Why We Recommend the Baratza Encore ESP to Our Espresso Customers
The Baratza Encore ESP is a dedicated espresso grinder with 40mm conical burrs and a stepped adjustment ring that goes fine enough for real espresso — something the original Encore cannot do. It costs $199.95, runs quiet at 54 dB, and grinds a double shot in about 16 seconds. For most home espresso setups pulling 18–20g doses on a prosumer machine, it's the right grinder at the right price.
We stock it at Sandgate because our customers keep asking for a budget espresso grinder we can stand behind. This is the one.
What Makes the Encore ESP Different from the Original Encore
The original Encore is a workhorse for drip and pour-over, with 40 grind settings and a range that stops at medium-fine. It doesn't go fine enough for espresso — that's not a flaw, it's just not what it was designed for.
Baratza reworked the burr set and adjusted the stepped ring for the ESP, giving it 40 settings that actually reach espresso territory. The lower end of the range — settings 1 through 10 or so — is where you'll spend most of your time for espresso. You're working with steps, not infinite micro-adjustment, so dialing in requires some patience. Most users find a workable setting within two or three shots.
One thing most reviews skip: the ESP's plastic grounds bin develops an electrostatic charge over time, which causes fines to stick to the inside walls. A small brush (included in the box) handles it, but if you're used to a grinder with a magnetic portafilter holder or a dosing ring, the static is the one daily friction point. It's minor. Worth knowing upfront.
The burr size — 40mm — is on the smaller end for espresso grinders at this price. Larger burrs (54mm, 64mm) generate less heat and produce more consistent particle size distribution, which is why high-end grinders cost more. The Encore ESP's burrs are good for their class, but you'll notice a performance ceiling if you move to a more demanding espresso machine later. Plan accordingly.
Who It's For — and Who Should Look Elsewhere
Buy the Encore ESP if you:
- Pull espresso on a semi-automatic machine in the $300–$800 range (Gaggia Classic Pro, Breville Bambino Plus, De'Longhi Dedica Arte, Rancilio Silvia)
- Want a grinder you can buy once and not replace for several years
- Prefer ease of maintenance — the Encore ESP is one of the easiest grinders to clean in its class; burr access takes about 30 seconds
- Are brewing single-origin light roasts and want a grinder that won't muddy the cup with heat
Look elsewhere if you:
- Already own a high-end machine (La Marzocco Linea Mini, Rocket Espresso, ECM) — those machines will outperform what the ESP's burrs can resolve
- Want stepless micro-adjustment for competition-level dialing
- Plan to grind exclusively for filter coffee — the original Encore or a Fellow Opus will serve you better
What We Pair It With at Sandgate
The Encore ESP is particularly good with medium roasts that have some sweetness — stone fruit, chocolate, caramel. It's an honest grinder that doesn't add much of its own character to the cup, which matters when the coffee has something to say.
At Sandgate, we've had good results pairing the ESP with our espresso roasts — coffees we designed for 9-bar extraction with 25–30 second pull times. Try the Baratza Encore ESP with one of our espresso roasts and you'll hear the difference between a grinder that fights you and one that just works.
For medium-light single origins on a lower-pressure machine, the ESP handles the range — but expect to experiment more with dose and yield to dial in. That's not a grinder limitation, that's espresso. If you're still getting to know espresso technique, our easy guide to making great coffee covers the basics.
Encore ESP vs. Encore ESP Pro — Which to Buy in 2026
Baratza released the Encore ESP Pro in mid-2025, and it's worth comparing if you're shopping now.
The ESP Pro adds a digital display, a timer-based dosing mode (by time rather than by weight), and a refined burr set. It costs around $260 at current retail — roughly $60 more than the standard ESP.
The case for the standard ESP: the timer-based dosing on the Pro is a convenience feature, not a precision feature. Without a scale, you're still estimating. If you already weigh your doses (and you should), the Pro's timer adds nothing. The burr improvement is real but incremental — it matters at the margins, not in the cup.
Our recommendation: buy the Baratza Encore ESP if you're within the first year or two of pulling espresso at home. Save the difference toward better beans. Upgrade to the Pro or a mid-tier single-dose grinder (Niche Zero, DF64) when you've outgrown the stepped adjustment and want single-dose capability.
Shop the Baratza Encore ESP at Sandgate
We carry the Baratza Encore ESP because we use it. Our team was recommending it to Newport Beach customers pulling espresso on a Gaggia Classic before we ever stocked it — that's the kind of endorsement that ends up on a shelf.
Free shipping on orders over $75. Questions about which machine and grinder to pair? Email us or stop by our Newport Beach roastery.
FAQ
Is the Baratza Encore ESP worth it?
Yes. At $199.95, it grinds fine enough for 9-bar espresso, runs quiet at 54 dB, and is one of the easiest grinders in its class to maintain. For home espresso setups on a semi-automatic machine in the $300–$800 range, it's the right grinder at the right price.
What's the difference between the Baratza Encore and the Encore ESP?
The original Encore doesn't grind fine enough for espresso — it tops out at medium-fine for drip and pour-over. The Encore ESP uses a different burr set with a reworked adjustment range that reaches espresso fineness. Same chassis, different capability.
Is the Encore ESP good for beginners?
Yes. The stepped adjustment means you commit to a setting, pull a shot, and taste before adjusting again — which builds real intuition about grind size faster than infinite micro-dialing. It's a learning-friendly format.
How loud is the Baratza Encore ESP?
Baratza rates it at 54 decibels — about the volume of a normal conversation. It's quieter than most semi-automatic espresso machines during the actual shot.
Does the Baratza Encore ESP work for pour-over or drip?
It can handle filter brewing in the upper half of its grind range, but it's optimized for espresso. If you mainly brew pour-over or drip, the original Baratza Encore or the Virtuoso+ will give you more range on the coarse end.
