Baratza Encore ESP

In this baratza encore esp review, the Baratza Encore ESP is the grinder we rank #5 of 9 and label best for espresso and filter coffee. It costs $199.95, holds a 4.0 star average from 1,386 Amazon ratings, and ranks #8 in Burr Coffee Grinders on Amazon. Baratza built it for one person who pulls espresso in the morning and brews drip or pour-over later, without buying two machines. The dual range adjustment separates the work: steps 1 through 20 are micro steps for espresso, and 21 through 40 are macro steps for filter brewing. If your counter space is tight, the footprint helps too, because the body measures 5.91 by 5.12 by 13.39 inches and weighs 5.6 pounds.

Inside, 40mm conical steel burrs made in Liechtenstein feed from a 120 gram hopper, and a 150 watt DC motor spins them at 120 volts. That burr size is the reason the grind stays even enough for an espresso basket, and it is the same reason filter coffee tastes cleaner than it does from a blade grinder. In practice, daily use is simple: twist the hopper with one hand to change grind size, then press the front pulse button or flip the on/off switch. Cleaning is easier than on older Encore models, because the quick release burr mount lets you lift the burr out without taking the grinder apart. The tradeoff is throughput, since this is a single dose at a time machine rather than a cafe workhorse.

That said, the value here is hard to beat at $199.95, because one grinder covers two brewing styles instead of two. By contrast, the Fellow Opus 2 and the Eureka Mignon Notte are stepless, so dialing in espresso is faster, yet they cost more and do not always match the Encore ESP on filter duty. However, the 4.0 star average from 1,386 ratings is the lowest in this guide, and the espresso steps are fine rather than stepless, which means beginners may need several sessions before a shot tastes right. Even so, Baratza sells replacement parts for years, so the 40mm burrs and motor can be serviced instead of replaced. If you want espresso and drip coffee from one $200 machine, this is the one to get. Skip it if you only brew espresso and want stepless control.