Virtuoso+

Just get a Baratza Virtuoso Plus. It wasn’t released generally until AFTER Epstein died.

If $500 is your budget, then Ode 2. I have the baratza virtuoso+ and it gets the job done just fine, got it for $200. Prefer the look of the Ode 2 I’ll admit.

When my encore got to be over twelve years old, I sent it to baratza and had it rebuilt…new motor, circuit board etc. I also had them upgrade the burr to the m2 burr. This is the burr used in the virtuoso +. While I was waiting, I got a virtuoso +, because I can’t wait that long for a cup of coffee😄

Don’t get the Baratza. Please don’t. I started my pour over journey with Baratza Virtuoso+, which is a step up from the Encore. I saw all these amazing reviews and thought I had gotten an incredible grinder. But it is trash for light roast pour over. I haven’t used this so take my advice with a grai

Curious of your definition of high retention. Have this, clean it weekly and don't have this issue. But I only use for espresso and the single dose hopper. Couple pumps at the end usually pushes the residual out. Its a much better grinder (for me) than my DF54 and Baratza Virtuoso+.

Because it's absolute crap. It might break apart beans, but the "burrs" in it bash the beans apart and don't cut them. I owned this same grinder at one point a LONG time ago, and I can tell you it does an absolute miserable job of grinding coffee. No one wants to believe how much of a difference the

I have a Baratza Virtuoso + that has been stuck in the cabinet for the last 3 years after I bought my K6. The improvement is substantial - to the point where I do not use the Virtuoso at all any longer - I will grind 75G of beans in the K6 for a batch brew, because it's simply better. The Virtuoso h

To answer your questions: WDT never hurts and often helps. The cheap ones are fine. No need for spinning gears. A metal screen or paper filter on top will keep the machine cleaner. At your current level of expertise, you don't need to bother with paper on the bottom. The stock single wall baskets fr

The Virtuoso+ will probably be the only grinder to last as long as your MM. They are ugly and built like tanks, but you can basically rebuild the entire machine, ship of Theseus style, using parts from the Baratza site. The Ode2 is pretty though…

For brewed coffee you won't do better than the Baratza Virtuoso+. It's cheaper and superior than most brew grinders. Actually, you could upgrade the Encore to the M2 burrs and turn it into an almost-virtuoso.