1Zpresso X-Ultra vs Baratza Encore ESP
Same class, different tax brackets.
About CA$38 apart — and the gap buys nothing the data can taste.
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
Strong consensusUS$199–200 · CA$275–280
A capable entry point for anyone who wants a single grinder that dials in espresso without demanding a second machine for filter work. Accept that the plastic body is lightweight, static man…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
X-Ultra
Encore ESP
Retention
X-Ultra leads, decisively
~0.1 g· ~2.5 g
Quiet operation
X-Ultra leads, decisively
Brew range
X-Ultra leads, clearly
Built to last
X-Ultra leads, clearly
The price
X-Ultra costs less, clearly
CA$230–250· CA$275–280
weakerstronger
The X-Ultra leans the balanced middle; the Encore ESP 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 ESP: Appliance-neutral industrial styling; no design polarization in purchase motivation.
Only the X-Ultra: hand-cranked silence.
Where they tie: espresso duty · reliability record · 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
- You rotate beans and hate purging
- There are sleepers to protect
- You brew more ways than one
Take the Encore ESP if —
- Syrupy, traditional cups are the goal
The X-Ultra leads everywhere the data separates them — and costs less. The Encore ESP's case has to come from somewhere the data can't see: the look, the brand, or a used-market deal.
Known weak points
Encore ESP
Conical burr wear at extended espresso use; motor strain under heavy daily loads; dosing cup retention clips brittle with age
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 ESP
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
3/5
Brew versatility
4/5
3/5
Retention
~0.1 g
~2.5 g
Single dosing
Yes
Yes
Hopper
30 g
300 g
Workflow demand
4/5
2/5
Maintenance
1/5
2/5
Noise
1/5
3/5
Build longevity
4/5
3/5
Dimensions
—
13 × 15 × 34 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 →