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

Baratza Encore vs Hario Skerton Pro

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Baratza Encore comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.1). The gap is mostly about casual home users seeking durability — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Baratza Encore

4.3

$150

The Baratza Encore remains a solid entry-level espresso grinder for home users, praised by The Coffee Chronicler for its consistent performance and durability. Tom's Guide calls it beginner-friendly yet notes evangelists need not apply. While it excels in pour over and coarse grind applications, it's not recommended for serious espresso work due to its motor limitations and lack of fine-tune adjustment. The grinder's 40 grind settings and improved gearbox make it a reliable choice for casual coffee enthusiasts who don't require professional-level precision. Those seeking 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

$150 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #8 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Hario Skerton Pro

4.1

$60

The Hario Skerton Pro represents a refined iteration of the iconic hand grinder, addressing many usability issues of its predecessors. Reviewers noted significant improvements in grind adjustment ease and build quality, particularly with the new clickable dial system and upgraded metal crank. However, the grinder still lacks consistency on coarse settings and remains relatively slow. While it's a solid entry-level option for those seeking a reliable manual grinder, it's outperformed by more modern alternatives like the Timemore C2 in the same price range. This product is best suited for casual coffee enthusiasts who value portability and simplicity over precision grinding.

Strengths

— Improved grind adjustment system with clickable dial underneath burrs for easier coarse-fine setting changes
— Premium feel with solid construction, including upgraded metal crank handle that locks securely with hex key
— Snug-fitting clear plastic lid replaces the previous silicone lid that was hard to secure

Watch-outs

— Still suffers from inconsistency when grinding on coarse settings, a problem present in previous versions
— Grinding speed is relatively slow, taking about 1 minute 22 seconds for 26.5g of coffee at medium-fine setting
— No tactile feedback during grind adjustment makes it difficult to dial in precise settings without trial and error

$60 · 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.

Hario Skerton Pro

The Hario Skerton Pro offers improved usability over previous models with a clickable dial and metal handle, but it's slower and less consistent than the Timemore Chestnut C2 and lacks the precision of the 1Zpresso J-Max. It's more affordable than the Fellow Opus but not as versatile for espresso, making it best for those who value simplicity over performance.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Baratza Encore	Hario Skerton Pro
Burr Type	Conical steel burrs	Conical ceramic
Burr Size	40mm	—
Grind Settings	40	Click dial underneath burrs
Material	Plastic with 15% glass-filled thermoplastic gears	Plastic, glass, metal
Motor	550 RPM	—

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