Baratza Encore ESP vs Eureka Mignon Zero
Same class, different tax brackets.
About CA$280 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
US$349 · CA$545–570
The Mignon Zero earns its reputation as a strong midrange single-dose espresso grinder: 55mm flat burrs, 0.2g retention, and genuine quiet operation in an all-metal body. What you accept is…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
Encore ESP
Mignon Zero
The price
Encore ESP costs less, decisively
CA$275–280· CA$545–570
Retention
Mignon Zero leads, decisively
~2.5 g· ~0.2 g
Quiet operation
Mignon Zero leads, decisively
Espresso duty
Mignon Zero leads, clearly
Brew range
Encore ESP leads, clearly
Built to last
Mignon Zero leads, clearly
weakerstronger
The Mignon Zero 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.
Mignon Zero: Compact utilitarian design; no design-driven purchase premium detected in community chatter—neutral appliance presence, bought for specs not countertop appeal.
Where they tie: reliability record · value per dollar — 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
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
- You brew more ways than one
Take the Mignon Zero if —
- Bright, separated cups are the goal
- You rotate beans and hate purging
- There are sleepers to protect
- Espresso is the job, full stop
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
Mignon Zero
Stepless dial wear and micro-adjustments drift reported by owners attempting fine tuning; no catastrophic mechanical failures documented in available record.
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 Zero
Class
Entry espresso-capable
Midrange
Burrs
conical
flat
Drive
Electric
Electric
Clarity lean
Syrup & body
Balanced
Espresso suitability
3/5
4/5
Brew versatility
3/5
2/5
Retention
~2.5 g
~0.2 g
Single dosing
Yes
Yes
Hopper
300 g
45 g
Workflow demand
2/5
3/5
Maintenance
2/5
2/5
Noise
3/5
1/5
Build longevity
3/5
4/5
Dimensions
13 × 15 × 34 cm
12 × 14 × 34.5 cm
One owner each
“This is a very well made and consistent grinder. Gets your grind right, with a very quiet motor.”
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 →