Specialty coffee association award-winning grinders - Baratza grinders are preferred by coffee professionals and tops the list of review sites like wirecutter.
Dual-range adjustment system - this innovative multi-purpose adjustment mechanism features micro-steps from #1-20 for high resolution espresso grinding, and macro-steps from #21-40 suitable for filter brewing methods.
User friendly - fresh coffee is as simple as a single-handed hopper twist for grind size adjustment, then a push of the front-mounted pulse button, or a turn of the on/off switch.
Quick-release burr - the burr mounting system has been redesigned to allow for quick removal without taking the entire grinder apart. That means it's easier than ever to clean and maintain the Encore ESP without the need for extra tools.
Eengineered with 40mm hardened alloy steel burrs manufactured in Liechtenstein, Europe, plus a powerful DC motor. This combination creates a consistent grind and durability to ensure the longevity users have come to expect from the Baratza brand.
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Specialty coffee association award-winning grinders - Baratza grinders are preferred by coffee professionals and tops the list of review sites like wirecutter.
Dual-range adjustment system - this innovative multi-purpose adjustment mechanism features micro-steps from #1-20 for high resolution espresso grinding, and macro-steps from #21-40 suitable for filter brewing methods.
User friendly - fresh coffee is as simple as a single-handed hopper twist for grind size adjustment, then a push of the front-mounted pulse button, or a turn of the on/off switch.
Quick-release burr - the burr mounting system has been redesigned to allow for quick removal without taking the entire grinder apart. That means it's easier than ever to clean and maintain the Encore ESP without the need for extra tools.
Eengineered with 40mm hardened alloy steel burrs manufactured in Liechtenstein, Europe, plus a powerful DC motor. This combination creates a consistent grind and durability to ensure the longevity users have come to expect from the Baratza brand.
The Encore ESP is a compact burr grinder aimed at espresso and everyday brewing, with precise, consistent grinds and a reputation for lasting through years of daily use. Baratza support stands out too, with replacement burrs, parts, and repair guides available directly, which helps keep the grinder running instead of replacing it. The main drawback is noise, and long use can dull the burrs and slow grinding. It also sits below pricier DF54 style grinders for grind quality and build, making it a practical entry point with some tradeoffs.
espresso-focused beginners shopping for an "intro" grinder because commenters call it a good intro espresso grinder at this price (especially if you can stack savings like Amex offers).
coffee drinkers who grind fresh beans often and want something they can keep running for years because users describe daily use for 5+ to 7 years with quarterly cleaning and consistent grinds.
owners who don't mind doing basic maintenance because Baratza provides guides and sells replacement burrs/parts, and commenters say ordering new burrs/tools isn't too difficult.
daily home baristas who want an entry-level burr grinder for espresso and other brew methods because people report using it daily for espresso and everything else and even upgrading from the regular Encore.
espresso hobbyists who want a more premium grinder experience because commenters say the next step up (like DF54) costs more but provides much better grind quality, build quality, and lower noise levels.
people expecting it to be ideal for espresso if they're buying the original Encore rather than the ESP variant because one commenter notes the original Encore was better geared for non-espresso methods, while the ESP variant is the one capable for espresso.
The Encore ESP is capable for espresso and also works for other brew methods. It is described as a strong entry-level automatic espresso grinder, while the original Encore is better suited to non-espresso brewing.
Baratza sells replacement burrs, tools, and other parts directly, and provides guides for maintenance and repairs. That makes it practical to replace worn burrs after long daily use instead of replacing the whole grinder.
After 5+ years of daily use, grinding can take substantially longer, which points to dull burrs. Replacing the burrs is the suggested fix, and the grinder is built to be serviced rather than discarded.
It is very loud, with the noise called out as the main drawback even after years of use. Despite that, it is described as solid and consistent for daily grinding.
Anyone know what to do with these when the grinders dull? We've used ours daily for 5+ years and it takes substantially longer to grind 80g of coffee beans now than it did when it was new. Also, highly recommend this thing for everything except espresso if you're looking for an upper end conical burr grinder. It's precise and consistent.
Yeah, just go to their website and order some new burrs and the tools you need to do the job. I did this a few years ago with my Vario. It's not too difficult. Baratza prides themselves on helping their customers keep their machines running forever.
I've had my encore for going on 7 years now. Daily use. Clean it about once a quarter if even that. It is a tank. Not a single issue out of it. Perfect grinds every time. Big loud. Bet I could put a phone book or pine in to it. Also you get to "see" the grinding parts do their thing, which is an underrated feature. They don't go as fast as the thing sounds (it is a beautifully horrible noise esp in the morning) but you can tell that it is indeed skookum. It chooches. She brings the beans, more ways than one.
This purchase is expensive, yes, for a singular purposed coffee grinder it's borderline absurd- but it puts a period on the end of the coffee grinding sentence for a long time. I heavily heavily recommend this product if you're getting into coffee heavy. I broke several other burr grinders before this one. They would last a little over a year unless I went super cheapo.
Also check after market/used as rich people buy this to show it off, but don't actually use it and buy ground coffee- realize how much it costs, and dump it. They make Beanz (product name) to clean burr grinders and most people love to use those. I just take it apart because I can't help it.
Good intro espresso grinder and price, especially if you can get some back with AMEX.
I bought a used regular encore for like $30 (amazon bin store) and did the conversion to get a good espresso grind. Baratza sells all replacement parts you need to keep the grinder going. Ended up being cheaper than this and saved it from the landfill.. used market is always something to consider.
Next step up for espresso from this is maybe a DF54 ($250)
Anyone know what to do with these when the grinders dull? We've used ours daily for 5+ years and it takes substantially longer to grind 80g of coffee beans now than it did when it was new. Also, highly recommend this thing for everything except espresso if you're looking for an upper end conical burr grinder. It's precise and consistent.
Reach out to Baratza customer service, who are actually helpful! You may just need to replace the burrs which may have gotten dull with your daily use for that long. They sell all replacement parts directly on their website. Also for anyone reading, this deal is the newer ESP variant of the Encore which IS capable for espresso. OP's model is the original Encore which was better geared for non-espresso brew methods.
I read a comment that Baratza's excellent customer service has declined somewhat, to be more in line with the customer service of the company that bought it -- Breville. Has anyone experienced this?
Generally speaking, integrated grinders are hardly ever up to par with standalone ones. That said, the Baratza Encore ESP is widely considered one of the best value/bang for your buck espresso grinders under $200. Also, when it comes to espresso, the grinder actually plays a greater role in quality of shots pulled than the machine itself - order of importance: Fresh Beans > Grinder > Espresso Machine TL;DR - this will certainly elevate your espresso shots over the integrated grinders on Breville machines.
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The Encore ESP is a compact burr grinder aimed at espresso and everyday brewing, with precise, consistent grinds and a reputation for lasting through years of daily use. Baratza support stands out too, with replacement burrs, parts, and repair guides available directly, which helps keep the grinder running instead of replacing it. The main drawback is noise, and long use can dull the burrs and slow grinding. It also sits below pricier DF54 style grinders for grind quality and build, making it a practical entry point with some tradeoffs.
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This purchase is expensive, yes, for a singular purposed coffee grinder it's borderline absurd- but it puts a period on the end of the coffee grinding sentence for a long time. I heavily heavily recommend this product if you're getting into coffee heavy. I broke several other burr grinders before this one. They would last a little over a year unless I went super cheapo.
Also check after market/used as rich people buy this to show it off, but don't actually use it and buy ground coffee- realize how much it costs, and dump it. They make Beanz (product name) to clean burr grinders and most people love to use those. I just take it apart because I can't help it.
I bought a used regular encore for like $30 (amazon bin store) and did the conversion to get a good espresso grind. Baratza sells all replacement parts you need to keep the grinder going. Ended up being cheaper than this and saved it from the landfill.. used market is always something to consider.
Next step up for espresso from this is maybe a DF54 ($250)
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