Baratza Encore Dead/Dying?

Flat_Eric

My Baratza Encore must be getting on for 5 years old and has been used daily for French press, and more recently for Aeropress. Over the last couple of weeks the grind seems to have been slightly noisier than usual even after cleaning. This morning the noise was awful, and once the beans had ground it sounded like the burrs were in contact. Taking off the hopper and the top burr I can see what looks like a worn area where the bottom burr may have made contact. I also tried to remove the bottom conical burr and immediately found that there is lift, or end play in the shaft. I’m guessing that there should be no lift at all. I reassembled the unit and found that any grind setting less than 10 results in the grinder sounding like trying to eat itself. I made a quick vid, sorry for the poor quality. Is this grinder dead? Is this a sign that I should be looking out for my next big purchase?

DavecUK

Flat_Eric I think you have done really well to get 5 years out of it without it breaking down….might well the the excuse you need to buy a new grinder. Might be worth searching out the classifieds.

Sham

That movement doesn’t look good… I’m not really familiar with how conical burrs are assembled so can’t give much feedback. Something must be loose somewhere.

Flat_Eric

DavecUK .might well the the excuse you need to buy a new grinder

Only one day into using the Specialita for Aeropress and espresso, I’m already sick of readjusting the grind settings with that fiddly little knob with poor indexing. I need a grinder with a big easy to use grind setting ring that with easily switch between settings, single dosing because I can use the Specialita for on demand and conical burrs as a change from the Eurekas flat burrs!

Sham

Flat_Eric You should email Baratza about your problem with the video, they might help you out (they have pretty good customer service) but as its 5 years old not fully sure.

Baldrick

Flat_Eric switching brew methods is definitely not its strong point 😅. Mine doesn’t move from the espresso range. Ever.
If I want an aeropress the hand grinder comes out.
Sorry to hear about your fallen grinder Eric. Sounds like she had a good run.

Flat_Eric

Sham You should email Baratza about your problem

I’m not too fussed really, as Dave says, I’ve had a great run for it to last 5 years. It has been a good cheap grinder capable of course grinds but it has always been noisy. Five years ago I used to live in a busy household; when I got up in the morning and made coffee everyone was awake because of the noise of the Baratza! 🤣

Baldrick switching brew methods is definitely not its strong point

No, I agree! my first espresso after setting the Eureka back to it’s original setting resulted in a terrible shot. 😲 But I love the fact that the Specialita is so quiet.

Baldrick Just out of interest, where is your Eureka set on the dial for espresso? Mine generally hovers around the 1 mark on the dial. I can turn the dial another 2 marks finer before the burrs begin to touch at 5.

Flat_Eric

Well, I’ve gone and done it; Niche Zero in black ordered for delivery in April! 😁

Flat_Eric

Flat_Eric Well, I’ve gone and done it; Niche Zero in black ordered for delivery in April! 😁

I was very surprised to receive an email from Niche this morning informing me that my grinder is with DPD and on it’s way!

Baldrick

Flat_Eric yep mines the same. 1 is the middle of my espresso range - so far I’ve not ground courser than 2 or much finer than 0.

Flat_Eric

Niche Zero delivered at 08:30 this morning! A few minutes later I got an email from DPD telling me it would be delivered within the next hour 😁.