Baratza Encore vs Baratza Encore ESP
Stablemates — both from Baratza, aimed at different mornings.
About CA$80 apart — the split below is what the gap buys.
Baratza
Community defaultUS$119–175 · CA$195–200
A decade-plus institution for good reason: 40mm conical burrs, wide availability of replacement parts, and a price point that clears the way for a better espresso machine. Accept that it is…
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
Encore
Encore ESP
Retention
Encore leads, decisively
~0.5 g· ~2.5 g
The price
Encore costs less, decisively
CA$195–200· CA$275–280
Espresso duty
Encore ESP leads, clearly
Brew range
Encore leads, clearly
Built to last
Encore leads, clearly
Quiet operation
Encore 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: Appliance-neutral industrial look; kitchen-approval talk minimal; bought for function, not counter presence.
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 — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
On the counter
The size difference, to scale
So — which one?
Take the Encore if —
- You rotate beans and hate purging
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
- You brew more ways than one
- You are buying once
Take the Encore ESP if —
- Espresso is the job, full stop
- You weigh every dose anyway
Both columns reading true? Take the Encore and put the difference into fresh, roast-dated beans — they move the cup more than this choice will.
Known weak points
Encore
motor burn-out under heavy daily use reported in multi-year ownership; upper burr wear over 5+ years of espresso grinding documented on Home-Barista
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
Encore ESP
Class
Entry espresso-capable
Entry espresso-capable
Burrs
conical
conical
Drive
Electric
Electric
Clarity lean
Syrup & body
Syrup & body
Espresso suitability
2/5
3/5
Brew versatility
4/5
3/5
Retention
~0.5 g
~2.5 g
Single dosing
No
Yes
Hopper
227 g
300 g
Workflow demand
2/5
2/5
Maintenance
1/5
2/5
Noise
2/5
3/5
Build longevity
4/5
3/5
Dimensions
12 × 16 × 35 cm
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 →