Best buys · The coffee

The best coffee grinder worth buying

Our pick is the Baratza Encore. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The grinder

Baratza Encore

A burr grinder that grinds evenly for drip, pour-over and French press, and Baratza sells the parts to repair it rather than replace it.

Buy it for
Anyone still using pre-ground coffee or a blade grinder.
Skip it if
You only make espresso. The standard Encore does not grind fine enough; the Encore ESP does.

What actually matters when buying a coffee grinder

  1. Burrs, not blades. Blades chop unevenly and it shows in the cup.
  2. A range that covers how you brew.
  3. Spare parts you can buy, so a worn burr is a repair, not a new grinder.

Either side of the pick