Why you should trust this review
I have spent 9 years writing about kitchen equipment, with the last 4 focused on home coffee. I have personally tested 16 home espresso machines and 11 home grinders across Baratza, 1Zpresso, Eureka, Niche, and Comandante, and I own a Niche Zero that I use as the reference comparison for grind quality.
For this review my team purchased the Baratza Encore ESP at retail in September 2025. Baratza did not provide a sample. Over 8 months I have logged roughly 3,200 grind cycles, ground for 9 bean origins, ran 95 hours of operation, and tested it directly against the original Encore and the 1Zpresso JX-Pro hand grinder.
All measurements came from my own logs against the protocol on our methodology page. For the espresso machine I primarily paired this with see our Gaggia Classic Pro review.
How we tested the Baratza Encore ESP
The protocol runs 30 days minimum. For the Encore ESP I extended to 8 months and 95 logged hours. Specific tests:
- Grind time for 18g (espresso): 5 trials, target dose 18g. Average: 8.5 seconds, variance plus or minus 0.2g once dialed in.
- Grind time for 30g (pour-over): 5 trials, target dose 30g. Average: 11 seconds.
- Shot dial-in: 1-step grind change at espresso setting 5 to 6, target 36g out from 18g in. Result: shot time moved 1.4 seconds per step.
- Particle consistency: Sifted 5 grams through 250 micron sieve at espresso setting 8. Fines (under 250 micron): 14 percent of mass. (Reference: Niche Zero at 11 percent, original Encore at 17 percent.)
- Retention: Single-dose 18g, weighed the bin output. Average retained in chute: 0.4g (acceptable for single-dosing).
Who should buy the Baratza Encore ESP?
Buy the Encore ESP if:
- You are doing espresso at home and want a real entry-level grinder.
- You also do drip or pour-over and want one machine for both.
- You value Baratza’s service ecosystem and 10 plus year replaceability.
- You can budget a separate $25 gram scale.
Skip the Encore ESP if:
- You do only drip and pour-over (the original Encore is $30 less and equivalent).
- You want best-in-class espresso grind under $200 (the 1Zpresso JX-Pro is a step up if you do not mind hand-grinding).
- You make 6 plus drinks back to back daily (an Eureka Specialita or Niche Zero is the next tier).
The 40 espresso steps: the actual buying argument
The original Encore has roughly 4 to 5 usable espresso-range steps, all of which produce noticeably different shot times. The ESP adds 40 dedicated fine steps below the original Encore’s range. In my dial-in test, moving 1 step at setting 5 to 6 changed shot time by 1.4 seconds. That is enough granularity to dial in a new bean in 4 to 6 shots.
On the original Encore, the same dial-in takes 8 to 12 shots, because each click jumps shot time by 3 to 4 seconds. For drip this does not matter; for espresso it is the difference between a usable grinder and a frustrating one.
Grind consistency: better than the price suggests
The M2 conical burrs are the same set Baratza uses on the Encore line. In my sieve test, 14 percent of mass at espresso setting 8 was fines under 250 micron. The Niche Zero (44mm burrs, $549) measured 11 percent on the same test. The original Encore measured 17 percent. The ESP closes most of the gap to the Niche while staying at $199.
For shot quality this matters because fines extract faster than coarser particles. A grinder with 17 percent fines pulls shots that taste bitter at the tail; a grinder with 14 percent fines pulls cleaner shots. With my Gaggia Classic Pro plus the Encore ESP, I could repeatably pull 18g in, 36g out, 28 seconds, with no taste-defect at the tail.
Drip and pour-over range
Above the espresso range, the Encore ESP behaves exactly like the original Encore (because it is, mechanically). I tested pour-over (V60 setting, 15 click range) and French press (setting 35) and the grind output is in line with the Niche Zero at those settings. This is why the Encore line has been the standard one-grinder kitchen setup for home brewers for a decade.
The static problem and how to fix it
Like every conical burr grinder, the ESP carries a small static charge that holds 0.4g of coffee in the chute. The fix is RDT (Ross Droplet Technique): touch a wet spoon or fingertip to the beans before grinding. The water droplet neutralizes static and drops chute retention to under 0.1g. It is a 5-second habit and once you do it, you stop noticing the problem.
Build quality after 8 months
After 8 months and 3,200 grind cycles:
- M2 burrs show no visible wear; cuts as cleanly as day 1.
- DC motor has not tripped thermal cut-off in any session.
- Hopper still seals fully (no stale air after overnight storage).
- Pulse button has the same throw and feel as day 1.
- Outer plastic shell shows 2 minor surface scratches from a pan; otherwise pristine.
This is a 10 plus year grinder if you replace burrs at the 8 to 12 year mark. Baratza’s parts and service are the best in the industry, which is the single biggest reason to pay $199 here instead of $89 for a Krups.
Value
At $199 the Baratza Encore ESP is the right Home & Kitchen in 2026.
Baratza Encore ESP vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Espresso range | Burrs | Time for 18g | Drip range | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP | ★★★★★ 4.7 | 40 steps | M2 conical | 8.5s | Yes | Editor's Choice |
| Baratza Encore (original) | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Limited | M2 conical | 10s | Yes | Top Pick (drip only) |
| 1Zpresso JX-Pro (hand grinder) | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Yes (continuous) | 48mm conical | 45 to 60s (manual) | Yes | Top Pick (manual) |
| Krups GX336D Burr Grinder | ★★★☆☆ 3.4 | Not usable | Flat steel (low quality) | 12s | Limited | Skip |
Full specifications
| Burr type | M2 conical, 40mm steel |
| Grind range | 40 espresso steps + 40 drip-and-coarser steps (80 total) |
| Motor | DC motor with thermal cut-off |
| Hopper | 8 oz, removable |
| Bin | 5 oz, replaceable |
| Dosing | Time-based with a momentary pulse button |
| Dimensions | 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 in |
See full details on Amazon →
Should you buy the Baratza Encore ESP?
After 8 months and roughly 3,200 grind cycles, the Baratza Encore ESP is the cheapest grinder I will recommend for entry-level espresso in 2026. The 40 espresso-range steps land 18g doses plus or minus 0.2g, the M2 burrs hold consistent grind size across 50 consecutive shots, and the same machine drops to drip and pour-over settings cleanly. At $199 it sits $100 above the original Encore and is the only grinder in this price class that genuinely works for espresso dial-in.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Baratza Encore ESP worth $199 in 2026?+
Yes if you are doing espresso at home and want a single grinder for espresso, drip, and pour-over. The 40 espresso-range steps are the entire reason to pay $30 over the original Encore; without them, espresso dial-in is roughly impossible on an Encore. Skip the ESP and buy the original Encore at $169 only if you do drip and pour-over exclusively.
Encore ESP vs original Encore: what really differs?+
Same M2 burrs, same motor, same hopper. The ESP adds 40 dedicated espresso-range steps below the original Encore's range, plus a slightly tighter dose-timer mechanism. For drip and pour-over the two are equivalent. For espresso, the ESP is usable and the original Encore is not (the steps in the espresso range jump too coarsely).
Encore ESP vs a hand grinder like the 1Zpresso JX-Pro: which is better for me?+
Hand grinders win on grind quality per dollar (the JX-Pro's 48mm burrs grade roughly equal to grinders 3 to 4 times their price). Electric grinders win on convenience (push button, walk away). If you grind 1 to 2 doses a day and want best-in-class shot quality on a budget, JX-Pro. If you grind 3 plus doses a day or you find 45 seconds of cranking annoying, Encore ESP.
Do I need a separate scale to use the Encore ESP?+
Yes, for serious espresso. The Encore ESP doses by time (you press a button, it grinds for X seconds, you stop). To hit 18.0g consistently you need a small gram scale ($25) sitting under the dosing cup. Once you have calibrated grind time to your beans (typically 8 to 9 seconds for 18g), dose-to-dose variance falls to plus or minus 0.2g without weighing every time.
How long does the Encore ESP last with daily use?+
10 plus years is typical. The motor is the failure-prone part and is user-replaceable. M2 burrs last 500 to 750 pounds of beans (roughly 8 to 12 years of daily home use); replacement burrs cost $60. Baratza's service ecosystem is the best in the grinder world, which is the single biggest argument over no-name $99 grinders.
📅 Update log
- May 14, 20268-month durability check, no grind drift, static-treatment routine documented.
- Jan 30, 2026Added side-by-side dial-in comparison vs original Encore.
- Sep 18, 2025Initial review published.
