Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder ZCG485BLK, Black : Amazon.ca: Home

Overall, I'm happy with this grinder. The grind is consistent, and I like that the unit is actually serviceable, with replacement parts available rather than a lot of the other cheap grinders that are basically disposable.Most importantly, however, is that it is simple to operate. Grind settings, and an on/off switch as well as a pulse button. Add coffee beans, turn it on, then turn it off when done. Simple, which is exactly what I want when I'm half-asleep in the morning. Don't need no fancy features.

The Baratza Encore is a bit of an iconic product in an interesting price point: it's basically an entry level price for a 'good/great burr grinder', but for a lot of folk the fact it's likely to run you ~$200CAD likely means that they're expecting performance far beyond what it's actually rated for. This is a compact little unit that grinds are a (fairly slow) speed and is pretty loud while it does it, but it's results are incredibly consistent and easily adjustable. The biggest problem you're likely to have is that there is absolutely no automatic controls: it will grind as long as you push the button down, and stop the second you release it.This means if you want accurate amounts of coffee, I would highly encourage you to not store the beans in the hopper, but instead of measure out the weight you want to grind and then toss them into the hopper after measuring. You can measure the post grind result, but it just seems far more finnicky (though if you're super concerned about accuracy, measuring post grind result as well is likely best practice). It can produce a fine grind if you want a pseudo-espresso like experience via a Moka Pot or Aeropress (around grind setting 11), or it can produce a coarse grind for your french press (24-27), but it's absolutely not going to grind out the best espresso level fineness. It's simply not a machine meant for that.Things to note:When adjusting the grind level, you want to either have clean gears, or be running it as you adjust the burr setting lest it binds to the burrs. This is touched on in the manual, but want to re-emphasize for folks that may not have read it.The Baratza Virtuoso is the upgrade from here for about ~$100 more. What it offers is grind timer controls and an upgrade burr set: BUT, you can absolutely just order the upgraded burr set from Baratza (or other suppliers) and change out the burrs yourself. So if you decide that you want to upgrade, there's an easy (and far more affordable way) than ordering a new model. Similarly if you need to replace any parts in the Encore, it's super easy to service - both to get the replacements from Baratza, and to do the swaps yourself. Remember, burrs don't last forever, and the manufacturer recommends replacing after 500-1,000lb of coffee. That's a lot of coffee for a home, but I do want to draw attention to the importance of cleaning and maintenance. Baratza offers super easy to follow along video guides: check them out.

Was using a spinning blade grinder before this. Grind sizes were always inconsistent. Sometimes there were chunks of bean that sat on the top of the grounds after the brewing was done. Sometimes it was ground so fine that there was like a sludge that clogged up my filters. With this grinder, my grind size is perfect every time and that's actually a big deal. It makes it so much easier to get close to the perfect cup of coffee every day.I saw somewhere that the number 1 thing that's recommended to people who are setting up home coffee brewing is to get a decent burr grinder like this one. I have to agree. Nothing else has had a greater impact on the quality of my coffee at home.One important thing to note!..... The instructions are lacking one majorly important step. A lot of you will struggle with this. There is a white plastic ring inside the grinder that sits on top of the burr ring. You have to attach those together and they snap into place, becoming one piece. They do not come attached and the quick setup guide doesn't mention it. If you miss this step, you won't be able to use this thing properly and will likely damage it while trying to grind your first batch. That may or may not be why I had to return the first unit I purchased.....As for the grinder... main gripes are that it's loud and I got a full clog relatively soon after starting to use it. I think it needs to be cleaned a couple of times a week to keep it from clogging.