Baratza Encore ESP Review: The Entry-Level Grinder That Actually Delivers

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Should You Buy It?

Best All-Rounder

Baratza Encore ESP

4.6 (1.2K reviews)

$199

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My take: The best electric grinder under $200 for home brewers who want versatility. Not a true espresso grinder, but handles pour-over, drip, AeroPress, and Moka pot beautifully. And when something eventually breaks? Baratza actually picks up the phone.

After my third blade grinder died mid-brew (RIP, $40 down the drain), I finally accepted the truth: cheap grinders are a false economy. But here's my dilemma—I wasn't ready to drop $500 on a Niche Zero, yet I knew my morning pour-over deserved better than coffee dust.

The Baratza Encore ESP showed up at my door three months ago. At $199, it sits in that awkward middle ground where you're spending "real money" but not quite enough for a "serious" grinder. I was honestly skeptical it could handle both my daily V60 ritual and the occasional weekend espresso experiment.

Three months and roughly 270 cups later, I have a clear verdict. The Encore ESP isn't perfect—I've got a list of complaints—but it might be exactly what you need.

Specifications

Rating Breakdown

What Actually Works (The Good Stuff)

1. Customer Service That Actually Exists

About six weeks in, my adjustment ring started feeling gritty. I emailed Baratza expecting the usual corporate runaround—ticket numbers, "we'll get back to you in 5-7 business days," that kind of thing.

Nope. Got a reply within 24 hours. They asked for a quick video, I sent a shaky iPhone clip of me turning the dial, and three days later a replacement ring showed up at my door. No charge. No hassle.

I've since seen this pattern repeated across Reddit and coffee forums—people getting free parts 5, even 8 years after purchase. When your grinder eventually needs maintenance (and it will), you're not stuck buying a whole new unit.

2. The ESP Upgrade Is Real

The "ESP" in Encore ESP stands for espresso, and the upgrades are meaningful:

• M2 Burrs: Better than the original Encore's M3 burrs. I can actually see the difference in grind uniformity when I spread grounds on a white plate.
• All-Metal Adjustment Collar: The original Encore had a plastic collar that could wear out. The ESP fixes this—mine still clicks solidly after three months of daily abuse.
• Finer Grind Range: The ESP can actually grind fine enough for espresso (the original couldn't).

3. True Versatility

This is the ESP's strong point. Not the best at any single thing. But solid at everything. Here's what I've actually brewed with it:

• Pour-over (V60): My daily driver. Setting 18 gives me a 3:00-3:30 drawdown every time.
• Drip coffee: When I'm lazy on weekends, setting 22 works perfectly for my Moccamaster.
• AeroPress: Works great across the grind range—I usually land around setting 12.
• Moka pot: Fine enough for good results at setting 8.
• Espresso: "Passable" (more on this below).
• French press: Coarse settings work well for the occasional batch.

Switch between brewing methods? The Encore ESP makes sense. I used to have a separate hand grinder for espresso. Now it just collects dust.

4. It Just Works

The Encore ESP is dead simple. No apps. No Bluetooth. No complicated menus. Turn the dial, press the button, coffee comes out. The 40 stepped settings give you enough control without overwhelming you.

I've used it half-asleep at 6 AM more times than I'd like to admit. Never once had to troubleshoot a firmware update or wonder why the app wasn't connecting. It's just... a grinder. That grinds.

The Stuff That Bugs Me (Real Talk)

1. Retention Is Real (And Annoying)

Here's the thing—whoever designed the chute clearly never had to single-dose. Would it have killed them to make it a straight shot? Instead, you've got grounds playing hide-and-seek in every corner.

I weighed it. Consistently 0.7-0.9g stays stuck in there after every grind. For my morning pour-over, I don't really care—it's yesterday's grounds mixing with today's, whatever. But for espresso? That's nearly a gram of stale coffee contaminating your fresh dose. Maddening.

My morning routine now includes the "Baratza thwack"—a firm tap on the side to knock loose the stragglers. It works, but I shouldn't have to assault my grinder every morning.

The workaround: give the grinder a few "love taps" or invest in a bellows. If low retention is critical for your workflow, you might want to look elsewhere.

2. It's Slow

The Encore ESP grinds at about 1g per second. That's... not fast. My 22g pour-over dose takes about 22 seconds. Not terrible.

But last weekend I made cold brew for a camping trip—needed 120g of coarse grounds. Two full minutes of standing there, listening to that motor whine, wondering if I should've just bought pre-ground.

Not a dealbreaker for daily use. But if you're making coffee for a crowd? It adds up fast.

3. Clumping Happens (Static Is Real)

Especially at finer settings, the Encore ESP produces clumpy grounds that stick to everything—the chute, the bin, my black countertop (which now permanently looks like a crime scene).

The first time I tried espresso without any prep, I basically had a golf ball of compressed grounds in my portafilter. Channeling city. Shot tasted like battery acid.

The fix? RDT (Ross Droplet Technique)—basically spraying your beans with a tiny bit of water before grinding. It works, but shouldn't I not have to do that on a $200 grinder? Now I keep a little spray bottle next to the grinder like some kind of coffee plant parent.

You'll also want a WDT tool (basically a fancy toothpick) to break up clumps before tamping. Without it, expect channeling and uneven extraction.

4. "Passable" Espresso Means Passable

The Encore ESP can grind fine enough for espresso. But "fine enough" and "great" are different things.

I've pulled maybe 30 espresso shots on this thing. Some were genuinely good—balanced, sweet, proper crema. Others were sour disasters because I was stuck between setting 14 (too coarse, 35-second shot) and setting 15 (too fine, choking the machine). The stepped adjustment doesn't give you the micro-control that espresso demands.

If espresso is your primary focus, the 1Zpresso JX-Pro (manual, $159) will outperform the Encore ESP. If espresso is occasional and you mostly brew filter coffee, the ESP is fine.

5. Plastic Parts Can Fail

For a grinder that costs $200, you'd expect more metal internals. But nope—the ring burr holder is plastic. I haven't had issues yet, but I've seen enough Reddit posts about cracks developing after a year or two of heavy use that I'm keeping an eye on it.

The silver lining? Baratza's customer service usually handles this without drama, often sending free replacement parts. But still—shouldn't have to worry about cracking plastic on a grinder in this price range.

Baratza Encore ESP vs. The Competition

vs. Fellow Opus ($195)

Bottom line: The Opus looks better. The Encore ESP grinds better. The Opus has had QC issues—burrs wearing out, high retention. If you care about performance over aesthetics? Encore ESP, hands down.

vs. 1Zpresso JX-Pro ($159)

Bottom line: The JX-Pro produces better grinds, especially for espresso. But you're doing the work yourself. Convenience? Encore ESP. Grind quality above all else? JX-Pro.

vs. OXO Brew Conical Burr ($110)

Bottom line: The OXO is simpler and cheaper. But no espresso, fewer settings. Drip-only? OXO is fine. Want versatility? The Encore ESP is worth the extra $89.

Who Should Buy the Baratza Encore ESP?

✅ Buy it if:

• You brew multiple methods (pour-over, drip, AeroPress, occasional espresso)
• You value long-term reliability and customer service
• You want an electric grinder under $200
• You're upgrading from a blade grinder or pre-ground coffee

❌ Skip it if:

• Espresso is your primary focus (get a JX-Pro or DF64)
• You need low retention for single-dosing
• You want the fastest grind times
• Aesthetics are a top priority (get the Fellow Opus)

My Morning Routine (Three Months In)

Here's what my actual weekday morning looks like with the Encore ESP:

6:15 AM — Pour-over (my daily driver):

1. Weigh 22g of whatever medium-roast I'm working through
2. Dump beans in hopper, dial to setting 18
3. Hit the button, wait 22 seconds while I boil water
4. One thwack on the side, grounds into the V60
5. Brewing by 6:17 AM

Total time from beans to brewing: under 2 minutes including water heating.

Weekend espresso (when I'm feeling ambitious):

1. 18g beans, setting 14 or 15 depending on the roast
2. RDT spray before grinding (2-3 spritzes from my little spray bottle)
3. Grind, thwack, dump into portafilter
4. WDT to break up the inevitable clumps
5. Tamp, pull shot, hope for the best

Total time: about 4 minutes. More fiddly, but doable when I'm not rushing to a meeting.

What I've Learned After 90 Days

1. RDT is non-negotiable for espresso: That little spray bottle lives next to my grinder now. Reduces static and clumping dramatically.
2. Setting 15 is a good starting point for espresso: The manual recommends this for 18g medium-roast doses. I usually end up at 14 for lighter roasts.
3. The thwack becomes muscle memory: I don't even think about it anymore. Grind, thwack, pour. It's just part of the ritual.
4. Clean it monthly: I pull the burrs out and brush them down every 3-4 weeks. Takes 5 minutes and keeps things running smoothly. Coffee oils build up faster than you'd think.
5. The stock hopper is fine: I considered buying the single-dose hopper accessory, but honestly? I just dump beans in and grind. The retention is annoying but not worth $40 to fix.

Pros & Cons

What I Love:

• ✅ Customer service that actually responds — got a free replacement part in 3 days
• ✅ True versatility — handles pour-over to (passable) espresso
• ✅ M2 burrs deliver noticeably better consistency than original Encore
• ✅ All-metal adjustment collar (no more plastic wear)
• ✅ Dead simple operation — no apps, no Bluetooth, just coffee

What Bugs Me:

• ❌ Retention is real — expect 0.5-1g stuck in the chute
• ❌ Slow grind speed — about 1g per second
• ❌ Static and clumping at finer settings
• ❌ "Passable" espresso means passable, not great
• ❌ Some plastic internals can crack over time

Three Months Later: Would I Buy It Again?

Yeah. I would.

The Encore ESP isn't trying to be everything to everyone. It's solid. Reliable. Versatile. Does most things well, nothing terribly. When my adjustment ring got gritty, Baratza sent a replacement in three days. That kind of support matters when you're buying something you'll use every single day.

Is it perfect? No. I still curse at the retention every time I single-dose for espresso. The grind speed is slow enough that I've considered timing my morning around it. And the static—don't get me started on the static.

But for $199? Hard to find better bang for your buck. My pour-overs have never been more consistent. My occasional espresso shots are... acceptable. And I haven't had to buy a new grinder in three months—which is more than I could say for my blade grinder era.

Upgrading from a blade grinder or pre-ground? The Encore ESP will change your morning. Serious espresso enthusiast pulling 4 shots a day? Look elsewhere. Everyone in between? This is probably your grinder.

Best All-Rounder

Baratza Encore ESP

4.6 (1.2K reviews)

$199

Check Price on Amazon

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