The catch
Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
Its hopper and internal path hold on to more coffee than a grinder built for single dosing.
Side by side
Baratza Encore ESP vs Sette 30: Sette repeats a timed setting, the finished dose goes unweighed on both
Quick verdict
If you switch between espresso and filter coffee and do not mind weighing doses yourself, choose the Encore ESP. If you keep one regular espresso recipe and want a repeatable grind timer, choose the Sette 30. Neither weighs the finished dose, and the Sette 30 still needs you to support the portafilter.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The fine espresso zone covers only half of the Encore collar
The 40-position headline figure breaks down into 20 espresso positions and 20 coarser positions.
Where this comes from
The manufacturer ranges are 1–20 for espresso and 21–40 for coarser brewing, with 20 labeled positions in each and not 40 fine espresso increments.
The catch
Baratza Sette 30
Your hand still has to stay under the portafilter rest.
Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Why pick it
- One grinder does duty for both espresso and filter coffee.
- Your routine fits a dosing cup and manual controls.
- The catch
- Its hopper and internal path hold on to more coffee than a grinder built for single dosing.
Baratza Sette 30
- Why pick it
- A saved grind time for familiar beans is what you want.
- Grinding into a portafilter while you support it is your preference.
- The catch
- Your hand still has to stay under the portafilter rest.
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What this page compares
Baratza Encore ESP and Sette 30, compared on espresso, filter coffee and repeatable dosing. You will see what the timer saves and what it cannot measure.
If you switch between espresso and filter coffee and do not mind weighing doses yourself, choose the Encore ESP. If you keep one regular espresso recipe and want a repeatable grind timer, choose the Sette 30. Neither weighs the finished dose, and the Sette 30 still needs you to support the portafilter.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Weekend filter coffee as well as espresso
Fine and coarse adjustment ranges are explicitly divided on the Encore ESP.
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
- Baratza Sette 30
- Good
Running the same familiar recipe
The Sette timer repeats a chosen interval so you do not count seconds yourself.
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Good
- Baratza Sette 30
- Better fit
Letting the portafilter go unsupported
The Sette 30 manual requires support, and the Encore ESP works with a manual cup workflow.
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Caution
- Baratza Sette 30
- Caution
A shot between two good settings
Stepped adjustment is what both stock grinders have, and a timer cannot create a finer adjustment between steps.
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Baratza Sette 30
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
The fine espresso zone covers only half of the Encore collar
The 40-position headline figure breaks down into 20 espresso positions and 20 coarser positions.
How we worked this out
The manufacturer ranges are 1–20 for espresso and 21–40 for coarser brewing, with 20 labeled positions in each and not 40 fine espresso increments.
A timer is blind to a change in grams per second
The Sette 30 repeats motor time, which means checking dose weight after a bean or grind change.
How we worked this out
Average coffee flow times duration gives dose mass. A timer controls duration and does not measure output mass. If the flow changes, so does the dose at the same saved duration.
A timer does not make it hands-free
The Sette 30 spares you watching the time but not the job of supporting the portafilter. The Encore ESP suits a buyer who is already happy to move a dosing cup.
How we worked this out
According to the Sette 30 manual, hands-free portafilter operation is excluded. The Encore ESP comes with a dosing cup and manual controls. Neither has a dose-weight feedback system.
Option A
Baratza, ZCG495WHT
Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
It is the familiar Encore with a finer espresso zone and a handy cup system added, and the easygoing filter range is still there.
- Best for
- Owners new to espresso who also brew filter coffee regularly
Facts we checked
- M2 conical burrs, 40 mm
- An espresso-focused range from 1 through 20, within 40 settings
- A 54 mm dosing cup and a 58 mm adapter come with it
- Routine cleaning is supported by a quick-release burr
Option B
Baratza, ZCG1130
Sette 30
Made for a single regular espresso recipe, this timed grinder keeps things straightforward. Its fixed adjustment steps make it harder to rescue a shot that lands between settings.
- Best for
- A single everyday espresso recipe and simple timed dosing
Facts we checked
- Conical burrs, 40 mm.
- Programmable grind time and a stepped grind collar.
- The holder arms swing between grounds-bin and portafilter positions.
- Hands-free portafilter operation is explicitly ruled out in the manual.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder | Baratza Sette 30 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose control | Manual switch or pulse | Programmable time | What a timer repeats is seconds and not a measured dose mass. |
| Burrs | 40 mm conical | 40 mm conical | Equal diameter is no proof of an equal grind distribution. |
| Adjustment | 40 settings in two ranges | Stepped collar | Judge by the settings your recipe can use and look past the total. |
| Espresso range | Finer steps at positions 1–20 | Macro steps, no micro ring | Not all of the Encore's 40 positions are fine espresso steps. |
| Built-in scale | None | None | Check what comes out on a separate scale. |
| Receiving coffee | 54 mm dosing cup with 58 mm adapter | Rotating arms, hand support required | Neither works as a hands-free weight-dosing station. |
| Changing brew method | Dedicated coarser range above 20 | Manual collar adjustment | Grind size is not something a saved time remembers. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- It has neither a timed dose nor active static control.
With Baratza Sette 30
- It has neither a stepless micro ring nor built-in weighing.
Decision guide
How to decide
The Encore ESP suits you if you switch between espresso and filter coffee and do not mind weighing doses yourself. The Sette 30 suits you if you keep one regular espresso recipe and want a repeatable grind timer. Neither one weighs the finished dose, and the Sette 30 still needs you to support the portafilter.
Decide which step you want gone
Sette's timer deals with the annoyance of watching the grinder clock. If switching between brewing methods is the bigger issue, the two adjustment ranges on the Encore ESP are more relevant. These are practical workflow differences and not proof of a universal flavor winner.
A timer does not replace the scale
Repeating a familiar hopper-fed recipe is what a saved interval can do. When you change beans or grind size, recheck the dose. The timer cannot inspect the grounds in the basket, so it cannot correct their mass by itself.
Look at the holder as well as the display
In a photograph, the arms on the Sette 30 may look like a hands-free cradle, but the manual calls for you to support the portafilter. If you want to set the basket down and have the grinder stop at a chosen weight, compare a true weight-dosing model instead.
What this page can’t tell you
- Burr diameter does not point to a winner on taste, noise or retention.
- Having a timer or a number of settings does not guarantee that a particular recipe will dial in.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the premium coffee grinders we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 7 of the 39 models checked meet every need here: “Accurate tuning for espresso”, “Espresso and filter from one grinder”, and “Timed doses you can repeat”.
7 models fit, out of 39 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Accurate tuning for espresso”, “Espresso and filter from one grinder”, and “Timed doses you can repeat”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder |
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| Baratza Sette 30 |
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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 Conical Burr Grinder
One grinder does duty for both espresso and filter coffee.
See price & reviews on AmazonBaratza Sette 30
A saved grind time for familiar beans is what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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