Baratza Encore: Grind Settings for Every Brew Method

Setting 17 on a Baratza Encore for a V60 with a light roast. 14 for an AeroPress with a medium roast. 30 for a French Press with a dark roast. Concrete numbers, more useful than any "medium-fine" label you'll find online.

The Encore has been on the market since 2012 and is still the most-recommended entry-level electric grinder in specialty coffee. 40mm conical steel burrs, 40 stepped positions on a numbered dial, no pretension. It's built for filter coffee, and that's where it shines: V60, AeroPress, Chemex, French Press. It can't grind fine enough for real espresso, and Baratza says so themselves.

The Encore doesn't adjust by counting clicks from zero like a manual grinder. You rotate the hopper and align the number you want with the indicator on the body. This guide gives you the setting range for every brew method, organized by roast level. They're starting points. Each coffee is different, so you'll want to dial in based on the profile. But a concrete range is always better than a vague description.

If you have a manual grinder instead of the Encore, we also have dedicated guides: the Timemore Chestnut C2 (entry-level manual), the Comandante C40 (premium manual for filter), the 1Zpresso JX-Pro (manual with full range, capable of espresso), and the 1Zpresso K-Ultra (manual filter specialist with very high resolution).

Quick Reference Table

Starting points are for a light-roast washed coffee. For medium roasts, go up 1 number. For dark roasts, go up 2.

How the Dial Works

• 40 numbered positions on the dial (1 to 40).
• Lower numbers (1–10) = finer grind.
• Higher numbers (30–40) = coarser grind.

To change your setting, rotate the hopper until the number you want lines up with the indicator on the body. Each position is a fixed stop, and you'll feel a small click as you move between numbers. There's no continuous adjustment between positions, so resolution is set by those 40 steps.

One thing that surprises people the first time they use it: the motor is louder than you'd expect for a grinder this size, and it vibrates on the counter. Both are normal. Conical burrs at this speed make noise, and the motor is over-engineered to last years. If the vibration bothers you, a folded towel underneath dampens it without affecting use.

V60

This is where the Encore does its best work. Particle distribution is good for the price, and at setting 17 you get a clean extraction for light roasts.

• Light roast: 17.
• Medium roast: 18.
• Dark roast: 19.

Target brew time: 2:30 to 3:30 for a 15g dose with 250ml of water. If it drains too fast and tastes sour, go 1-2 numbers finer. If it stalls and tastes bitter, go coarser.

AeroPress

The AeroPress accepts a wide grind range, so it's great for trying new coffees without overthinking the grind.

• Standard method: 14–16, 1:30 to 2:00 steep.
• Inverted method: 12–14, 2:00 to 2:30 steep.
• Fine grind, short steep: 10–12, 1:00 steep. More body, closer to espresso character.

Chemex

The Chemex filter is thicker than a V60 filter, so it absorbs more oils and slows down the brew. You need to grind a bit coarser to compensate.

• Light roast: 23.
• Medium roast: 24.
• Dark roast: 25.

Target brew time: 3:30 to 4:30 for a 30g dose with 500ml of water. If the drawdown takes more than 5 minutes, go 2 numbers coarser.

French Press

Coarse grind. The metal mesh filter lets fine particles through, and those particles keep extracting while you drink. Too fine and you'll get a muddy, over-extracted cup.

• Light roast: 30, 4:00 steep.
• Dark roast: 32–34.
• Lighter body: go up to 36.

Espresso

The Encore (original model) doesn't reach espresso. Its finest setting sits around 260µm, and espresso needs between 200 and 250µm. Even with the perfect dose and pressure, the extraction is going to come out short and watery. It's not a matter of dialing in more carefully. The burrs don't grind any finer than that.

If espresso is your main method and you want to stay in the Baratza family, the Encore ESP is the one designed for it. Same conical burrs, but the bottom half of the dial is dedicated to the espresso range with much higher resolution in that zone. Going from the Encore to the Encore ESP is the natural path if you started with filter and want to try espresso at home.

Moka Pot

• Range: 4–8.
• Start at 6 and dial in from there. If the brew sputters and hisses, it's too fine. If it comes out pale and watery, it's too coarse.

How Roast Level Changes Your Setting

Same grinder, same method, same dose, and yet a light roast and a dark roast can be 2 numbers apart. Light roasts are denser and harder, so the water needs more time and more surface area to extract the good stuff, which is why you grind finer. Dark roasts are softer and more soluble, they give up their flavors faster, and you grind coarser to avoid pulling harsh, ashy notes.

The rule of thumb: light roast = base setting. Medium = +1. Dark = +2. That's all you need to remember.

How to Dial In

The table gives you a starting point. Here's how to find your ideal grind from there:

1. Pick the starting point for your method and roast level.
2. Brew and taste. Brew time is a clue, but taste is what matters.
3. Move the dial 2 positions at a time. Sour and thin? Go finer. Bitter and heavy? Go coarser.
4. Change one thing at a time. Don't adjust grind and dose at once.
5. Write it down. Or use Coffee Master to log your brews automatically.

Most coffees land within 2-3 numbers of the starting point. If you're way off, check your water temperature or dose before going further.

Maintenance

The Encore is built to last, but the burrs and motor appreciate basic maintenance.

Burr cleaning (every 1-2 months if you grind daily): power off and unplug, remove the hopper by twisting a quarter turn, take off the top burr by turning it counter-clockwise, and brush everything with a dry bristle brush. A clean paintbrush works great. No water.

Screw check (every 6-12 months): there's a single Phillips screw at the base of the bottom burr. If it feels loose, tighten it by hand. If the burrs feel wobbly, checking this screw is the first step.

A few things to keep in mind:

• The Encore's motor heats up with extended use. If you're grinding for a large brewer (several batches back-to-back), give it 1-2 minutes between loads. There's an internal thermal fuse that trips if you go over temperature, but it's better not to get there.
• New burrs need a break-in period. The first 500-1000g may grind a bit unevenly while the edges polish themselves. Use whatever beans you have on hand.
• For descaling and degreasing the burrs, Grindz tablets work well once a year. Follow the package instructions.

Common Issues