Baratza Encore Grind Settings Chart: French Press, V60 & More

So, you just got yourself a Baratza Encore. You put in your fresh beans. You’re looking at the hopper, turning it from 0 to 40, and you’re just so scared of messing up a good batch of coffee.

Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder ZCG485BLK, Black

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You’re left with fuzzy ranges from the manual, and everyone on the forums has a different opinion.

I’ve driven an Encore every day for more than ten years, so I get that my machine’s “Setting 15” could be your “Setting 18.” But yeah, we can totally get you 90% of the way there.

Here’s your cheat sheet. Take a screenshot of this, keep it on your phone, and let it be your starting place for every brewing session.

The “Save This” Cheat Sheet

This little “Save This” cheat sheet is for your Baratza Encore, specifically the standard ones set to how they come from the factory. It shows you the “Safe Zone” settings.

Deep Dive: Tuning by Method

1. Espresso (#4 – #9)

Alright, let’s just be real about this: if we’re talking about making espresso, the everyday Baratza Encore isn’t really cut out for it. It just doesn’t quite hit the mark for a professional-looking photo.

• The Reality: If you’ve got a pressurized portafilter, like the one on a DeLonghi Dedica, just use #8.
• The Danger Zone: Going below #4 is asking for trouble; it can jam your grinder or put a real strain on the motor. If you hear the motor making a whining sound, just adjust it so the setting is a bit coarser.

2. Pour Over: V60 & Kalita Wave (#13 – #16)

When it comes to pour-over brewing, like with a V60 or Kalita Wave, between methods 13 and 16, the Encore really shines.

• Start at #15.
• When your brew takes more than three and a half minutes, you’ll likely find that the coffee bed is muddy. Click up to #17.
• If your coffee tastes sour and the water rushes through in 2 minutes, try going down to #13.

3. Chemex (#20 – #24)

Chemex filters are a good bit thicker than your average coffee filter, like 20-30% more. They just naturally slow down the water.

• The Mistake: A lot of folks accidentally use V60 settings (number 15) for their Chemex. So, what you end up with is a brew that just sits there, tasting bitter and dry.
• The Fix: You gotta be brave, so just grit your teeth and go a bit coarser with it. You’re aiming for a texture that gives off that coarse sea salt vibe. Start at #22.

4. French Press (#28 – #32)

So, for French Press, the old way of thinking was to just use the coarsest grind you could get. No, that’s not right.

• The Sweet Spot: If you set your grinder to #40, you’ll end up with massive chunks of coffee. These “boulders” don’t brew properly, and your coffee will taste like sour vegetable water. Number 30 is typically just right. The filter’s metal mesh stops it because it’s rough, but it’s still fine enough to get out all the sweetness.

The “Red Tab” Warning (Read This!)

So, if you put your grinder on #30 and it’s super fine, like powder, or you set it to #10 and it’s chunky, like rocks, chances are you’ve got the Red Tab Issue.

When you put the grinder back together after cleaning it, just make sure the red tab on the top ring burr is pointing to the 5 o’clock spot on the right. If you put it in backward, like at the 11 o’clock position, the burrs won’t align correctly, and your adjustments will be totally off.

Pro Tip: I’ve read countless Reddit threads where folks swear their burrs are dull, only to find out the ring burr was just a tiny bit crooked. Check this first!

Troubleshooting by Taste

Don’t just go by the numbers when you’re troubleshooting—they’re really just there to give you a general idea. What you taste is what truly matters in the end.

• Sour / Salty / Weak: The water ran through too quickly. The pieces are too big. Take it down a notch (Finer).
• Bitter / Dry / Astringent: The water just got stuck. The pieces are really too small. Just go with a bigger number for “Coarser.”

Trust Your Palate, Not the Number

Ultimately, every bean is different. So, when it comes down to it, trust your palate, not the number.

For a really light Ethiopian roast, you’re probably looking at a #14 grind size on a V60. But if you’re working with a darker roast blend, it’ll probably brew better at a #16.

That chart is a good starting point, definitely get in the ballpark with it. But you know, sometimes you just gotta click the hopper one notch left or right to really hit that perfect flavor.