The Baratza Encore has long been the go-to entry-level electric grinder for home brewers. However, it always had one major limitation: it couldn’t grind fine enough for espresso.
Enter the Baratza Encore ESP.
This new model aims to address that shortcoming while maintaining the simplicity and affordability (sort of…) that made the original Encore so popular.
But does it successfully deliver on this promise? I’ve been using this grinder for several weeks now, so I have a pretty good idea of its strengths and weaknesses.
Let’s take a closer look.
A strong all-rounder and worthy upgrade
The Encore ESP is much better than the original, while retaining many of the things that made the original a beloved workhorse. However, it faces stiff competition from other grinders with more modern technology.
Amazon Prima Coffee❌ Cons
While the Encore ESP is a significant improvement over the original, it does have some limitations. Here are some of my main issues.
- Limited fine-tuning capability for espresso compared to more expensive grinders.
- Cheap feeling build quality
- Plastic impeller underneath the cone burr that can potentially wear down over the years and leave microplastics in your espresso grounds
- Burr chamber that’s suited for coarser grounds. The finer you grind, the more problems you’ll experience with retention, clumping and heat generation.
✅ Pros
Despite its drawbacks, the Encore ESP offers several notable improvements:
- M2 Burr Set From Etzinger: This upgrade significantly improves grind consistency and flavor clarity compared to the previous M3 burr set.
- Espresso Capability: Unlike the original, the ESP can grind fine enough for espresso.
- Ease of disassembly: Now you can quickly access and release the burr, and do a full cleaning. On the original Encore, this was more cumbersome.
- Versatility: The grinder performs well with a wide range of brewing methods.
- Accessories: Comes with a dosing cup that works for both 54 and 58 mm baskets, as well as the original grounds bin. It also comes with a nice stiff brush that can clean out the chute quite effectively.
- User-Friendly: It’s a simple and straightforward design that both works for single dosing and a hopper-based workflow.
- Shims Included: For those who need to grind even finer, the ESP comes with shims that can be installed relatively easily.
- Strong Support: In the US, you can rely on Baratza’s legendary customer support (however, on other continents I wouldn’t count on the same level of assistance from local distributors or vendors).
ABOUT THE BRAND
Baratza has built a reputation for producing quality grinders for both professionals and home users since 1999. The brand only produces coffee grinders, so they should know a thing or two about how to do it.
When the first Encore was released more than a decade ago, the grinder market was quite different. There were few serious players besides Baratza. Fast forward to today, where there’s been a huge explosion in the coffee grinder scene and you have people like me (and several others) endlessly contrasting and comparing minute details in burr design.
I’ll be hyperbolic here, but I’d venture to say that the coffee grinder market over the last 5-10 years has advanced more than during the rest of world history. It sounds crazy, but just look at what was on the market pre-2014. Most of the things we take for granted today weren’t part of the conversation back then.
The question now is: can the Baratza Encore ESP compete in this new, more crowded, and technologically advanced market?
Adding another layer to the story, Baratza was acquired by Breville in 2020. While Breville is a well-known brand, they aren’t exactly famous for offering the same kind of support that Baratza has been so beloved for since its launch.
So while the Baratza Encore used to be the undisputed go-to choice for burgeoning coffee snobs, the Encore ESP – while much better on paper – is released into a completely different era.
In this review, I’ll explore the pros and cons of the new Encore ESP and discuss whether it can maintain its relevance and quality amidst the new standards.
FIRST IMPRESSION: WHAT’S NEW?
The first thing I notice is that the grinder is actually a tiny bit better looking. It has undergone a slight facelift with some more modern lines, and instead of the ugly Encore name written in italics on the front, we now just have a sleek and simple logo.
Another big difference: There’s a hip single dose catch cup instead of the old clunky grounds bin. When the Encore was born, single-dosing was still an esoteric idea, not mainstream like it is today.
The ESP in the name stands for “espresso,” signaling the grinder’s enhanced ability to handle finer grinds. The most notable improvement is the inclusion of the M2 burr set, previously only available in more expensive models like the Virtuoso. (Counterintuitively, the lower grade burr that used to be the default is called M3).
I had previously done the M2 burr upgrade on my old Encore unit, which was actually not that straightforward. You had to dismantle more or less all of the grinder to be able to remove the burr. This has fortunately been changed on the Encore ESP, and it’s a lot easier to dismantle the burr.
What’s even better is that the grinder produces better coffee! My first few cups of pour over were delightful. I was actually surprised by how much better it tasted for pour over compared to the old Encore. And here I’m also factoring in how it tasted when the old Encore was upgraded with the M2 burr. The upgraded burr set just results in a noticeable improvement in grind quality and consistency.
By the way, the M2 burr is a 40 mm cone burr sourced from Etzinger, who is a big player in the grinder space. While the M3 burr set was also supplied by Etzinger, it’s clear that this burr set is a bit more dull and lacking.
New adjustment system
The Encore ESP’s new adjustment system is one of its standout features, because it gives it that elusive espresso range. Well, sort of. It utilizes a clever dual-range mechanism that offers 40 steps in total.
What’s unique is how these steps are distributed. The first 20 clicks, marked in black on the adjustment collar, are dedicated to espresso. In this range, each click represents a smaller change in grind size, about 18.8 microns per step. This fine adjustment is crucial for dialing in espresso shots, allowing users to make precise changes to their grind without overshooting.
From clicks 21 to 40, the steps become larger, suitable for the coarser grinds needed for filter coffee methods. This clever design means you don’t have to count through a huge number of clicks when switching between brew methods.
However, this system isn’t without its quirks. Some users might find themselves wishing for numerical markings on the adjustment dial for easier reference.
Also, while I could technically grind espresso in this new and finer range, I couldn’t grind all types of beans. Dark roasts were fine, but with a medium roast brewed via a 58 mm precision basket I needed to go a few notches finer to get to the desired grind size level. Luckily Baratza has included some shims that can be installed quickly to unlock new and finer grind settings. The shim has to be installed underneath the cone burr, and that will push it even closer to the outer ring.
However, this is already an early warning sign that the Encore ESP, despite its name, is not quite up to par when it comes to modern light roasts and espresso.
DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
The Encore ESP retains the straightforward design of its predecessor, with a central front pulse button and the power switch and grind adjustment on the top and side, respectively.
The build quality remains primarily plastic, which frankly feels a bit cheap. The on/off switch feels plasticky, and the dosing cup sits loosely in the base, which some people will probably find a bit annoying. When you knock the grinder on the side, it sounds hollow and plasticky – a stark contrast to many new entrants in the midrange grinder space that use metal in their construction.
Besides being more fragile and cheaper looking, it’s worth noting that the sound is on the louder side due to the plastic construction. I measured it to around 92 decibels. The noise is rattly and hollow while operating, and not really inspiring too much confidence in the motor and gears. But the old Encore also sounded like that and that grinder was a workhorse, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in the less than ideal sound.
POUR OVER FLAVOR
For pour over and other filter coffee methods, the ESP offers a noticeable improvement in flavor clarity and consistency compared to the original Encore. I find it has decent flavor clarity, body, and overall good balance. It performs well for a variety of brewing methods, including French Press and Aeropress. If you serve me coffee from this grinder, and I don’t have anything to compare it with, I’d likely be pretty satisfied. That might not sound like a very high bar, but honestly, that’s just my expectation when it comes to many of these appliance level conical grinders with faster RPMs.
I’m not in the camp that dislikes conical burrs – but it just seems like they perform much better at lower RPMs, as is the case with hand grinders.
But many people don’t want to hand grind.
There’s also this new school of low RPM conical grinders that were kickstarted with the release of the Lagom Mini. But those are still quite a bit more expensive than the Encore ESP. So Baratza’s offering here lands at an alluring price point, where there aren’t many other options.
There is one, however, and it’s only slightly more expensive than the Encore ESP. That’s the DF54.
I did several pour over blind tastings pitting the Encore ESP against the DF54. The Baratza held its own initially. However, as I dialed in both grinders perfectly, the DF54 consistently stood out as being a bit better for pour-over. The Encore tends to get the same flavor notes, and when both cups are hot, there’s not much difference. As the cups cool down, though, the DF54 gave me a more continuous, lingering aftertaste, while the Encore’s flavor profile was a bit simpler, with the aftertaste falling off more sharply.
However, this difference is probably only noticeable if you have a decent understanding of brewing, and you’re using proper coffee water. So for non-geeks Encore ESP will likely do a great job, while hardcore coffee snobs are able to appreciate the increase in flavor clarity and aftertaste that comes with other grinders that are just slightly more expensive; such as 1Zpresso K-Ultra, DF54, and Fellow Ode.
ESPRESSO FLAVOR
The ESP can indeed handle espresso grinding, which is a significant improvement over the original Encore. It offers a nice body and mouthfeel in espresso shots, with a flavor profile that steers clear of unpleasant acidity. It’s not a boring shot. I’d compare it to the type of shots you get from the Baratza Sette, though perhaps a tiny bit less textured and sweet.
However, its capabilities are more suited to entry-level espresso making rather than high-end, precise dialing in.
I did have some issues grinding fine enough for certain lighter and medium roasts. While the grinder comes with shims to allow for finer grinding, installing them led to more problems with retention, clumpy grinds, and excessive heat.
At darker roasts, the Encore ESP did quite well, and the grinder didn’t have any problems grinding fine enough.
I’d say that the target audience for the Encore ESP is people who are new to espresso, or at least, are not demanding too much. It just performs much better when it doesn’t have to grind overly fine. If you want a grinder that can help you with an espresso base for your cafe latte, then this is an excellent choice. But if you want to explore esoteric light roasts and high flow precision baskets, then I can tell you that the grinder will be pushed to the limits of its capabilities. There’s a lot of plastic used in the Encore ESP, and the lighter the beans and finer the grind size is, the more all these plastic parts will be put under stress.
GRIND QUALITY AND RETENTION
The Encore ESP offers a more consistent grind size compared to the original Encore and performs well with a wide range of coffee roast levels. However, it can still produce some static, which can cause grounds to stick to the bin. If you mix a droplet of water with your beans before grinding, this can help. But this issue is also related to bean roast level as well as humidity in your environment.
There are also some retention issues, especially when grinding for espresso, and clumpy grounds at espresso settings, requiring WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) for best results. In my testing, I found about 1.1 grams of retention when I opened up the grinder and scooped out all the coffee grounds. While this isn’t terrible, it’s more than some of its single dose competitors.
The retention issue is particularly noticeable when switching between brew methods. You’ll probably want to purge the grinder with some beans when going from espresso to filter coffee to avoid taste contamination.
Impeller issues
The grinding chamber and impeller, which is responsible for scooping out the ground coffee into the chute, are also made of plastic. I don’t love the idea of plastic impellers in grinders, since they will see a lot of wear and tear when spinning at 550 RPM day in and out for years, potentially.
It’s cheap to buy a new impeller from Baratza, but unpleasant to consider that some microplastics might end up in your espresso slowly over time.
Not all grinder designs require an impeller – for example Baratza’s own Sette model relies on the cone burr to push out all the grounds by itself. This is preferable if you ask me. Besides not getting microplastic in your coffee, you’ll have less retention and less clumping with this design. If you consider the case of a manual coffee grinder, it also operates the same way – the grounds fall directly from burr and into the catch cup. Having a design with a chute and an impeller is just inferior in my opinion.
Yes, flat burr grinders such as the DF54 and DF64 Gen 2, do have an impeller and a chute, but because everything here is metal and the grinding chamber is a lot bigger, this design has a much easier time scooping out ground coffee into the chute.
You can say what you want, but the Encore ESP’s burr chamber, while not my favorite design, is much more suitable for coarser coffee grounds.
THE VERDICT
The Baratza Encore ESP represents a significant upgrade over the original Encore. It offers improved grind quality for filter coffee and adds the capability to grind for espresso, making it a versatile option for home brewers who want to explore different brewing methods. And you get all that for a pretty small price increase.
For those primarily interested in filter coffee, the ESP offers a noticeable improvement in flavor clarity and consistency. Its espresso capabilities, while not professional-grade, are sufficient for entry-level espresso making and experimentation.
However, when you’re really pushing the performance with lighter roasts, and you care about things like retention and build quality, the Encore ESP shows its limitations.
If you live in the US where you’re backed up by Baratza’s legendary support, and you’re not drinking lighter roast espressos that demand a lot from your grinder, then this grinder is absolutely worth considering. It’s an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts who want a grinder that can handle both filter and espresso grinding without breaking the bank.
However, if you’re deeper into the coffee hobby, you might find yourself wanting something more capable, potentially a flat burr grinder built to higher standards. In that case, you might want to look at some of the alternatives in the sub-$300 range, like the DF54, which I find gives that extra bit of performance for both espresso and drip coffee.
Overall, the Baratza Encore ESP successfully builds upon the strengths of the original Encore, offering a more versatile and capable grinder that should satisfy a wide range of home coffee brewers. While it has its limitations, particularly in build quality and fine adjustment capabilities, its improved performance and versatility make it a strong contender in its price range.
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