BaratzaGEAR Encore Accent Kit: a Mini Review

Baratza recently introduced the BaratzaGEAR lineup of accessories for some of their grinders. These include: a Single Dose Hopper compatible with most of their grinders (read our review here); accent kits that work with the Encore lineup (and sort of with the Virtuoso grinders); and an Aeropress holder / doser that is compatible (for the most part) with the Sette series grinders.

This time around, we’re having a look at the Accent Kits from BaratzaGEAR. 

BaratzaGEAR Accent Kits

I love it when coffee equipment manufacturers pay attention to aesthetics. I firmly believe people will pay more attention, devote more care and learning, and concentrate more on the task at hand when they think the product they’re using is also well designed, well engineered, and aesthetically pleasing.

The Baratza Grinder line up for the most part has some great aesthetics — though I would recommend they consider changing the fonts they use on the Encore and Virtuoso body; perhaps get an entirely custom font designed! — but the all black Encore is pretty basic all things considered. It has the absolutely classic Baratza shape that goes way back to Solis/Baratza Maestro introduced in 2002. When Baratza introduced the White version of the Encore, it instantly became popular because, well, it wasn’t black.

So when they decided to add just a little splash of colour to the Encore Grinder with the introduction of the Accent Kits, it is a very good aesthetic move. People like to think their daily products they use are unique to them, and having a distinct colour accent on the grinder, one that isn’t “stock” enhances this perception. The end result is just that tiny bit more appreciation for the product which in turn leads to paying more attention to the product and using it properly.

Specifications and Details

The BaratzaGEAR Encore Accent Kits come in five colours:

• white
• mint green
• yellow
• pale blue
• orange

The kit consists of a on / off dial for Encore grinders, and a bottom trim piece that also works with Virtuoso and Virtuoso + grinders (and I assume, the Preciso as well). They are made from plastic and are almost identical to the Encore’s stock on/off dial.

Installation

Dead simple to install. Pull your existing grinder dial off the Encore, and slip this new one on. The trim wraps around the base of the grinder, and clicks into place. Removing the trim is a bit more difficult, but not overly so: just use a toothpick or pointy object to slot the trim out near the grinds bin and the rest just pulls away.

Black Encore vs. White Encore

All the trim kit colours look best on the Black Encore; they “pop” more and the base trim looks especially good on the black model. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the white trim, followed by the mint green. The orange has a nice effect too.

On the White Encore, the white trim is useless, the yellow didn’t look good to my eye, and the mint green got lost in the white background. The orange popped nicely, but my favourite on the white model is the pale blue trim kit. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, though.

Also note, the bottom trim also works on the Virtuoso, Virtuoso+ and the Preciso grinders, but “competes” a bit with those grinders’ shiny metal bases.

Pricing

At $6MSRP, the BaratzaGEAR accent kits for the Encore are dirt cheap. A good value for giving your grinder you own personal touch. Heck, shipping costs probably cost more than the price of the accent kits. 

In fact, the packaging is a bit big for what you’re getting, though I understand why: the bottom trim is pretty slim and I could see it easily being broken if it wasn’t adequately protected for shipping and such.

I would like to see Baratza sell all five colours in one kit; this would reduce packaging and gives you the option of having a different colour every week.

Wrap Up

An accessory that gives your home grinder your own customized look, spices up the all-black Encore, makes the end user appreciate the product just a little bit more, and costs just $6? At the very least, it’s a perfect stocking stuffer for the Baratza Encore owner in your life.

About the author

Mark has certified as a Canadian, USA, and World Barista Championship Judge in both sensory and technical fields, as well as working as an instructor in coffee and espresso training. He started CoffeeGeek in 2001.