Baratza markets the Encore as the ultimate multipurpose grinder for beginners, capable of delivering everything from fine espresso grounds to coarse grinds suitable for French press and cold brew. I wholeheartedly agree with this claim.
But what about other brewing methods? Which settings yield the best results? Don’t worry—we’ll cover all of this and more in our extensive grind setting guide for the Baratza Encore!
Key Takeaways
- The Baratza Encore has been a beloved entry-level grinder for over a decade, featuring 40 grind settings that excel across various brewing methods.
- While calibration may vary slightly between units, the Encore consistently produces grinds from fine (250 microns) to coarse (over 1200 microns), making it suitable for everything from espresso to French press and cold brew.
- Although the Encore can grind for espresso, it’s not the optimal choice due to limited adjustability and slower grinding speed for fine settings; it’s best suited for medium to medium-coarse grind methods.
Exploring the Encore’s 40 Grind Settings
The Baratza Encore coffee grinder offers 40 distinct grind settings that cater to a variety of brewing methods. However, similar to other grinders, these numerical settings serve merely as markers specific to your unit.
Calibration differences between even two Baratza Encores can result in slight variations. Thus, when discussing grind sizes, a more tangible measurement is the particle size, expressed in microns (1/1000 of a millimeter), often denoted as ‘µm.’
To measure coffee grounds in microns, a set of sieves, like the Kruve Sifter, is needed. We conducted extensive testing using six different-sized sieves to explore the Encore’s entire grind range, allowing us to identify its strengths and limitations.
If you’re eager for specific grind-setting recommendations for the Encore, feel free to skip ahead to the latter part of this article, which includes a visual guide and answers to frequently asked questions. Otherwise, let’s delve into the Encore’s grind performance across its 40 settings.
Baratza Encore Grind Range in Microns
The Encore features a 40mm conical burr set that can produce grinds as fine as 250 microns and as coarse as 1200 microns. This range accommodates quick extraction methods requiring fine grinds (like espresso) and slower brewing processes that need larger particles (such as French press and cold brew).
While this range looks good on paper, we verified it with our sieve tests.
The aim is not to nitpick official specifications but rather to compile a thoroughly tested list of grind settings that will enhance your brewing experience.
Finding the Finest and Coarsest Settings
On the finest setting (#1), the smallest particles easily passed through the 300-micron sieve, with almost none making it through the 200-micron sieve. This performance aligns with the advertised capabilities of the burrs, proving effective for espresso.
At the coarsest setting (#40), grind particles appeared slightly larger. We didn’t have a sieve larger than 1000 microns (equal to 1mm or 1/25th of an inch) for precise measurement, but visual estimation indicates that the Encore can produce particles measuring between 1500 to 2000 microns—well beyond what most brewing methods require!
Exceptional Performance in Medium-Fine to Medium-Coarse Grinds
The Encore excels in the medium-fine to medium-coarse range, specifically between settings #10 and #28. This range demonstrates excellent particle size distribution, resulting in less variation in coffee grinds compared to similarly priced grinders. Reduced grind variance not only leads to better-tasting brews but also ensures repeatability.
Testing the Particle Size Distribution
To match each grind setting to specific brewing methods, we conducted rigorous testing with the Kruve sieves. Here’s our process for evaluating each Baratza Encore grind setting:
- Grind the coffee to the desired setting.
- Place the ground coffee atop the finest sieve (200 microns) of the Kruve sifter.
- Shake the Kruve to allow the grinds to sift through.
- Weigh the grinds that passed through the sieve versus those that remained.
Recommended Grind Settings for Your Baratza Encore
Based on extensive sifting and brewing trials, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of grind settings for the Baratza Encore. These settings provide a solid starting point, although they may not be 100% accurate for your specific unit.
If your brews are tasting thin and sour (indicating under-extraction), try adjusting a couple of notches finer. Conversely, if your coffee is bitter and hollow, opt for a coarser grind.
Visual Guide to the Encore’s Grind Settings
The primary reason two Baratza Encores might produce slightly different grinds is due to the adjustable “zero point.” This means that the fine and coarse settings can vary slightly, affecting the entire grind range if modified.
For a better understanding, we provide a visual guide featuring photos of our Encore’s grinds, arranged from finest to coarsest. This allows you to compare how closely your grinder matches our findings.
Let’s dive into the world of grind settings and elevate your coffee experience with the Baratza Encore.
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