The Baratza Encore is built to last a decade or more—but only if you clean it regularly. Coffee oils go rancid, grounds accumulate in hidden spots, and burrs lose their edge faster when caked with residue. The good news: cleaning an Encore takes about 10 minutes and requires no special tools.
Here’s a complete guide to keeping your Encore performing like new, including the spots most people miss.
How Often Should You Clean Your Encore?
Baratza recommends cleaning every 4-6 weeks for daily users. However, the right frequency depends on your usage:
- Daily use (1-2 doses): Clean monthly
- Heavy use (4+ doses daily): Clean every 2 weeks
- Oily beans (dark roasts): Clean every 2 weeks
- Light roasts: Monthly cleaning is usually sufficient
Signs it’s time to clean: inconsistent grind size, clumping grounds, static buildup, or stale flavors in your coffee.
What You’ll Need
Keep it simple. You don’t need expensive cleaning products:
- Stiff brush: The one included with your Encore works well, or use a clean paintbrush or grinder brush
- Wooden skewer or chopstick: For dislodging stubborn clumps (optional)
- Dry cloth: For wiping exterior surfaces
- Vacuum with hose attachment: Makes cleanup faster (optional)
Important: Never use water on the burrs or internal components. Water causes rust and can damage the grinder permanently.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Process
Step 1: Empty and Prepare
- Unplug the grinder
- Remove any beans from the hopper
- Run the grinder briefly to clear remaining beans from the burrs
- Set the grind adjustment to the coarsest setting (40 on the Encore dial)
Setting to coarse creates maximum clearance between the burrs, making removal easier.
Step 2: Remove the Hopper
- Twist the hopper counterclockwise and lift straight up
- Set it aside—we’ll clean it at the end
- Remove the rubber gasket/collar that sits where the hopper connects
- Brush any grounds from the gasket and the exposed area
Step 3: Remove the Upper Burr
This is the key step many people skip or don’t realize is possible:
- Look inside the grinder opening—you’ll see the upper burr with a tab
- Grip the tab and pull straight up
- The upper burr assembly lifts out easily
If it feels stuck, don’t force it. Wiggle gently while pulling upward. Built-up grounds sometimes create friction.
Step 4: Clean the Burrs
With the upper burr removed, you have access to both grinding surfaces:
For the upper burr (the piece you removed):
- Brush all surfaces thoroughly, including the teeth
- Turn it over and brush the underside
- Use a skewer to clear grounds from between the teeth if needed
For the lower burr (still in the machine):
- Brush the exposed burr surface carefully
- Rotate the dial to access different areas
- Vacuum loose grounds from the chamber
Never use water on burrs. Even a quick rinse can cause rust that ruins coffee flavor and shortens burr life.
Step 5: Clean the Chute
The chute connecting the burrs to the grounds bin is a notorious buildup spot:
- Use your brush to sweep through the chute
- Insert from both ends if possible
- A pipe cleaner or the long end of a chopstick helps reach deep spots
Clogs here cause grounds to back up into the burr chamber, creating inconsistent dosing and static.
Step 6: Clean the Grounds Bin Area
- Remove the grounds bin
- Brush the chamber where the bin sits
- Wipe down the exterior with a dry cloth
- Wash the grounds bin with soap and water (it’s the only part that can get wet)
- Dry completely before reinstalling
Step 7: Clean the Hopper
Coffee oils accumulate on hopper walls over time:
- Wipe the interior with a dry paper towel to remove oils
- For heavy buildup, wipe with a cloth slightly dampened with warm water
- Dry completely—any moisture that reaches the burrs causes problems
Step 8: Reassemble
- Drop the upper burr back into place (tab facing front)
- Press down gently until it seats
- Replace the rubber gasket
- Twist the hopper back on
- Return the dial to your usual grind setting
Run a few grams of beans through to ensure everything works smoothly before making coffee.
Deep Cleaning: When to Go Further
Every 3-6 months, consider a deeper clean:
- Grindz or rice: Run a tablespoon of grinder cleaning pellets or dry instant rice through the machine to absorb oils. Follow with a brush cleaning.
- Burr inspection: Check burrs for chips, dull spots, or uneven wear
- Motor housing: Vacuum around the motor vents to prevent dust buildup that can cause overheating
Note on rice: Some people recommend against rice because it’s harder than coffee and theoretically could stress the motor. Grinder cleaning pellets are designed for the job and safer for regular use. If using rice, do so sparingly.
Troubleshooting After Cleaning
Grind is suddenly too fine or coarse: You may have bumped the internal calibration while cleaning. The upper burr needs to seat in the same position each time. Try removing and reseating it.
Unusual sounds: Make sure the upper burr is fully seated. A partially installed burr causes grinding sounds and inconsistent output.
Static worse than before: Sometimes cleaning disturbs the natural coating that reduces static. It usually improves after a few days of use.
When to Replace the Burrs
Even with perfect cleaning, burrs eventually wear out. Signs you need new burrs:
- Grind consistency has degraded despite cleaning
- You’re dialing finer than you used to for the same brew result
- Visible chips or wear on burr teeth
- Grounds are clumpier than usual
With daily use, Encore burrs typically last 5+ years before needing replacement. Baratza sells replacement burrs directly, and installation takes about 5 minutes.
The Bottom Line
Ten minutes of monthly maintenance keeps your Baratza Encore grinding consistently for years. The process becomes quick once you’ve done it a few times. Most importantly: keep water away from the burrs, and don’t skip cleaning the chute—it’s where problems start.
Your morning coffee will taste better, your grinder will last longer, and you’ll avoid the frustrating inconsistency that dirty burrs create.