Baratza Encore ESP review: a practical UK buyer’s guide
The Encore ESP is the clearest Baratza route for a home brewer who wants one approachable grinder for both espresso and filter coffee. Its documented adjustment system gives settings 1–20 to espresso and 21–40 to filter methods. That range is useful, but switching brew methods still means moving the dial, purging retained grounds where needed and checking the next dose.
Evidence basis: manufacturer product information and the official manual, plus an Amazon UK detail-page availability check on 15 July 2026. This is not a personal-use assessment, and we do not use changing prices or customer ratings to reach the recommendation.
Bottom line
Choose it when: you want simple controls, intend to make espresso as well as AeroPress, filter or cafetière coffee, and are comfortable weighing doses separately. The fine half of the dial is deliberately higher-resolution, while the coarser half covers brewed-coffee methods.
Look elsewhere when: you need grind-by-weight dosing, a filter-only single-dose workflow, or a grinder that can jump between dialled-in espresso and coarse coffee repeatedly without recalibration.
Who the Encore ESP suits
- First-time home espresso buyers: the front pulse button, side on/off switch and included dosing cup avoid a complex display or programming layer.
- Mixed-method households: one documented range covers espresso through common filter methods, reducing the need for two entry-level grinders.
- People using a coffee scale: the grinder controls runtime rather than dose mass, so it fits a workflow where beans are weighed before grinding.
- Buyers who value repair support: Baratza publishes operating, cleaning and troubleshooting information, making the workflow easier to understand before purchase.
Who should choose something else
- Filter-only single-dosers: the Fellow Ode Gen 2 is designed around brewed coffee and a single-dose load bin rather than espresso.
- Buyers wanting programmed doses: the Sage Smart Grinder Pro adds timed dose controls and a display, although a timer still does not weigh grounds.
- Quiet or travel brewers: a compact manual grinder such as the 1Zpresso X-Ultra avoids a motor but requires comfortable hand grinding.
- High-volume homes: repeated drinks or frequent method changes may justify a more specialised grinder or separate espresso and filter setups.
Documented specifications
| Adjustment | 40 numbered settings split into espresso settings 1–20 and filter settings 21–40 |
|---|---|
| Controls | Side on/off switch plus front-mounted pulse button |
| Included workflow accessory | Dosing cup intended to simplify transfer for espresso preparation |
| Intended range | Espresso at the finer end; filter and other brewed-coffee methods at the coarser end |
| Manufacturer model | Encore ESP, model family ZCG495 |
| Dose measurement | No integrated scale; weigh beans or grounds separately when dose consistency matters |
Specifications above are limited to details supported by the current manufacturer page or official manual. Colour, plug, included accessories and packaging can vary by listing, so confirm them with the current seller.
What the split adjustment range means
The important distinction is not simply “40 settings”. Baratza describes settings 1–20 as the espresso range and settings 21–40 as the filter-coffee range. Espresso needs small changes because a modest grind adjustment can materially alter flow through an unpressurised basket. Coarser methods generally tolerate larger steps, so the upper half can cover more ground per click.
This makes the Encore ESP a credible all-round route, not a zero-effort automatic solution. Changing beans, dose, basket or brew method can require a fresh setting. If two people alternate between espresso and cafetière every day, record useful settings, move the dial while following the manual, and expect to check the result rather than assuming the old recipe transfers perfectly.
Drawbacks to understand before buying
Method switching takes work
Moving from a dialled-in espresso shot to coarse filter coffee and back means more than turning a dial. Grounds retained from the previous setting can affect the next dose, and espresso usually needs another flow check.
No dose-by-weight automation
The simple switches are easy to understand, but they do not stop at a target mass. A separate scale remains the direct way to confirm the coffee dose.
Not a specialist filter workflow
A filter-only buyer may prefer a grinder designed around single dosing, a larger flat-burr format or a workflow that never needs to reserve adjustment range for espresso.
Listing details can differ
Amazon marketplace seller, stock, plug, finish, delivered price and returns terms can change. Check the live detail page rather than relying on a dated snapshot.
Nearest alternatives
Wilfa Svart
A simpler filter-focused electric route for AeroPress, drip and cafetière users who do not need documented espresso adjustment.
Compare it in the UK grinder guide →Sage Smart Grinder Pro
A more programmable hopper-fed option with timed dosing controls and direct portafilter grinding for buyers who value a display-led workflow.
Compare it in the UK grinder guide →Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2
A premium filter-only, single-dose route. It is the clearer alternative if brewed coffee matters and espresso does not.
Compare it in the UK grinder guide →How to decide
- Name your finest brew method. If you use an unpressurised espresso basket, keep the Encore ESP on the shortlist. If filter is your finest requirement, compare filter-focused alternatives.
- Count method changes. Occasional switching supports one all-round grinder; several changes every day make two specialised workflows more attractive.
- Choose a dosing method. The Encore ESP makes sense when you are willing to use a separate scale. Choose another workflow if you require programmed or weight-based output.
- Check the current UK listing. Confirm seller, plug, colour, included items, delivery, returns and current price immediately before ordering.
Sources and checking notes
These sources establish product identity, intended workflow and adjustment behaviour. They do not establish personal experience, long-term durability in every home or a fixed retail offer.
- Baratza UK Encore ESP product page — checked 15 July 2026
- Official Encore ESP instruction manual — checked 15 July 2026
- Amazon UK detail page B0CV14GW7G — returned successfully on 15 July 2026; marketplace details remain changeable
Check the live UK offer
Use the retailer page to verify the current seller, UK plug, included accessories, stock, delivery and returns terms. Moo may earn from qualifying purchases; the price you pay is not increased by the affiliate link.
Check current Amazon UK listing →