Disclosure: Home Barista Guide uses affiliate links. If you buy through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect how products are assessed.
The Baratza Encore is a sensible home grinder in 2026. The ZCG485 uses 40mm conical steel burrs, 40 numbered grind settings and a simple hopper-fed workflow that suits pour-over, AeroPress, cafetière and other filter methods. It can grind very fine, but traditional single-wall espresso is no longer the reason to buy this model: the Encore ESP costs only a little more and dedicates half its adjustment range to higher-resolution espresso control.
This review covers the standard Baratza Encore ZCG485, not Encore ESP The machines share a family name but have different adjustment systems and buyer roles. If espresso is your priority, compare the ESP before ordering the standard Encore.
Filter, AeroPress and cafetière drinkers who want a straightforward electric burr grinder with repeatable numbered settings.
You are buying primarily for a traditional single-wall espresso machine or want a stepless, single-dose workflow.
A simple 40-setting grinder with a well-supported parts and service ecosystem.
Its standard adjustment spacing is broad compared with the espresso-focused Encore ESP.
Our rating: 8/10
A strong filter-first grinder, with a more espresso-focused sibling
This is an editorial score based on the current ZCG485 specification, filter workflow, adjustment range, repair support, UK price and the availability of the newer Encore ESP.
The Baratza Encore is a straightforward, filter-focused grinder with a broad enough range for everyday brewing, while the related Encore ESP is the more natural choice for espresso. Forty numbered settings provide plenty of range to move from finer AeroPress and pour-over recipes through to much coarser immersion and cold-brew settings without making adjustment unnecessarily complicated.
The more relevant question is how the standard Encore compares with the Encore ESP, which currently costs only around £20 more. For filter-focused use, the standard model still makes plenty of sense. For espresso, however, the saving comes with a less suitable adjustment range: the ESP’s first 20 settings are specifically designed to make smaller changes where espresso benefits from finer control.
Current published specifications
| Exact UK model | Baratza Encore ZCG485 |
|---|---|
| Grinder type | Electric hopper-fed burr grinder |
| Burrs | 40mm conical steel burrs |
| Grind settings | 40 numbered stepped settings |
| Adjustment | Rotate the bean hopper |
| Controls | Simple on/off grinding with manual pulse control on the standard platform |
| Dimensions | 13 × 15 × 34cm (W × D × H) |
| Power | 70W, 220–240V UK specification |
| Warranty | 2-year manufacturer warranty |
| Current Baratza direct price | £139.95 |
| Current Encore ESP price | £159.95 |
Forty settings make sense when the brew method has room to move
The Encore’s adjustment system is simple by design. The hopper acts as the grind dial, with 40 numbered positions running from fine to coarse. That makes it easy to write down a setting for V60, turn coarser for cafetière and return later without guessing where the collar used to be.
For filter brewing, one numbered step normally represents a manageable change because the recipe can also be adjusted through dose, water, pouring technique and brew time. A grinder does not need microscopic espresso-style resolution to be useful for every method. What matters is that the adjustment range covers the method and can be revisited predictably.
The 40mm conical burr platform is shared across Baratza’s accessible grinder family, but burr size alone should not be treated as a quality score. Alignment, adjustment geometry, motor speed and the way coffee is fed through the burrs all affect the final grind. In practice, the distinction is much simpler: the Encore is engineered as a broad home filter grinder rather than a precision espresso grinder.
Can the standard Encore grind for espresso?
It can physically grind coffee very fine, and Baratza describes the range as extending towards espresso. That is different from saying it is the right grinder for dialling a traditional single-wall basket. Espresso often needs very small changes in grind size to control shot time, and the standard Encore gives you only 40 steps across its entire coarse-to-fine range.
The practical problem appears when one setting runs a shot too quickly and the next runs it too slowly. A stepped grinder can only choose one of those positions unless you alter another variable such as dose. Pressurised baskets are more forgiving because the basket itself contributes resistance, but a capable single-wall setup exposes the limitation much more clearly.
That is the limitation the Encore ESP is designed to address. Its first 20 settings use finer adjustment for espresso, before the range opens out for coarser brewing. It leaves the standard Encore well suited to filter and immersion methods, while giving owners of machines such as the Bambino, Gaggia or a Dedica with a single-wall basket a more appropriate option within the same grinder family.
Where the Encore still makes sense: filter, AeroPress and cafetière
For filter coffee, the standard Encore retains a straightforward appeal. Load beans into the hopper, choose a numbered setting, grind into the grounds bin and brew. There is no timer, screen, weighing system or complex menu. That simplicity is useful if you already dose beans on a separate scale and mainly need the grinder to turn a known weight of coffee into a repeatable grind.
AeroPress is a particularly natural fit because recipes span a wide range of grind sizes and immersion times. The same is true of pour-over, where you can move a click or two finer or coarser and observe how drawdown changes. Cafetière and cold brew then use the coarser end of the dial without requiring a different grinder.
The absence of sophisticated dosing features is not automatically a weakness. If your routine is “weigh beans, grind them all, brew”, a timer only adds value if you intend to keep beans in the hopper and dose by time. Buyers who want programmable timed dosing or automatic single-dose stopping should look at a different grinder rather than expecting the basic Encore to become one.
Hopper-fed convenience versus single dosing
The standard Encore is fundamentally a hopper grinder. You can keep beans in the top and grind as needed, or weigh each dose before adding it. The latter gives better control over how much coffee you use, but the grinder does not have the specialised low-retention bellows, dosing cup or automatic stop features associated with newer single-dose designs.
That matters most if you change coffees constantly. A user who keeps one bag in the hopper for a week will find the workflow very natural. Someone swapping between regular, decaf and several single origins throughout the day may prefer a grinder designed from the start around dosing one portion at a time and clearing the chamber between coffees.
The body itself is compact — around 13cm wide and 15cm deep — but 34cm high. Leave enough space above to remove the hopper lid and pour beans in. It is much easier to accommodate than a large commercial-style grinder, but still a permanent countertop appliance rather than a drawer accessory.
Cleaning, replacement parts and long-term ownership
Routine care involves emptying old coffee, removing the hopper and upper burr as instructed, brushing away loose grounds and keeping the chute and grounds bin clean. Keep the burrs and motorised parts dry, using a brush or dry cloth for routine cleaning unless the manual specifies otherwise. Coffee oils and fine particles build gradually, so occasional deeper cleaning matters even if the grinder still appears to run normally.
One of Baratza’s more tangible ownership strengths is parts support. The current UK site maintains a dedicated Encore product hub, manuals, troubleshooting and replacement parts rather than treating the grinder as a sealed appliance. Components are available separately, which can make a worn or damaged part a repair job rather than an automatic grinder replacement.
That support gives the Encore a clear long-term ownership advantage. There is an established route for maintenance and repair if something wears out, and replacement parts can extend the useful life of the grinder without requiring the whole unit to be replaced. For a relatively simple £139.95 model, that level of serviceability adds meaningful value.
Baratza Encore vs Encore ESP
Encore ZCG485
Choose it for: filter coffee, AeroPress, cafetière and a simple 40-setting electric workflow.
Current direct price: £139.95
Encore ESP ZCG495
Choose it for: traditional espresso plus filter, with higher-resolution adjustment across settings 1–20 and a supplied espresso dosing cup.
Current direct price: £159.95
The choice is less about which model is better overall and more about where the grinder will be used. For espresso, the Encore ESP is the stronger fit because its finer adjustment range gives much more control when dialling in a shot, and the roughly £20 premium is modest in that context. For filter, AeroPress and immersion brewing, the standard Encore remains a very sensible buy: its broader adjustment range suits those methods well, and there is little benefit in paying extra for espresso-focused precision that may never be used.
Pros and good to know
Pros
- 40 repeatable numbered settings across a broad grind range
- 40mm conical steel burrs for consistent everyday grinding
- Particularly well suited to filter, AeroPress and cafetière brewing
- Compact 13 × 15cm footprint that takes up little worktop space
- Established UK support with replacement parts readily available
- Simple controls with very little setup or configuration required
Good to know
- Not our current pick for traditional single-wall espresso
- Encore ESP costs only £20 more at current direct prices
- No timer or programmable dosing
- Hopper workflow is less convenient for frequent bean switching
- Stepped adjustment cannot land between settings
- Mostly functional plastic exterior rather than premium metal construction
Verdict: is the Baratza Encore still worth buying?
Yes — as a filter-first electric grinder. The standard Encore remains easy to understand, compact and broad enough for pour-over, AeroPress, cafetière and cold brew. Forty numbered settings make it straightforward to establish repeatable recipes, and Baratza’s current parts and support infrastructure gives the grinder a credible ownership story beyond the initial purchase.
The main limitation comes with espresso, where the standard Encore’s broader adjustment steps offer less precision than many single-wall setups benefit from. Baratza addresses that with the Encore ESP, whose finer adjustment range is designed specifically for espresso while retaining coarser settings for other methods. That leaves the standard Encore with a clear role: it is the better-value choice when filter, AeroPress and immersion brewing are the priority, while the ESP is worth the modest premium when espresso also needs to be covered.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Baratza Encore good for espresso?
It can grind finely, but the standard model is not our recommendation for dialling a traditional single-wall espresso basket. Encore ESP uses a higher-resolution adjustment system across its first 20 settings and costs only a little more.
What is the difference between Encore and Encore ESP?
The standard Encore has 40 broad stepped settings for a wide filter-oriented range. Encore ESP redesigns the adjustment so settings 1–20 provide finer espresso resolution and 21–40 cover coarser brewing, and it includes an espresso dosing cup.
How many grind settings does the standard Encore have?
40 broad stepped settings. The hopper rotates through numbered stepped positions from fine to coarse.
Can I use the Encore for AeroPress?
Yes. AeroPress recipes work across a broad range of grind sizes, and the Encore’s repeatable numbered settings suit that kind of experimentation well.
Is the Baratza Encore repairable?
Baratza maintains a current product support hub and sells replacement parts for the Encore family. Whether a specific fault is economical or user-serviceable depends on the component and current support instructions.
Should I buy Encore or Fellow Opus 2?
Encore is the simpler stepped filter-first grinder. Opus 2 costs more but adds stepless adjustment and a broader espresso-focused use case. Our under-£200 grinder guide compares current routes in more detail.
Guidance based on current Baratza UK ZCG485 specifications, current Encore and Encore ESP range positioning, current support and parts information and UK direct pricing checked in August 2026. Prices can change.