Encore vs Zero
Coffee · 2,739 owner opinions across both productsBuy either.
Reddit rates both Buy If. The split is what you want: the Encore — buy it if you value repairability and long-term value and don't mind occasional part replacements. The Zero — buy it if you want a grinder that stays reliable and fits naturally into a daily espresso routine. Today's gap is $399: $200 for the Encore against $599 for the Zero.
Built from 2,739 owner opinions across both products · 356 long-term reports · how we decide
What owners say
67% would buy againof 1,651 owners
First 6 months 45% → long-term 79%+34of 238 long-term owners
72% would buy againof 1,088 owners
First 6 months 90% → long-term 91%+1of 118 long-term owners
The Encore's record runs 1,651 owners against 1,088 for the Zero — weigh the thinner side accordingly.
What you’ll regret
The burr holder
~1 in 4 long-term reports mention a failure, most commonly the plastic burr holder, typically appearing between 3 and 25 months of use. Warranty outcomes lean resolved — about 57% of warranty cases were made right — though 41% landed outside coverage. At 18% serious-failure reports versus a category baseline of 14%, the Encore fails slightly more than most coffee grinders we track.
Typically reported months 3–24 · 238 long-term owners
The motor
~1 in 39 long-term reports mention a failure — the lowest failure rate of the 6 coffee grinders we track, and well below the category baseline of 14%. Motor is the most noted component (4 reports). Warranty outcomes are evenly split between resolved and unresolved, so coverage isn't a guarantee.
118 long-term owners
These are the share of long-term owner reports that mention a failure, not the share of units that fail — owners with working units mostly don’t post.
Price and value
$599typically $629
Gap today: $399 — Encore is the cheaper buy.
Price links carry an affiliate tag. It never changes the verdict.
repairability and value — parts are cheap and the community knows every fix.
workflow refinement and long-term reliability matter more to you than upfront cost.
Questions people ask about this matchup
Which is better, the Encore or the Zero?
Reddit rates both Buy If. The split is what you want: the Encore — buy it if you value repairability and long-term value and don't mind occasional part replacements. The Zero — buy it if you want a grinder that stays reliable and fits naturally into a daily espresso routine.
Which is more reliable, the Encore or the Zero?
The Zero, by the numbers: 1% of its long-term reports mention a serious failure against 18% for the Encore. What separates them is what fails — burr holder on the Encore, motor on the Zero.
Is the Zero worth $399 more than the Encore?
At $599 against $200 today, the Zero costs 200% more and carries the same verdict tier.
Encore full verdict →Zero full verdict →All Coffee verdicts →