The Baratza Encore ESP is the newest addition to Baratza’s lineup of high-quality grinders. It is an improved version of the Baratza Encore in terms of its functionality while still retaining its classic sleek style. Equator Coffee Roasters offers the ESP in a stylish black to compliment any kitchen’s décor. This electric coffee grinder is both beginner-friendly and budget-friendly to suit your at-home brewing needs.

Let’s dive into a more detailed review of the Encore ESP.

Baratza Encore ESP

40 mm M2 conical steel burrs
Compatible with 54 mm and 58 mm portafilters
Grinds finely for espresso and coarsely for cold brew

Baratza has released 10 grinders since it was founded in 1999 and bought by Breville in 2020. Its latest offering, the Encore ESP, measures 13 cm x 15 cm x 34 cm. It was designed and engineered in Seattle and manufactured and assembled in Taiwan. While the build is mostly made of plastic, its metal bottom is durable enough to keep the relatively lightweight electric grinder in place without worry of it toppling over. It has a bean hopper capacity of 300 g and an average grind speed ranging from 1.5 g/s to 2 g/s.

The most notable feature of the Encore ESP is it comes with a modified metal adjustment system with 40 mm M2 conical steel burrs. Each of the first 20 espresso grind steps has 9 microns per click, which offers excellent resolution when dialing in your espresso and gives you an even distribution of fine grounds for the most optimal extraction and better-tasting shots. Way better than the previous Encore model’s fineness capabilities.

The next 20 steps are more spaced out at 45 microns per click. Though not as precise as the espresso steps, these coarse grinds are better for other brewing methods if you prefer drip, french press, pour over, or cold brew coffee. We recommend starting at setting #15 for espresso and #24 for pour over and experimenting as needed. To adjust the desired grind setting, rotate the hopper relative to the body.

It’s a bit loud when in use, but not much louder than the other Baratza grinders.

Your resulting brews will be full-bodied and sweet with Instagrammable cremas. The end cup will be a bit less clear, which isn’t the most ideal for pour over coffees specifically, but there won’t be any muddiness.

The Encore ESP is easy to use: simply either press and hold the pulse button on the front of the grinder or turn the knob on the side for hands-free grinding. The burrs are removable for easy cleaning, and there is even a little brush included to help you clean them.

If you find your grounds are coming out clumpy, you may benefit from using a WDT tool, or Weiss Distribution Technique, to break up the clumps in your portafilter with a fine needle (1).

For batch brewing, use the static-free grounds bin, which results in less mess. For espresso, there is an adaptable dosing cup included to accommodate 54 mm portafilters, the size most commonly seen for home use. It also comes with a rubber conversion ring to fit 58 mm commercial standard portafilters.

And that’s the Baratza Encore ESP! It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and offers great value for your money.

References: