Baratza Encore ESP

What it does well

The adjustment is the main change, because its 40 settings are not evenly spaced. Former Baratza chief engineer Kyle Anderson explained the design to CoffeeGeek. In the upper half, the adjustment pitch steepens, so each click moves further.

That leaves small steps where espresso needs them. CoffeeGeek measured about 20 microns per click in the finer half. Against the original Encore, CoffeeGeek says the finer tuning "produced superior shots nearly every time."

It is still a capable filter grinder. CoffeeGeek found pour-over "cleaner, better flowing" than from the Sette 270Wi, and press pot brews acceptable. Seattle Coffee Gear notes that defined positions prevent accidental changes while you dial in.

The small extras help. Seattle Coffee Gear says the dosing cup fits 54 mm portafilters, and an adapter ring covers 58 mm. Whole Latte Love also lists a 142 g grounds bin for brewed coffee.

Where it falls short

Espresso output clumps. CoffeeGeek calls it "very clumpy" at espresso sizes and says you will need WDT, stirring the grounds with fine needles before tamping.

Retention matters if you single dose. CoffeeGeek says "the grinds retention is definitely going to frustrate single dose fans," and expects 1–3 g of waste per double shot. Whole Latte Love also says it is not a true single-dosing grinder.

There is no timer. CoffeeGeek lists the missing digital or mechanical timer as a con, and Seattle Coffee Gear describes dosing as all manual. You grind until you stop it.

CoffeeGeek found it louder than the Smart Grinder Pro and the Virtuoso+. It says the controls "feel very stiff and cheaper" than the previous Encore. Whole Latte Love lists the housing, hopper and bins as plastic.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy it if you are starting espresso on a modest budget and want one grinder for shots and filter. It suits a hopper-fed routine where you grind most days.

Skip it if you plan to single dose, or care most about shot quality. CoffeeGeek says the ESP "still cannot touch the output from the Sette 270Wi" for espresso, and lists it as not competitive at its price, though it still scores it 8.5 of 10 for value.

Skip it too if you only brew filter. The standard Baratza Encore covers that for less.

How it compares

The Encore vs Encore ESP comparison shows how differently the two dials map to brew methods. The ESP was recalibrated, so a setting from one does not carry over to the other.

At a similar price, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the other hopper-fed conical grinder a beginner will see. CoffeeGeek found the ESP louder than the Breville.

If espresso is your priority and the budget can stretch, look at the Sette 270Wi. The Encore ESP vs DF64 Gen 2 pair covers the jump to a flat-burr single doser.

Owning it

CoffeeGeek says the burrs are user-replaceable without tools, and calls Baratza's after-sales service "phenomenal." Baratza's US warranty is one year, per Seattle Coffee Gear and Whole Latte Love.

Our guide to cleaning a Baratza Encore covers the shared body. It notes the ESP takes different burr parts, so check the ESP manual before ordering. For the general process, see how to replace grinder burrs.

Use the settings chart on this page as a starting point, then tune by taste. Our dial-in guide walks through it.