Warning: I just compared a $20 blade grinder to a Baratza Encore for my morning brew

For years I used a basic blade grinder from a big box store, thinking it was fine. Last month I finally got a Baratza Encore burr grinder after reading about it online. The difference in my cup was huge, like going from muddy water to clear coffee. My pour-over now takes exactly 3 minutes to draw down instead of 4.5, and the taste is so much cleaner. Has anyone else made a switch like this and been shocked at how much the grinder matters more than the beans sometimes?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_tessa1mo ago

That 1.5 minute draw down difference is wild, what beans are you using now?

ross.kevin26d ago

Stick with those stubborn beans and work on your grind size and water temp instead. A four minute drawdown usually means you choked it with fines or your water is too cold to extract properly. Drop your brew temp 5 degrees and go coarser, you will probably pull a better cup than anything from that old blend.

drewsullivan1mo agoMost Upvoted

Trying to dial in these new beans from that local roaster, the one by the old hardware store. They're a medium roast but they act like a stubborn dark roast, just refusing to let water through. My grinder is set practically to dust and I'm still watching the clock tick past four minutes. Feels like I'm trying to brew mud instead of coffee. Might just go back to my usual blend before I lose my mind.