The Baratza Encore is the better long-term pick if you want more grind steps, a narrower counter footprint, and a grinder platform built around replaceable parts. The OXO Brew Conical Burr grinder is still the easier daily choice if you want a larger hopper, a one-touch timer routine, and less manual dosing fuss.
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Baratza is the better buy for most coffee drinkers who care about dialing grind size over time.
The Encore wins this head-to-head because its official specs give you 40 grind settings, 40 mm conical burrs, a 300 g hopper, and a compact 13 x 15 x 34 cm footprint. For a shopper upgrading from a blade grinder, that broader adjustment range is the useful difference: it gives you more room to correct sour pour-over, muddy French press, or drip coffee that runs too fast.
Choose the OXO Brew Conical Burr if your routine is mostly drip coffee and you value convenience more than fine-grain control. OXO lists 15 settings with additional microsettings, a 12 oz hopper, a 110 g grounds container, and a one-touch start timer that remembers the previous grind time, so it fits a household that wants repeatable batches without weighing every dose.
A compact entry-level conical burr grinder with 40 stepped settings, 40 mm conical burrs, a 300 g bean hopper, and a simple on-off pulse workflow.
A countertop conical burr grinder with 15 grind settings plus microsettings, a 12 oz hopper, a 110 g grounds container, and a timer that keeps the previous setting.
Both grinders are sensible upgrades from a blade grinder for brewed coffee. The real decision is whether you want more manual control over grind size or a more automatic daily workflow for a household coffee maker.
More settings do not automatically make better coffee, but they make correction easier. If a pour-over drains too slowly, the Encore gives you more intermediate places to move before the cup swings too far the other way.
OXO's larger hopper is convenient for households that leave beans loaded. Baratza's smaller 300 g hopper is still enough for multiple pots, but it nudges you toward loading fresher amounts more often.
The Encore is narrower and shallower on paper, which helps beside a kettle or brewer. The OXO is deeper and taller, so measure under cabinets before assuming it fits your coffee bar.
The table focuses on official specs that change ownership: adjustment range, hopper capacity, footprint, timer controls, and brewing routine fit.
| Metric | Baratza Encore | OXO Brew Conical Burr |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | WinnerPour-over, drip, AeroPress, French press, cold brew, and buyers who want more room to tune grind size. | Drip-focused households that want a larger hopper, timed grinding, and a simple repeatable morning routine. |
| Grind settings | 40 stepped settings | 15 settings plus microsettings |
| Model | Encore ZCG485 | 8717000 |
| Capacity | 300 g bean hopper | 12 oz bean hopper; 110 g grounds container |
| Dimensions | 13 x 15 x 34 cm; about 5.1 x 5.9 x 13.4 in | 6.8 in W x 11.8 in D x 14.8 in H; 5.6 lb |
| Controls and brew fit | Simple side pulse button and front on-off switch; best when you do not mind measuring beans or timing by routine. | One-touch start timer remembers the previous setting; best when you want repeatable timed batches for drip coffee. |
| Main drawback | No built-in timer or dose memory; it asks for a little more attention from the person grinding. | Fewer main grind steps and a deeper body make it less appealing if counter depth or precise adjustment matters most. |
| Buyer fit summary | The Encore is the stronger fit when grind adjustment and repairability matter more than automated dosing. | The OXO is the better fit when a larger hopper and repeatable timed grinding matter more than maximum grind-step range. |
We compared manufacturer-published grinder specifications, hopper and grounds capacity, dimensions, control workflow, brew-method fit, and product-specific retailer listings. Prices, ratings, review counts, and availability were intentionally left out because they can change and were not needed for this buying decision.
Official Baratza and OXO pages supplied the grind settings, burr type notes, hopper or grounds capacity, dimensions, controls, and listed coffee-use positioning used here.
The recommendation favors the grinder that gives an upgrading coffee drinker more room to tune brewed coffee while staying compact enough for a normal kitchen counter.
Pick Baratza for grind control and long-term ownership. Pick OXO when timed grinding, a larger hopper, and an easy repeatable drip routine matter more.
The Encore is the stronger fit when grind adjustment and repairability matter more than automated dosing.
Sources: Baratza and retailer listing.
The OXO is the better fit when a larger hopper and repeatable timed grinding matter more than maximum grind-step range.
Sources: OXO and retailer listing.
The Baratza Encore is the better choice for pour-over because its 40 stepped settings give you more room to adjust drawdown and flavor than the OXO's 15 main settings.
The OXO Brew Conical Burr is easier if your routine is the same drip batch every morning. Its timer remembers the previous grind time, so repeating a batch takes less attention.
No. Both can grind finely, but this comparison is aimed at brewed coffee. If espresso is the main goal, shop for a grinder built around espresso adjustment and portafilter workflow.
The Baratza Encore is smaller on paper at 13 x 15 x 34 cm, about 5.1 x 5.9 x 13.4 inches. OXO lists the Brew Conical Burr at 6.8 x 11.8 x 14.8 inches.
Buy the Baratza Encore if you want to learn how grind size changes coffee. Buy the OXO if you mostly want a simple timed grinder for a drip machine.
Forty grind settings, a compact tower footprint, and Baratza's parts-friendly ecosystem make the Encore easier to grow with as you move between drip, pour-over, AeroPress, French press, and cold brew.
Last checked: . Retailer availability, coupons, delivery estimates, and other listing details can change without notice.