The Baratza Forté AP marks the final stretch of our comprehensive espresso grinder test. We have tested over 30 espresso grinders by now. We have tasted espressos, measured particle distribution in a specialized laboratory, and tested the grinder for all areas of use.
The Baratza Forté AP shows mixed results. At the heart of the grinder is good espresso, which the Baratza owes to its 54 mm ceramic grinding discs. The fine portion of the grind is low, which leads to clear and good extractions. On the other hand, the grinder is loud, very imprecise when using the portafilter holder, and has issues with retention and speed. In our test video, we go into the strengths and weaknesses of the Baratza Forté AP.
The Baratza Forte AP costs around 800 euros in the EU (e.g. at Coffee Circle) and is available in Switzerland for just over 1000 francs, for example at Kafischmitte.
Good espresso and few fines
We drink several good espressos while we test the Baratza Forte with the All Purpose grinding discs thoroughly. The low fine portion of the grind gives us a lot of clarity in the cup, sometimes at the expense of sweetness. But the texture and body work well together.
The reproducibility of results is generally good, although the fine peak fluctuates from test 4 to 7. However, the main peak remains constant at 261 microns in a medium range, compared to other grinders.
Via the micro and macro adjustment, the Baratza Forté AP can be adjusted relatively precisely, and returning to the same grind size is also very feasible.
Speed and noise level
In terms of noise, the Baratza scratches the highest decibel numbers of the entire test series. 89.4 decibels is quite an announcement. However, the grinding does not sound strained, unlike some cheaper espresso grinders. If you choose the Baratza Forté AP as your grinder, you are definitely opting against quiet operation.
The grinder's speed is in the mid-range. The grinder grinds 22.7 grams in 10 seconds. What is surprising is that despite the ceramic grinding discs, the grinder heats the ground coffee to an average of 38.2 degrees Celsius. We have found that sensory perceptible changes to the ground coffee occur roughly in this range.
Usability and bean hopper
Among the highlights of the Baratza Forte AP is the control and usability. This starts with small details, like the easily removable bean hopper. With a flip lever, the bean hopper can be closed and then removed. Only 9 grams of beans remain in the bean chute.
The grinder's control is also straightforward. It is easy to switch between weighing and time-controlled modes. However, the time-controlled mode is significantly less accurate. Grind powder fluctuations of up to one gram mean that the grinder is not very reliable with time control. But the control via scale is all the more precise. The deviation here is only 0.1 gram.
It is a shame that the portafilter cannot be filled directly in weighing mode. The only option here is to transfer from the dosing cup to the portafilter. However, the included catch container is far too bulky and large to fill the portafilter. That's why we were pleased that our own dosing cup also fits under the grind discharge with a bit of aim.
Single dosing and retention
It is somewhat unfortunate that the grinder is not a pioneer when it comes to retention and single dosing retention. 3.9 grams remain in the absolute retention and the temporary retention is hardly less. Even when grinding out the grinder, at least 0.5 grams of coffee remain. Therefore, the grinder is only conditionally suitable for single dosing use.
In principle, the space around the grinding discs is relatively small. Unfortunately, the grinding disc carriers do not manage to push the coffee past the flapper.
This means the grinder misses a real opportunity, because with the good grinding results for espresso and also filter coffee, the Baratza Forté AP is certainly an interesting choice from a sensory perspective.
