Main trade-off
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
The 50 g hopper limits larger pots and the fixed cutoff does not measure the dose.
Head-to-head
OXO Compact vs Baratza Encore: Encore holds larger batches, Compact’s cutoff does not weigh the dose
The short answer
Choose OXO Compact for small measured doses and its narrow body. Choose Encore if larger filter batches or a stocked hopper are regular needs. Encore holds 300 g, but it still uses manual controls. The Compact’s automatic cutoff is a 40-second timer, not a scale.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Occasional guests can create the first real capacity problem
A two-mug 500 ml recipe at 60 g/L takes 30 g and fits the Compact. A one-liter breakfast pot takes 60 g, exceeding its hopper by 10 g. If guests are rare, reloading may be an acceptable compromise for the smaller everyday appliance. If the larger pot is routine, Encore removes that loading constraint. The comparison concerns beans per load, not how much coffee can safely collect in the grounds bin.
What this is based on
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: 50 g hopper. Example recipes require 30 g for 500 ml and 60 g for one liter. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder: 300 g hopper, enough to load a 60 g recipe without approaching its limit.
Main trade-off
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
Manual controls leave stopping the grinder to you.
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Choose it for
- Your normal brew uses no more than 50 g of beans.
- A small-dose routine makes its 3.75-inch-wide body useful.
- Main trade-off
- The 50 g hopper limits larger pots and the fixed cutoff does not measure the dose.
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Choose it for
- Larger brews or guests regularly push the dose above 50 g.
- A 300 g hopper avoids the Compact’s small loading limit.
- Main trade-off
- Manual controls leave stopping the grinder to you.
About this comparison
Compare OXO Compact and Baratza Encore for a small daily filter brew, weekend guests, manual stopping and the limits of a 50 g hopper.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Daily small brew in a crowded kitchen
The Compact combines a small body with enough capacity for a 30 g example dose.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Good
A one-liter pot most mornings
Encore avoids reloading the 60 g recipe.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Caution
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
You want an automatic end to a run
The OXO cutoff is timed, not dose sensing.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
You arrived after reading an Encore ESP recommendation
This page compares the original Encore, so ESP-specific features do not carry over.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Caution
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Occasional guests can create the first real capacity problem
A two-mug 500 ml recipe at 60 g/L takes 30 g and fits the Compact. A one-liter breakfast pot takes 60 g, exceeding its hopper by 10 g. If guests are rare, reloading may be an acceptable compromise for the smaller everyday appliance. If the larger pot is routine, Encore removes that loading constraint. The comparison concerns beans per load, not how much coffee can safely collect in the grounds bin.
How we reached this conclusion
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: 50 g hopper. Example recipes require 30 g for 500 ml and 60 g for one liter. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder: 300 g hopper, enough to load a 60 g recipe without approaching its limit.
Interrupted mornings favor a cutoff, with a dose check still needed
If breakfast includes answering a child or moving between tasks, the Compact will stop after 40 seconds if you have not already stopped it. Encore’s side switch keeps manual stopping in the workflow. That makes the OXO cutoff a convenience, not permission to leave the appliance unattended. It also does not prove that every dose and grind setting finishes within 40 seconds. Weigh the beans and check the grounds rather than treating elapsed time as grams.
How we reached this conclusion
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: Fixed 40-second shutoff or manual button stop. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder: Manual front pulse button and side on/off switch.
An Encore ESP review does not apply to the original Encore
The product here is the original Encore with 40 settings and manual controls. It is distinct from Encore ESP and ESP Pro. If you are buying for an espresso machine, do not import an ESP model’s adjustment or dosing-cup claims into this comparison. The OXO’s fine-range marketing also does not establish precise control for every unpressurized basket. Exact model names matter more than the shared brand family.
How we reached this conclusion
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: Compact 8720800 with 29 settings. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder: Original Encore with 40 settings, distinct from Encore ESP and ESP Pro.
Choice A
OXO, 8720800
Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
A small electric grinder for measured filter-coffee doses. Its 50-gram bean limit is enough for two ordinary mugs, but a full liter at a 60 g/L recipe needs a reload.
- Best matched use
- Your normal brew uses no more than 50 g of beans.
Checked facts
- Hopper: 50 g
- Stopping: Button or 40-second cutoff
- Grind selection: 29 settings including intermediate positions
- Design focus: Compact 3.75 × 3.75 in body base
Choice B
Baratza, ZCG485BLK
Encore Conical Burr Grinder
A straightforward filter grinder with a broad hopper, clear numbered dial and a serviceable design that has earned a long life on home counters.
- Best matched use
- Larger brews or guests regularly push the dose above 50 g.
Checked facts
- Hopper: 300 g
- Stopping: Pulse button and on/off switch
- Grind selection: 40 settings
- Design focus: Traditional larger hopper
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder | Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopper | 50 g | 300 g | Encore has six times the hopper capacity, without implying six times the brew output in its bin. |
| Stopping | Button or 40-second cutoff | Pulse button and on/off switch | The Compact stops on elapsed time. Encore relies on the user. |
| Grind selection | 29 settings including intermediate positions | 40 settings | Setting count is not a direct measure of grind quality or espresso suitability. |
| Design focus | Compact 3.75 × 3.75 in body base | Traditional larger hopper | Choose around daily loading and available space rather than a setting-count contest. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- The 40-second stop is a timer, not a weight target or documented empty-bean sensor.
If you choose Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Dosing is manual, with no timer or portafilter holder.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
Your normal brew uses no more than 50 g of beans.
Choose OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder. A small-dose routine makes its 3.75-inch-wide body useful.
Larger brews or guests regularly push the dose above 50 g.
Choose Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder. A 300 g hopper avoids the Compact’s small loading limit.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current premium coffee grinders comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder |
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| Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
Your normal brew uses no more than 50 g of beans.
See price & reviews on AmazonBaratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
Larger brews or guests regularly push the dose above 50 g.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.