and the Capresso grinder hold about the same amount of beans in the top hopper, and the hopper is made out of plastic in both burr coffee grinders.

The Capresso grinder is cheaper than the Baratza grinder by about 40 dollars. You can purchase the Capresso Infinity for $99.00.

Should I Buy a Baratza Encore Refurbished?

Buying the Baratza refurbished is actually a very smart idea. A refurbished grinder is gently used, but it's been worked on in order to restore its functionality back to normal.

Think of it as buying a used car. You'll pay a discounted price, but it will function almost perfectly and will have been inspected, cleaned, and fixed up. 

When you purchase a refurbished Baratza Grinder from Baratza's website, you'll receive all of the original parts and accessories that you would have gotten if you bought a brand new Baratza coffee grinder.

The normal retail price for a brand new Encore coffee grinder is $169, but you can find a Baratza Encore refurbished for as low as $90-$139.

Baratza Encore Cleaning Methods

The Baratza's cleaning process is rather simple, but it's important to know your options so that you can maintain a shiny burr coffee grinder that makes the best-tasting coffee possible.

You'll want to think about which parts of your Baratza Grinder come in direct contact with coffee. Coffee contains a lot of different oils, which leave residue over time.

Your Encore grinder comes with a cleaning brush that is perfect for removing excess coffee grounds and oil residue in the hopper, burrs, and grounds drawer. 

Every once and a while, you'll want to consider a more thorough Baratza Encore cleaning method. 

Many people enjoy using burr coffee grinder cleaning pellets, such as Grindz. You can run these through the Baratza grinder in the same way you would with coffee beans, and your Encore grinder will feel fresh and new.

Using different Encore cleaning methods really is important because it will greatly improve the taste and quality of your coffee over time, and it's simple to do after every few uses.

Where Can I Find a Baratza Encore Manual?

If you want a more detailed look into the functionality and descriptions of the specific parts for your Baratza's coffee grinder, you can download the Baratza's manual for free from their website.

You'll find a detailed description of each part that makes up the Encore grinder as well as how to put it together. 

You can also find a detailed list of instructions for Baratza Encore cleaning methods and some safety warnings and guidelines.

The manual contains detailed pictures and graphs to help you better use and understand your Encore coffee grinder.

What is the Best Beginner Coffee Grinder and French Press Combination?

Spoiler: Are you looking to enter into the world of craft coffee? Although it can be an intimidating leap, there are french presses and grinders that are great for beginners. Check out this article for the best beginner coffee grinder and french press combination.

If you’re just starting out in the journey of home brewing and making delicious coffee with a french press, you’ll need the best, most affordable, and most user-friendly equipment to get you started!

The best beginner coffee grinder and french press combination is the Bodum Chambord French Press with the Baratza Encore Burr Grinder. 

The Bodum Chambord French Press is a classic, high-quality coffee maker. It’s easy to use and yields amazing, bold french press coffee. At just $39.99, it’s an affordable value and the perfect beginner french press.

The Baratza's Encore Burr Grinder is an impressive, high-powered coffee grinder perfect for home brewing use. Its grind settings are accurate and easy-to-set. The Encore is small and compact, which makes it perfect for your home kitchen countertop. You can purchase the Baratza Conical Burr Grinder for $169.99.

If you’re ready to take the leap to making craft coffee at home, you can’t go wrong with this awesome combination. The Bodum French Press and the Baratza Encore grinder is the best beginner coffee grinder and french press combination.

Conclusion

Overall, the Baratza Encore Burr Coffee Grinder is an excellent burr coffee grinder for french press coffee makers and all types of coffee lovers.

With its 40 grind settings and burrs built for accuracy, the Encore is a high-level grinder sold an at entry-level price, and it’s a great addition to any coffee routine.

If you’re wanting an electric burr coffee grinder with superb accuracy at an affordable price, the Baratza's Burr Coffee Grinder is an ideal choice for you.

Once you've decided, you can buy your Encore grinder here. If you're wanting to learn more about using the Baratza Burr Coffee Grinder, or any of our other products, you can check out our blog.

Need the perfect pairing to your new Baratza coffee grinder? Search through our selection of french press coffee makers to find your best one.

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