Scored on 147 verified owner verdicts, from 1,544 comments read across 4 communities
TL;DR
A durable entry-level burr grinder beloved for consistent grind, easy repairs, and standout customer service that keeps units running a decade. It's geared to drip and pour-over, not espresso.
47% of 147 verified owners recommend the Baratza Encore, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
1,544 comments reviewed · scored on the 147 clearest verdicts
47%
Recommend
69 owners
9%
Neutral
14 owners
44%
Don't recommend
64 owners
Last 6 months:29% recommend(17 recent verdicts)↓ trending down 23pts vs older reviews
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
48%
106
YouTubeiOrdinary owner comments (not the reviewer). They line up with what owners say on Reddit and forums — within a few points — so we count them here. When YouTube comments skew too far from other trusted sources, we leave them out.owner comments
44%
39
Other forums
50%
2
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
Affiliate blogsiThese blogs earn a commission when you buy. Across our data they rate products ~35 points more positively than actual owners — shown for transparency, never counted in the score.paid commission
100%
3
No clear verdictiGood-to-know notes — setup, tips, and things to watch for. We use them for the pros, cons, and who it's for, but they don't reflect a definitive opinion on the product, so they're never counted in the score. See the 'Good to know' section below the quotes.Setup, tips & quirks
—
12
Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 47%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. Affiliate blogs is shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
What owners like
Lasts many years of daily use, often a decade or more · 20 · 14%
Excellent customer service with cheap, replaceable, repairable parts · 12 · 8%
Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.
Top quotes, sourced
1,544 reviewed · 150 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
Reddit▲ recommend
“The defacto Reddit Approved(tm) combo is a Technivorm Mochamaster and Baratza Encore. I also have them both and they are fantastic.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“As a Baratza Encore owner thank you OP for asking this question, I’m so tired of slapping the side of my grinder and still having grounds everywhere.”
YouTube— neutral
“Glad I bought mine before they decided to plaster their logo all over the side of the grinder. Holy crap it's ugly”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“not much has been changed since 5+ years ago. If you do business like this in other industries, you go bankrupt”
YouTube▲ recommend
“We recently bought this Encore model and it has blown our minds with how delicious the same beans taste with the burr grinder. We love it.”
YouTube— neutral
“I have the original Baratza and it's so noisey I have to leave the room when I grind, and yes it works fine for espresso”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“It’s not, it’s very mediocre.”
YouTube— neutral
“It's a good grinder but I thought I wouldn't want the extra headroom. I WAS WRONG.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“I have a Baratza Encore grinder, which surpasses any other grinder I have owned. And I can get replacement parts for anything that wears out or breaks.”
Reddit— neutral
“I have the Baratza Encore, not the ESP, and it is indeed a burr grinder. Has worked great for all my other coffee methods like cold brew, moka pot and filter”
YouTube▲ recommend
“This is a great budget grinder for all your beans including espresso.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I had a Baratza Encore at first. Nice grind, but it was pretty fragile. After replacing the plastic rings holding the burrs in place twice, I splurged on a Rancilio Rocky.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“It was a workhorse, inexpensive (relatively speaking), and actually has customer support, which I used. What I hated most was how loud it was though.”
Reddit— neutral
“I am using the baratza encore. I have been mostly happy with it. However the consistency of the grounds could be a little better.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“now works great for espresso”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I have a baratza encore coffee grinder. The little on/off knob on the side broke within a year. The exact replacement in kind broke quickly as well.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Both are several years old and we have had 0 issues, and they make excellent coffee.”
Reddit— neutral
“I have a Baratza Encore and a Breville Bambino and have been pleased with my shots so far. I mostly stick to medium or medium dark roasts. I bet with lighter roasts it would be more apparent how inadequate my grinder is, but I am satisfied for now with my setup.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Baratza Encore being good but they use some cheap plastic parts inside so need frequent repair by owner and are not easy to clean.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I love my Encore, I have owned mine for 2 years.”
Reddit— neutral
“I own one and it is excellent, but it has its limitations. First off, it’s quite large.”
Reddit— neutral
“I use a Baratza Encore, so grinder could be improved. But it seems fine to me.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“I quickly moved to an entry level grinder - baratza encore and fresh beans. Another level.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I could never get great results from the Baratza Encore, even after upgrading the burr. Too inconsistent and too many fines.”
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
Redditⓘ good to know
“I have a Baratza Encore and what is setting 20 on some grinders looks more like setting 10 on mine.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“On course grind for cold brew the Ode has gotten jammed a few times, so I break out my old Encore for chunky grind duties.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“My o ring came loose for half a year. I put it in the right position and it makes a world of difference”
Redditⓘ good to know
“This happened to me but fixed unknowingly by me taking it apart and reassembling”
Redditⓘ good to know
“Ours broke, as well as the wing nut, and Baratza sent us a replacement for free”
Redditⓘ good to know
“I upgraded to another grinder so Encore is my back up”
Redditⓘ good to know
“now my grind quality is like the grinder is brand new”
Redditⓘ good to know
“Swapped this plastic part out and NIGHT AND DAY BREW”
Redditⓘ good to know
“My burr holder and paddle wheel were in bad shape”
