Baratza - Encore ESP

Ended up purchasing the Gaggia Classic Pro E24 and the Baratza Encore ESP grinder.... took 3 hours to learn but finally pulling good espresso double shots! Thanks for the advice!

I have the Barazza ESP and it’s amazing.

Check Marshalls or Homegoods you can find the Breville Barista Pro with the updated Baratza grinder for $500. But having said that unless im making the coffee my wife hates using it and prefers to use our old Keurig. Like others have said check with her if she even wants to put in the effort it would take to make the coffee every morning and is she in a dorm then she might wake up/annoy her roommate with the various sounds.

Encore Esp is a workhorse. It just works without a fuss.

Encore esp is pretty awesome for the price.

If you typically buy fresh roasted small batch coffee, especially single origin, I think you should look for something with more clarity like the DF54. It will deliver a more uniform grind size which helps flesh out the flavor profile. If you want something easy to dial in with a wider sweet spot for grind setting then the Encore ESP is a great choice, especially for a beginner. Maybe even step up to the ESP Pro which has a digital display and a more upscale look and feel. Personally I think it’s worth the extra cost over the regular ESP. If you think you’ll be into espresso as a hobby, you’ll probably end up with both a conical and flat burr grinder anyway as they each have their pros and cons.

Start with the Encore. It's more than good enough for batch filter coffee. I used an Ode 2 for years and I can't say I was ever too impressed with it.

Definitely Encore ESP over the Opus (and the Smart Grinder Pro)

Beats the Opus or SGP

Price/value I'd go for a Baratza Encore ESP. I bought that one and a Bambino Plus last year and it has served me well. Got it for 100 quid new on Black Friday and puts out nice coffee. To get something better you have to go at least double.

Yeah definitely need a good grinder. The Baratza Encore ESP Pro just came out and is an upgrade to the Baratza Encore ESP. The original is about $100 cheaper but is missing some of the newer features that make single dosing easier and a step less grind setting. Hand grinders are also a great option and as far as quality to price it is the best option. I use a 1Zpresso K-Ultra. A great option for drip/filter and espresso coffee.

How does the K-Ultra compares to the ESP ? I had originally bought the ESP as I was exclusively drinking espressos, it's decent for pourovers but I have a hard time with light roasts (Tanat) and they never taste the same as the one you get in their shops in Paris.