A general-purpose hopper-fed grinder against a single-dose flat burr grinder built around minimizing retention. These solve genuinely different problems, not just different price points.
| Spec | Baratza Encore | DF64 |
|---|---|---|
| Burrs | 40mm conical | 64mm flat |
| Adjustment | Stepped, 40 settings | Stepless |
| Grind range | 250 to 1200 microns, espresso through French press | Espresso through filter, narrower and more espresso-focused |
| Dosing | Hopper-fed, pulse button and on/off toggle | Single-dose hopper |
| Retention | Described by the manufacturer as minimized, no specific figure documented | Commonly cited under half a gram |
| Motor | DC motor, designed for quiet operation | Higher RPM, faster grind speed |
| Intended use | General purpose across brew methods | Single-dose espresso and filter, more specialized |
| Typical price | More affordable | Notably higher |
The regular Encore. Most published comparisons of the DF64 online actually pair it against the newer Encore ESP, which has a different burr set tuned for espresso. This page uses specs specific to the original Encore where they could be confirmed.
The DF64, meaningfully so. Its single-dose design is built specifically to minimize leftover grounds, with figures commonly cited under half a gram. The Encore's hopper-fed design is described by its manufacturer as minimizing retention, but without the same specific figures the DF64 is documented with.
It can reach the finer end of its range, but it's built as a general-purpose grinder covering espresso through French press, not an espresso-first design. The DF64 is built specifically around single-dose espresso and filter use with a narrower, more specialized focus.
Yes, which allows for finer, more continuous control over grind size. The Encore uses a stepped system with 40 fixed settings instead, which is simpler to use but offers less granular control between steps.
