1Zpresso X-Ultra vs Baratza Encore
The crowd’s default against the challenger.
About CA$43 apart — the split below is what the gap buys.
1Zpresso
CA$230–250 · US$155–165
The X-Ultra is a genuinely capable all-rounder in a slim, travel-ready form: the 12.5-micron external dial is one of the easiest to use in this segment, and the magnetic catch cup and foldab…
Full record & live prices →
Baratza
Community defaultUS$119–175 · CA$195–200
A decade-plus institution for good reason: 40mm conical burrs, wide availability of replacement parts, and a price point that clears the way for a better espresso machine. Accept that it is…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
On 5 of 7 measures these two tie. The 2 rows below are the entire argument.
X-Ultra
Encore
Espresso duty
X-Ultra leads, clearly
Quiet operation
X-Ultra leads, clearly
The price
Encore costs less, clearly
CA$230–250· CA$195–200
weakerstronger
The X-Ultra leans the balanced middle; the Encore leans syrup and body. Pick the cup, not the machine.
The counter’s vote
Looks barely figure in either machine’s record — the counter can sit this one out.
X-Ultra: Industrial minimalist aesthetic — anodized aluminium, no ornament — reads as competent tool rather than kitchen showpiece; neutral reception, no polarization in purchase rationale.
Encore: Appliance-neutral industrial look; kitchen-approval talk minimal; bought for function, not counter presence.
Only the X-Ultra: a single-dose workflow.
Only the X-Ultra: hand-cranked silence.
Where they tie: brew range · retention · reliability record · built to last · value per dollar — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
So — which one?
Take the X-Ultra if —
- Bright, separated cups are the goal
- Espresso is the job, full stop
- There are sleepers to protect
- You weigh every dose anyway
Take the Encore if —
- Syrupy, traditional cups are the goal
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
The X-Ultra at ~22% more buys real things: espresso duty and quiet operation. If those aren't your mornings, the Encore does the job and keeps the difference in your pocket.
Known weak points
Encore
motor burn-out under heavy daily use reported in multi-year ownership; upper burr wear over 5+ years of espresso grinding documented on Home-Barista
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
X-Ultra
Encore
Class
Midrange
Entry espresso-capable
Burrs
40mm conical
conical
Drive
Hand-cranked
Electric
Adjustment
Stepped (micro)
—
Clarity lean
Balanced
Syrup & body
Espresso suitability
3/5
2/5
Brew versatility
4/5
4/5
Retention
~0.1 g
~0.5 g
Single dosing
Yes
No
Hopper
30 g
227 g
Workflow demand
4/5
2/5
Maintenance
1/5
1/5
Noise
1/5
2/5
Build longevity
4/5
4/5
Dimensions
—
12 × 16 × 35 cm
Wrong match-up? Change one side → — any two on file compare.
Still torn?
This page weighs them against each other. The finder weighs them against your mornings.
Two minutes of questions — milk, noise, budget, space — scored across everything on file. It’s honest when the answer is neither of these.
Take the two-minute finder →