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Coffee Grinder
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this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2026
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Erm, going from "The two grinders share a particular component" (even if it's the motor) to "same internals" is quite a stretch of logic. Though I guess you could go further and reach from "they use the same power cord" to "they are the same grinder". Try to do better. E.g.: check the gear train. I've never looked at a Forte closely but the plastic gears in the Encore are unimpressive. Also the burr holder and shaft, etc. Basically all the mechanical stuff. Or just lift them. Per web search, Encore=7 lbs, Forte=13 lbs, might indicate something.
Well you've had to fix a dozen Encores. How many broken Fortes have you fixed?
That said, I'm personally not that interested in the Forte. Someone recommended it when I saw a used Vario advertised cheap, but I didn't pursue either.
I've never fixed a broken Encore or Forte, I thought you were going to teach me what goes wrong on them.
So it's the gears that break?
I know you said you have never even looked at the Forte, so how do you know they can be recommend as a BIFL grinder?
I thought you said you had refurbished a dozen Encores. Why did they need refurbishing if they weren't broken? As mentioned, I've broken two. On the second one, the plastic burr collar broke and Baratza told me it was a common failure. It would surprise me if that happens with the Forte, at least for light duty home users like me. I don't remember what went wrong with the first one. I emailed Baratza and they sent me a replacement Encore under warranty. Their warranty service is definitely good.
Most of what I know about the Forte comes from IRC and forums. I've seen them in use but have never disassembled one or anything like that.
There is one for sale near me for $300 if you want one. I'm very slightly tempted but nah:
https://www.home-barista.com/buysell/baratza-forte-grinder-w-bg-burrs-san-francisco-t102725.html
Is OP still around? I haven't used my Encore in a while, so if you want to buy it, PM me. I'd call it an ok entry level grinder. I wouldn't call it BIFL.
It occurs to me, there are some manual grinders in the $100 range that are possibly BIFL. Some people like 1zpresso though I haven't tried one myself. Manual grinding is too tedious for me in the morning when I haven't had any coffee yet. That's another reason to not do home espresso as well.
Used coffee grinders get oily / have grinds inside that need cleaning. About half of them had a missing hopper, lid, knob, canister etc.
I have had a dozen+ BARATZAS, but only about 5 or so Encores.
Out of all of the machines I've had, I had one that had a failing motor, and one had a failed timer switch from someone forcing it to far. However I've replaced multiple timer switches because on 20 - 30 year old machines the new knobs don't fit without changing the timer also (different shaft shape, same timer). It's super cool that you can install the updated parts with no issues.
Once I had a machine where the wire had been knocked off the momentary micro switch.
A lot of the machines I've had have been heavily used... Like in a university break room or a corporate coffee area. Like probably equivalent to 5-10X what a home used would do.
Back around 2005-2010 I also owned one for my own use.
Isn't that a $5 semi-external part that you can change without tools and without opening the machine? Like just twist off the hopper by hand and it's accessible?
If you were simply cleaning grungy machines I wouldn't call that a refurb.
The Encore burr collar was a cheap enough part though the added shipping cost was annoying. I ordered a replacement and put it in, and I didn't have to deeply disassemble the grinder. IDR for sure whether I needed tools but I think I did. But, 2 failures in 2 years = unreliable devices, and neither was heavily used. I don't see how to call a kitchen appliance BIFL if it needs repairs annually.
BIFL is difficult for anything with model specific parts. I'm unable to get a replacement oven rack for my Whirlpool combo oven made in the 1990s. Just a wire rack, nothing high tech, but specific dimensions that don't seem to exist as standard. Similar situation with my Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner from 2003 or so.
Anyway, we're going around in circles so I'm going to stop.