Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore is the go-to entry grinder for brewed coffee — 40mm conical burrs and 40 settings give clean, repeatable grinds for pour-over, drip, AeroPress, and French press. It does not grind fine enough for true espresso; for that, reach for the Encore ESP.
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What have experts found about the Baratza Encore?
Every claim below is tied to a source you can open, quoted verbatim — how we research picks.
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“The grind coming out of the Encore was clumpier than I would like, and it had a negative impact on shot quality.”
In Prima Coffee's hands-on review, the Encore's grind was 'clumpier than I would like,' yet it ground fine enough to 'choke espresso machines at 6 if you use a firm tamp.'
Prima Coffee · 2012 ↗ -
“I found it trivially easy and reasonably priced to buy a replacement gasket for the machine that I ripped while cleaning.”
A Low Key Coffee Snobs long-term review found the Encore 'still going strong' after eight years of daily use, and Baratza's replacement parts 'trivially easy and reasonably priced' to buy.
Low Key Coffee Snobs · 2026 ↗
How does the Baratza Encore compare?
| Encore | Encore ESP | 1Zpresso JX (hand) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burrs | 40 mm M3 conical (steel) | 40 mm M2 conical (steel) | 48 mm conical (stainless) |
| Espresso-fine? | No | Yes (settings 1-20) | Yes (~20 clicks) |
| Adjustment | 40 stepped settings | Dual-resolution fine/coarse | Stepped, numbered dial |
| Power | Electric | Electric | Manual / hand-cranked |
| Best fit | Brewed coffee on a budget | Espresso + brewed in one | Portable, travel, single-cup |
Buy it if
- First-time grinder buyers who brew pour-over, drip, AeroPress, or French press
- Home baristas who want consistent, repeatable grind sizes without spending big
- People who value a switch-and-go electric grinder over hand-cranking
- Tinkerers - burrs are user-replaceable and Baratza parts/support are excellent
Skip it if
- Anyone whose main goal is espresso - get the Encore ESP instead
- Travelers or single-cup minimalists better served by a compact hand grinder
- Drinkers chasing ultra-fine, low-retention single-dose performance from a higher-tier grinder
Is the Baratza Encore worth it?
The Encore earns its 'first real grinder' reputation: real 40mm conical burrs, honest grind consistency for every brewed method, and a parts-and-service backbone that keeps it running for years. One thing to know: it's a brewed-coffee tool, not an espresso machine - if you want both, spend a little more on the Encore ESP.
Check price on Amazon Live price & reviews on AmazonQuestions, answered
- Can the Baratza Encore grind for espresso?
- Not really. Even at its finest setting the Encore is built for brewed methods and won't reliably hit true espresso fineness or the fine-step adjustment espresso needs. If espresso is your goal, the Encore ESP uses M2 burrs and tight micro-steps (settings 1-20) to dial in shots. Source Baratza (official) ↗
- What brew methods is the Encore best at?
- It shines across the brewed spectrum - pour-over (V60, Chemex), drip, AeroPress, French press, and cold brew. Twist through the 40 settings (roughly 250-1200 microns) to move from a medium-fine drip grind up to a coarse French press or cold-brew grind. Source Prima Coffee ↗
- Encore or a 1Zpresso JX hand grinder?
- Pick the Encore for convenience and volume - flip a switch and walk away. The JX is manual: more travel-friendly and finely adjustable per click, but you crank it by hand and capacity is one or two cups at a time. Both excel at filter; only the JX leans toward occasional espresso. Source Prima Coffee ↗The Coffee Chronicler ↗
- Baratza Encore or Encore ESP - which should I buy?
- Both are electric with 40mm conical burrs, but the Encore is a brewed-coffee tool that won't reach espresso fineness, while the Encore ESP swaps to M2 burrs and dual-resolution fine adjustment (settings 1-20) to dial in espresso and brewed in one. Get the plain Encore if you only brew filter on a budget; step up to the ESP if you want espresso too. Source Baratza (official) ↗
- Is the Encore's grind consistent enough?
- For brewed coffee, it's the benchmark; for espresso, less so. Prima Coffee found the grind 'clumpier than I would like,' with a negative impact on shot quality - it's built for filter, not espresso. The upside is longevity: a Low Key Coffee Snobs long-term review found it 'still going strong' after eight years, with Baratza replacement parts 'trivially easy and reasonably priced.' Source Prima Coffee ↗Low Key Coffee Snobs ↗