*** 1 Year Update***
I have been using this grinder multiple times per day for a year now and so far I have NO problems to report. It still grinds just as well as it did on day one, the burrs are still sharp and I still love this grinder. I have no doubt I made the right purchase and I am glad I didn't opt for the "fancy" lcd models with the automated grind features; to me all those extra bells & whistles = more that could break. If I were to upgrade, it would be for a unit in another "class"; perhaps the Vario, but that is several $100 more and I don't see any reason to do so at this time. I will add that there is a 1 star review on this site that complains about larger beans not feeding through the hopper. Initially, I thought it sounded silly; however, not long ago, I roasted a batch of beans much darker than usual (VERY VERY dark roast), resulting in the beans being about 1 1/2 times their usual size. While grinding, I noticed that about 4 beans got lodged between the hopper and burrs. I tapped the side of the unit a few times and the final beans fed through the hopper. I had this happen two or three times. So, I suppose if you habitually use a bean that is much larger than your typical coffee bean, you might have an issue. Just search through the 1 star reviews for more details (at the time of this update, there was only one 1 star review).
Summary: fantastic grinder for an excellent price makes this a best buy in my book and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a serious coffee drinker.
***Update***
I've been using this grinder daily for almost 4 months, grinding enough for about 12 cups each day (maybe more on weekends). I usually use it early morning, afternoon and evening. I grind mainly for drip and espresso, occasionally for French press or pour-over. I still have no complaints with this grinder: I believe I made the right choice between this and fancier LCD options. I've ground for a 12 cup pot on numerous occasions when company comes over, and it never overheats or bogs or slows downI don't think it notices if you're grinding for 1 cup or 12! Everything is solid and the burrs are still sharp as ever. Once a month I disassemble it to give it a good cleaning. It doesn't seem to retain much grinds in the chamber. My only gripe is the static build up after grinding can make a mess when you pull out the grind chamber: there are enough grinds clinging to the exit chute to scatter on the counter if you're not careful (to be fair, this is a common problem plaguing all burr grinders). But really I don't even notice that anymore, after a couple weeks you develop your own routine on how to deal with it and it ceases being an issue. I tend to grind, prep the coffee pot/filter to give the static time to discharge, then I give it a solid knock or two on the side and front before taking out the chute (thankfully this is a VERY solid grinder). It might sound tedious, but I actually had to sit here and think about it because it's simply second nature now and I don't even notice doing it. The only time I notice the problem is when someone else uses the grinder who isn't aware of the "technique".
Another great feature is that baratza sells every piece imaginable should you ever have a problem in the future: right down to a new motor or exterior knobs! All the pieces seemed priced appropriately. So while this may not be important to some, I like knowing that should the need arise, my equipment is completely serviceable. So I guess when the day comes that I need new burrs, I won't be shopping for another grinder, but paying a small sum for a new set of burrs. I didn't find that option on many of the other units I shopped around for. Ultimately, I still completely recommend this grinder and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants quality, affordability and versatility all rolled into a single package!
***Original Review***
I've been looking for a grinder that I could use with my current espresso machine (pressurized portafilter), drip coffee pot, and french press and would also allow me to grow into a more expensive espresso machine (i.e. the Rancilio Silvia or Quickmill Silvano). I was looking at the Rocky grinder, the Baratza Vario and Virtuoso Preciso, the Breville Smart Grinder, et al. Then I came along the Encore which I believe is new for 2012. I read several "professional" reviews and even saw some video reviews where the Encore was able to "choke" the Silvia at around grind setting "6". If you aren't aware, the Maestro and Maestro Plus (which the Encore replaces) weren't able to grind fine enough to choke the Silvia straight from the factory. Although this grinder isn't "stepless" (you have a larger variance from one "click" to the next when adjusting the grind setting, you still get 40 settings which are plenty for any home grinder. With a little tamping technique, this grinder will work fine for any espresso machine not my opinion the "pros" opinion. I am currently using it with my pressurized espresso machine, my drip pot and the occasional pour over and french press. It works great for them all! While it doesn't perform as well (or so I've read) as the Preciso or other high-end grinders, the fact that you can even begin to compare them speaks volumes for Baratza. I believe that currently there is NO other grinder on the market that can stand next to this one in terms of quality & versatility within the price range. Maybe the Breville Smart Grinder, but it still costs 50% more, I don't like the LCD display and I've heard (no practical experience) from several sources that Breville customer service is not quite up to par. If any of you out there care, the Baratza Maestro and Maestro Plus were already popular grinders and Baratza completely over-hauled it and produced the Encore it offers WAY more at the same price. I'm sorry if this sounds like I'm selling the Baratza name, but this is the first of their products I've owned I'm just impressed they did this with the Encore. So often a company produces a 2nd iteration of a product with lesser features or cheaper quality parts. Check it out for yourself, the innards are improved for better durability along with the burrs for a more consistent and fine grind! WOW...who does that?!
Oh, and the first time I used it my wife was in the other room (separated by an open doorway) and she was shocked to find I had used it without her hearing it! Maybe when I close the door and begin my 5am grinding I won't wake the kids!
The only con (which I've heard is not an uncommon problem with this type of grinder) is that when I remove the grind container and IF I accidentally knock the grinder, leftover grinds can fall from the chute onto the counter. I have a Dustbuster within arms reach of the grinder so it's no big deal, but if I didn't, it might aggravate me.
I'm so glad I bought this and not one of the other many many brands I researched for months. I completely recommend it.
With "Baratza" being a high-priced coffee grinder name, this model was supposed to be a value. I was hoping for a bit more savings with this Taiwan manufactured model, but it's a bit overpriced to my standards. I grind specifically for a French press, and a setting somewhere around "22-24" gave the best grind for pressed coffee. After the initial cleaning, I've used about 3 tbsp. of minute rice once a week to clean the grinder so that I don't have to take it apart. The grind is very uniform, and each cup of coffee has the least amount of "sludge" left in the bottom of the cup, less so than any other grinder I've used. This model is relatively quiet and I've been using it for about one month. If you use coffee beans that are very oily, you may have to help them along in the hopper. For a standard french press, I fill the bean hopper until I can't see the little round burr-guard. Every time, this amount makes for a perfect cup of pressed coffee. I've ground everything from $27.00 per lb. Kona, to cheap USDA certified organic bulk-bag coffees from Costco. This grinder actually does a better job than our local coffee roasting companies here in Alaska. The grinder won't plug the french press with overly fine coffee grinds.
Buy Encore Coffee Grinder Now
This is a great $130 espresso grinder that can grind beans into a consistently fine powder suitable for most non-pressurized filter-basket home espresso machines. If the default factory "course" calibration does not provide a fine espresso grind enough for your needs, it can be calibrated at home for "fine" grind that adds the equivalent of an additional eight notches of extra-fine settings. See YouTube video "How To Re-Calibrate a Baratza Grinder" by "wholelattelovetv" for details. (Note: After re-calibration and re-assembly, you may have to initially rotate by hand the inner grind selection ring into a position that allows the bean hopper to be re-inserted.)
I did this home calibration to get an ultra-fine clumpy powder that can choke a non-pressurized filter-basket commercial espresso machine. Why pay over $300 for a commercial quality Rancillio Rocky grinder when you only need it for medium use at home. If you are willing to spend less than 5 minutes and calibrate this machine at home, you get a truly professional ultra-fine espresso grind from a small footprint medium use grinder!
Read Best Reviews of Encore Coffee Grinder Here
After reading the very literate, very glowing reviews about the Baratza Encore grinder, I thought I'd found our perfect match. It, after all, allows you to grind directly into a portafilter. Meaning a fine espresso grind shouldn't be a problem.
Following the instructions I "seasoned" the grinder with a batch of beans and threw the grinds away.
I then ground my beans for coffee. We do not use expensive coffee but it does come from a traditional Italian roaster out of Seattle. It's a dark roast and it is slick with oil.
This grinder seized up half way through the 1.5 cup of beans at a setting of 28 (french press grind). The motor ran. The beans weren't being ground. We cleaned the burr. We felt for a clog. We spent a maddening four hours reading the very simple instructions.
I made a small batch of french press with the grounds we were given. Terrible.
After rereading the reviews I am of two minds: 1. The grinder we received was individually flawed. 2. The grinder we purchased does not want super-fresh ground, super dark beans and certainly doesn't want to grind them to a fine espresso grind.
Since my fellow reviewers are so ardent and capable of illustrating this grinder's value and quality, I am hesitant to say that it was the grinder's fault that it didn't work for us.
However, I did buy another brand for less money and that thing is working like a champ. It is cleaner, quieter, sturdier (the Baratza Encore is plastic through and through save the burr itself) has more functionality and doesn't take up as much counter space. Our coffee is creamy, rich but wonderfully aromatic.
Also, the return postage on the Baratza Encore was enough to make me regret my initial decision to purchase the thing at all.
In the end, I'd be remiss if I didn't warn you traditional Italian roast fans that this grinder may not work out for you. Or it might and we got a bum machine. Either way, make sure you have an excellent return policy before purchasing this grinder.
Want Encore Coffee Grinder Discount?
After reading many reviews on grinders under $150, I chose to purchase this grinder. I am primarily grinding a dark roast bean, coarse settings, for French Press coffee. This is not the grinder for this application. In attempting to grind only 2 oz. of beans it was taking upwards of 3 minutes to grind, and, more dangerously having to put one's fingers into the hopper to force the beans into the burr. I followed the company's website and made adjustments to the speed of the burr grinder, but to no avail. I contacted Baritza directly. Their Technical Consultant was very good, but expressed that a dark, large, oily bean is a known problem with this machine and would not recommend it. He did say this problem does not exist in the next more advanced machine, the Virtuoso, which also carries a $100 more price tag. I am sorry to say but I will be returning this machine as it does not perform as indicated.
There are already plenty of reviews on the new model of this machine so I won't critique the design. I ordered this refurbished model after a Breville refurbished model with grinder failed. This one is working with no problems so far and makes a good espresso when using the single wall filters. There were no scratches or any trace of use on the machine I received. My only complaint so far is that the hot water wand drips a small amount when using the steam wand. Other than that, all is well. I also got the item quite a bit cheaper than it is currently listed.
