Baratza Encore ESP Review: The 3.9 Star Problem
Quick Answer
The baratza encore esp is a genuinely capable $199.95 entry espresso grinder with a rating problem caused mostly by one plastic part and slow parts supply, not by bad coffee. On Amazon (checked November 5, 2026) it sits at 3.9 stars from 1,439 reviews while the cheaper original Encore holds 4.1 stars from 16,669 reviews. Buy it if you own a Breville Bambino or De'Longhi Dedica and pull medium to dark roasts. Skip it if you chase light-roast espresso, where its stepped adjustment runs out of room.
Key Takeaways
- Price checked November 5, 2026: $199.95 on Amazon and on Baratza's own US site, against $149.95 for the original Encore.
- The rating gap is 0.2 stars (3.9 vs 4.1), but Baratza's own product page showed a harsher 3.3/5 from 77 reviews, with only 10 of 32 shown reviewers recommending it.
- The most repeated complaint is the plastic ring burr holder cracking somewhere between 7 months and 2 years, with replacement parts back-ordered.
- Independent scoring is friendlier: BrewSift gave 8.1/10 and The Espresso Report gave 4.4/5, both based on specs and owner reports rather than lab testing .
- Encore ESP grind settings split 1-40 into two jobs: 1-20 for espresso, 21-40 for pour over, French press and cold brew .
- Specs: 40 mm M2 conical steel burrs, 550 RPM, 70 W motor, 300 g hopper, 120 g bin, one-year baratza warranty.
- Closest rival under $300: the DF54 single-dose grinder, stepless and better for light roasts, at a higher price and a messier workflow .
Baratza Encore ESP: What the 3.9 Star Rating Actually Means
A 3.9 average on a grinder usually means one of two things: the machine grinds badly, or something about owning it goes wrong later. With the baratza encore esp, the evidence points firmly at the second.
Look at the shape of the reviews rather than the average. On Baratza's own US product page the score was 3.3 out of 5 from 77 reviews, broken down as 35 five-star, 5 four-star, 4 three-star, 17 two-star and 16 one-star. That is a barbell, not a bell curve. Thirty-five people love it. Thirty-three people had something break or could not get the part to fix it.
Compare that with the independent reviews, which judge grind quality and value instead of after-sales support. BrewSift scored the grinder 8.1/10, with 8.2 for grind consistency, 8.0 for espresso range, 8.4 for brew range, 7.4 for low retention, 7.0 for noise, 8.0 for workflow and 9.0 for value . The Espresso Report scored it 4.4/5, including 4.9/5 for repairability and support, and stated plainly that its verdict comes from published specifications and owner reports, not hands-on lab testing .
Two honest readings of the same grinder: it makes good espresso, and a meaningful minority of owners had a plastic part fail before they expected it to.
What's Wrong With the Baratza Encore ESP, and Why Are the Ratings Low?
The main fault owners report is the plastic ring burr holder cracking, combined with replacement parts being out of stock. That combination turns a cheap repair into a dead grinder.
Reviews posted on Baratza's product page roughly 5 to 19 days before November 6, 2026 described the holder failing anywhere from 7 months to 2 years into ownership, then being unable to buy the spare. Baratza's public replies acknowledged both the parts-availability and support-response problems and said the company was working to improve them. No recall, safety notice, or announced redesign of the holder appeared on the product page as of that date. No CPSC or EU safety alert was located either, so this reads as a supply and service issue, not a regulatory one.
What are people complaining about with the Baratza Encore ESP
Grouped by how often the themes appear in owner reviews:
- Ring burr holder cracks. The part that seats the outer burr is plastic. When it fails, grind size drifts or the grinder stops cutting evenly.
- Parts and support delays. Several owners reported back-orders and slow replies. This is the complaint that pushes a 3-star annoyance down to 1 star.
- Static and clumping. Common to most entry grinders. Fine espresso settings throw grounds and stick them to the chute.
- Stepped settings feel coarse at the fine end. One click too fine chokes the shot, one click back and it gushes .
- Spec confusion. Retailers list hopper capacity as 230 g or 300 g and grind rates as 0.8-1.1, 1.3-2.2 or 1.5-2.4 g/s depending on market . Baratza's own page lists roughly 1.3 g/s at setting 10 and 2.2 g/s at setting 30.
Baratza Encore ESP common problems and how to fix them
- Shots choke or run fast at the same setting. Usually grounds packed around the burrs. Unplug, pull the hopper and ring burr, brush out the chaff, reseat and recalibrate. Do it monthly if you pull espresso daily.
- Static spray. Add two or three drops of water to the beans before grinding (the RDT trick). It costs nothing and stops most of the mess.
- Clumps in the basket. Grind into a dosing cup, then stir with a needle tool before tamping.
- Grind size drifted suddenly. Inspect the ring burr holder for a hairline crack. If it is cracked, contact Baratza support and ask about current stock before ordering anything else.
- Grinder stalls on dark oily beans. Back off one or two clicks and dose smaller. The 70 W motor is modest.
Edge case: if you bought the grinder secondhand, check the holder before your first shot. A cracked holder on a used unit is the most likely reason it was sold cheap.
Is the Baratza Encore ESP Actually Good for Espresso?
Yes, for medium and dark roasts in a pressurized or standard basket. It becomes limiting with light roasts, which is the single clearest reason to buy something else.
The grinder is stepped, not stepless. You pick a click; there is nothing between two adjacent positions. The ESP widens the gaps at the coarse end and tightens them at the fine end so that most of settings 1-20 land in espresso territory, which is a real design improvement over the original Encore . For a Breville Bambino pulling a 1:2 ratio from a medium roast, you will usually find a workable click within three or four tries.
Light roasts are denser and need finer, more precise adjustment. Owners and reviewers both report the familiar pattern there: one click floods, the next click strangles the shot . If your shelf is full of single origin Ethiopian naturals from a specialty roaster, the stepped adjustment will frustrate you long before the plastic holder does.
Does the Baratza Encore ESP grind fine enough for espresso?
It does. Fineness is not the limitation; resolution between steps is. The 40 mm M2 conical steel burrs at 550 RPM reach true espresso fineness, and The Espresso Report rated espresso resolution 4.3/5 and versatility 4.6/5 . BrewSift's 8.0 for espresso range tells a similar story . The practical meaning: you can hit 25 to 30 seconds for a double from a medium roast, but you may need to adjust dose or temperature to fine-tune between clicks.
Decision rule: choose the baratza encore esp if at least 70% of your beans are medium or darker. Choose a stepless grinder if you buy light roasts more than occasionally.
Baratza Encore ESP vs Encore: What's Actually Different?
The encore esp vs encore difference is the burr geometry and the adjustment mapping, not the motor or the body. The ESP costs $50 more and spends that money on espresso capability.
| Encore ESP | Original Encore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (checked Nov 5, 2026) | $199.95 | $149.95 |
| Amazon rating | 3.9 stars, 1,439 reviews | 4.1 stars, 16,669 reviews |
| Burrs | 40 mm M2 conical steel | 40 mm conical steel |
| Settings | 40 stepped, 1-20 espresso focused | 40 stepped, filter focused |
| Espresso capable | Yes, medium and dark roasts | Marginal at best |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
What makes the Baratza Encore ESP different from other Encore models
Three models now share the name, which is where buyers get tripped up.
- Encore: filter grinder. Great for pour over, French press and drip. Not built to reach espresso fineness reliably.
- Encore ESP: same chassis, remapped settings and M2 burrs so the fine half of the dial does espresso work .
- Encore ESP Pro: the newer model Baratza now promotes prominently on its site. Retailer pages sometimes mix Pro and standard specs, so confirm the exact model code before you buy.
Common mistake: ordering the $149.95 Encore for a Bambino because the listings look nearly identical. If espresso is the goal, the standard Encore is the wrong purchase at any price.
Can You Use the Baratza Encore ESP for Other Brewing Methods?
Yes, and this is where it quietly earns its keep. Settings 21-40 cover pour over, drip, French press and cold brew, and BrewSift's highest grind sub-score was 8.4 for brew range .
For practical reference points: around 25 for a V60 pour over, around 30 for a Chemex, 35 and above for French press and cold brew. Those are starting points, not gospel. Adjust by taste. If your pour over tastes thin and sour, go finer by two clicks. If it tastes dry and bitter, go coarser.
One honest friction: the grinder has no memory. Moving from espresso at setting 8 to French press at setting 36 and back means recounting clicks and re-dialing your shot the next morning. Single-brew households will not care. If you pull espresso on weekdays and brew pour over on weekends, expect to waste a dose or two each time you switch. Our guide to brewing a Starbucks-style iced shaken espresso at home is a good test drink for that espresso-side dial-in.
How Much Does the Baratza Encore ESP Cost, and Is It Worth the Price?
$199.95, checked November 5, 2026, on both Amazon and Baratza's US site. It is worth it if you already own an entry espresso machine and want espresso tonight rather than a hobby grinder in six months.
Encore ESP price, Amazon and Baratza, checked Nov 5, 2026
Amazon stars and review count, checked Nov 5, 2026
Score on Baratza’s own product page, Nov 6, 2026
BrewSift score, specs and owner reports
Value scoring from independent reviewers was the ESP's strongest category: 9.0/10 at BrewSift and 4.5/5 at The Espresso Report . That tells you the grind-per-dollar case is solid. The ownership case is the one with the asterisk.
Five Features We Love
- Dual-resolution grind mapping (1-20 espresso, 21-40 filter). Most $200 grinders force one compromise across the whole dial. This one gives espresso the fine clicks it needs and still reaches French press coarse .
- 40 mm M2 conical steel burrs at 550 RPM. Slow burr speed means less heat and less static than high-RPM budget grinders, and consistency scored 8.2/10 at BrewSift .
- Genuine repairability. Baratza built its reputation on selling parts and publishing repair guides. The Espresso Report scored repairability and support 4.9/5 . The current complaint is stock, not design philosophy.
- A hopper you can actually use. 300 g up top, 120 g in the grounds bin, so you can leave beans loaded for a few days of drinking rather than single-dosing every morning.
- Small footprint and simple controls. One dial, one switch, one pulse button. It fits beside a Bambino without a counter rearrangement, and nobody needs a manual to use it.
What to Watch Out For
- The plastic ring burr holder. The most reported failure point, with owner reports of cracks at 7 months to 2 years.
- Parts back-orders. Baratza acknowledged slow parts availability and support response in public replies dated within three weeks of November 6, 2026. Check stock before you need it.
- Stepped, not stepless. Light-roast espresso will feel pinched between clicks .
- Static and clumping at fine settings, fixable with a drop of water on the beans but still an extra step.
- Model name confusion. Encore, Encore ESP and the newer Encore ESP Pro all exist. Verify the model code at checkout.
- One-year baratza warranty. Standard for the price, but shorter than some rivals, and several failure reports land just outside it.
Baratza Encore ESP vs the Best Alternatives Under $300
Compare the models side by side before you commit. Prices below were checked November 4-5, 2026.
Entry espresso grinders compared (prices checked Nov 4-5, 2026)
| Grinder | Price | Adjustment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP | $199.95 | 40 stepped | Bambino or Dedica owners, medium and dark roasts |
| Baratza Encore | $149.95 | 40 stepped | Pour over, drip and French press only |
| DF54 | Around $270 | Stepless, single dose | Light-roast espresso, dialing precision |
Sources: Baratza US product page; The Espresso Report; BrewSift; Coffee Standard DF54 review. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Best grinder alternative to the Baratza Encore ESP
If light-roast espresso is your target, the DF54 is the clearest step up. It is stepless, so you can land between clicks, and it single-doses, which keeps retention low . The tradeoffs are real: higher price, more bean-weighing per shot, and no hopper for lazy mornings. For broader shortlists, The Espresso Report maintains a best-under-$200 roundup and BrewSift keeps a grinder category index .
If you only brew filter coffee, save the $50 and buy the original Encore. It is the better-rated machine for that job and the extra espresso resolution does nothing for you.
this grinder Long-Term Reliability and Warranty
Expect good grind performance for years and plan for one plastic part. The this grinder carries a one-year baratza warranty, and the failure reports owners describe cluster from month 7 to year 2, which means some land inside coverage and some land just outside it.
Baratza's historical strength is that spare parts exist and the grinder comes apart with a screwdriver. The Espresso Report's 4.9/5 for repairability reflects that history . The 2026 complaint is narrower and more frustrating: the specific part owners need has been hard to get, and support replies have been slow. Baratza has acknowledged both issues publicly without announcing a redesign.
Practical move: when the grinder arrives, note the model code and burr-holder part number. If a spare is in stock and cheap, buying it early costs less than waiting out a back-order later.
Who Should Buy the this grinder and Who Should Skip It
Buy it if you:
- Own a Breville Bambino, Bambino Plus, De'Longhi Dedica or similar entry machine and need a grinder that actually reaches espresso.
- Drink medium or dark roasts, including supermarket and chain beans. If you are curious how those differ, see our breakdown of which coffee bean Starbucks uses.
- Want one grinder for espresso and the occasional pour over.
- Prefer a repairable machine with published parts over a sealed one.
- Are buying a gift for someone starting home espresso at a $200 budget.
Skip it if you:
- Chase light-roast single origin espresso. The stepped adjustment will fight you .
- Only brew filter coffee. Buy the $149.95 Encore.
- Want single dosing and near-zero retention. Look at the DF54 .
- Need a long warranty or same-week parts support for a machine you depend on daily.
Pros
- Espresso-capable at $199.95
- 40 mm M2 conical steel burrs, 8.2/10 consistency at BrewSift
- Covers espresso through cold brew on one dial
- Repairable design with published parts
- Compact, quiet enough, simple to run
Cons
- Plastic ring burr holder is the reported weak point
- Parts back-orders acknowledged by Baratza as of November 2026
- Stepped adjustment limits light-roast espresso
- Static and clumping at fine settings
- One-year warranty only
FAQ
Conclusion
The 3.9 star problem is a parts problem wearing a performance costume. The this grinder grinds well for the money, covers espresso through cold brew on one dial, and comes from a company that still sells screws and burrs instead of sealing the box shut. What it does not currently offer is reliable, fast access to the one plastic part that fails most often. That is why the score sits below the cheaper original Encore, and buyers deserve to know it before they order.
Winner rule, plainly: if you own a Bambino or a Dedica, drink medium or dark roasts, and have $200, this is the sensible grinder. If light-roast espresso is your target, spend up to a stepless model and save yourself a year of annoyance.
Next step: check the current price and confirm whether you are looking at the Encore, the Encore ESP, or the Encore ESP Pro, then search Baratza's parts store for the ring burr holder. If the spare is in stock and under $20, add it to the same order. Browse more gear verdicts in our coffee product reviews, compare the leaders in our top 10 coffee reviews, or practice your new espresso shots with homemade cold foam. Better Coffee Starts With Better Answers.
Affiliate disclosure: Coffee Rank IQ may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page. This review is based on manufacturer specifications, published owner reviews, and independent review sources, not hands-on laboratory testing. Prices were checked November 4 to 6, 2026 and change often.
