Contents
  1. Specifications
  2. Strengths and limitations
  3. What independent testing found
  4. Will it fit?
  5. Complete setup
  6. Alternatives
  7. Questions buyers ask
  8. Our recommendation

Quick verdict

The Encore ESP is a sensible first espresso grinder if your machine uses non-pressurized baskets and you accept a manual, hopper-style workflow. Baratza gives half of its 40 steps to espresso, and CoffeeGeek's hands-on review got competent shots from it once the clumpy grounds were stirred. The main compromises are no timer and grounds left behind when single dosing.

Buy it if

  • You are buying your first grinder for a 54 mm or 58 mm espresso machine.
  • You also brew filter coffee and want one grinder for both.
  • You want a narrow, familiar hopper grinder.

Skip it if

  • You want to weigh single doses with almost nothing left in the grinder.
  • You want a timer or stepless adjustment. Look at the Encore ESP Pro.
  • You only brew filter coffee. The plain Encore is aimed there.
Countertop Coffee editorial score7.5/10
Best for
A first espresso grinder for 54 mm or 58 mm machines, with filter coffee on the side.
Main compromise
No timer, and single-dose retention was up to about 2 g in CoffeeGeek's testing.
Burrs
40 mm conical steel (M2)
Adjustment
40 stepped settings: 1–20 espresso micro steps, 21–40 filter macro steps
Dosing
Manual on/off; dosing cup for 54/58 mm portafilters (with adapter ring) plus grounds bin

Specifications

Baratza Encore ESP specifications and where each figure comes from
SpecDetail and source
Burrs40 mm conical steel (M2)Retailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear
Adjustment40 stepped settings: 1–20 espresso micro steps, 21–40 filter macro stepsRetailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear
LoadingHopper, 8 ozRetailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear
DosingManual on/off; dosing cup for 54/58 mm portafilters (with adapter ring) plus grounds binRetailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear
Dimensions4.75 in W × 6.3 in D × 13.75 in HRetailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear
Power120 VRetailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear
Warranty1 yearRetailer listing: Seattle Coffee Gear

Baratza's own product page is mostly marketing and does not list most figures, so the table leans on an authorized retailer listing. The burr set, the 40-step split and the 120 V rating agree with the Amazon listing we linked, but we treat the retailer as the source.

Strengths and limitations

What stands out

  • A dedicated espresso range. Settings 1 to 20 are small micro steps for espresso and 21 to 40 are larger steps for filter (retailer listing). CoffeeGeek measured roughly 20 microns per espresso click and about 5 seconds of shot-time change per click in its setup (CoffeeGeek).
  • Dosing cup for both portafilter sizes. The included cup fits 54 mm and 58 mm portafilters with an adapter ring, so it works with a Breville Bambino or a Gaggia Classic.
  • Good filter coffee for the class. In CoffeeGeek's testing it did better than the Baratza Sette 270Wi for pour-over, grinding at up to about 2.3 g per second.

Limitations

  • No timer. You start and stop it by hand. CoffeeGeek called this the main omission at the price.
  • Grounds left behind when single dosing. CoffeeGeek measured up to about 2 g held in the grind chamber on espresso doses. Adding a bellows only recovered about 0.5 g more.
  • Clumpy espresso grounds. CoffeeGeek used a needle distribution tool to get even shots.
  • Conical burr fines for press pot. The same review found coarse French press grinds produced more fines.

What independent testing found

The most detailed hands-on source we found is Mark Prince's full review at CoffeeGeek (published October 20, 2023). His conditions are worth knowing before reading his numbers:

  • Recipe: 18.5 g in, 45 g out in about 35 seconds, reached at setting 11 with his beans.
  • Distribution: Kruve sieving put roughly 70% of the espresso grounds in his target range.
  • Comparison: He rated the shots below his Baratza Sette 270Wi benchmark, and found filter results better than the Sette's.

Those results come from one reviewer's beans, machine and technique. They show the grinder can reach espresso fineness with a normal recipe. They do not predict what your shots will taste like.

Will it fit?

Encore ESP beside two alternatives1. Baratza Encore ESP: 121 mm wide by 160 mm deep; 2. Baratza Encore ESP Pro: 130 mm wide by 152 mm deep; 3. Fellow Opus 2: 130 mm wide by 206 mm deepWall610 mm (24 in) counter depth123
  1. 1 Baratza Encore ESP: 121 × 160 mm (4.8 × 6.3 in), retailer listing
  2. 2 Baratza Encore ESP Pro: 130 × 152 mm (5.1 × 6.0 in), retailer listing
  3. 3 Fellow Opus 2: 130 × 206 mm (5.1 × 8.1 in), manufacturer (source does not say which figure is width; narrower side drawn as width)
Encore ESP beside two alternatives. Top view, drawn to one scale from each product’s stated width and depth; the shaded band is a 610 mm (24 in) counter depth, the NKBA planning standard. Leave extra room for cables, lids, portafilter handles and hands. This is a planning aid, not a measurement.

Complete setup

Alternatives

  • Baratza Encore ESP Pro: stepless, with a timer and a single-dose lid in a similar footprint. Worth it if single dosing matters.
  • Breville Smart Grinder Pro: timed dosing and portafilter cradles, but CoffeeGeek found more retention.
  • 1Zpresso J-Ultra: a hand grinder with finer adjustment steps, no counter space needed, and no motor.

For a closer look at its main rival, see Encore ESP vs Opus 2.

Questions buyers ask

Can it grind for a pressurized-basket machine? Yes. Pressurized baskets tolerate a wider range of grind sizes. The Encore ESP's espresso range matters most when you move to non-pressurized baskets.

Is it good for single dosing? It can do it, but CoffeeGeek measured up to about 2 g left inside on espresso settings. If you want to weigh beans in and grounds out, the ESP Pro or a dedicated single-dose grinder fits better.

Does it fit under cabinets? At a listed 13.75 in, it fits under a 15-inch gap on paper. Leave room to lift the hopper lid.

Our recommendation

I'd recommend the Encore ESP to someone buying a first espresso grinder who also wants decent filter coffee and is happy to start and stop the grinder by hand. If you already know you want to single dose, go straight to the ESP Pro or a single-dose design.

Check price on Amazon

Amazon listing: ZCG495BLK, black, 120 V

Sources

  1. Baratza Encore ESP Coffee and Espresso Grinder — Seattle Coffee Gear. Retailer listing. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  2. Baratza Encore ESP Grinder review — CoffeeGeek. Independent review. Mark Prince, 2023-10-20. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  3. Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards — National Kitchen & Bath Association. Reference. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  4. Baratza Encore ESP Pro Espresso and Coffee Grinder — Seattle Coffee Gear. Retailer listing. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  5. Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder — Fellow. Manufacturer. Accessed September 26, 2026.