The Baratza Encore and the Breville Smart Grinder Pro are two of the most popular home coffee grinders, but they cater to different users. The Encore from Baratza is a durable, no-frills workhorse known for its outstanding grind consistency and repairability, making it a favorite for pour-over and drip coffee. The Smart Grinder Pro by Breville is a more tech-forward option with a digital interface, 60 grind settings, and precise timed dosing, aimed at those who value convenience and a modern aesthetic.
Here's everything you need to know about these two grinders to decide which is the right fit for your coffee routine.
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
The Baratza Encore is widely considered the gold standard for entry-level home burr grinders. It strips away complicated features to focus on one thing: delivering a consistent, quality grind. Known for its longevity and simple operation, the Encore is a reliable piece of equipment that is easy to use, clean, and even repair, making it a long-term investment for any coffee lover.
- What it is: A high-quality conical burr grinder designed for home use across a variety of brew methods.
- Key features: 40 individual grind settings, a simple on/off dial, a front-mounted pulse button for short bursts of grinding, and 40mm commercial-grade conical burrs.
- Price: Around $169 - $199
- Style: Simple and utilitarian with a compact, functional design. Comes in a black or white durable plastic finish that prioritizes function over fashion.
- Materials/Construction: Built with a durable plastic body and hardened alloy steel conical burrs designed for years of use.
- Pros: Excellent grind consistency for its price point. Dead-simple to operate. Known for its durability and long lifespan. Baratza offers amazing customer support and makes all parts available for repair.
- Cons: Lacks a timer or digital dosing features. The plastic body feels less premium than metal alternatives. The stepped adjustment offers less fine-tuning for espresso compared to other grinders.
This grinder is ideal for the coffee enthusiast who prioritizes excellent grind quality and reliability for manual brewing methods like pour-over, drip, and French press and doesn't need digital extras.
Shop this product: amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Breville's Smart Grinder Pro brings digital precision and modern design into the kitchen. It's built for the home barista who wants repeatable results, tons of control, and features tailored for a wide range of brewing, especially espresso. With its clear LCD screen and Dosing iQ Technology, you can set the exact grind time you need, ensuring a consistent dose of coffee every single time.
- What it is: A feature-rich digital conical burr grinder built for precision and convenience.
- Key features: 60 main grind settings, a crisp LCD interface, high-precision digital timer (adjusts in 0.2-second increments), and stainless steel conical burrs. Includes portafilter cradles for espresso.
- Price: Around $200 - $250
- Style: Sleek and modern with a brushed stainless steel finish that pairs perfectly with other high-end kitchen appliances.
- Materials/Construction: Features a sturdy metal body, a clear plastic bean hopper, and stainless steel conical burrs built for performance.
- Pros: Dosing iQ allows for incredibly consistent, repeatable results. 60 settings provide a wide range for brewing, with good fine-tuning for espresso. The premium look and feel fit well in modern kitchens. Convenient features like the portafilter holder are great for espresso workflows.
- Cons: More expensive than the Encore. The complex digital components could be potential points of failure down the line. It's larger and takes up more counter space.
The Smart Grinder Pro is for the tech-savvy coffee drinker who wants digital precision, dose control, and a grinder that looks as good as it performs, particularly if espresso is a key part of their routine.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/coffee-grinders/bcg820.html
Baratza Encore vs. Breville Smart Grinder Pro Comparison
Grind Settings & Versatility
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro offers 60 distinct grind settings, giving it a slight edge in range over the Baratza Encore's 40 settings. While both can handle everything from French press to drip coffee, the Breville's extra steps in the finer range make it a better choice for espresso. The Encore can grind fine enough for some entry-level espresso machines, but users may find themselves needing a setting "in between" two clicks to perfect their shot - a problem the Breville better solves with its wider range.
For pour-over, AeroPress, and French press, both grinders excel. The Baratza Encore produces a famously consistent grind in the medium to coarse range, with minimal fines, which is why it's so beloved by manual brewing enthusiasts.
Controls & Ease of Use
Herein lies the biggest difference. The Baratza Encore is purely analog, featuring a simple on/off switch and a pulse button. You turn it on to grind and turn it off when you're done. This simplicity makes it incredibly intuitive and reliable. There are no screens to go dark or digital timers to reset.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is all about digital control. Its LCD screen and dials allow you to select your grind setting and then program the grind time down to 0.2-second increments. This "Dosing iQ" feature means you can get the exact same amount of coffee every time you grind, a huge convenience for maintaining consistency in your brews, especially for espresso, where small variations matter.
Materials & Construction
The Encore is built with a sturdy, high-quality plastic chassis, while the Smart Grinder Pro features a more premium-feeling brushed stainless steel body. Though plastic, the Encore is known for its durability and is a true workhorse. In fact, its straightforward construction is what makes it so easy to repair.
Baratza has a sterling reputation for user-friendly maintenance, with readily available replacement burrs and other parts. Breville's machine is also well-built, but its complex electronics make it less user-serviceable. If long-term repairability is a top priority, Baratza has a clear advantage.
Price & Value
The Baratza Encore is consistently the more affordable option, usually priced around $170. For that price, you get phenomenal grind quality that punches well above its weight. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro typically runs around $200-$250, and that extra cost buys you convenience, digital precision, and a more polished aesthetic.
The value proposition is different for each. The Encore's value is in its raw performance and longevity. The Smart Grinder Pro's value comes from its advanced features and user-friendly digital interface. Both offer excellent performance for their price.
Style & Footprint
In terms of looks, the Breville has a definitive edge for those who appreciate modern kitchen appliance design. Its stainless steel finish and digital display are sleek and eye-catching. The Baratza Encore has a more utilitarian, function-first appearance. It is also noticeably more compact and lightweight, making it a better fit for kitchens with limited counter space. The Breville grinder stands about 16 inches tall, while the Encore is about 13 inches high.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both grinders are excellent choices, but they are built for entirely different types of home coffee enthusiasts.
Choose the Baratza Encore if:
- Your priority is top-tier grind consistency for drip, pour-over, or French press.
- You value durability, reliability, and the ability to easily repair your grinder for years to come.
- You're on a budget and want the best possible performance for under $200.
- You prefer simple, analog controls without digital screens or complex timers.
Choose the Breville Smart Grinder Pro if:
- You enjoy espresso and need the fine adjustments and repeatable dosing for consistent shots.
- You love tech-forward kitchen gadgets and want the convenience of a digital timer.
- A premium, modern aesthetic is important and you want your grinder to match other stainless steel appliances.
- You're willing to spend a bit more for added features and user convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Baratza Encore and Breville Smart Grinder Pro?
The main difference is their control system and primary features. The Encore is an analog grinder focused purely on consistent grinding with manual operation. The Breville is a digital grinder with a programmable timer for precise and repeatable dosing, which is especially useful for espresso.
Which grinder is better for espresso?
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is better for espresso. It offers 60 grind settings with more steps in the fine range, allowing for precise dialing-in. It also includes portafilter cradles that make grinding directly into an espresso portafilter easy and mess-free.
Is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro worth the extra money?
If you value timed dosing, a digital interface, a sleeker look, and need better performance for espresso, then yes, the extra money is worth it. If you primarily brew drip or pour-over coffee and just want a simple, high-quality grinder, the Baratza Encore offers better value for pure grind performance.
How long do the burrs last on these grinders?
Both grinders use high-quality steel burrs that should last for many years of typical home use (upwards of 500-1000 lbs of coffee). A major advantage of Baratza is that they sell replacement burrs that are inexpensive and easy for users to install themselves, extending the life of the grinder indefinitely.
Which grinder is easier to clean?
The Baratza Encore is legendarily easy to clean. The hopper and top burr lift out without any tools, giving you direct access to the grinding chamber for a quick brush-out. The Breville is also quite easy to clean, but the Encore's simpler design makes the process slightly faster.
Can the Baratza Encore grind for espresso?
Yes, but it's not ideal. It can grind fine enough to work with some pressurized baskets on entry-level machines. However, it lacks the fine micro-adjustments needed for non-pressurized baskets and to properly "dial in" a perfect espresso shot, which is a key process for espresso enthusiasts.
Which brand has better customer support?
Baratza is renowned in the coffee community for its exceptional customer support and parts program. They actively help customers troubleshoot and repair their grinders, making them a "buy it for a very long time" brand. Breville also offers good support, but Baratza's commitment to user repairability is unique.
Which grinder is quieter?
All burr grinders make a noticeable amount of noise. In direct comparisons, the two are quite similar in volume. Neither is whisper-quiet, and noise level should not be a major factor in your decision between these two models.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
