Baratza Forte AP (All-Purpose) Ceramic Flat Burr Commercial Coffee Grinder

I didn't think a grinder could make such a difference. I upgraded from the Encore. It made such a difference.

This grinder is a solid 5 star unit. I know there's word about static in reviews, but I see no issues at all. I do grind only my own fresh roasted beans, thus likely have slightly higher moisture content. The resolution of the step adjustments is perfect. A few clicks north or south of the fine adjustment gets me dialed right in. It's quiet (within reason) and fairly quick. The scale lands me perfectly measured doses every time - it's great having two variables under complete control (dose and grind management). Two thumbs up on this unit. Update - I had one of those 'user induced' issues with my Forte - now almost 2 years after purchase. After contacting customer service via e-mail, not only did they take great care of me, they got me up and running in no time. A few days later, I got my parts needed, and started grinding espresso once again. Great service! I use it for 100% fresh roasted beans, only for espresso grind. It's used at least 5 days a week on the weight function. Since I grind by weight, I simply set the grams for a tad over my porta-filter's needs. Pour from the buck into my porta-filter (over a sink), and sweep off the small amount of excess w/ my finger. Minimum waste and easy. If I need to adjust the grind (as my beans age, or change batches), it's a simply click (while grinding), and the next pour is accurately adjusted. I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome of my grinder..

Unit is dead 3 months after the short 1 year warranty expired. Continuously operates as soon as it is plugged in, controls do not work. Almost like it was programmed to die. Lost 1/4 lb of beans as it ground through whole hopper before I unplugged it to stop. Cleaned and removed burrs and still the same. Problem seems to be electronic or sensor related, if I move the grinds catch cup in and out I can sometimes get it to stop. Spend your money on a higher quality company. My gaggia lasted 12 years. 1 year is just unacceptable.

The Forte AP is well built, fast, quiet, and as long as you have the burrs calibrated in the neighborhood of your grinding application, it is very consistent. I brew from espresso to Filtron and everything in between. Rather than calibrating this for the coarse side, and messing up the espresso end, I just leave this set up for drip/pour over/espresso, and I use the Virtuoso+ for Filtron and grinding for bagging. The conical burr set is good, although it does popcorn. The flat burrs of the Forte AP are very good, but if you are grinding for 20-28 cup airpots as I do, grinding 110-120 grams at one sitting will gum up the chute, and it's kind of a pain to clean out. I just hit 60 grams, dump and hit 60 again to work around this. Make sure to clean the oils out of the hopper bottom and burr chamber if you are brewing darker roasts.

This is a great machine if you like your coffee ground fine. If you prefer your pour-over not to look like mud that sits and pools on even the most coarse settings (after adjusting so coarse that the set screw almost falls out) you won't love this grinder. At the most coarse settings, we get finely ground coffee (too fine for our liking). At the most fine setting, we get such a fine powder that it will barely come out the discharge port. We use light roast whole beans. Calibrated per instructions, contacted support, got another grinder ... it's just the way it is. Love the apparent quality and weight of the machine. Love the light that illuminates the ground coffee.

I upgraded to the Forte from Baraza' Vario. With the Forte, every shot pours at the exact same pressure. (Machine: Expobar Brewtus 4.) The shots are much more consistent than they were with the Vario. My only complaint - beans remain on a flat ring around the perimeter of the base of the hopper. I dose by weight (18 grams of beans / shot.) So the only way to ensure all the beans gring is to brush them off the ring at the bottom of the hopper during grinding. After I come up with fix for that, it will be my last grinder. 04.06.15 Edited to change to 5 starts. Baratza's tech support is top-notch! I emailed them about the "beans stay in the hopper" issue, and they replied with a link to a regular style (non-shutoff) hopper: https://www.baratza.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6011

Llego a tiempo y en perfectas condiciones.

Fantastic. Easily switches modes, from espresso to drip, easy enough to change small adjustments for espresso with different beans. Has a portafilter basket cradle that doesn’t seem perfectly balanced (I have to hold the basket handle, on a prior grinder that died the handle cradle was secure), but otherwise the flexibility to measure by ground weight, time, or manual is a huge convenience.

If you can afford to spend the extra cash on a grinder they don't come much better than this one. Had consistent results since I bought over a year ago, paired with my sage dual boiler I get a lovely coffee every time.

Such a great grinder but at a price. A little heavy by stable. They give two extra burrs. The weighing basket seems quite accurate. I don’t use the portafilter holder that much. A little loud maybe but I guess that’s not a reason to complain. I usually use the grind by weight and the coffee basket.

Massives Edelstahlgehäuse, hochwertig und präzise verarbeitet. Tadellose und vor allem jederzeit reproduzierbare Mahlergebnisse, die eigentlich auch extrem anspruchsvolle Espresso- und Kaffeeliebhaber zufriedenstellen müssten. Bei sorgfältigem Mahlen in den Behälter und auch direkt in den Siebträger wird praktisch so gut wie kein Kaffeemehl in der Gegend verstreut. Ausserdem ist die Mühe einfach und schnell zu reinigen - aussen wie innen. Da die Baratza Forté-AP von Hause aus für die gewerbliche, professionelle Nutzung gedacht ist, müsste sie bei der Nutzung im Heimbereich und pfleglicher Behandlung eigentlich Jahrzehnte klaglos ihren Dienst verrichten. Und bei dem doch recht stolzen Preis sowieso;-)

dachte erst, dass ich die Zeiteinstellung zum Mahlen direkt in den Siebträger nutzen würde - nach nun rund vier Wochen Nutzung der Wägeeinrichtung habe ich festgestellt, dass dieses Feature wiederholbar genaue Ergebnisse liefert. Sowohl Feinheit also auch Gleichmässigkeit des Mahlgutes sind tip top. Sehr zu empfehlen. Die Verarbeitung und Haptik sind überragend.

Natürlich kann man sich für privat auch eine K-30 in die Küche stellen. Da dies für mich nicht in Frage kommt, ist die Baratza Forte AP die beste Wahl. Leistung und Präzision sind großartig. Die Unabhängigkeit per Gewicht oder per Zeit zu mahlen ist genau mein Ding. Besonderes Plus: + es verbleibt kaum Kaffeemehl nach dem Mahlen in der Maschine. <1 gr. + Sehr leichte Reinigung durch schnell abnehmbare Mahlscheibe + Absperrbarer Bohnenbehälter für Bohnentausch + die Mühle wird dem Attribut "All Purpose" definitiv gerecht. Von Cold Brew bis Türkischer Mokka produziert sie sehr konsistentes Kaffeemehl. Einen Punkt Abzug gibt es, weil trotz der Überzeugenden Leistung die Baratza Forte überteuert ist. Eine Vario von Mahlkönig kostet etwa die Hälfte. Das Innenleben inclusive der Mahlscheiben ist das Gleiche. Für eine Fertigung Taiwan mit vielen Metallteilen aus dem Spritzgussverfahren sollte die Mühle nicht so teuer sein. Die Ersatzteil-Beschaffung in D ist auch vergleichsweise schwierig und teuer..