The catch
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
With forty steps, it lacks the fine control you would want for unpressurized espresso.
Side by side
Baratza Encore vs Encore ESP: Smaller espresso steps come from ESP, and neither weighs your dose
Quick verdict
If you only brew filter coffee and the Encore’s current offer is meaningfully cheaper, buy the Encore. If espresso is part of the plan, buy the Encore ESP. Its lower 20 settings make smaller grind changes, and the cup that comes with it transfers into common 54 mm and 58 mm baskets. Neither model weighs or times the dose for you.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Not all forty settings are equal
The ESP adjusts at a set pitch for espresso and a coarser pitch for filter.
Where this comes from
According to the manual, settings 1 to 20 are separate from 21 to 40, and the lower range makes smaller changes.
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.
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Why pick it
- Drip, pour-over or French press are all you make.
- You like the original’s simple controls and have no need for espresso.
- The catch
- With forty steps, it lacks the fine control you would want for unpressurized espresso.
Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Why pick it
- Espresso is on your list alongside filter coffee.
- The included 54 mm cup and 58 mm adapter are what you are after.
- The catch
- Its hopper and internal path hold on to more coffee than a grinder built for single dosing.
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What this page compares
Baratza Encore vs Encore ESP, compared for filter coffee and espresso. Find out why the 40 settings differ in meaning across the models and how the dosing cups change the way you use them.
If you only brew filter coffee and the Encore’s current offer is meaningfully cheaper, buy the Encore. If espresso is part of the plan, buy the Encore ESP. Its lower 20 settings make smaller grind changes, and the cup that comes with it transfers into common 54 mm and 58 mm baskets. Neither model weighs or times the dose for you.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I only brew filter coffee
Filter brewing is covered by both. If you never use an espresso machine, the ESP's finer espresso range is worth less to you.
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Good
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Good
I need to adjust espresso more finely
Finer adjustment on the ESP is concentrated in its espresso range. With the standard Encore's wider steps, dialing in an unpressurized basket is less precise.
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
My basket is 54 mm or 58 mm
For common 54 mm and 58 mm baskets, the ESP comes with a dosing-cup setup. The standard Encore's grounds-bin workflow needs a separate transfer step.
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
I want grams dosed automatically
Neither grinder weighs a dose on its own. If your recipe has a target weight, use an external scale.
- Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- Not suitable
- Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Not all forty settings are equal
The ESP adjusts at a set pitch for espresso and a coarser pitch for filter.
How we worked this out
According to the manual, settings 1 to 20 are separate from 21 to 40, and the lower range makes smaller changes.
A single cup in the box serves two common baskets
Take the adapter off for 54 mm and keep it on for 58 mm.
How we worked this out
Both transfer configurations are specified in the Encore ESP manual.
Even an espresso upgrade needs a scale routine
The ESP gives finer grind control, yet how many grams to grind is still up to you.
How we worked this out
All it has for controls is an on/off switch and a pulse button, with no timed or weight-target dosing.
Option A
Baratza, ZCG485BLK
Encore Conical Burr Grinder
This filter grinder keeps things simple, with a wide hopper and a clearly numbered dial. Its serviceable design has kept it going for a long time on home counters.
- Best for
- Filter drinkers who want plain controls and replacement parts they can get hold of
Facts we checked
- Conical steel burrs, 40 mm
- 40 settings for grind
- Bean hopper of 300 g
- Side on or off switch and a pulse button on the front
Option B
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
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder | Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustment range | 40 stepped settings | 40 settings split into two pitches | The overall count masks the ESP's smaller espresso adjustments. |
| Espresso zone | No dedicated two-pitch zone | Settings 1 to 20 | Half of the ESP's numbered settings go to finer espresso changes. |
| Filter zone | Broad brew-oriented range | Settings 21 to 40 | Filter coffee remains covered on the ESP, with bigger moves between steps. |
| Basket transfer | Grounds bin | 54 mm dosing cup with 58 mm adapter | Two common basket sizes get a transfer route on the ESP. |
| Dose automation | Manual start and stop | Manual start and stop | Moving up to the ESP brings no weighing and no programmable timer. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
- You dose by hand. There is no timer and no portafilter holder.
With Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
- It has neither a timed dose nor active static control.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with the Encore if you brew only filter coffee and its current offer is meaningfully cheaper. Go with the Encore ESP if espresso is part of the plan, since its lower 20 settings make smaller grind changes and its supplied cup transfers into common 54 mm and 58 mm baskets. Neither grinder weighs or times the dose for you.
Choose based on the machine you really use
For filter coffee, the original Encore is still a sensible buy. When an espresso machine already sits on your counter or is firmly planned, the ESP's adjustment design is aimed squarely at that need.
Dial numbers are not directly comparable
Setting 15 on one grinder will not carry over as a recipe to the other. The settings Baratza suggests are only starting points, and the beans and dose still matter.
Remember what is still manual
Weighing, starting and stopping are still up to you. The cup on the ESP tidies up the transfer, but the Encore platform does not become a grind-by-weight machine because of it.
What this page can’t tell you
- The specifications cover the listed version only. They say nothing about a taste ranking or about retention measured in your kitchen.
- Before you buy, check the exact model, the seller, the accessories included and, where it applies, the US electrical version.
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: “Espresso and filter from one grinder”, “Accurate tuning for espresso”, and “Spare parts and lasting support”.
7 models fit, out of 39 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Espresso and filter from one grinder”, “Accurate tuning for espresso”, and “Spare parts and lasting support”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder |
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| Baratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder |
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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 Conical Burr Grinder
Drip, pour-over or French press are all you make.
See price & reviews on AmazonBaratza Encore ESP Conical Burr Grinder
Espresso is on your list alongside filter coffee.
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