Baratza Forté BG

The Baratza Forté BG is a commercial-grade flat burr coffee grinder that delivers exceptional grind consistency for filter coffee enthusiasts and professional baristas alike. At the heart of this machine sits a set of 54mm flat steel burrs, precision-milled in Europe and engineered to produce an even particle distribution with minimal fines. This translates directly into cups with remarkable clarity, allowing the nuanced flavours of your specialty coffee to shine through without muddiness or over-extraction. Whether you're brewing pour-over, batch brew, AeroPress, Chemex or French press, the Forté BG handles the full spectrum of filter grind sizes with ease, covering a range from 230 to 1150 microns.

What sets the Forté BG apart from other grinders in its class is the combination of an intuitive touchscreen interface and dual dosing capabilities. You can grind by weight using the built-in scales (accurate to 0.1g) or by time (accurate to 0.1 seconds), with three programmable presets for each mode. This flexibility makes it ideal for busy café brew bars where speed and repeatability are essential, yet equally suited to home users who value precision in their daily routine. The 260-step grind adjustment system (10 macro settings multiplied by 26 micro settings) gives you the granular control needed to dial in your coffee perfectly, and the robust all-metal macro and micro adjustment switches provide a satisfying, secure feel that holds your setting firmly in place.

Built to commercial standards, the Forté BG features a cast zinc and metal construction that gives it a reassuringly solid 6kg weight and a compact 13cm x 37cm x 18cm footprint. The high-torque DC motor is 70% more powerful than Baratza's Vario series and runs at a slower speed to reduce heat generation and preserve coffee freshness, with a thermal cut-off switch for additional protection. Capable of grinding up to 2.27kg (5lbs) of coffee per day, the Forté BG is a genuine workhorse that won the Best New Commercial Product award at the Specialty Coffee Association Expo in 2013. The 300g shut-off hopper allows for mess-free bean changes with minimal waste (around 10g), and optional hopper extenders are available for higher-volume operations.

• Burr Type: 54mm flat steel burrs (manufactured by Etzinger in Liechtenstein)
• Burr Speed: 1950 RPM (no load)
• Grind Range: 230 to 1150 microns
• Grind Settings: 260 steps (10 macro x 26 micro adjustments)
• Grind Speed: 1.3g/sec (fine) to 2.7g/sec (coarse)
• Dosing Modes: Weight-based (±0.1g accuracy), time-based (±0.1 second accuracy), and manual
• Programmable Presets: 3 presets for weight mode, 3 presets for time mode
• Bean Hopper Capacity: 300g (10.6oz); extenders available for additional 275g
• Grounds Bin Capacity: 120g (4.2oz)
• Daily Grinding Capacity: Up to 2.27kg (5lbs)
• Motor: High-torque DC motor with belt drive (70% more powerful than Vario series)
• Motor Protection: Thermal cut-off switch with automatic reset
• Construction Material: Cast zinc body with all-metal adjustment mechanisms
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 13cm x 37cm x 18cm
• Weight: 6kg (13lbs)
• Power Rating: 220-240VAC, 50/60Hz, 130W (UK version)
• Interface: Backlit LCD touchscreen
• Hopper Features: Integrated bean shut-off for mess-free removal
• Included Accessories: Grounds bin, burr removal tool (cast zinc), calibration wrench, shut-off hopper
• Design & Engineering: Seattle, WA, USA
• Manufacture & Assembly: Taiwan
• Certifications: UL/CSA/CE/EK
• Warranty: 1 year or 50 hours of cumulative motor run time (whichever comes first)

What brew methods is the Baratza Forté BG best suited for?

The Forté BG is optimised for filter and manual brew methods including pour-over (V60, Kalita Wave), Chemex, AeroPress, batch brew, French press and cold brew. Its grind range of 230 to 1150 microns covers everything from fine filter to very coarse. While it can technically grind for espresso, the "BG" designation stands for "Brew Grinder," meaning it's calibrated specifically for filter brewing. If espresso is your primary focus, consider the Forté AP (All-Purpose) model with its ceramic burrs instead.

What is the difference between the Forté BG and the Forté AP?

Both grinders share the same body, motor and interface, but differ in their burrs and intended use. The Forté BG features 54mm flat steel burrs designed for filter brewing, producing a unimodal grind distribution with minimal fines for high clarity in the cup. The Forté AP uses 54mm flat ceramic burrs optimised for espresso, producing a bimodal distribution that creates the body and mouthfeel expected from traditional espresso. The BG does not include a portafilter holder as standard, whereas the AP does.

How does grind-by-weight work on the Forté BG?

The Forté BG has an integrated scale built into its base that weighs the ground coffee as it dispenses into the grounds bin. You set your desired dose weight via the touchscreen (accurate to 0.1g), and the grinder automatically stops when that weight is reached. This eliminates the need for a separate scale when dosing and ensures consistent doses every time. You can save your preferred weights to three programmable presets for one-touch grinding.

Can I switch between grind-by-weight and grind-by-time?

Yes. The Forté BG offers three dosing modes: weight-based, time-based and manual. You can toggle between them using the touchscreen interface. A particularly useful feature is the ability to grind by weight first, then with one click see the precise time it took, allowing you to save that weight as a timed measurement for faster dosing in future. This is especially handy in café environments where speed is critical.

How many grind settings does the Forté BG have?

The Forté BG offers 260 grind settings through a combination of macro and micro adjustment. There are 10 macro positions (numbered 1-10) that provide broad grind size changes, and each macro position is subdivided into 26 micro settings (labelled A-Z). This level of granularity allows you to make extremely fine adjustments when dialling in a coffee, which is particularly valuable when working with single-origin specialty coffees that require precise extraction.

Is the Forté BG suitable for home use or is it just for cafés?

Both. While the Forté BG was designed with commercial brew bars in mind (it won Best New Commercial Product at SCAA 2013), its compact footprint, relatively quiet operation and precise weight-based dosing make it equally excellent for home users who take their filter coffee seriously. Its 5lb daily capacity far exceeds home requirements, meaning it will last for years of domestic use. The solid metal construction and quality components are built to withstand constant commercial use, so occasional home use is well within its capabilities.

How loud is the Forté BG?

The Forté BG is notably quieter than many grinders in its class. The high-torque DC motor runs at a slower speed than typical grinder motors, which not only reduces heat generation but also significantly lowers noise levels. Most users describe the grinding noise as a low hum rather than a harsh whine, making it suitable for home environments and open-plan café spaces where excessive grinder noise would be disruptive.

How do I clean and maintain the Forté BG?

Baratza includes a cast zinc burr removal tool with the grinder, making it straightforward to remove the burrs for cleaning. Regular cleaning with grinder cleaning tablets (such as Grindz) is recommended to remove coffee oil buildup. The burrs themselves can be brushed clean with a soft brush. If your grind range drifts over time, the included calibration wrench allows you to recalibrate the burrs to restore the factory grind range or adjust it to suit your preferred brew methods.

What is the warranty on the Baratza Forté BG?

The Forté BG comes with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty or 50 hours of cumulative motor run time, whichever comes first. Baratza is renowned in the specialty coffee industry for their excellent customer support and commitment to repairability. Replacement parts are readily available, and Baratza provides comprehensive repair guides to help extend the lifespan of your grinder well beyond the warranty period.

Who manufactures the burrs in the Forté BG?

The 54mm flat steel burrs in the Forté BG are manufactured by Etzinger in Liechtenstein (some sources also reference Ditting, a related company known for commercial coffee grinder components). These burrs are precision-milled in Europe to exacting tolerances and are specifically designed to produce an even particle distribution with reduced fines, which is essential for achieving high clarity in filter coffee brewing.

Enjoy peace of mind with a 2-year limited manufacturer's warranty. Please note: Baratza products are intended for private household use only. For full warranty details, visit Baratza Warranty Information.