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

Baratza Encore vs Timemore Chestnut C3

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 Aug 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
— Suitable for pour over, French press, AeroPress, and stovetop espresso maker
— 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
— Motor not designed for frequent espresso use which may cause long-term issues

$149.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Timemore Chestnut C3

4.4

6 sources$99as of Aug 1

The Timemore Chestnut C3 is an incremental update to the popular C2, bringing new S2C burr technology and a steel dial indicator. Reviewers found the new burrs slower than the previous model, dropping grinding speed from 0.8-1g/sec to around 0.5g/sec. The design carries over almost unchanged, with an aluminum body and stainless steel components, though the plastic internals have raised concerns among some users. For filter coffee the C3S variant is the recommendation, while the C3 ESP offers more precise adjustments for espresso. Drawbacks aside, it stays a budget-friendly entry into manual grinding.

Strengths

— Features new S2C burr technology that Timemore claims improves grind consistency
— Includes a steel dial indicator instead of plastic on the newer model
— Lightweight design at just 423g, making it easy to handle during use

Watch-outs

— New S2C burrs are slower than the previous C2 burrs, grinding at ~0.5g/sec vs 0.8-1g/sec
— Still uses plastic stabilizers internally which some users may find concerning
— Grinder speed and performance are described as a step back compared to the C2

$99 · Check Price on Amazon 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 C3

The Timemore Chestnut C3 improves on the C2 with a steel dial indicator and S2C burrs, but it's slower and still uses plastic components, unlike the 1Zpresso J-Max's titanium-coated burrs. It's less precise than the Baratza Virtuoso Plus and not as versatile as the Fellow Opus, but it remains a budget-friendly option for basic manual grinding.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Baratza Encore	Timemore Chestnut C3
Burr Type	Conical steel burrs	Conical Steel Burrs (S2C 660)
Grind Settings	40	12 clicks (C3S), 30 clicks (C3 ESP)
Burr Size	40mm	38mm
Material	Plastic with 15% glass-filled thermoplastic gears	Aluminum body with stainless steel burrs
Capacity	—	25g

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