The Baratza Forté AP kicks off the final spurt of our comprehensive espresso grinder review. By now, we have tested over 30 espresso grinders. We have tasted espresso, measured the 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 burrs. The fine content of the grind is low, leading to clear and good extractions. On the other hand, the grinder is loud, very inaccurate when using the portafilter holder, and lackluster in terms of 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, e.g., at Kafischmitte.
Good espresso and few fines
We drink several good espressos while putting the Baratza Forte with the All Purpose burrs through its paces. The low fine content of the grinder gives us a lot of clarity in the cup, sometimes at the expense of sweetness. However, the texture and body go well together.
The repeatability of the results is good overall, even if the fine peak fluctuates from test 4 to 7. The main peak, however, remains constant at 261 microns in a medium range compared to other grinders.
The Baratza Forté AP can be adjusted relatively precisely using the macro and micro settings, and returning to the same grind size is also quite possible.
Speed and volume
With its noise level, the Baratza brushes against the highest decibel numbers of the entire test series. 89.4 decibels is quite loud. However, the grinding process does not sound strained, as it does with some cheaper espresso grinders. Anyone who chooses the Baratza Forté AP as a grinder is definitely opting against quiet operation.
The speed of the grinder is in the mid-range. The grinder processes 22.7 grams in 10 seconds. Surprisingly, despite the ceramic burrs, the grinder raises the temperature of the ground coffee to an average of 38.2 degrees Celsius. We have found that sensorially perceptible changes in the ground coffee occur in approximately this range.
Usability and bean hopper
One of the highlights of the Baratza Forte AP is its controls and usability. This begins with small details, such as the easily removable bean hopper. The bean hopper can be closed and then removed with a flip lever. Only 9 grams of beans remain in the bean chute.
Controlling the grinder is also straightforward. It is easy to switch between the weighing and time-controlled modes. However, the time-controlled mode is significantly less accurate. Fluctuations in ground coffee of up to one gram make the grinder's time control unreliable. The control via the scale is all the more precise. The deviation here is only 0.1 grams.
It is a shame, however, that the portafilter cannot be filled directly in weighing mode. The only option here is to transfer from the dosing cup into the portafilter. However, the supplied collection bin is far too bulky and large to fill the portafilter. We were therefore pleased that our own dosing cup also fits under the coffee grounds chute with a bit of aiming.
Single Dosing and retention
It is a bit of a shame that the grinder is not a pioneer when it comes to retention and also single dosing retention. 3.9 grams remain in the absolute retention and the temporary retention is hardly any lower. Even when clearing the grinder, at least 0.5 grams of coffee remain. Therefore, the grinder is only suitable for single dosing to a limited extent.
In principle, the space around the burrs is relatively small. Unfortunately, the burr carriers do not succeed in pushing the coffee grounds past the flapper.
In this, the grinder misses a real opportunity, because with its good grinding results for espresso and also filter coffee, the Baratza Forté AP is definitely an interesting choice from a sensory perspective.
