Coffee Grinders · owner-verdict comparison

Baratza Encore vs DF64 Gen 2: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the DF64 Gen 2: 73% of 298 owners recommend it, vs 47% of 147 for the Baratza Encore.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Baratza Encore

47%of 147 owners recommend
47% recommend · 9% neutral · 44% don't
Owners praise
  • Lasts many years of daily use, often a decade or more
  • Excellent customer service with cheap, replaceable, repairable parts
  • Produces consistent grounds and noticeably better coffee
Owners complain about
  • Too many fines and messy grounds all over the counter
  • Doesn't grind fine or consistent enough for espresso
  • Cheap plastic internal parts that break and need replacing
Full owner report →

DF64 Gen 2

73%of 298 owners recommend
73% recommend · 10% neutral · 17% don't
Owners praise
  • Excellent flavor and grind quality
  • Outstanding value for the price
  • Swappable 64mm burrs for upgrades
Owners complain about
  • Loud, shrill grinding noise
  • Inconsistency, wandering touch point
  • Clogging, static, and mess
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Baratza Encore if
  • ✓Pour-over, drip, French press and AeroPress brewers
  • ✓First-time buyers stepping up from pre-ground or blade grinders
  • ✓People who value repairability, spare parts and long life
  • ✓Those wanting a simple, no-fuss entry-level burr grinder
Skip it if
  • Espresso seekers needing a very fine, consistent grind
  • Noise-sensitive kitchens (owners call it loud)
Get the DF64 Gen 2 if
  • ✓Budget-minded espresso drinkers wanting flat-burr flavor
  • ✓Tinkerers who want to swap and upgrade 64mm burrs
  • ✓Single-dose users upgrading from a built-in or entry grinder
Skip it if
  • Buyers who want quiet operation
  • Those wanting consistency without regular cleaning and tinkering

What Baratza Encore owners say

“The defacto Reddit Approved(tm) combo is a Technivorm Mochamaster and Baratza Encore. I also have them both and they are fantastic.”
— RabidBlackSquirrel on Reddit
“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.”
— @ljjackson7106 on YouTube
“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.”
— Comprehensive_Wave64 on Reddit

What DF64 Gen 2 owners say

“Industrial vibes AND getting the kids out of bed are two major advantages in my opinion”
— @somborn on YouTube
“the industrial look is actually one of the attractive features of this grinder for me.”
— @ClaudioMartella on YouTube
“My white DF64 gen 2 is going back. I get the same flavor as my Breville Barista Touch.”
— @arielrodriguez6980 on YouTube

Baratza Encore vs DF64 Gen 2: frequently asked questions

Is the Baratza Encore or the DF64 Gen 2 better?

Real owners lean toward the DF64 Gen 2: 73% of 298 owners recommend it, vs 47% of 147 for the Baratza Encore.

Who should get the Baratza Encore?

Owners point the Baratza Encore at pour-over, drip, French press and AeroPress brewers, and first-time buyers stepping up from pre-ground or blade grinders.

Who should get the DF64 Gen 2?

Owners point the DF64 Gen 2 at budget-minded espresso drinkers wanting flat-burr flavor, and tinkerers who want to swap and upgrade 64mm burrs.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Baratza Encore is too many fines and messy grounds all over the counter. For the DF64 Gen 2, it's loud, shrill grinding noise.