Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2
Two answers to the same question — the split below is the whole argument.
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 →
Fellow
CA$259–299 · US$199–249
This is Fellow fixing the original Opus's homework: bigger burrs, a stepless dial instead of the fussy dual-ring system, and a shot that grinds in about 9 seconds instead of a minute and a h…
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.
Encore ESP
Opus 2
Retention
Opus 2 leads, decisively
~2.5 g· ~0.7 g
Brew range
Opus 2 leads, clearly
weakerstronger
Their burrs share a character — this choice will not change the shape of your cup.
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.
Opus 2: Appliance-neutral industrial look — quiet operation is the design story, not aesthetics; no polarization or "kitchen approval" talk in the record.
Where they tie: espresso duty · reliability record · built to last · 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 —
Hard case to make: the Opus 2 leads everywhere the data separates them. This one is a deal-day purchase, not a first choice.
Take the Opus 2 if —
- You rotate beans and hate purging
- You brew more ways than one
The Opus 2 leads everywhere the data separates them, at the same money — the Encore ESP's case is taste, looks, or a deal you couldn't refuse.
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
Opus 2
Macro/micro adjustment rings reported finicky and prone to drift; conical burr wear accelerates with high-volume use — no widely documented catastrophic failures but longevity concerns noted.
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
Encore ESP
Opus 2
Class
Entry espresso-capable
Entry espresso-capable
Burrs
conical
48mm conical
Drive
Electric
Electric
Clarity lean
Syrup & body
Syrup & body
Espresso suitability
3/5
3.5/5
Brew versatility
3/5
4/5
Retention
~2.5 g
~0.7 g
Single dosing
Yes
Yes
Hopper
300 g
110 g
Workflow demand
2/5
—
Maintenance
2/5
1.5/5
Noise
3/5
2.5/5
Build longevity
3/5
2.5/5
Dimensions
13 × 15 × 34 cm
12.9 × 21 × 26.8 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 →