If you’re shopping for your first serious espresso grinder, you’ve probably landed on the same two names: the Baratza Encore ESP and the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. Both sit right around $200, both promise espresso-capable grinding, and both show up in every budget grinder roundup. So which one actually deserves your counter space? Here’s something most comparison articles get wrong before they even start: they compare the Smart Grinder Pro against the original Baratza Encore, a grinder that was never designed for espresso in the first place. The Encore ESP is a fundamentally different machine, with upgraded M2 burrs and a dual-range adjustment system built for dialing in shots. This guide compares the right two grinders, head to head, on the things that actually affect your mornings.
The Short Answer
| Product | Best For | Price Range | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP | Espresso-first buyers who also brew pour over | $180 to $200 | 4.6/5 |
| Breville Smart Grinder Pro | Hands-free timed dosing and digital controls | $180 to $200 | 4.3/5 |
If you want the bottom line up front: pick the Encore ESP when espresso shot quality is your top priority, and pick the Smart Grinder Pro when you value push-button timed dosing and a digital display.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore ESP takes everything people loved about the original Encore and rebuilds the business end for espresso. Inside the familiar compact housing sit 40mm M2 hardened steel conical burrs (the same burr geometry that used to require a fiddly DIY upgrade on the old model), paired with a clever dual-range adjustment collar. Settings 1 through 20 are micro-steps for espresso, and settings 21 through 40 are macro-steps for pour over, drip, and French press. A high-torque DC motor spins the burrs at 550 RPM, and the included anti-static metal dosing cup drops neatly onto 54mm Breville portafilters or standard 58mm baskets. If you’re pairing it with a beginner machine, our Breville Bambino review shows exactly how well the two work together.
- Pros:
- True espresso range with 20 micro-steps, so dialing in never jumps past your target
- M2 steel burrs produce sweet, syrupy shots that punch well above the $200 price
- Quick-release upper burr: a deep clean takes under a minute with zero tools
- Every part is user-replaceable, and Baratza sells spares for years (right-to-repair done right)
- Included metal dosing cup fits 54mm and 58mm portafilters, cutting mess out of your workflow
- Cons:
- Loud. The gear-reduction motor will wake light sleepers, so early risers should grind the night before or warn the household
- Static and clumping at espresso settings: plan on a WDT needle tool and a quick spritz of water on the beans (the RDT trick)
- Plastic housing feels entry-level next to metal-bodied rivals
- No timed dosing: you grind with the pulse button and weigh your dose on a scale
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the tech-forward pick of the two. You get 60 stepped grind settings on a backlit LCD, a precision electronic timer adjustable in 0.2-second increments, and a portafilter cradle that grinds hands-free directly into the basket. The 165-watt motor drives 40mm stainless conical burrs, the 18-ounce hopper holds over a pound of beans, and the grounds come out noticeably less staticky than the Baratza’s thanks to the bin design. For households where more than one person makes coffee, the set-it-and-forget-it dosing is a genuine quality-of-life win.
- Pros:
- Timed dosing with 0.2-second precision: dial in once, then grind the same dose every morning
- Hands-free portafilter cradle is genuinely convenient for daily espresso routines
- 60 grind settings cover everything from espresso to French press
- LCD interface is beginner-friendly and easy to read before you’ve had your coffee
- Brushed stainless styling looks premium sitting next to your espresso machine
- Cons:
- Grind retention runs up to 2 grams, so stale grounds from yesterday sneak into today’s shot
- Burr geometry favors convenience over cup quality: shots taste flatter side by side with the ESP
- Larger footprint eats counter space at 8.5 x 6 x 15.5 inches
- Repairs are harder, with fewer user-serviceable parts than the Baratza
Specs Side by Side
| Feature | Baratza Encore ESP | Breville Smart Grinder Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Burrs | 40mm M2 hardened steel conical | 40mm stainless steel conical |
| Grind settings | 40 (20 micro espresso + 20 macro filter) | 60 stepped, digital |
| Motor | High-torque DC, 550 RPM | 165 watts |
| Dosing | Pulse button + metal dosing cup | Electronic timer (0.2s steps) + portafilter cradle |
| Retention | About 0.5g | Up to 2g |
| Hopper capacity | 8 oz | 18 oz (510g) |
| Footprint | 6.3 x 4.7 x 13.8 in | 8.5 x 6 x 15.5 in |
| Weight | 5.6 lbs | 6.4 lbs |
| Build | Matte plastic housing | Plastic with brushed stainless finish |
| Repairability | Excellent, parts sold for years | Limited |
| Street price | Around $200 | Around $200 |
Which One Should You Buy?
Forget the spec sheet for a minute and match the grinder to your routine.
Buy the Baratza Encore ESP if espresso shot quality is the whole point of the purchase. The M2 burrs simply make better-tasting espresso than the Breville’s burr set, full stop. It’s also the smarter pick if you brew both espresso and pour over: the dual-range dial jumps between the two without losing your place. And if you like the idea of a grinder you can still fix in five years with a $12 part, nothing in this price class touches Baratza’s support. Owners of the Breville Bambino get a bonus: the included dosing cup was practically made for its 54mm portafilter. For the bigger picture, see our best coffee grinder for espresso roundup.
Buy the Breville Smart Grinder Pro if you’d rather not weigh every dose on a scale. The timed dosing is the headline feature here: once you’ve dialed in, you press one button and get the same dose tomorrow. It’s also the better household grinder when two or three people with different skill levels share it, since the LCD removes the guesswork. If your kitchen counter is part of the decision, the stainless finish looks more at home next to modern appliances than the Baratza’s utilitarian plastic.
Living With Them: 4 Ownership Tips
Most reviews stop at the unboxing. These are the things you learn in month two.
1. Tame the ESP’s static with one spritz. A single spray of water on your beans before grinding (the Ross Droplet Technique) kills the static that makes the Encore ESP messy. It takes three seconds and changes the whole experience.
2. WDT is mandatory on the ESP for espresso. The conical burrs clump at fine settings. Five seconds of stirring with a needle distributor breaks the clumps apart and your shots will taste noticeably sweeter. Budget $10 for the tool.
3. Purge the Smart Grinder Pro after setting changes. With up to 2g of retention, the first dose after you adjust finer is mostly yesterday’s grind. Run 2 to 3 grams through and discard it (or save it for cold brew) before pulling your shot.
4. Clean monthly, but differently. The ESP’s upper burr twists out by hand in seconds for a quick brush. The Breville needs the included brush worked through the chute and burr chamber. Monthly cleaning keeps oils from turning rancid and dulling your coffee’s flavor. Once you’ve chosen, our espresso grind dialing guide walks you through nailing your first shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Baratza Encore ESP grind fine enough for real espresso?
Yes. Settings 1 through 20 are micro-steps engineered for espresso, and the M2 burrs produce the bimodal particle distribution that gives shots their syrupy body. It pairs well with entry-level machines like the Breville Bambino and DeLonghi Stilosa.
Is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro good for pour over and French press?
Yes, its 60 settings comfortably cover the full brew spectrum. Just know that at coarse settings you’re paying for features (timer, display) rather than grind quality, where the gap between these two grinders narrows a lot. If you never make espresso, compare both against dedicated filter grinders before deciding.
Which grinder is quieter?
Neither will win awards for silence, but the Breville runs a touch quieter in most kitchens. The Encore ESP’s gear-reduction motor is famously loud, so if you grind at 6am with sleeping family members, the Breville (or grinding the night before) is the kinder choice.
Which one will last longer?
The Baratza, and it’s not close. Every internal component is replaceable, Baratza stocks parts for years, and the company’s repair guides are excellent. The Breville is a sealed appliance by comparison: fine while it works, but a dead motor usually means a dead grinder.
Conclusion
At the same $200 price, these two grinders optimize for different buyers. The Baratza Encore ESP wins on what ends up in the cup: better burrs, truer espresso adjustment, and a repairable design that’ll still be grinding years from now. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro wins on daily convenience: timed dosing, hands-free grinding, and a display that makes the whole ritual feel effortless. Espresso-first? Take the Baratza. Convenience-first household? Take the Breville. Either way, you’re getting one of the two best values in home grinding, and both will embarrass any blade grinder you’ve suffered with until now.
