Established in 1999, the Baratza – the US company produces good quality coffee grinders. They provide a wide range of coffee grinder and the Baratza Encore is an entry-level option for those who try this brewing beverage for the first time. When purchasing Baratza Encore, remember to maintain it on a regular basis. Here is how to do the Baratza Encore maintenance.
What is Baratza Encore?
This is the American brand of a burr grinder for coffee shots, particularly Espresso. The Encore is a multi-purpose burr grinder that fits into any household, whether finely ground Turkish coffee, Espresso, and French Press are your hobbies.
The device has 40 individual grind settings from fine to coarse. The incredibly designed burrs provide you an accurate grind to make a delicious cup of coffee with balanced flavors and aromas every day.
You possibly fill the hopper with 8 ounces of coffee beans. Then, you select one of 40 grind settings by spinning the hopper till it reaches the right settings for your desired brew. The conical burrs and potent motor assure great beans, crucial features for holding freshness.
When brewing the coffee, getting the precise grind is like Goldilocks finding the true bowl of porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Too fine and your coffee cup will be bitter and strong. Similarly, too coarse and your cup will be sour and thin with a “verdant” flavor.
Specifications
- Speed to grind: 0.8g/sec.—1.1g/sec.
- Burrs: 40 mm conical burrs
- Bean hopper capacity: 8 oz (227g)
- Grounds bin capacity: 5 oz. (142 g)
- Weight: 7 lbs. (3.1kg)
- Dimensions WxHxD(cm): 12x35x16
- Power rating (North America): 120 V AC 120 Watts 50/60 Hz. 1 Amp
- No load burr speed: 550 RPM
- Safety listing: UL/CSA/CE/EK
- Designed & engineered: Seattle, WA, USA
Features
Fairly compact
The Baratza Encore has black-and-white color in the body. This is the most primary model, making a trustworthy and strong coffee grinder. A big hopper on top might keep 8oz. (227 grams) of coffee beans. The body comes in a solid plastic chassis, providing you a tough feel.
The design is straightforward without unnecessary buttons on the machine. There is only an ON/OFF button by the side and a pulse button on the front. Some numbers right below the hopper and easily turn the hopper to change the grind size.
The ground bin (at the bottom) has a tank of 5oz. (142 grams), which is large enough for brewing coffee for your family or a group of friends. The construction is lightweight enough because it weighs 7 pounds with a compact size. You can fit it in the cabinet or leave it on your kitchen counter.
Stainless steel material
The Baratza Encore has precision conical burrs which are made from stainless steel and they have been engineered with Espresso preparation. You can try other coffees, but this coffee grinder works best in Espresso.
Speaking of the fine settings, the first 20 are labeled for Espresso and they have been marked distinctively from the next 20. What Baratza has completed here is clever, especially for the Espresso grind size range.
Each adjustment moves the burrs by 9 microns while the other adjustments spread over 45 microns above 20 grind settings. As an innovative adjustment system, Baratza could straightly label it as a versatile grinder, meaning that it is suitable for all preparation methods.
24-gram dosing
The big ground bin is identical to the original Encore. Additionally, it is fully suitable if you are grinding coffee beans for a drip coffee or pour-over coffee maker. You probably want to weigh coffee beans beforehand seeing as you cannot put a coffee scale underneath.
As for the Espresso dosing cup, for example, it keeps 24 grams, which is too much for a double shot. Please bear in mind that you should weigh coffee beans initially, in order to get any type of consistency.
You will wonder why the coffee grinder has a big bean hopper, particularly seeing as it lacks a timer function on board. If the hopper is full, there is no way to properly grind any given amount of coffee.
Fortunately, there is a solution. You should buy a separate single dose hopper. This is a marvelous advantage for brewing Espresso when the built-in bellows make the entire dose through the grinder.
Grind settings (from 250 to 1200 microns)
Ranging between 250 and 1200 micrometers, with 40 individual grind settings, not all coffee grinders in this category might tackle with such a huge scope of grind options. There is still a lot of room for you to change your manual brewing styles.
The unit has given you from the finest grind for Espresso to the additional course for a cold brew and other brewing systems such as drip coffee, Aeropress, French Press, pour over, etc. Nonetheless, it is not the best one for Espresso.
Instructions of cleaning and maintaining
- Step 1: twist and expel the hopper. Pay close attention to the hopper when removing the hopper because the nubbins are aligned. Get rid of any residue from the nubbin and put it along with the hopper to one side.
- Step 2: separate the top of the gasket and place it one side. When you remove the hopper, you will have a clean view of the inside of the grinder. At the top, observe the top gasket. It is easy to place with your fingers and it could also be removed aside till you are finished wiping down.
- Step 3: remove the burr and clean it. Underneath the top gasket and in the center, the burr and holder is the most vital part of the configuration which needs to be hygiene. Take them out and erase them with a soft brush. Excess grinds and other residues will be disappeared. When finishing, leave them to one side.
- Step 4: focus on the inside without turning upside down. Continue to clean the inside by using the same brush. Brush away as much as possible. Please keep in mind that you should not turn the machine upside down as you will upset the placements of inside parts.
- Step 5: clean all parts and put them back in place. Removing all excess on the device, guarantee that those parts are placed back inside in the proper reverse they were taken out. Additionally, check the conditions to make sure that you have not missed any parts once placed the hopper back on top of the machine. Ensure that the grinder is ready to be used again.
FAQs
How long do Baratza grinders last?
From 8 to 10 years
How often should you clean and maintain?
Once a month (at least)
Is the Baratza Encore good for Espresso?
Make sure that your coffee machine contains a pressurized portafilter
Can I use rice to clean?
You can but you should not do that. Rice is hard and crisp, so it can damage the burrs
What parts of the Baratza Encore require cleaning?
All parts, especially the hopper
Final words
Year after year, the Baratza Encore has performed pretty well and it even works better than other home coffee grinders. Moreover, the price point is more reasonable than other machines when comparing quality. It grinds coffee beans rapidly and even for other applications. Own a versatile household like the Baratza Encore, remember to maintain it regularly.
