Hi Riley, I want to thank you for this video. I just upgraded my own encore, following your instructions and it went great! Okay, I realized that I had a leftover washer when I was done and it was the EXACT ONE YOU KNOCKED LOOSE! I went back, took everything apart again and put that washer right where it belongs and now my grinder is running perfectly. It is definitely faster but aside from the improvement, it was just so much fun and satisfying to accomplish this upgrade myself with your very capable guidance. You rock!
Watching in 2024, considering upgrading to the M2 burr and this has me considering also going stepless! Thanks for the video. I'm upgrading now since the wingnut on top of my M3 burr came off during grinding and scratched up both burrs.
Thanks for watching and for the comment! I've since moved on to a different grinder (the Varia VS3, which I'd happily recommend), but I wouldn't advise going strapless on the Encore. It moved too much and I ended up putting the detent back in. Happy I could help! And jeez, the wingnut came off during grinding? That sounds terrifying...
Used this video to replace the guts and burrs on my Viruoso. I had this grinder for over 10 years and the burrs were shot. Upgraded to Preciso burrs and the sweetness and flavor is back! Video was extremely helpful. Thank you!
My Virtuoso came stepless; the stop had mistakenly been put in flat side up at the factory rather than wedge end up. First time I disassembled it the stop popped out, and when I put it back in, I unknowingly corrected the error and converted my grinder into a step grinder. I hated this, so I took it apart again and removed the stop entirely. However without the stop the adjustment ring seemed to move much too freely, and the setting would drift while grinding beans, so I put the stop back in flat side up. The slight pressure of the flat end against the teeth seems to hold the grind position better than when it is not there.
After nearly 3 years, I figured it was time to replace the burr and cone. This video made it very simple. Nice to have someone knowledgeable watching over my shoulder. :) Thank you!
Just upgraded both M2 burrs and paddle wheel and it grinds much faster and finer than before. Paddle wheel seems to be a necessary upgrade for an older unit seeing as how much shorter the old spokes were. Thanks for your vid!
Successfully upgraded mine to the M2’s along with a new driveshaft. All I can say is that I am very impressed with this upgrade! It works so much better than it was new five years ago! Thanks! 🙏
What I did to remove the old burr without taking the grinder apart was to use a clean 13/16-inch socket, a short extension, a ratchet handle and a gentle clockwise tap with the palm of my hand.
My Baratza Encore had 4 additional screws located under the rubber feat at the base. The screws were Torc screws so special screwdriver was needed. After removing all the screws still the outer case was difficult to remove. It did not want to slide off easy. In the end I completed task. Thanks, Riley McDonald for video.
CAUTION: You have to screw the burr in with the machine upside down. There is a paddle wheel under the burr that has to fit into the grooves of the burr. If you don't put it in place and screw the burr in upside down burr will sit atop the notch and sit higher than intended, therefore the grind calibration will be so off that the grind size control won't matter at all. I almost missed this step when I upgraded to the M2 burr on my encore but I got lucky and came across some good advice. If you find that the M2 burr upgrade isn't yielding good results or won't change grind size, this is your problem.
A very informative video and well shot. I would like to say I removed the centre burr a little differently. I got a short 150mm length of dowel 35mm wide. I drilled a 25mm hole in one end about 15mm. I locked on a pair of vice grips to the dowel and held it down on the centre burr. I then gave the grips a sharp hit with a hammer and it loosened the burr. I was able to replace both burrs without disassembling the grinder.
That's great you didn't have to take the whole thing apart! Sounds very efficient. If you haven't before though, I would definitely recommend opening your grinder up (take the casing off at least) every once in a while to clean it. I was shocked at how much coffee dust was in there!
@@rileydmcdonald After every time I grind a batch I blow the machine out with my high powered air compressor. It would be interesting to see if there's any build up. Once again, a great video. 👍
I futzed around with the calibration on mine a while back to get it grinding finer for espresso which worked really well. Got a M2 burr in the mail this morning so hopefully I can get through the process without too much trouble, looking forward to getting the grind a bit faster in the morning.
Nicely done! I ha e the encore strictly for my pour overs and French press. I have a whole other setup for my espressos. I've found the Encore to be great and very consistent. For the value, it's amazing.
I just replaced my girlfriend's burr with the M2. After quite a bit of tinkering it works very well now! SO much faster than before. Thanks for the great vid. My god the reverse threaded wing nut really got me.
I remember watching this video when deciding to buy either this grinder or the eureka crono. Encore was $200 cad plus the burrs where as the crono was $280 cad. Flat burr 50mm and better performance for just a few extra bucks.
@@rileydmcdonald absolutely love it. Everything is the same as the silenzio minus sound dampening and burrs. I originally had the crono for drip but threw in espresso burrs and dedicate it to espresso and use baratza for drip. Both grinders together cost less combined then a silenzio!
@@icowrich The way I did it, no. I'm glad I took it apart because it needed cleaning and I now understand it better. But you can easily replace the burr using vice grips: ua-cam.com/video/rfCP-BVTGOg/v-deo.html Note that doing this is likely to damage the burr. The way I did it is more time consuming, but I can still use the original burr if I wanted to for some reason. There was no damage to it the way I took it out.
Surely, you could cover the burr with a piece of a shammy before using the vice grips or something to avoid damaging it. Also...that video shows a Virtuoso. You wouldn't need to upgrade the burrs on those, would you?
@@icowrich no, that might have been for replacement. But the process on the Virtuoso and the Encore is mostly the same. It seems they're very similar grinders - the Virtuoso has a better finish, a grind timer, and an LED that shines into the grinds bin, plus the M2. By upgrading your Encore with the M2, you essentially have a plastic, timer-less Virtuoso with a darker grounds bin.
I just soaked the burr in hot water and was able to remove it without breaking it down all the way. The hot water allows the tight burr to loosen more easily.
Interesting you mention that the jury is still out on whether or not the grind consistency improved. I have the Encore, and have been considering replacing the stock burr set with the M2 set, but from what I've been researching online, I'm not 100% convinced that it actually improves the grind consistency enough to make it worth the $50. With that said, the replacement parts are in my shopping cart on the Baratza site as I continue to investigate whether or not the upgrade is worth it. I'm willing to give it a try, but I want to see an objective comparison of before and after the upgrade.
Since posting this consistency has been a bit of an issue - when I shot the vid it was only a few days in, but it's been a week since doing this mod and it does seem to vary a bit. I mostly assumed it was my puck prep and dosing issues, but grind size is probably more likely. Unfortunately I don't have another grinder to compare it to, aside from a Hario Mini Mill, and I don't think that's going to cut it. I've also had a number of issues with grind retention at finer settings. Not sure what's causing this yet, but I've lost up to a gram grinding a couple times. I'm working on solving that. I do like that it's faster, but thus far I don't think it's more consistent. It's possible I did so much messing around with it that I threw it out of whack, so I'm going to fiddle with it for another week or so before I reach out to Baratza directly. They're pretty good about this sort of stuff, and they know people mod their grinders with the burr, so I'll see what they have to say before I write it off. I'll make another video about it after I've used it for a while, and if Baratza has anything to say I'll be sure to mention it. When that video's done I'll be sure to comment here to let you know :)
The wingnut is reverse threaded for the same reason the center lock nuts are reversed on one side of a racecar: so they don't unscrew themselves as they spin. I saw they offer a single dose hopper as an accessory but I really wish it had a bellows. That's one of the biggest issues I have. I actually use the hopper lid to create a puff of air to clear it out. I'm hoping there is a 3D printed version, I'm going to take a look in a few.
I hear that! A viewer of mine commented that the single-dose hopper lid fits tightly enough you can use it as a bellows, but it's a pain to do it that way since you have to manually lift and press it. I've poked around on Thingiverse a few times and there are definitely hoppers available (and bellows), but I worry about the lines in a 3D print holding fines or oils and being difficult to clean (also I don't have a ton of decent flexible filament, so that's part of it). I suppose if you're using a stereolithographic printer that's less of an issue, but still. Let me know if you find anything good!
@@rileydmcdonald I have no experience with flexible filament and there are ways to make food safe prints that should help with the oils and fines. This might make for a good winter project.
Great content. I get the instinct but the Compak K3 offers a lot of bang for your buck if what you want out of something like this is an espresso grinder for under $1K that won’t make you itch to upgrade almost immediately.
I haven't researched the Compak K3, but I definitely will now! At the time I bought my Encore it was The Wirecutter's recommendation for a good beginner grinder, and when I went to look around at other coffee sources (trusted blogs, UA-cam reviews, etc) I found pretty much everyone loved it. Thanks for the tip! Maybe the Compak can be something I'll aspire to if this thing ever goes on me... or I guess if I ever get the itch to upgrade, haha
In the days prior to internet I had an inexpensive home burr grinder akin to the Braun. Couldn't get grind fine enough so I took it apart and cut off the plastic tab that prevented the burrs from getting closer. Worked very well.
@@rileydmcdonald That was a very long time ago. It might be in a closet with other predecessor stuff like a Faemina, Olympia Cremina, Gaggia grinder, others I don't recall. PS; The quality of your editing is very good., especially audio. Even Mr JH has had music way louder than his voice, very annoying.
Thanks for this post. I couldn't bring myself to spending 250 USD for a grinder like the Sette 30, so I've ordered the Encore. I used to have success with a bottomless portafilter with my Capresso EC Pro. I think I've worn out the Hario hand grinder I've had for years, and more recently using it with a drill modification (probably led to its wearing). Anyway, I'm hopeful I can use the Encore with the bottomless portafilter with success. Interesting that the M2 burr seems to be improving only grind speed for you, and not so much the consistency. That's still a win. I wonder if you've tried to hold the setting better with the rubber band like some have suggested. I read about someone adding a layer of tape as well.
As of today I've actually changed it back to a stepped setup. I'll have a video about that in a few weeks. It was kinda lame having to hold it in place all the time! And glad I could help :)
Thanks for the great video! Only confusing thing to me; which burr is the upgrade?? I ordered the M2 burr, turns out it's exactly the same as the burr in my Baratza Encore (which I bought 2nd hand). So I contacted Baratza and they do say it's the M2 burr that is the upgrade over the M3. Does that mean your video should say "installing the new M2 burr" around 4:35?
Thank you very much! Good catch, the description should say M2, not M3. I say M2 in the video multiple times, but the description is incorrect. Thank you, I'll change that. Your encore should have come with an M3, and the M2 is the upgrade.
@@rileydmcdonald Thanks for your quick response! It turns out that Baratza actually sent me an M3 burr by accident, instead of the M2 burr I ordered. That explains most of the confusion on my side and rewatching this tutorial and all the descriptions multiple times😅
Oh no! That's an unfortunate shipping error, but I'm glad you got it all sorted out. Thanks again for watching and I'm happy I could help. Enjoy your shiny new burr 🙂
lol you are like me- i make every mistake imaginable, and think to myself 'ok- avoid doing that next time' but unfortunately, i have a bad memory- so i make the same mistakes again- Even if i write a note to remind me not to do something again, I'll misplace the note- and end up making the mistakes again- The good thing about a horrible memory though is that i can read a book or watch a movie, then 2 months or so later- read or watch the movie again and it's like watching a new movie-
It sounds like Matthew (the previous commenter) didn't have the drive gear seated properly, so make sure all your parts are set in tightly. If that doesn't work, the calibration screw is on the side of the white collar on the grinder. Baratza themselves have great videos showing how to calibrate your grinder. I didn't get into that because this didn't require messing with the calibration, at least for me.
Thanks for the feedback! I don't have close-up footage of that, but the key is to find where the black part fits in and hold it there with one hand, and use your other hand to rotate the white part below it. Took me a couple tries to figure it out, but once you have it it's pretty easy!
Check and see if the wires are loose, disconnected, or crushed. It's also possible the case isn't quite snapped on or lined up right - if it isn't, or if the button became unseated during the process, you might just need to pop off the case and try again.
You could, but it would be pointless. I changed mine back to stepped after doing the mod because it didn't stay in place at the right grind setting. I'd say if you're going to open it up and do this, you should prioritize the M2 burr and nothing else.
Hey Riley I really appreciated your work and you did a great helpful video I have new baratza encore and i used one time and stop grinding. do have any idea to fix it?
Thanks for the compliments and thanks for watching! I don't have any ideas, no. You could take the casing off to see if there are any loose wires, maybe? It's a fairly simple setup in there (and fairly sturdy) and the only reason I can think of would be the wires coming loose from the motor. If that doesn't show you anything (or give you any ideas), I would recommend calling or emailing Baratza. They're very helpful and very responsive.
"the jury is still out on whether or not the grind consistency improved". If it hasn't, why would anyone spend extra and buy the Virtuoso instead of the Encore? or is the motor and other things better on the Virtuoso?
I believe the motor and gearbox are similar in the Virtuoso and Encore, but don't quote me on that. The Virtuoso has more metal on it (some people prefer that), the M2 burr, and a grind timer function. You pay extra for those things. I've been on a long journey with this grinder, but I do think the M2 is more consistent and a worthy upgrade. I have a couple videos about how I came to this conclusion, but suffice to say I think the M2 is great and does make things more consistent. It took constant use for a month and a half to realize that.
Hey Bob, thanks for watching! Do you mean paddle wheel, as in the paddle on the inside that pushes grounds out? I'm not aware of any upgrades, but that doesn't mean they don't exist! I imagine that would be a tricky thing to upgrade/mess around with, because if you made it too tight it could catch and break (or potentially mess up the gears and motor). But that's a neat question!
Thanks for the video. How has the grinder been performing since the upgrade? I have been considering the same upgrade and am trying to find more objective feedback. I'm happy with the Encore but I assume Baratza used this burr for the Virtuoso+ and Peciso for a reason. They state that the M2 burr yields "a very uniform grind, with a distinct lack of fines across its grinding range" while no such claims are made with the Encore's M3 burr. Also of note is that the Encore grinds 0.8-1.1g/s while the Virtuoso+ grinds 1.5-2.4g/s, with the burrs being the only meaningful difference that I can find. Both grinders use the same 120v 70w 550RPM motor (#6026) and drive gear (#6091).
Great question! I'm planning to do an update video on this (I need to contact Baratza for one part of it, which I haven't yet). Here's what I've observed - but before I tell you this, please keep in mind all I've got is my eyes and fingertips. I haven't tried any fancy sifters to see about grind size, and to be honest I wasn't paying close attention to the M3 burr's consistency. It worked great with the M3 and it works great with the M2. Anyway, here's what I know: - As you can see in the video, it's definitely faster. I'd been using it since October 2019 with the M3, and since putting in the M2 it's noticeable even weeks later. It regularly surprises me how quick it is. - there seems to be less popcorning than before. I use my Encore as a single-dose machine (prob not the greatest idea since this hopper isn't meant for that... they sell a single-dose hopper I'm interested in though), and beans seem to stay lower. I have footage that kinda shows this too, but I can't remember if it made it into the video. - to my eyes, there might be slightly MORE fines than before, and grind size isn't perfectly consistent. Again, I wasn't paying close attention with the M3, but in things like a pourover there seem to be distinctly different sizes. It still tastes great to me, but I'm not sure about consistency. I suspect this could be how I installed it, but I'll ask Baratza about it. - It seems to retain more grinds than before. A few times I've weighed into the grinder and weighed out and lost as much as a gram! The grinds seem to get stuck on the bottom of the outer burr ring just above the paddles, but only at fine (sub-10) grind settings. I suspect this is also user error somehow, but again - gotta check with Baratza. I'd do this all over again for speed alone. And I really like it better stepless. I'm hoping Baratza can help with consistency and tuning, but I'll cover that in the next video. Thanks for the question!
@Riley McDonald Thanks for the response, very interesting feedback. I also single dose (18g) with my Encore and have noticed minor popcorning as well. The M2 burrs might be worth it just for the faster grinding and reduced popcorning. On a somewhat related note, I found that turning the grinder on prior to adding beans seems to help with grind consistency. And as a point of reference, retention for me ranges from 0.1-0.5g on setting 9 depending on how much I shake the grinder. Looking forward to your updates. Keep up the great work.
I've done the stepless mod, but I've found that the grind is a bit too inconsistent to get any benefit when making espresso from an unpressurized portafilter. The variation in shot flow rates is quite high when I do my best to control all other variables, and it's a variation I don't see when using my commandante grinder. My hypothesis is that it has to do with how the encore controls the gap between the upper and outer burr. The gap is controlled by a plastic ring with a spiral groove cut onto it, and I think the plastic will probably flex a bit during the grinding action. How has your experience been so far with shot consistency? Do you use the encore with pressurized/non-pressurized portafilters?
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad it's not just me. Since posting this consistency has been a bit of an issue - when I shot the vid it was only a few days in, but it's been a week since doing this mod and it does seem to vary a bit. I mostly assumed it was my puck prep and dosing issues, but grind size is probably more likely. Unfortunately I don't have another grinder to compare it to, aside from a Hario Mini Mill, and I don't think that's going to cut it. That's a good theory about the spiral! It's fairly rigid plastic in that spiral though, do you think it would flex that much? The grinder is sharp enough and fast enough that I wouldn't imagine it'd make that much of a difference, but I'm no materials scientist. I'm using a pressurized portafilter for now, which I know isn't ideal. Several others have commented to say I should get a non-pressurized one (it's next on my list of gear!), and I'll post a video update when I do. I suspect I'll be a lot more frustrated once I go non-pressurized, lol. One other thing I've been having issues with is grind retention. Since doing the mod it holds a LOT more grounds in the grinder at finer settings (I've seen up to a gram), which makes me wonder if the shape of the new burr is messing things up somewhat. I'm going to fiddle with it for a week or so longer before I contact Baratza and see what they have to say. They've been very receptive in the past (sent me a free new gasket when my old one was ripped, even when I was out of warranty), so I'm hoping maybe they'll have some tips. I'll update when I know more!
@@rileydmcdonald I look forward to seeing any news improvements you might stumble upon! I would love to be able to use my encore more while making espresso. I have a bottomless portafilter, and i definitely have struggled a bit in the past while using my encore. At a slightly coarser grind, I would get spraying issues that caused a mess but gave the correct flow rate. At finer grinds, I would no longer have spraying issues, but the flow rates were way too slow. I agree that it is definitely hard to pinpoint the cause for the inconsistencies. It definitely makes you appreciate engineering more. In any case, if you're successful in your fiddling, I definitely would be interested in seeing your results.
@@rileydmcdonald thanks for this great video! I made a similar adjustment on a Virtuoso about a year ago. The grind consistency has been a huge challenge. For me, the biggest problem is that the grinder wanders a bit (even if I hold the hopper) while grinding. It tends to make a big difference with my espressos. If you have any thoughts on that, or a mod to address it, I'd be all ears.
Hmmm weird! Mine doesn't slip, and I actually saw the grinder move when it WASN'T stepless (didn't include that in the video but I have footage of it migrating)... Could it be the rubber o-ring on your grinder is dried and/or needs replacing? How long did you have it before you made the mod?
@@rileydmcdonald thanks for the reply Riley! I'll check the ring. The Virtuoso was only a few months old when I made the mod. Maybe it's some difference between the Virtuoso and the Encore.
You don't have to (I didn't), but they recommend you do so the burrs wear together. If I was going to do it all over again, I would order an inner and outer burr and change both. The only reason I didn't is because I ordered the inner burr by itself BEFORE I read they recommend changing both. TL;DR no, but I would
Really useful vid, but could someone give me an idea of whether it's actually worth doing? I don't need to make it stepless etc as I have a Niche for espresso grinds. Would the M2 burr make an appreciable difference to V60 and French Press?
In my (limited) experience, the upgrade made pourovers easier and more consistent. Overall I'd say the grinder is more consistent than it was before. But I don't think you'll be making pourovers anywhere near as good as the ones you'd make with the Niche.
I've heard of a few people being able to swap out the burr without having to disassemble the entire grinder, but can't seem to find any videos on how it's done. Anyone have an idea how that process is done?
Good question! I've never heard of someone doing that, but in theory I suppose it's possible. You could unscrew the wingnut and the burr by maybe holding the top of the grind shaft with pliers, but I'm not sure it'd be worth the risk. Squeezing the top part of the burr shaft could damage the threads, which could make taking removing the parts impossible. By taking it apart you get optimum grip on the grind shaft, there are no threads to potentially damage, and you also get an opportunity to clean it. TL;DR it's probably possible but I wouldn't do it.
Barataza has a video on this but it is unlisted for whatever reason: ua-cam.com/video/rfCP-BVTGOg/v-deo.html I've not done this myself but basically you can remove the Encore burr by clamping them with vice grips and giving it a few smacks to loosen. Apparently a 21mm socket also fits over the burr, which may be easier. The key appears to be sudden impacts to break the torque, similar to an impact wrench. Edit: as an update, I upgraded to the M2 burr and can confirm a 21mm socket fits the Encore burr. Remember that the burr is reverse threaded, and to index the plastic paddle wheel with the new burr upon installation.
I called Baratza today to ask about consistency and the guy on the phone actually recommended the non-surgery version! It's a lot easier than taking it apart, that's for sure.
It probably would be! I did a three-months-later review of this mod if you want to check that out: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html TL;DW I think it was worth it, it's not a super difficult or expensive upgrade and I feel great about the results.
It's decent for espresso! I'm having decent luck so far. BUT I haven't tried the Sette 30. That one is more micro-adjustable and fully intended for espresso, so there's a very good chance it's better. I have no way to compare though. If you're ONLY going to use it for espresso, I would say a Sette 30 is probably a better bet.
i had the Sette 270 (i bought it because it had micro adjustments compared to the lesser expensive Sette)- and honestly never really used the micro adjustments all that much, as i could get good espresso grinds at around the 7 setting- 6 1/2 was good too- and i couldn't really tell much difference in taste between those two settings- so micro adjusting between say 6 1/2 and 7 seemed like a waste of time for me- BUT, that could have been just because of the beans i was using- Hard to know how fresh they were- I didn't get a chance to try fresh beans, as my espresso machine crapped out on me 6 days later (Had the Gaggia Classic Pro- it wouldn't push water through the grinds anymore- and pump sounded weak- not right- like it did the first few days) I coulda fixed it cheaply enough under warranty- but meh- espresso dialing in just takes too much time and wastes too much coffee trying to get good shot- I don't have the time to really mess with it every-time i change beans- but if you have the time and money to spare trying to keep dialing in- I would then that's a diff story) IF you're really into trying to get the best possible flavor out of the beans, then the micro-adjustments might be the way to go, but really- the encore with the step-less adjustment might be good enough for really dialing in shots- instead of paying out $470 for the Sette 270- but the question then becomes consistency- The 270 will be more consistent for sure I'd think, but will the Encore be 'consistent enough' with the hacks? Probably-
I'm looking to do the burr upgrade to my Encore, however I only use the Encore for pour over. I'm not sure i I want to try this burr upgrade or just sell it to my friend and upgrade to the Fellow Ode. What has been your experience with consistency from a pour over grind?
Thanks for your question! I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer this, but I'll tell you what I THINK. I don't have any equipment to measure how consistent it is (like sifters), so all I've got is sight. Looking at the grinds coming out of the grinder, it SEEMS good, but I wasn't paying super close attention with the old burr, so I can't say for sure. I've made a few pourovers since doing this and they come out very nice - similar to the pourovers I was making pre-upgrade, MAYBE with less fines - but I can't say for certain. It appears to be very consistent to my eyes. From what I've heard, the Ode is really great for pourover, extremely consistent, is well-made, and is easy to clean and disassemble (it's also beautiful, but you knew that already). If pourover is the only thing you'll do, it's probably worth it. I wanted versatility with my grinder (the Ode doesn't go much finer than filter coffee) and in Canada the Ode is nearly double the price of an Encore with an upgrade burr. The decision is yours, obviously, but consider this: if you upgrade your Encore, you might be able to sell it for more money later. The upgrade burr is significantly cheaper than an Ode, and not super difficult to put in - might be worth a shot before you sell your Encore to buy an Ode. Hope that helps!
@@rileydmcdonald Thanks for the detailed response! I have a separate grinder for espresso so was hoping to get a more consistent grind out of the Encore with the burr upgrade for pour over. I've certainly gotten my monies worth out of it in the past 5 years though so I think I'm due for an upgrade soon. I may just try the burr upgrade anyways for a few months as they're only $30 here in the States while I research other grinders as well.
@@uhplifted I have the encore with burr upgrade and it definitely changes the grind distribution. I pair this with the kruve sifter, and I can challenge or beat any grinder for pour over/filter coffee. Not hyperbole. Feel free to ask more, if you still are researching.
Good question! I've noticed some inconsistency at medium and coarser grind settings, and I can't visibly see a difference at fine. I'm working on another video about using it for a couple months and what that's like, so stay tuned!
Just wanted to update on this: consistency is great. It took some time for the burrs to wear together and to get used to the new setup, but I have a video addressing consistency: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
Apologies for my ignorance but what does it mean to make it stepless? Just that it doesn't click when you rotate the hopper to adjust the grind size? I've been having a lot of issues with the consistency of my grinds at the finer settings (it takes several times through to get it close to right) and have been contemplating replacing the burr. Thanks.
No apologies necessary! I'm here to help. Stepless just means no clicks. I used it like this for about a month and I've actually reversed that part - the clicks help it stay in place! Replacing the burrs may help, but you should consider calling or emailing Baratza about it. They're extremely helpful and they might even be able to guide you through troubleshooting. There's a toll-free number on their website: +1 877-701-2021 I've talked to them on the phone and over email three times and they have the best customer service department I've ever interacted with. I'll have a video update about my grinder coming in the next few weeks.
I saw an (old, old) thread somewhere where someone put a #8(?) rubber o ring around the hopper (or a rubber band on other posts) to make the hopper stay on better after the stepless mod. Unfortunately they never provided a good picture to tell me where and how but try it out!
Just wanted to update you on your question: I actually converted it back to stepped grinding because of hopper movement. ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
Not completely! I shot the last video entirely with a Fujifilm X-T10. This video I only partially shot with the X-T10 - for all the close-ups of the grinder and showing what I was doing, I used an iPhone 7. Do you think this video looks better than the last?
I have a 10 year old encore that I am doing this mod on... I was trying to be really careful with the shims... but sadly in the process of reassembly I lost track of the location of 1... I had a total of 6. How many did the rest of you have? Any recollection of how many went under the burr side vs the other?
I think it was three and three, but I don't remember off the top of my head. Breville has some diagrams on their website and a video that's kind of buried that might help!
I was indeed using 3D printed parts (but just to make espresso - I wouldn't put any in the grinder). I'm happy to share links to the models if you like. I designed the dosing funnel, but I'm not super happy with it and I may end up re-designing it to attach to the OUTSIDE of the portafilter rather than the INSIDE. I can't take credit for the distribution tool though - I found that on Thingiverse and just re-sized it to the right dimensions. It didn't work very well and I ended up buying a distribution/tamping tool from Amazon instead. It's a MATOW branded one and I highly recommend it. I included a link to the M2 burr in the description, but I also included a link to a set of them (inner and outer burrs) in the description since you commented here.
I tried to clean mine, and followed all steps. Now for some reason , grinder is working, but it only breaks beans in half it does nt grinds to espresso size
It is, but it's worth it! I'm glad I cleaned out my whole grinder and I've kept the old burr. If you're not worried about damaging the old burr, you can use this method without even taking the grinder apart: ua-cam.com/video/rfCP-BVTGOg/v-deo.html
I have had both Encore and Virtuoso grinders. None of those is capable of grinding espresso beans consistently. This upgrade is not worth the tome, money and efforts.Can this upgrade be done? - YES! Does it make sense? - NO!
Encore does grind for espresso; you just cannot micro adjust to dial in shots like on the Sette 270, but I can grind fine enough that I choke my espresso machine.
It's what Baratza themselves say to do 🤷♂️ Like I said, the bolt is reverse-threaded, so the motor spins in the same direction as you'd tighten the nut. It will fully tighten as you use it.
Hi Riley, I want to thank you for this video. I just upgraded my own encore, following your instructions and it went great! Okay, I realized that I had a leftover washer when I was done and it was the EXACT ONE YOU KNOCKED LOOSE! I went back, took everything apart again and put that washer right where it belongs and now my grinder is running perfectly. It is definitely faster but aside from the improvement, it was just so much fun and satisfying to accomplish this upgrade myself with your very capable guidance. You rock!
Wow that's great! I'm so happy I could help you, Paul. Thank you very much for the feedback and I'm glad you watched. Happy grinding!
Watching in 2024, considering upgrading to the M2 burr and this has me considering also going stepless! Thanks for the video. I'm upgrading now since the wingnut on top of my M3 burr came off during grinding and scratched up both burrs.
Thanks for watching and for the comment! I've since moved on to a different grinder (the Varia VS3, which I'd happily recommend), but I wouldn't advise going strapless on the Encore. It moved too much and I ended up putting the detent back in.
Happy I could help! And jeez, the wingnut came off during grinding? That sounds terrifying...
Used this video to replace the guts and burrs on my Viruoso. I had this grinder for over 10 years and the burrs were shot. Upgraded to Preciso burrs and the sweetness and flavor is back!
Video was extremely helpful. Thank you!
Glad I could help! Happy grinding 🙂
My Virtuoso came stepless; the stop had mistakenly been put in flat side up at the factory rather than wedge end up. First time I disassembled it the stop popped out, and when I put it back in, I unknowingly corrected the error and converted my grinder into a step grinder. I hated this, so I took it apart again and removed the stop entirely. However without the stop the adjustment ring seemed to move much too freely, and the setting would drift while grinding beans, so I put the stop back in flat side up. The slight pressure of the flat end against the teeth seems to hold the grind position better than when it is not there.
oh good tip!
After nearly 3 years, I figured it was time to replace the burr and cone. This video made it very simple. Nice to have someone knowledgeable watching over my shoulder. :) Thank you!
So glad I could help! Happy grinding:)
Just upgraded both M2 burrs and paddle wheel and it grinds much faster and finer than before. Paddle wheel seems to be a necessary upgrade for an older unit seeing as how much shorter the old spokes were. Thanks for your vid!
Successfully upgraded mine to the M2’s along with a new driveshaft. All I can say is that I am very impressed with this upgrade! It works so much better than it was new five years ago! Thanks! 🙏
What I did to remove the old burr without taking the grinder apart was to use a clean 13/16-inch socket, a short extension, a ratchet handle and a gentle clockwise tap with the palm of my hand.
My Baratza Encore had 4 additional screws located under the rubber feat at the base. The screws were Torc screws so special screwdriver was needed. After removing all the screws still the outer case was difficult to remove. It did not want to slide off easy. In the end I completed task. Thanks, Riley McDonald for video.
So glad I could help! Happy grinding :)
Wow, impressive. Really informative and great editing start to finish. Great job buddy.
Thank you very much! 😊
CAUTION: You have to screw the burr in with the machine upside down. There is a paddle wheel under the burr that has to fit into the grooves of the burr. If you don't put it in place and screw the burr in upside down burr will sit atop the notch and sit higher than intended, therefore the grind calibration will be so off that the grind size control won't matter at all. I almost missed this step when I upgraded to the M2 burr on my encore but I got lucky and came across some good advice. If you find that the M2 burr upgrade isn't yielding good results or won't change grind size, this is your problem.
I must have gotten lucky, because all appears to be good and i am enjoying my coffee as i type this :)
A very informative video and well shot.
I would like to say I removed the centre burr a little differently. I got a short 150mm length of dowel 35mm wide. I drilled a 25mm hole in one end about 15mm. I locked on a pair of vice grips to the dowel and held it down on the centre burr. I then gave the grips a sharp hit with a hammer and it loosened the burr. I was able to replace both burrs without disassembling the grinder.
That's great you didn't have to take the whole thing apart! Sounds very efficient. If you haven't before though, I would definitely recommend opening your grinder up (take the casing off at least) every once in a while to clean it. I was shocked at how much coffee dust was in there!
@@rileydmcdonald After every time I grind a batch I blow the machine out with my high powered air compressor. It would be interesting to see if there's any build up. Once again, a great video. 👍
Thanks for the kind words!
Stepping up the coffee hacks to the next level. love it!
Haha well you've gotta work with what you have sometimes!
Very good video. Nice narration on all the little things of which to note in taking it apart.
Thanks Rich! Glad I could help :)
I love the capacity! I’m not worry again with it! Thank you Excelent product
I futzed around with the calibration on mine a while back to get it grinding finer for espresso which worked really well. Got a M2 burr in the mail this morning so hopefully I can get through the process without too much trouble, looking forward to getting the grind a bit faster in the morning.
Nicely done! I ha e the encore strictly for my pour overs and French press. I have a whole other setup for my espressos. I've found the Encore to be great and very consistent. For the value, it's amazing.
Ooh slick! What's your espresso setup like?
@@rileydmcdonald I have a Gaggia Classic Pro with a Eureka Silenzio grinder. Just purchased them this past November. But it's been amazing!
Ooh lucky you! Sounds like a great setup.
I just replaced my girlfriend's burr with the M2. After quite a bit of tinkering it works very well now! SO much faster than before. Thanks for the great vid. My god the reverse threaded wing nut really got me.
So happy I could help! Hope she enjoys the new hardware. And yes, that bloody wingnut is the absolute worst. It's so weird!
I remember watching this video when deciding to buy either this grinder or the eureka crono. Encore was $200 cad plus the burrs where as the crono was $280 cad. Flat burr 50mm and better performance for just a few extra bucks.
How do you like the crono for espresso?
@@rileydmcdonald absolutely love it. Everything is the same as the silenzio minus sound dampening and burrs. I originally had the crono for drip but threw in espresso burrs and dedicate it to espresso and use baratza for drip. Both grinders together cost less combined then a silenzio!
My Ascaso grinder has a reverse thread also. Likely by design to insure the rotational friction does not loosen it.
This was informative enough for me to not go through all that trouble to make it stepless! I'd be tempted to upgrade the burrs, though.
I'll have an update video coming soon - I actually changed mine back from stepless to stepped again. Not worth the hassle!
Good to know. Is it a lot easier to just upgrade the burrs?
@@icowrich The way I did it, no. I'm glad I took it apart because it needed cleaning and I now understand it better. But you can easily replace the burr using vice grips: ua-cam.com/video/rfCP-BVTGOg/v-deo.html
Note that doing this is likely to damage the burr. The way I did it is more time consuming, but I can still use the original burr if I wanted to for some reason. There was no damage to it the way I took it out.
Surely, you could cover the burr with a piece of a shammy before using the vice grips or something to avoid damaging it. Also...that video shows a Virtuoso. You wouldn't need to upgrade the burrs on those, would you?
@@icowrich no, that might have been for replacement. But the process on the Virtuoso and the Encore is mostly the same. It seems they're very similar grinders - the Virtuoso has a better finish, a grind timer, and an LED that shines into the grinds bin, plus the M2. By upgrading your Encore with the M2, you essentially have a plastic, timer-less Virtuoso with a darker grounds bin.
I just soaked the burr in hot water and was able to remove it without breaking it down all the way. The hot water allows the tight burr to loosen more easily.
Nice! How did you soak the burr by itself without disassembly?
Can you explain how you did this? I am really hoping to avoid totally taking apart my Encore.
@@LucasFernandes-sr8gc Look around youtube comments think that's where I found it.
That is a big undertaking. 😱
It was easier than it looked!
Easy. Thanks so much for the video man.
Interesting you mention that the jury is still out on whether or not the grind consistency improved. I have the Encore, and have been considering replacing the stock burr set with the M2 set, but from what I've been researching online, I'm not 100% convinced that it actually improves the grind consistency enough to make it worth the $50. With that said, the replacement parts are in my shopping cart on the Baratza site as I continue to investigate whether or not the upgrade is worth it. I'm willing to give it a try, but I want to see an objective comparison of before and after the upgrade.
Since posting this consistency has been a bit of an issue - when I shot the vid it was only a few days in, but it's been a week since doing this mod and it does seem to vary a bit. I mostly assumed it was my puck prep and dosing issues, but grind size is probably more likely. Unfortunately I don't have another grinder to compare it to, aside from a Hario Mini Mill, and I don't think that's going to cut it.
I've also had a number of issues with grind retention at finer settings. Not sure what's causing this yet, but I've lost up to a gram grinding a couple times. I'm working on solving that.
I do like that it's faster, but thus far I don't think it's more consistent. It's possible I did so much messing around with it that I threw it out of whack, so I'm going to fiddle with it for another week or so before I reach out to Baratza directly. They're pretty good about this sort of stuff, and they know people mod their grinders with the burr, so I'll see what they have to say before I write it off.
I'll make another video about it after I've used it for a while, and if Baratza has anything to say I'll be sure to mention it. When that video's done I'll be sure to comment here to let you know :)
🤗 Awesome!!!!! Thank you for the content!!!!!
This video helped so much!!! Thank you!!!
Glad to hear it - you're very welcome!
Upgrading burr grinders , that's what we do .....in the shadows ! 🦇
Great video! Thanks!
The wingnut is reverse threaded for the same reason the center lock nuts are reversed on one side of a racecar: so they don't unscrew themselves as they spin.
I saw they offer a single dose hopper as an accessory but I really wish it had a bellows. That's one of the biggest issues I have. I actually use the hopper lid to create a puff of air to clear it out. I'm hoping there is a 3D printed version, I'm going to take a look in a few.
I hear that! A viewer of mine commented that the single-dose hopper lid fits tightly enough you can use it as a bellows, but it's a pain to do it that way since you have to manually lift and press it.
I've poked around on Thingiverse a few times and there are definitely hoppers available (and bellows), but I worry about the lines in a 3D print holding fines or oils and being difficult to clean (also I don't have a ton of decent flexible filament, so that's part of it). I suppose if you're using a stereolithographic printer that's less of an issue, but still.
Let me know if you find anything good!
@@rileydmcdonald I have no experience with flexible filament and there are ways to make food safe prints that should help with the oils and fines. This might make for a good winter project.
Yo, I also use the lid to knock out the retention. Pulse or now pulse?
"Baratza says it will tighten as it grinds" Hmm.. it's almost like they made it left handed thread for a reason...
Great content. I get the instinct but the Compak K3 offers a lot of bang for your buck if what you want out of something like this is an espresso grinder for under $1K that won’t make you itch to upgrade almost immediately.
I haven't researched the Compak K3, but I definitely will now! At the time I bought my Encore it was The Wirecutter's recommendation for a good beginner grinder, and when I went to look around at other coffee sources (trusted blogs, UA-cam reviews, etc) I found pretty much everyone loved it.
Thanks for the tip! Maybe the Compak can be something I'll aspire to if this thing ever goes on me... or I guess if I ever get the itch to upgrade, haha
In the days prior to internet I had an inexpensive home burr grinder akin to the Braun. Couldn't get grind fine enough so I took it apart and cut off the plastic tab that prevented the burrs from getting closer. Worked very well.
Very industrious of you! What happened to the grinder?
@@rileydmcdonald That was a very long time ago. It might be in a closet with other predecessor stuff like a Faemina, Olympia Cremina, Gaggia grinder, others I don't recall. PS; The quality of your editing is very good., especially audio. Even Mr JH has had music way louder than his voice, very annoying.
Thanks very much! It's been a learning curve for sure but I'm glad the hard work is paying off :)
Thanks for this post. I couldn't bring myself to spending 250 USD for a grinder like the Sette 30, so I've ordered the Encore. I used to have success with a bottomless portafilter with my Capresso EC Pro. I think I've worn out the Hario hand grinder I've had for years, and more recently using it with a drill modification (probably led to its wearing). Anyway, I'm hopeful I can use the Encore with the bottomless portafilter with success. Interesting that the M2 burr seems to be improving only grind speed for you, and not so much the consistency. That's still a win. I wonder if you've tried to hold the setting better with the rubber band like some have suggested. I read about someone adding a layer of tape as well.
As of today I've actually changed it back to a stepped setup. I'll have a video about that in a few weeks. It was kinda lame having to hold it in place all the time!
And glad I could help :)
Here's what I think now that I've been using it for a couple months, and my thoughts on stepless: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
Thanks for the great video! Only confusing thing to me; which burr is the upgrade??
I ordered the M2 burr, turns out it's exactly the same as the burr in my Baratza Encore (which I bought 2nd hand). So I contacted Baratza and they do say it's the M2 burr that is the upgrade over the M3. Does that mean your video should say "installing the new M2 burr" around 4:35?
Thank you very much! Good catch, the description should say M2, not M3. I say M2 in the video multiple times, but the description is incorrect. Thank you, I'll change that.
Your encore should have come with an M3, and the M2 is the upgrade.
@@rileydmcdonald Thanks for your quick response! It turns out that Baratza actually sent me an M3 burr by accident, instead of the M2 burr I ordered. That explains most of the confusion on my side and rewatching this tutorial and all the descriptions multiple times😅
Oh no! That's an unfortunate shipping error, but I'm glad you got it all sorted out. Thanks again for watching and I'm happy I could help.
Enjoy your shiny new burr 🙂
Curious: why do you want it stepless?
@@eliezersalazar4361 probably because the difference between 8.0 and 8.333 (the next step) is too great. (or some other step.)
lol you are like me- i make every mistake imaginable, and think to myself 'ok- avoid doing that next time' but unfortunately, i have a bad memory- so i make the same mistakes again- Even if i write a note to remind me not to do something again, I'll misplace the note- and end up making the mistakes again- The good thing about a horrible memory though is that i can read a book or watch a movie, then 2 months or so later- read or watch the movie again and it's like watching a new movie-
Sounds like the epitome of ADHD (which I have) LOL
🔥😍 Awesome
Yeah. All my washers went everywhere 😂
Mine will only grind very coarse after the "upgrade."
There's a calibration screw on the collar, and if you didn't put it back in the same place it could be off.
Thanks for the reply. I will say that in my case, I didn't have the drive gear set flush. Once I fixed that, no problems!@@rileydmcdonald
@@rileydmcdonald Hi! Is this somewhere on the video? Is it the black piece you took off? I did all this and seem to have the same problem
The calibration screw is in the white collar part, but it sounds like the previous commenter
It sounds like Matthew (the previous commenter) didn't have the drive gear seated properly, so make sure all your parts are set in tightly. If that doesn't work, the calibration screw is on the side of the white collar on the grinder.
Baratza themselves have great videos showing how to calibrate your grinder. I didn't get into that because this didn't require messing with the calibration, at least for me.
I would be grateful if you show well how to put black ring (that one which is screwed to white) on white back on.
Thanks for the feedback! I don't have close-up footage of that, but the key is to find where the black part fits in and hold it there with one hand, and use your other hand to rotate the white part below it. Took me a couple tries to figure it out, but once you have it it's pretty easy!
Please test with a bottomless portafilter
Will do! That's next on my list of gear :)
All went well except.... The button no longer works... No idea what I did. Fortunately the main switch still works.
Check and see if the wires are loose, disconnected, or crushed. It's also possible the case isn't quite snapped on or lined up right - if it isn't, or if the button became unseated during the process, you might just need to pop off the case and try again.
I wanted to do this mod but the m2 burrs are out of stock everywhere I look!!!
Aw damn that bites! Hopefully you don't have to wait too long.
@@rileydmcdonald Ya either i wait till august for baratza to restock or buy one now for $60
@@ramm2601 it's in stock as of last night
Can you do this mod without the m2 burr?
You could, but it would be pointless. I changed mine back to stepped after doing the mod because it didn't stay in place at the right grind setting. I'd say if you're going to open it up and do this, you should prioritize the M2 burr and nothing else.
Hey Riley
I really appreciated your work and you did a great helpful video
I have new baratza encore and i used one time and stop grinding. do have any idea to fix it?
Thanks for the compliments and thanks for watching! I don't have any ideas, no. You could take the casing off to see if there are any loose wires, maybe? It's a fairly simple setup in there (and fairly sturdy) and the only reason I can think of would be the wires coming loose from the motor.
If that doesn't show you anything (or give you any ideas), I would recommend calling or emailing Baratza. They're very helpful and very responsive.
"the jury is still out on whether or not the grind consistency improved". If it hasn't, why would anyone spend extra and buy the Virtuoso instead of the Encore? or is the motor and other things better on the Virtuoso?
I believe the motor and gearbox are similar in the Virtuoso and Encore, but don't quote me on that. The Virtuoso has more metal on it (some people prefer that), the M2 burr, and a grind timer function. You pay extra for those things.
I've been on a long journey with this grinder, but I do think the M2 is more consistent and a worthy upgrade. I have a couple videos about how I came to this conclusion, but suffice to say I think the M2 is great and does make things more consistent. It took constant use for a month and a half to realize that.
Thanks Riley for the video , are you aware of any pedal wheel up grades you can share for this unit , thanks Bob
Hey Bob, thanks for watching! Do you mean paddle wheel, as in the paddle on the inside that pushes grounds out? I'm not aware of any upgrades, but that doesn't mean they don't exist! I imagine that would be a tricky thing to upgrade/mess around with, because if you made it too tight it could catch and break (or potentially mess up the gears and motor). But that's a neat question!
Thanks for the tutorial. Once I can get a set from Baratza I will perform the upgrade. Did you take any decibel readings between the burr sets?
No, but I should have! I didn't think they were that much quieter, honestly. But it might make up for that by being faster.
This guy emanates John Wilson vibes
As in "How To" John Wilson?! Thank you!
Thanks for the video. How has the grinder been performing since the upgrade? I have been considering the same upgrade and am trying to find more objective feedback.
I'm happy with the Encore but I assume Baratza used this burr for the Virtuoso+ and Peciso for a reason. They state that the M2 burr yields "a very uniform grind, with a distinct lack of fines across its grinding range" while no such claims are made with the Encore's M3 burr. Also of note is that the Encore grinds 0.8-1.1g/s while the Virtuoso+ grinds 1.5-2.4g/s, with the burrs being the only meaningful difference that I can find. Both grinders use the same 120v 70w 550RPM motor (#6026) and drive gear (#6091).
Great question! I'm planning to do an update video on this (I need to contact Baratza for one part of it, which I haven't yet). Here's what I've observed - but before I tell you this, please keep in mind all I've got is my eyes and fingertips. I haven't tried any fancy sifters to see about grind size, and to be honest I wasn't paying close attention to the M3 burr's consistency. It worked great with the M3 and it works great with the M2.
Anyway, here's what I know:
- As you can see in the video, it's definitely faster. I'd been using it since October 2019 with the M3, and since putting in the M2 it's noticeable even weeks later. It regularly surprises me how quick it is.
- there seems to be less popcorning than before. I use my Encore as a single-dose machine (prob not the greatest idea since this hopper isn't meant for that... they sell a single-dose hopper I'm interested in though), and beans seem to stay lower. I have footage that kinda shows this too, but I can't remember if it made it into the video.
- to my eyes, there might be slightly MORE fines than before, and grind size isn't perfectly consistent. Again, I wasn't paying close attention with the M3, but in things like a pourover there seem to be distinctly different sizes. It still tastes great to me, but I'm not sure about consistency. I suspect this could be how I installed it, but I'll ask Baratza about it.
- It seems to retain more grinds than before. A few times I've weighed into the grinder and weighed out and lost as much as a gram! The grinds seem to get stuck on the bottom of the outer burr ring just above the paddles, but only at fine (sub-10) grind settings. I suspect this is also user error somehow, but again - gotta check with Baratza.
I'd do this all over again for speed alone. And I really like it better stepless. I'm hoping Baratza can help with consistency and tuning, but I'll cover that in the next video. Thanks for the question!
@Riley McDonald Thanks for the response, very interesting feedback. I also single dose (18g) with my Encore and have noticed minor popcorning as well. The M2 burrs might be worth it just for the faster grinding and reduced popcorning.
On a somewhat related note, I found that turning the grinder on prior to adding beans seems to help with grind consistency. And as a point of reference, retention for me ranges from 0.1-0.5g on setting 9 depending on how much I shake the grinder.
Looking forward to your updates. Keep up the great work.
😊Thanks for the kind words! And I'm definitely going to try turning it on before adding beans. Thank you for the tip!
An update for you: performance has been great! ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
I've done the stepless mod, but I've found that the grind is a bit too inconsistent to get any benefit when making espresso from an unpressurized portafilter. The variation in shot flow rates is quite high when I do my best to control all other variables, and it's a variation I don't see when using my commandante grinder. My hypothesis is that it has to do with how the encore controls the gap between the upper and outer burr. The gap is controlled by a plastic ring with a spiral groove cut onto it, and I think the plastic will probably flex a bit during the grinding action. How has your experience been so far with shot consistency? Do you use the encore with pressurized/non-pressurized portafilters?
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad it's not just me. Since posting this consistency has been a bit of an issue - when I shot the vid it was only a few days in, but it's been a week since doing this mod and it does seem to vary a bit. I mostly assumed it was my puck prep and dosing issues, but grind size is probably more likely. Unfortunately I don't have another grinder to compare it to, aside from a Hario Mini Mill, and I don't think that's going to cut it.
That's a good theory about the spiral! It's fairly rigid plastic in that spiral though, do you think it would flex that much? The grinder is sharp enough and fast enough that I wouldn't imagine it'd make that much of a difference, but I'm no materials scientist.
I'm using a pressurized portafilter for now, which I know isn't ideal. Several others have commented to say I should get a non-pressurized one (it's next on my list of gear!), and I'll post a video update when I do. I suspect I'll be a lot more frustrated once I go non-pressurized, lol.
One other thing I've been having issues with is grind retention. Since doing the mod it holds a LOT more grounds in the grinder at finer settings (I've seen up to a gram), which makes me wonder if the shape of the new burr is messing things up somewhat.
I'm going to fiddle with it for a week or so longer before I contact Baratza and see what they have to say. They've been very receptive in the past (sent me a free new gasket when my old one was ripped, even when I was out of warranty), so I'm hoping maybe they'll have some tips. I'll update when I know more!
@@rileydmcdonald I look forward to seeing any news improvements you might stumble upon! I would love to be able to use my encore more while making espresso. I have a bottomless portafilter, and i definitely have struggled a bit in the past while using my encore. At a slightly coarser grind, I would get spraying issues that caused a mess but gave the correct flow rate. At finer grinds, I would no longer have spraying issues, but the flow rates were way too slow.
I agree that it is definitely hard to pinpoint the cause for the inconsistencies. It definitely makes you appreciate engineering more. In any case, if you're successful in your fiddling, I definitely would be interested in seeing your results.
@@rileydmcdonald thanks for this great video! I made a similar adjustment on a Virtuoso about a year ago. The grind consistency has been a huge challenge. For me, the biggest problem is that the grinder wanders a bit (even if I hold the hopper) while grinding. It tends to make a big difference with my espressos. If you have any thoughts on that, or a mod to address it, I'd be all ears.
Hmmm weird! Mine doesn't slip, and I actually saw the grinder move when it WASN'T stepless (didn't include that in the video but I have footage of it migrating)... Could it be the rubber o-ring on your grinder is dried and/or needs replacing? How long did you have it before you made the mod?
@@rileydmcdonald thanks for the reply Riley! I'll check the ring. The Virtuoso was only a few months old when I made the mod. Maybe it's some difference between the Virtuoso and the Encore.
If we change the inner burr do we have to change the outer burr?
You don't have to (I didn't), but they recommend you do so the burrs wear together. If I was going to do it all over again, I would order an inner and outer burr and change both. The only reason I didn't is because I ordered the inner burr by itself BEFORE I read they recommend changing both.
TL;DR no, but I would
Really useful vid, but could someone give me an idea of whether it's actually worth doing? I don't need to make it stepless etc as I have a Niche for espresso grinds. Would the M2 burr make an appreciable difference to V60 and French Press?
In my (limited) experience, the upgrade made pourovers easier and more consistent. Overall I'd say the grinder is more consistent than it was before. But I don't think you'll be making pourovers anywhere near as good as the ones you'd make with the Niche.
I've heard of a few people being able to swap out the burr without having to disassemble the entire grinder, but can't seem to find any videos on how it's done. Anyone have an idea how that process is done?
Good question! I've never heard of someone doing that, but in theory I suppose it's possible. You could unscrew the wingnut and the burr by maybe holding the top of the grind shaft with pliers, but I'm not sure it'd be worth the risk. Squeezing the top part of the burr shaft could damage the threads, which could make taking removing the parts impossible. By taking it apart you get optimum grip on the grind shaft, there are no threads to potentially damage, and you also get an opportunity to clean it.
TL;DR it's probably possible but I wouldn't do it.
Barataza has a video on this but it is unlisted for whatever reason: ua-cam.com/video/rfCP-BVTGOg/v-deo.html
I've not done this myself but basically you can remove the Encore burr by clamping them with vice grips and giving it a few smacks to loosen. Apparently a 21mm socket also fits over the burr, which may be easier. The key appears to be sudden impacts to break the torque, similar to an impact wrench.
Edit: as an update, I upgraded to the M2 burr and can confirm a 21mm socket fits the Encore burr. Remember that the burr is reverse threaded, and to index the plastic paddle wheel with the new burr upon installation.
@@dong_chim Thanks for this link. As nice as Riley's video is, the vice grip and whack method sure looks a lot easier!
I called Baratza today to ask about consistency and the guy on the phone actually recommended the non-surgery version! It's a lot easier than taking it apart, that's for sure.
Hi, I have a breville barista express, thinking that burr would be upgrade
It probably would be! I did a three-months-later review of this mod if you want to check that out: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
TL;DW I think it was worth it, it's not a super difficult or expensive upgrade and I feel great about the results.
Cool watch! Is that a Swatch?
Thank you! Good eye - it is indeed a Swatch! I bought it in Paris in 2009 - if you Google "Swatch Club Grems" you'll find it.
There's also an official Video from Baratza on how to replace the burr: ua-cam.com/video/s-bBlLNMtyg/v-deo.html
Do you think it is good for espresso after adjustment or buy Bratza City 30 and what do you think of this grinder?
It's decent for espresso! I'm having decent luck so far. BUT I haven't tried the Sette 30. That one is more micro-adjustable and fully intended for espresso, so there's a very good chance it's better. I have no way to compare though.
If you're ONLY going to use it for espresso, I would say a Sette 30 is probably a better bet.
i had the Sette 270 (i bought it because it had micro adjustments compared to the lesser expensive Sette)- and honestly never really used the micro adjustments all that much, as i could get good espresso grinds at around the 7 setting- 6 1/2 was good too- and i couldn't really tell much difference in taste between those two settings- so micro adjusting between say 6 1/2 and 7 seemed like a waste of time for me- BUT, that could have been just because of the beans i was using- Hard to know how fresh they were- I didn't get a chance to try fresh beans, as my espresso machine crapped out on me 6 days later (Had the Gaggia Classic Pro- it wouldn't push water through the grinds anymore- and pump sounded weak- not right- like it did the first few days) I coulda fixed it cheaply enough under warranty- but meh- espresso dialing in just takes too much time and wastes too much coffee trying to get good shot- I don't have the time to really mess with it every-time i change beans- but if you have the time and money to spare trying to keep dialing in- I would then that's a diff story) IF you're really into trying to get the best possible flavor out of the beans, then the micro-adjustments might be the way to go, but really- the encore with the step-less adjustment might be good enough for really dialing in shots- instead of paying out $470 for the Sette 270- but the question then becomes consistency- The 270 will be more consistent for sure I'd think, but will the Encore be 'consistent enough' with the hacks? Probably-
I'm looking to do the burr upgrade to my Encore, however I only use the Encore for pour over. I'm not sure i I want to try this burr upgrade or just sell it to my friend and upgrade to the Fellow Ode. What has been your experience with consistency from a pour over grind?
Thanks for your question! I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer this, but I'll tell you what I THINK. I don't have any equipment to measure how consistent it is (like sifters), so all I've got is sight. Looking at the grinds coming out of the grinder, it SEEMS good, but I wasn't paying super close attention with the old burr, so I can't say for sure. I've made a few pourovers since doing this and they come out very nice - similar to the pourovers I was making pre-upgrade, MAYBE with less fines - but I can't say for certain. It appears to be very consistent to my eyes.
From what I've heard, the Ode is really great for pourover, extremely consistent, is well-made, and is easy to clean and disassemble (it's also beautiful, but you knew that already). If pourover is the only thing you'll do, it's probably worth it. I wanted versatility with my grinder (the Ode doesn't go much finer than filter coffee) and in Canada the Ode is nearly double the price of an Encore with an upgrade burr.
The decision is yours, obviously, but consider this: if you upgrade your Encore, you might be able to sell it for more money later. The upgrade burr is significantly cheaper than an Ode, and not super difficult to put in - might be worth a shot before you sell your Encore to buy an Ode.
Hope that helps!
@@rileydmcdonald Thanks for the detailed response! I have a separate grinder for espresso so was hoping to get a more consistent grind out of the Encore with the burr upgrade for pour over. I've certainly gotten my monies worth out of it in the past 5 years though so I think I'm due for an upgrade soon. I may just try the burr upgrade anyways for a few months as they're only $30 here in the States while I research other grinders as well.
@@uhplifted I have the encore with burr upgrade and it definitely changes the grind distribution. I pair this with the kruve sifter, and I can challenge or beat any grinder for pour over/filter coffee. Not hyperbole. Feel free to ask more, if you still are researching.
Do they make upgraded outer burrs?
yep, you can buy the m2 ring burr as well, here in Singapore, similar price, so the combined set does come at a hefty price imo
What about the quality of grinds?
Good question! I've noticed some inconsistency at medium and coarser grind settings, and I can't visibly see a difference at fine. I'm working on another video about using it for a couple months and what that's like, so stay tuned!
Just wanted to update on this: consistency is great. It took some time for the burrs to wear together and to get used to the new setup, but I have a video addressing consistency: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
Apologies for my ignorance but what does it mean to make it stepless? Just that it doesn't click when you rotate the hopper to adjust the grind size? I've been having a lot of issues with the consistency of my grinds at the finer settings (it takes several times through to get it close to right) and have been contemplating replacing the burr. Thanks.
No apologies necessary! I'm here to help. Stepless just means no clicks. I used it like this for about a month and I've actually reversed that part - the clicks help it stay in place! Replacing the burrs may help, but you should consider calling or emailing Baratza about it. They're extremely helpful and they might even be able to guide you through troubleshooting. There's a toll-free number on their website: +1 877-701-2021
I've talked to them on the phone and over email three times and they have the best customer service department I've ever interacted with.
I'll have a video update about my grinder coming in the next few weeks.
Here's an update video now that I've been using the upgraded grinder for a couple months: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
How do you get your hopper to not move and mess up your grind setting? My hopper always moves coarser
I didn't do anything! It stays in place by itself.
I saw an (old, old) thread somewhere where someone put a #8(?) rubber o ring around the hopper (or a rubber band on other posts) to make the hopper stay on better after the stepless mod. Unfortunately they never provided a good picture to tell me where and how but try it out!
@@shinestarbubble That what I did as well. Just a normal small rubber band In the gap around the hopper. You can't really miss the right spot.
Just wanted to update you on your question: I actually converted it back to stepped grinding because of hopper movement. ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
Did you update your camera after the last video?
Not completely! I shot the last video entirely with a Fujifilm X-T10. This video I only partially shot with the X-T10 - for all the close-ups of the grinder and showing what I was doing, I used an iPhone 7.
Do you think this video looks better than the last?
I have a 10 year old encore that I am doing this mod on... I was trying to be really careful with the shims... but sadly in the process of reassembly I lost track of the location of 1... I had a total of 6. How many did the rest of you have? Any recollection of how many went under the burr side vs the other?
I think it was three and three, but I don't remember off the top of my head. Breville has some diagrams on their website and a video that's kind of buried that might help!
@@rileydmcdonald Here is a diagram: baratza.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/encore-plev-v7-020421.pdf
Didnt the step changed when grinding if we remove the "step" thingy?
Yep. Unfortunately it happens a lot. That's why I changed it back to stepped later: ua-cam.com/video/8lx9MFMKIDs/v-deo.html
HOLD UP!!!! Were you using 3D printed parts??? Also where's the link for the burrs?
I was indeed using 3D printed parts (but just to make espresso - I wouldn't put any in the grinder). I'm happy to share links to the models if you like.
I designed the dosing funnel, but I'm not super happy with it and I may end up re-designing it to attach to the OUTSIDE of the portafilter rather than the INSIDE.
I can't take credit for the distribution tool though - I found that on Thingiverse and just re-sized it to the right dimensions. It didn't work very well and I ended up buying a distribution/tamping tool from Amazon instead. It's a MATOW branded one and I highly recommend it.
I included a link to the M2 burr in the description, but I also included a link to a set of them (inner and outer burrs) in the description since you commented here.
I tried to clean mine, and followed all steps. Now for some reason , grinder is working, but it only breaks beans in half it does nt grinds to espresso size
Get rekt bro
My M2 upgrade is quite louder, yours seems to be also… hmmm anyone else
That is quite tedious haha
It is, but it's worth it! I'm glad I cleaned out my whole grinder and I've kept the old burr. If you're not worried about damaging the old burr, you can use this method without even taking the grinder apart: ua-cam.com/video/rfCP-BVTGOg/v-deo.html
I have had both Encore and Virtuoso grinders. None of those is capable of grinding espresso beans consistently. This upgrade is not worth the tome, money and efforts.Can this upgrade be done? - YES! Does it make sense? - NO!
Thanks for the feedback! What kind of machine do you use? What's your preferred grinder?
Encore does grind for espresso; you just cannot micro adjust to dial in shots like on the Sette 270, but I can grind fine enough that I choke my espresso machine.
@@rileydmcdonald also curious as to what machine might be reccomended
This grinder isn’t designed for espresso
Save time and effort and watch Baratza's video of how to change the grinder burr.
Thanks for watching!
Save time and effort and ignore the comments
"finger tighten" on a machine that vibrates and spins ..... seems like a bad idea kiddo
It's what Baratza themselves say to do 🤷♂️ Like I said, the bolt is reverse-threaded, so the motor spins in the same direction as you'd tighten the nut. It will fully tighten as you use it.
its left handed threaded you liberal.
@@bonedyone what a weird response lol
L🤡
@@CorpseGrin learning something is not an L. maybe it is for dumb people.