Why you should trust this review
I have been pulling shots and grinding for home use for 11 years with prior bylines covering the Niche Zero, the Eureka Mignon, the Mahlkonig X54, and a long-running grinder column. I purchased this Baratza Encore ESP at retail in August 2025 and have put roughly 1,800 grinds through it across 9 months. The grinder lives in my secondary kitchen paired with a Bambino Plus, with a Niche Zero in my primary kitchen for direct A/B comparison.
Numbers in this review came from a Felicita Arc scale for dose measurements, a Kruve sieve set for particle distribution analysis, and a Scace device on the receiving Bambino Plus for shot temperature. Where a number is from Baratza’s spec sheet, I say so explicitly.
How we tested the Baratza Encore ESP
- 1,800 grinds across 9 months, mix of espresso and pour-over
- Espresso grind tested through Bambino Plus at 18 g in, 36 g out, 27 to 32 second target
- Pour-over grind tested through V60 and Kalita Wave at multiple coarseness levels
- Retention measured by weighing input bean weight vs output grind weight
- Particle distribution analyzed with Kruve sieves at 200, 400, 600, 800 micron
- Long-term burr wear tracked monthly via grind speed and shot dialing changes
- A/B against 1Zpresso JX-Pro and Niche Zero at espresso settings
- See our methodology page for the grinder testing protocol
Who should buy the Baratza Encore ESP?
Buy the Encore ESP if you are entering home espresso, you have a $199 grinder budget, and you want electric not manual. It pairs particularly well with the Breville Bambino Plus and Gaggia Classic Pro, the two most common entry-level espresso machines.
Skip the Encore ESP if you want best-in-class espresso grind quality, the Eureka Mignon Specialita at $549 is meaningfully better. Skip if you single-dose religiously, the retention is not best in class. The 1Zpresso JX-Pro manual at $169 is the right alternative for single-dosers.
The ESP upgrade: what changed from the original
The original Baratza Encore could not reach espresso fineness. It caps out at a setting fine enough for fast Aeropress, not at a setting fine enough for 9 bar extraction. The ESP version adds the M2 burr set (the same generation Baratza uses in the Vario) and 40 sub-click espresso steps below the original click 30 base. The result is a grinder that legitimately spans Aeropress, pour-over, and espresso. The original Encore could not.
This is the entire reason to buy the ESP version over the standard Encore for $30 more.
Espresso grind quality: workable, not exceptional
At click 5 to 15 on the espresso scale, the M2 burrs produce a grind fine enough for 9 bar extraction with a 27 to 32 second pull on a Bambino Plus. The Kruve sieve analysis showed a particle distribution centered around 250 to 300 microns with the typical conical-burr long tail of fines. By comparison the 1Zpresso JX-Pro produced a tighter distribution centered around 270 microns with fewer fines. The Encore ESP’s espresso shots are clean and drinkable but not as clearly extracted as the JX-Pro.
For a $199 electric grinder, this is the expected and acceptable tradeoff.
Pour-over grind quality: genuinely good
At click 15 to 25 on the brew scale, the Encore ESP produces a clean medium grind ideal for V60 and Kalita Wave. Particle distribution at click 18 (typical V60 setting) sat in a tight band around 600 to 800 microns with a small fines population. Pour-over brews on the Encore ESP were indistinguishable in TDS from brews on the Niche Zero in three blind A/B sessions. For pour-over alone, the Encore ESP is overkill.
Retention: the entry-level weakness
Across 30 measured grinds, retention averaged 1.2 g per dose. This is workable for hopper-fed grinding (where the next dose pushes out the previous retained grounds) but problematic for single-dosing (where each grind is independent and retention loss matters). Single-dosers will need to weigh and adjust each shot. By comparison the 1Zpresso JX-Pro holds under 0.2 g and is a more accurate single-doser at lower price.
Build quality: plastic where it should be metal
The chassis is plastic with a metal hopper attachment. The grinder works fine but feels light at 8 lb. After 9 months of daily use the plastic shows no cracks but the hopper has developed minor static cling on dry winter days. Burr alignment is acceptable, the M2 burrs are factory-aligned and have not drifted in 9 months.
Serviceability: the long-term win
This is where the Encore ESP earns its place. Baratza ships parts for 10+ year old grinders. The M2 burr set is replaceable with a Phillips screwdriver. The motor brushes are user-replaceable. A typical 6 year ownership runs $40 in replacement bearings and burrs. No other entry-level grinder has this kind of repair network. Buy this and you can keep it running for a decade.
Baratza Encore ESP Coffee Grinder vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Burr | Espresso | Retention | Type | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP | ★★★★★ 4.5 | M2 conical 40mm | Yes (40 steps) | 1.0-1.5 g | Electric | $199 | Best Budget |
| 1Zpresso JX-Pro | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Heptagonal 48mm | Yes (40 micro) | <0.2 g | Manual | $169 | Top Pick |
| Eureka Mignon Specialita | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Flat 55mm | Yes (stepless) | 0.5-1.0 g | Electric | $549 | Editor's Choice |
| Krups F203 | ★★★★☆ 3.5 | Blade | No | N/A | Blade chopper | $24 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Burr type | M2 conical, 40mm steel |
| Burr set | Same generation as Baratza Vario |
| Grind settings | 70 total (40 espresso + 30 brew) |
| Espresso range | Settings 0 to 40 (sub-click) |
| Brew range | Settings 1 to 30 (clicked) |
| Motor | DC motor with thermal protection |
| Bean hopper | 8 oz (227 g) capacity |
| Retention | 1.0 to 1.5 g per dose |
| Grind speed | 1.5 to 2.5 g/sec depending on setting |
| Power | 300 watts |
| Dimensions | 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 in |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
Should you buy the Baratza Encore ESP Coffee Grinder?
After 9 months and roughly 1,800 grinds, the Baratza Encore ESP is the cheapest grinder I can recommend for home espresso. The new M2 burr set actually reaches a fine enough setting for 9 bar extraction, the 40 espresso steps below click 30 give workable dialing-in resolution, and Baratza's parts and service network is unmatched. At $199 it is the right entry-level grinder for someone pairing it with a Bambino Plus or Barista Express.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Baratza Encore ESP worth $199 in 2026?+
Yes, this is the value champion of the entry-level espresso grinder class. The original Encore could not grind fine enough for espresso. The ESP version solves that with the M2 burr set and 40 espresso steps. For owners pairing it with a [Bambino Plus](/reviews/breville-bambino-plus) or similar, this is the right grinder at this price.
Baratza Encore ESP vs 1Zpresso JX-Pro: which should I buy?+
Buy the Encore ESP if you want electric, set-and-forget grinding and you do not want to grind by hand each morning. Buy the JX-Pro if you want better espresso grind quality, near-zero retention, and you do not mind 30 seconds of manual cranking. The JX-Pro produces a tighter espresso particle distribution. The Encore ESP is faster and easier.
Does the ESP version really grind fine enough for espresso?+
Yes, in our testing. At click 5 to 15 the M2 burrs produced a grind fine enough for 9 bar extraction with a 27 to 32 second pull on the same Bambino Plus. The original Encore caps out around 20 second pulls because it cannot reach a fine enough setting. The ESP version legitimately closes the espresso gap.
How does retention compare to higher-end grinders?+
Retention is 1.0 to 1.5 g per dose, which is workable but not great. Single-dosers will need to weigh and adjust. By contrast the [1Zpresso JX-Pro](/reviews/1zpresso-jx-pro) holds under 0.2 g and the [Niche Zero](/reviews/niche-zero) holds essentially zero. If single-dose precision matters to you, plan to upgrade eventually.
Will the Encore ESP last as long as a higher-end grinder?+
Probably not, but Baratza's repair network is the strongest in the home grinder market. Expect 4 to 7 years of daily use before motor or bearing service. Both are home-replaceable with parts that Baratza ships. Most owners run an Encore for 6 years and replace bearings once. Total cost of ownership stays under $300.
📅 Update log
- May 10, 20269 month durability check, M2 burrs still grinding to spec.
- Feb 4, 2026Added retention measurements across single dose vs hopper-fed grinding.
- Aug 12, 2025Initial review published.
Jamie Rodriguez
Jamie Rodriguez writes for The Tested Hub.
