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Coffee aficionados know that a good grinder is as important as good coffee beans. It can make or break your coffee experience. Two popular coffee grinders in the market are Baratza Encore and Baratza Virtuoso. Both come from the same brand, but they have some differences that set them apart. Fellow Opus is new one in the market just announced in February 2023. In this article, we will compare Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore vs Virtuoso coffee grinder, and help you decide which one is best suited for your needs.
First we will look at the similarities between Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore vs Virtuoso plus coffee grinders.
Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore vs Virtuoso Plus – Similarities
Looking at the similarities between these three Coffee Grinders.
Quick Glance
Build Quality
All Three grinders have high-quality components, making them sturdy and durable. The body of both grinders is made of high-quality plastic, and the grinding chamber is made of stainless steel.
Conical Burrs
Baratza Encore and Virtuoso use 40mm conical burrs made of hardened steel, which are efficient in grinding coffee beans. The conical burrs produce less heat, which preserves the flavor of the coffee beans.
Grind Settings
All of these grinders have 40 grind settings that can grind coffee beans for a range of brewing methods. From coarse grind for French press to fine grind for espresso, both grinders can deliver a consistent grind for your preferred brewing method.
Motor
Fellow Opus , Baratza Encore and Virtuoso coffee grinders have a powerful motor that can grind beans quickly and efficiently. The motor of both grinders is DC, which is quieter and more efficient than AC motors.
Differences : Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore vs Virtuoso : which one you should buy ?
In this section, we will discuss the difference between the Fellow Opus ( 2023 ) , Baratza Encore ( 2019 ) and Viruoso ( 2022 )
Design and Look
So, let’s take a look at How these Coffee makers will look in your kitchen.
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso has a sleek, professional-looking design that is available in two colors: brushed stainless steel and black. It features a metal and plastic construction that is more durable than the Encore’s plastic housing. The Virtuoso measures 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 8 pounds. Its more substantial weight is due to its higher-end construction and heavier materials.
Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore has a simple, clean design with a compact footprint that makes it easy to fit on a kitchen counter. It features a plastic base and housing that are available in two colors: black and white. The Encore measures 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 7 pounds.
Fellow Opus
Probably most beautiful and sleek looking coffee grinder in this comparison. it’s meant to be a single-dose machine . Which allows you to grind up to 110 grams of beans at a time. This end up saving plenty of space since the Opus is considerably shorter than a lot of the competition. Fellow Opus measures 8.27 inches x 5.08 inches x 10.55 inches (WxDxH) and weights 4 lb / 1.81 kg. Half the weight compared to Baratza Virtuoso and Encore.
Look itself is pretty defined and looks premium. Personally for home usage it’s better to have something which matches with your kitchen and not look like you are running a coffee shop at home. Fellow Opus design match that expectation compared to Baratza Virtuoso and Encore.
The winner : Fellow Opus
Grinding Speed
So, let’s take a look at How fast these coffee grinder finishes the job.
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso has a slightly faster grinding speed than the Encore. The Baratza Virtuoso has a slightly faster grinding speed than the Encore, ranging from 1.5 to 2.4g per second. This is due to its more powerful motor and upgraded 40mm hardened steel conical burrs. It also features 40 grind settings that allow for more precise adjustments in grind size. The Virtuoso is known for its consistent grind quality, durability, and faster grinding speed compared to the Encore.
Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore has a grinding speed of 0.8 to 1.1g per second, making it suitable for home use. It features 40mm stainless steel conical burrs and 40 grind settings that can be easily adjusted using a simple dial on the front of the machine. The Encore is known for its user-friendly interface, easy maintenance, and affordability.
Fellow Opus
Fellow Opus comes with 41 grind settings ( 1 higher than Virtuoso and Encore ) and 40mm Conical buss. Powerful motors allows it to provide 250 RPMs. Which will provide slower grinding speed compare to other twos.
The winner : Baratza Virtuoso
Burr Material
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso uses upgraded 40mm hardened steel conical burrs that are more durable than the Encore’s burrs. The burrs are designed to produce a more consistent and uniform grind, thanks to their hardness and precision. The Virtuoso is known for its consistent grind quality, durability, and faster grinding speed compared to the Encore.
Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore uses 40mm stainless steel conical burrs that are durable and long-lasting. The burrs are designed to produce a consistent grind suitable for a range of brewing methods, from drip coffee to French press. The Encore is known for its user-friendly interface, easy maintenance, and affordability.
Fellow Opus
Fellow Opus is designed for grinding electric coffee makers, French press, Aero Press , and cold brew. it also doesn’t miss espresso, pour-over. it comes with 6-blade 40 mm conical burrs which is high quality and durable. it provides 6 Nm of torque. 6 Nm of torque is a good amount of twisting force for a coffee grinder and should be sufficient for most home grinding needs. which is highest compared to Virtuoso ( 1.8 nm ) and Encore ( 0.8 nm ) .
The winner : Fellow Opus
Build Quality
So, let’s take a look at How their build quality compared.
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso has a more durable build quality than the Encore, featuring a heavier and sturdier base and housing made of metal and plastic. It is designed to be long-lasting and easy to maintain, with easily accessible parts and a user-friendly interface. The Virtuoso is known for its consistent grind quality, durability, and faster grinding speed compared to the Encore.
Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore has a sturdy build quality, featuring a plastic base and housing that are durable and long-lasting. It is designed to be easy to clean and maintain, with easily accessible parts and a user-friendly interface. The Encore is known for its affordability and user-friendly design.
Fellow Opus
Fellow Opus has steady build quality and feels premium. it is combined with metal and high quality plastic made. it will last longer be rest assured. It is quite , keeps your table clean due to magnetic cups. which doesn’t allow enough room for coffee grounded coffee to fly away or escape. Fellow is well known for high quality coffee grinder and this is not difference.
The winner : Baratza Virtuoso/Fellow Opus
Price
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso is a higher-end coffee grinder designed for coffee enthusiasts who demand precision and consistency in their coffee brewing. As a result, it comes with a higher price point than the Encore ( around 250-280 USD ) . However, it offers more features, such as upgraded burrs, faster grinding speed, and better build quality, making it a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts who value quality and performance.
Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore is an entry-level coffee grinder with an affordable price point ( around 189 USD ), making it a popular choice for home coffee enthusiasts. It offers excellent value for its price, with 40 grind settings, user-friendly interface, and consistent grind quality.
Fellow Opus
This guy falls in middle when it comes to price point. it is priced at around 200 USD. which is higher than Encore but lower than Baratza Virtuoso+ models.
The winner : Baratza Encore