Head to head
Baratza Encore vs. Breville Smart Grinder Pro (2026)
Baratza Encore vs. Breville Smart Grinder Pro: grind range, espresso capability, and value compared.
#1 in our rankings · Best overall
Baratza Encore
Best for: Brew-method drinkers (pour over, drip, French press) who want a proven workhorse.
#2 in our rankings · Best for espresso beginners
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Best for: Espresso beginners who want fine adjustment and dosing help.
Our recommendation
Choose the Baratza Encore if you brew drip, pour over, or French press and want the most reliable long-term grinder. Choose the Breville Smart Grinder Pro if espresso is in your future: its 60 settings and timed dosing are built for it. Brew-method drinkers get more from the Encore; espresso beginners get more from the Breville.
Grind range
The Breville's 60 settings reach true espresso fineness; the Encore's 40 stop short. For everything coarser than espresso, both perform well, with the Encore slightly more consistent in the mid range.
Dosing and ease
The Breville's LCD timed dosing is genuinely helpful for beginners. The Encore is simpler: an on/off switch and pulse button, with dosing by time or weight left to you.
Longevity
The Encore wins clearly. Baratza's spare-parts support means a decade of service; the Breville is a sealed appliance with a shorter expected life.
Choose Baratza Encore if…
- You brew drip, pour over, or French press
- Repairability and longevity matter most
- You prefer simple, proven design
Choose Breville Smart Grinder Pro if…
- Espresso is in your plans
- You want dosing guidance built in
- You value a compact, modern design
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Baratza Encore | Breville Smart Grinder Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Grind settings | 40 | 60 |
| Burrs | 40mm conical steel | Stainless steel conical |
| Hopper capacity | 8 oz | 18 oz |
| Adjustment | Stepped | — |
| Dosing | — | Timed, LCD display |
| Best for | Brew-method drinkers (pour over, drip, French press) who want a proven workhorse. | Espresso beginners who want fine adjustment and dosing help. |
| Skip if | You brew true espresso and need fine, stepless adjustment. | You want a minimalist grinder or the absolute best grind uniformity. |
Strengths and limitations
Baratza Encore
Strengths
- 40 grind settings cover every brew method except fine espresso
- Conical steel burrs produce consistent grounds
- Legendary repairability with available spare parts
Limitations
- Stepped adjustment limits espresso dialing-in
- Plastic-heavy build feels basic
- Can be messy with static-prone beans
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Strengths
- 60 grind settings reach into espresso territory
- Timed dosing with LCD takes guesswork out
- Compact footprint for the feature set
Limitations
- Retention between grind changes can muddy dialing-in
- More plastic than the price suggests
- Loud compared to manual grinders
How they fit the wider field
- Baratza Encore: ranked #1 (Best overall) in The Best Coffee Grinders. Read the full Baratza Encore review.
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro: ranked #2 (Best for espresso beginners) in The Best Coffee Grinders. Read the full Breville Smart Grinder Pro review.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Questions, answered
Which is better for pour over?
The Baratza Encore, slightly: more consistent mid-range grounds and better longevity. The Breville is perfectly capable too.
Which lasts longer?
The Encore, thanks to replaceable parts. Expect many years versus a typical appliance lifespan for the Breville.