The catch
Baratza Encore ESP Pro
Unlike Breville, the reviewed specification does not show direct-portafilter cradles being included.
Side by side
Baratza Encore ESP Pro vs Breville Smart Grinder Pro: Encore cuts off single doses, and Breville fills supported portafilters directly
Quick verdict
Stepless espresso adjustment, automatic single-dose stopping and 0.1-second timer steps make the case for the Encore ESP Pro. If numbered grind positions and supplied direct-grinding portafilter cradles fit your routine better, choose the Smart Grinder Pro.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Timer steps half the size do not cut the error in half
Encore changes the programmed time in smaller increments, which helps when a recipe needs a small adjustment. Weigh the delivered grams on a scale to check.
Where this comes from
0.1 / 0.2 = 0.5. Grind throughput depends on the beans and the grind setting, so time resolution alone cannot prove dose-mass accuracy.
The catch
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Grind adjustment from the outside works in fixed positions.
Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- Why pick it
- Adjusting in between fixed grind positions is what you want
- Weighed single doses and timed grinding both feature in your routine
- The catch
- Unlike Breville, the reviewed specification does not show direct-portafilter cradles being included.
The portafilter in the photo does not come with it. You need a compatible 50 to 54 mm or 58 mm cradle. Shots and cups are still dosed by time.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Why pick it
- The included 50-54 mm or 58 mm portafilter cradle is what you want
- Sixty numbered positions and an LCD dose display are your preference
- The catch
- Grind adjustment from the outside works in fixed positions.
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What this page compares
Encore ESP Pro vs Smart Grinder Pro, set side by side on stepless dialing, timer increments, single-dose stopping and direct portafilter support.
Stepless espresso adjustment, automatic single-dose stopping and 0.1-second timer steps make the case for the Encore ESP Pro. If numbered grind positions and supplied direct-grinding portafilter cradles fit your routine better, choose the Smart Grinder Pro.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I often need an espresso setting that sits between two clicks
A stepless adjuster can stop at any point in between. Breville's external control has sixty positions.
- Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- Better fit
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Caution
I want the grinder to fill a 58 mm portafilter directly
A 58 mm cradle comes with Breville. For direct grinding, confirm what Encore supports, and how it works, before you buy.
- Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- Depends
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Better fit
Before loading, I weigh every bean dose
Encore documents an automatic stop for single dosing. Breville can run on a timer, though it stops differently.
- Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- Better fit
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Good
I need the grinder to cut off at a measured gram weight
Grind-by-weight dosing is not documented for either reviewed model.
- Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- Not suitable
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Not suitable
I like an LCD that shows grind time along with cups or shots
That combined dose-selection information is something Breville explicitly shows.
- Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- Good
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Timer steps half the size do not cut the error in half
Encore changes the programmed time in smaller increments, which helps when a recipe needs a small adjustment. Weigh the delivered grams on a scale to check.
How we worked this out
0.1 / 0.2 = 0.5. Grind throughput depends on the beans and the grind setting, so time resolution alone cannot prove dose-mass accuracy.
A particular dialing problem is what stepless adjustment solves
When an espresso recipe falls between two fixed positions, Baratza solves it more directly. Breville’s numbered steps still make it easy to return to a recorded setting.
How we worked this out
Baratza specifies stepless adjustment while Breville lists sixty positions. You are choosing an adjustment method here, and no burr-quality difference has been measured.
Whether you can grind directly depends on your portafilter
Breville ships two cradles that cover 50-54 mm and 58 mm. For any other basket size, check compatibility separately.
How we worked this out
The official accessory list for the BCG820 names those two cradle ranges. The reviewed Encore page does not show equivalent supplied support for grinding straight into a portafilter.
Option A
Baratza, ZCG595BLK 120V
Encore ESP Pro
A conical grinder for all purposes, with stepless adjustment and automatic stopping for single doses. Its timer can be set in tenths of a second.
- Best for
- People who go between espresso and brewed coffee and want finer adjustment plus a choice of dosing routines
Facts we checked
- Adjusting the grind: Stepless
- Timer increment: 0.1 second
- Single-dose stopping: Automatic stop documented
- Supplied direct portafilter cradles: Not documented in reviewed product specification
Option B
The portafilter in the photo does not come with it. You need a compatible 50 to 54 mm or 58 mm cradle. Shots and cups are still dosed by time.
Breville, BCG820BSSXL
Smart Grinder Pro
This hopper grinder is packed with features, including a clear screen, flexible dose timing and cradles that fit common home portafilter sizes.
- Best for
- Households that make a mix of drinks and want quick timed doses with familiar controls
Facts we checked
- Grind adjustment: 60 positions
- Timer increment: 0.2 second
- Single-dose stopping: Programmable timed dosing
- Supplied direct portafilter cradles: 50-54 mm and 58 mm cradles
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Baratza Encore ESP Pro | Breville Smart Grinder Pro | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grind adjustment | Stepless | 60 positions | Baratza permits in-between adjustment instead of picking one of sixty external positions. |
| Timer increment | 0.1 second | 0.2 second | Baratza’s time steps are half the size, but that does not make the dose twice as accurate. |
| Single-dose stopping | Automatic stop documented | Programmable timed dosing | Stopping when the dose runs out and stopping after a set time suit different workflows. |
| Supplied direct portafilter cradles | Not documented in reviewed product specification | 50-54 mm and 58 mm cradles | The supports required for grinding directly at those sizes are explicitly included with Breville. |
| Dose display emphasis | Precision timer | LCD with setting, time and cup or shot selection | Breville lays out cup and shot selection more explicitly. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Baratza Encore ESP Pro
- When you switch recipes, stepless settings have to be recorded carefully.
With Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- The 0.2-second timer stops on time. It does not measure grams.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You need stepless adjustment
Go with Baratza Encore ESP Pro. Encore ESP Pro lists it.
You have to have a 58 mm direct-grinding cradle included
Go with Breville Smart Grinder Pro. That accessory is on Breville’s list.
You need automatic dosing based on the measured output weight
Neither model fits. Both reviewed systems stop in some other way.
Decision guide
How to decide
The Encore ESP Pro is the one for stepless espresso adjustment, automatic single-dose stopping and 0.1-second timer steps. The Smart Grinder Pro is the one if numbered grind positions and supplied direct-grinding portafilter cradles fit your routine better.
Deal with the espresso-adjustment problem first
When a recipe needs a setting between numbered stops, a stepless dial helps. It also means recording a physical position carefully and returning to it. Sixty labeled positions can be easier to document, though they do not guarantee that a particular espresso lands exactly on a convenient click.
Treat the timer as a tool for repeatability
Time can be programmed on both grinders. The Encore halves the smallest listed increment, from 0.2 to 0.1 second. That is a difference in control resolution and not a lab result about delivered mass. Recheck the output when beans, roast age or grind setting change, especially if you fill from a hopper.
Look at how grounds get into the basket
Portafilter cradles for two common size ranges come with the Breville, which supports a direct-grinding routine. Transferring from a catch cup can work perfectly well, but it is a different action. Before you treat direct grinding as settled, match the supplied support to your basket diameter and the shape of your handle.
What this page can’t tell you
- Grind uniformity, retention, noise and dose accuracy were not measured by us. Neither timer increment amounts to a grind-by-weight function.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the premium coffee grinders we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP Pro |
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| Breville Smart Grinder Pro |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Baratza Encore ESP Pro
Adjusting in between fixed grind positions is what you want
See price & reviews on AmazonThe portafilter in the photo does not come with it. You need a compatible 50 to 54 mm or 58 mm cradle. Shots and cups are still dosed by time.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
The included 50-54 mm or 58 mm portafilter cradle is what you want
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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