Baratza Encore ESP Coffee Grinder, Black

If you are seriously into coffee, then a good grinder is a must. Grinders are expensive, but are also the most important part of the brew.The Encore ESP (stands for espresso) has settings from 0 to 20 just for espresso grind sizes. Then on, for larger grinds like french press and so on. It does a good job of giving an incredibly even grind consistency, which of course, has a direct effect on the quality of your coffee. I am a espresso (black) person, so a good grinder was an inevitable buy.With the machine, you get a cleaning brush which really helps; you get two types of bins, one specifically for espresso grinds which fits into normal portafilters so there is no spillage when transferring the grounds; and if you are someone who needs finer than the finest grinds out of the box, they also provide two shims (like washers) that help you to go even finer. Practical, useful and a no-nonsense machine.Baratza recommends the setting at 15 for espresso, but personally, I found it dials in perfectly between 6 and 7. It varies by machine and technique as well, but it is imp for you to find that sweet spot for your machine where you can get a balanced shot of 1:2/2.5 in about 25 sec.There are tons of videos online, so one can check them out. From installing & removing parts; from burrs to cleaning, most of it is covered. Baratza support also have a number of good vids on their channel, covering cleaning, maintenance, shimming, etc.The attraction of cheap grinders is often difficult to avoid. But trust me, they are not worth it esp. if you are seriously into espresso. Even the TC3 does not give you the fine grind unless you are ready to toil about 50 min for a 20g output.Invest in a good grinder, and you will thank yourself every morning for the fresh tasty shot.

First things first - yes this does grind espresso level fine coffee but be aware that it may not do so out of the box.1) you may have to add a shim (2 are provided) or 2) you may have to recalibrate by opening the case (video available at baratza site)1 star deducted from the review for this reason.

The encore ESP is a good grinder at this price point. It is consistent, not very loud with 30 grind size settings.The feed flask shakes during grinding, giving a feel of under par design. Overall build quality is good.Now, let us dwell upon the problem with this grinder:The quick release knob on top of the rotating burr becomes loose upon a single use itself. Which means the burr is now free to move up & down taking your grinding setting haywire & will give you inconsistant grind output. Looks like it is a design deficiency & the company has come up with a modified knob too. But Baratza Co. do not support this product in India and hence are ready to provide a modified knob only outside India, where they have support setup. Requested them to send it to me in India at my expense, but they just declined.But Baratza needs to address this serious shortcoming in their product being sold with old type of quick release knob. The authorised reseller in India, Blue Tokai, rang me up to assure that he will arrange the modified knob, but has not kept his word.So, I have used PTFE tape on the quick release knob bolt & tightened it, & it is working.So beware of this before purchasing it, rest is all fine with this grinder.