Encore

I’ve had my Baratza Encore grinder since 2023 and been using it everyday since. Do I need to replace the burrs?

Another vote. We use it daily for the past 2 years. Got it for $100 from Crate & Barrel on sale.

$100 for Baratza at C&B sure was a deal and I am glad you grabbed one for the same. High five!! Costco did bring in a coffee grinder, but I never saw one in person here in YEG.

Imo something like a C2 is best QPR (to use a wine term) for Moka. Moka doesn't benefit from the absolute most uniform grinders like pour over or espresso do. I think entry level pour over grinders are just fine for the use case. But imo still important to be able to dial in a new bean with a new roast. Something like an Encore will do you just fine if you really want electric, but hand grinders provide much better value if you can deal with the manual grind aspect. I always found it to be gratifying tbh. Re: pre-ground vs fresh ground, its really no contest. Fresh ground just unlocks so many possibilities for flavor- terroir, roast level, grind size, different fermentation processes.

The encore has been a fantastic grinder for me for at least 4-5 years. Still a bit pricey but you buy it once and never have to worry about it again.

\+1 for the Encore, we love ours, no signs of slowing whatsoever, consistent.

Don’t get it twisted, you will not stop spending your money at Starbucks. If anything, the amount of money I spend on coffee went up after I bought a full system. So let’s be realistic and say it cuts down half your trips. That’s $1,000. At that point, your best bet is the Bambino + Baratza combo everyone is recommending (the next step up is way out of your budget, curse of the Bambino). You could go with the Breville Express if you don’t mind all in one. It won’t be as good, but still better than what you get at Starbucks.

If you just want one, get a decent coffee burr that can do fine & coarse. Might cost more but you won’t hate your first latte or espresso. If I had to pick: Baratza Encore or Breville Smart Grinder Pro.