Baratza Encore ESP vs Option-O Remi
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 →
Option-O
CA$280–330 · US$220–240
The Remi is the most refined iteration of the Helor 101 lineage — a beautifully machined, single-dose hand grinder that excels at filter coffee and can pull espresso duty if you have patienc…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
Encore ESP
Remi
Quiet operation
Remi leads, decisively
Retention
Remi leads, decisively
~2.5 g· ~0.1 g
Value per dollar
Encore ESP leads, clearly
Brew range
Remi leads, clearly
Reliability record
Encore ESP leads, clearly
Built to last
Remi leads, clearly
weakerstronger
Their burrs share a character — this choice will not change the shape of your cup.
The counter’s vote
The Remi is the one the crowd demonstrably buys partly for its looks — we report the vote; the judging is yours.
Encore ESP: Appliance-neutral industrial styling; no design polarization in purchase motivation.
Remi: Single-block aluminum carving with wood handle wins aesthetic appeal; "gorgeous on the counter" talk is real; wooden handle and magnetic grounds catch cited as design wins.
Only the Remi: hand-cranked silence.
Where they tie: espresso duty — 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 —
- Every dollar has to earn its place
- It has to just work, every day
Take the Remi if —
- There are sleepers to protect
- You rotate beans and hate purging
- You brew more ways than one
- You are buying once
Both columns reading true? Take the one your gut already picked — then stop reading reviews. Fresh beans will 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
Remi
Early burr wear (tightening required within months of use); unresponsive customer service.
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
Encore ESP
Remi
Class
Entry espresso-capable
Hand grinder
Burrs
conical
38mm conical
Drive
Electric
Hand-cranked
Clarity lean
Syrup & body
Syrup & body
Espresso suitability
3/5
3/5
Brew versatility
3/5
4/5
Retention
~2.5 g
~0.1 g
Single dosing
Yes
Yes
Hopper
300 g
35 g
Workflow demand
2/5
5/5
Maintenance
2/5
1/5
Noise
3/5
0/5
Build longevity
3/5
4/5
Dimensions
13 × 15 × 34 cm
10.5 × 10.5 × 15.5 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 →