Baratza Encore ESP vs Eureka Mignon Crono
Same class, different tax brackets.
About CA$48 apart — the split below is what the gap buys.
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 →
Eureka
CA$280–370 · US$200–280
This is the Mignon platform with the fluff stripped out: same motor and chassis as pricier siblings, but a basic timer knob instead of a portafilter fork and no sound-dampening. Buy it for p…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
On 3 of 6 measures these two tie. The 3 rows below are the entire argument.
Encore ESP
Mignon Crono
Espresso duty
Encore ESP leads, clearly
Brew range
Mignon Crono leads, clearly
Built to last
Mignon Crono leads, clearly
The price
Encore ESP costs less, clearly
CA$275–280· CA$280–370
weakerstronger
The Mignon Crono 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.
Encore ESP: Appliance-neutral industrial styling; no design polarization in purchase motivation.
Only the Encore ESP: a single-dose workflow.
Where they tie: reliability record · value per dollar · quiet operation — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
On the counter
The size difference, to scale
So — which one?
Take the Encore ESP if —
- Syrupy, traditional cups are the goal
- Espresso is the job, full stop
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
- You weigh every dose anyway
Take the Mignon Crono if —
- Bright, separated cups are the goal
- You brew more ways than one
- You are buying once
Both columns reading true? Take the Encore ESP and put the difference into fresh, roast-dated beans — they move the cup more than this choice will.
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.
Encore ESP
Mignon Crono
Class
Entry espresso-capable
Entry espresso-capable
Burrs
conical
50mm flat
Drive
Electric
Electric
Clarity lean
Syrup & body
Balanced
Espresso suitability
3/5
2/5
Brew versatility
3/5
4/5
Retention
~2.5 g
—
Single dosing
Yes
No
Hopper
300 g
300 g
Workflow demand
2/5
—
Maintenance
2/5
2/5
Noise
3/5
3/5
Build longevity
3/5
4/5
Dimensions
13 × 15 × 34 cm
12 × 19 × 35 cm
Adjustment
—
Stepless
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 →