While both machines are affordable, the Baratza Virtuoso is more expensive. But since the higher price tag comes with a better quality motor, fewer repairs, and better longevity, the Baratza grinder could end up saving you money in the long run .

The Breville grinder has 60 grind settings and the Baratza only offers 40 settings. While Baratza will perform great for manual or drip brewing methods, the Virtuoso grinder isn’t sufficient for making espressos. If you are using pressurised baskets on your espresso machine, like those that come with many home espresso machines, you should be able to get away with this grinder for espresso. This is because the pressurised baskets are more forgiving of incorrect grind size. Ease of use I have to give kudos to Baratza for the user interface of this grinder. Super simple and very easy to figure out. I really do think Steve Jobs would be proud: everything is accomplished through one control knob (except for the grind fineness changes). The most important reason is torque: DC motors have 100% torque even at 0 RPM starts. When coffee burrs are already filled with coffee beans (including partially chewed up beans from the previous use), having 100% torque the moment you hit the grind switch delivers better grinding performance and less wear and tear.

Our Verdict

An innovative burr calibration system ensures that each grinder has the full range of grind. If necessary, the grinders can be user calibrated. In contrast, Baratza has purposefully designed the Baratza coffee grinders (including Virtuoso+) to be maintained like a commercial-grade grinder as well as maximize their value. So, we’ve felt that our Baratza Virtuoso+ review this honesty and commitment is a key feature here. With daily cleaning, repair, maintenance, and even rebuilds their grinders can give an accurate, excellent grind for many years. Grind Settings And Coarse Consistency Most small-scale, consumer appliances are built to wear out or cease being useful in a short time. This kitchenware is expensive and difficult to repair. So consumers are expected to dump and replace which do have big environmental ramifications.

As an entry-level grinder, the Encore is designed to be incredibly user-friendly. There’s nothing to learn here – you turn the switch on the side to start the grinding process and turn it off to stop. If you need a short burst to get just that little bit extra or to grind into a portafilter, there’s a pulse button on the front. Grind size is adjusted by twisting the hopper, with the sizes from 1-40 marked. There’s no way of timing or measuring your grind, but this can be easily solved by weighing your beans before you add them. These plastics are also a bit more clear and transparent compared to the darker brown-tinted hopper and catcher on the old Virtuoso. This is especially helpful since the grinds area is now lit by LED lights. The grinds bin also has a horizontal line on it to show recommended maximum grind volume.

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The Baratza Virtuoso+ has a 180W DC direct drive motor, a gear reduction system, turning the 40mm Etzinger burrs inside at a constant 550RPM under no load. Within its 40 selectable grind settings, it can output ground coffee between 1.4g a second, and 2.3g a second (tested). The older model’s side-mounted timer switch has been replaced with a centrally-placed timer dial that also acts as a pulse-grinding switch. Above this knob sits the digital display that helps you set the timer for grinding. The digital timer can be adjusted from 1 to 40 seconds in 0.1-second increments. This gives you a level of dosing control that was previously missing from the Virtuoso. With 40 grind settings to choose from, you can easily find the right setting for your preferred brew method. Carbon dioxide is released during grinding. CO2 helps with the transfer of the oils in the bean into your drink. Grinding your beans right before brewing will preserve C02 and oils. You’ll have a cup filled with flavor and aroma if you use a grinder instead of pre-ground. Contamination Moisture can play a role and affect the flavor of the grind as well. Moisture in the air can dilute your beans. Pre-ground has increased surface area and can cause more moisture issues for your brew. CO2 Depletion

Alternatively, the most cost-effective option for you could be getting the Baratza Virtuoso refurbished, since the motor is of high quality and will last you a lot longer anyway. If you’ve ever watched a barista work, you will notice them grind the beans right before brewing. This ensures you can enjoy the characteristics and flavor of your drink. Previously ground beans can suffer from oxidation, moisture, and CO2 depletion. These effects can alter the flavor and aroma of your brew. OxidationAnother advantage of the Breville grinder is that it has a portafilter cradle that makes the grinder easy to use with espresso machines and creates less mess during dosing. Not much has changed in the Virtuoso+ body design and materials compared to the discontinued Virtuoso. It still features a lot of metal and “oomph” to make it seem like a serious appliance. The company has once again upgraded the main plastics – the bean hopper and grinds catch bin – to further reduce static issues, something that plagues a lot of grinders. The Virtuoso is a stylish and reliable product. It offers an excellent grinding ability, ease of use, and good value for the money. You will experience consistent grounds that are perfect for all styles of brew. Whether you prefer espresso, French press, manual brewing, or drip, you can make an expert cup with this grinder.

Then you twist the central knob until it displays the length of time you would like to grind for. You have the choice of 0-40 seconds, changing in 0.1 second intervals, allowing excellent precision and repeatability. Though it goes up in 1-second increments and only down in 0.1 second ones.The Virtuoso + has a physical footprint measuring 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 inches. It’s ideal for storing in your kitchen cabinet (although, why would you want to do that?). And weighing in at 8 lbs, it has a solid heft to it, which might not be great for moving it around every day. Ease Of Cleaning: This is where we start to see the key differences between the two grinders. They might have similar construction and equipment, but the Virtuoso features an M2 grinder, compared to the Encore’s M3. Let’s see how that affects things. For daily use, The Virtuoso Plus can meet your needs. We were able to produce excellent quality drinks using the different settings of the machine. There is an analog collar to set the grind size and a digital timer and display for setting time. You can’t program the machine, but it will remember your previous settings. The grinder offers a sleek and stylish appearance. A sculpted metal top surrounds the front-mounted dial and digital display, and the plastic bean hopper features a smoke-colored facade. This appliance will look amazing in any home or cafe. We found the design to be a perfect complement to our office kitchen. Build Quality (4.5/5)