Head-to-head · Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Baratza Encore vs Timemore Chestnut C2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Baratza Encore comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about casual home users seeking durability — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Baratza Encore

4.5

5 sources$149.95as of Oct 1

The Baratza Encore is still a dependable entry-level espresso grinder for home use, and The Coffee Chronicler credits it with consistent performance and durability. It is beginner-friendly, though espresso evangelists need not apply. Pour over and coarse grinds are where it does its best work; serious espresso is not, since the motor and the absence of fine-tune adjustment hold it back. With 40 grind settings and an improved gearbox, it suits casual coffee drinkers who don't need professional-level precision. Anyone chasing espresso excellence should look elsewhere.

Strengths

— Delivers consistent grind quality better than blade or basic disk burr grinders, according to Coffee Chronicler
— Suitable for pour over, French press, AeroPress, and stovetop espresso maker, per Coffee Chronicler
— Includes 40 adjustable grind settings for customization

Watch-outs

— Not suitable for high-pressure espresso brewing or fine grinds
— Some static causes grounds to stick inside the bin, as CoffeeXplore also notes
— Motor not designed for frequent espresso use which may cause long-term issues

$149.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Timemore Chestnut C2

4.4

3 sources$79as of Jun 7

A hand grinder with 38mm stainless conical burrs in an aluminium body, aimed squarely at filter coffee. Coffee Chronicler scored it 4.8 out of 5 on these grounds: the grind is even enough for pour-over and press, and the mechanism turns far more easily than the price suggests. Home Coffee Expert put it at 7.5 out of 10, with the caveat every review reaches, that it is not suited to espresso.

Strengths

— Sleek, well-made metal construction with precise machining and a grinding mechanism Home Coffee Expert calls very smooth
— Portable and compact design, 7.6 inches tall, fits in travel bag
— Stainless steel adjustable burrs allow for consistent grind size adjustments

Watch-outs

— Small capacity requires multiple grinding cycles for full pot of coffee
— Not suitable for espresso: the narrow fine range makes shots hard to dial in, even though it can technically grind fine enough
— Some internal plastic parts may raise durability concerns for some users, as Coffee Chronicler acknowledges

$79 · Buy at walmart.com Full review →

How they stack up

Baratza Encore

The Baratza Encore stands out for its durability and 40 adjustable settings, making it more versatile than the Capresso Infinity's 16 settings, but it falls short of the Fellow Opus in espresso precision and the 1Zpresso J-Max in fine-tune control. Unlike the Baratza Virtuoso Plus, it lacks the advanced digital features and premium build quality, though it's more affordable and suitable for casual home use.

Timemore Chestnut C2

The Timemore Chestnut C2 offers excellent value and portability, outperforming the Cuisinart Supreme Grind in consistency and build quality, but it's less precise than the 1Zpresso J-Max and lacks the fine-tune settings of the Baratza Virtuoso Plus. It's more affordable than the Fellow Opus but not as versatile for espresso.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Baratza Encore	Timemore Chestnut C2
Burr Type	Conical steel burrs	Conical Steel
Grind Settings	40	Adjustable stainless steel burrs
Burr Size	40mm	38mm
Material	Plastic with 15% glass-filled thermoplastic gears	Metal body with plastic parts
Capacity	—	20 grams

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