If you've been pulling shots with pre-ground coffee and finally decided your espresso deserves freshly ground beans, the Baratza Encore ESP is probably on your shortlist. It should be. At $329–$349 AUD from Australian retailers — and sometimes under $300 on Amazon AU — it's the most capable entry-level grinder you can buy in Australia without compromising on espresso or filter versatility. But "entry-level" comes with honest trade-offs: it's loud, it's clumpy, and it won't flatter light roasts. Here's exactly what you're getting.
Who it's for
The Encore ESP is built for the home barista who's upgrading from a blade grinder or a cheap ceramic-burr unit and wants one grinder that handles espresso on weekday mornings and pour-over on weekends. If you're pairing it with a Breville Bambino or a Lelit Anna and mostly drink medium to dark roasts, this is your sweet spot.
It's not for you if you're chasing light-roast single-origin espresso, single-dosing workflows, or café-level shot consistency. Those demands need a stepless grinder like the Eureka Mignon Specialita — at twice the price.
Specs at a glance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Burr | 40mm M2 conical steel (Etzinger, Liechtenstein) |
| Motor | DC, electronically speed-controlled, 70W |
| RPM | 550 |
| Adjustment | Stepped, dual-resolution — 40 settings (1–20 espresso, 21–40 filter) |
| Hopper | 300g |
| Grounds bin | 120g |
| Weight | ~3.2 kg |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 13 × 15 × 34 cm |
| Voltage | 220–240V, 50/60Hz (AU model ZCG495BLK2IAN1A) |
| Dosing | 54mm anti-static dosing cup + 58mm adapter |
| Origin | Designed in Seattle, manufactured in Taiwan |
What we like
Upgraded M2 Etzinger burrs deliver a genuine improvement in grind consistency and flavour clarity over the old M3 set that powered the original Encore. This isn't marketing spin — Coffee Chronicler's testing confirmed the difference is noticeable in the cup, especially for espresso.
Dual-resolution dial splits the 40 settings into espresso-grade precision (9–20 micron steps between settings 1–20) and a coarser filter range (21–40). You get genuine espresso adjustability without needing a separate grinder for your V60 or AeroPress. CoffeeGeek rates this the standout design choice.
Quick-release burr mount makes cleaning tool-free — pop the top burr out, brush it, snap it back. For a beginner who's never cleaned a grinder, this removes a real barrier to maintenance.
Ships with 54mm dosing cup and 58mm adapter, covering the two most common portafilter sizes out of the box. No aftermarket accessories needed on day one. (Alternative Brewing AU)
Workhorse reliability. Reddit consensus lands squarely on "it just works without a fuss" — the Encore platform has years of track record behind it. (RedditRecs)
True all-rounder. Home Grounds notes it handles espresso through French press without falling into the "jack of all trades, master of none" trap at this price point.
Where it falls short
Loud. Measured at ~92 dB by Coffee Chronicler — that's among the noisiest home grinders on the market. Early-morning grinding will wake the household.
Clumpy espresso output. The grounds come out clumpy enough to need WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) before tamping. Installing the included shims for finer grinding actually worsens the clumping and adds heat. (CoffeeGeek)
Light-roast espresso is a struggle. Without shims, the grind can't go fine enough for dense light roasts. With shims, you get more heat and clumping. If your go-to is a washed Ethiopian or a Nordic light roast, look elsewhere. (Coffeeness)
~1.1g grind retention. Annoying when switching between espresso and filter — you'll need to purge a dose each time. Not ideal for single-dosing purists. (Coffee Chronicler)
Plastic impeller concern. The impeller under the cone burr is plastic and can wear over years, with some users flagging potential microplastic contamination. The risk is real but unquantified — worth knowing, not worth panicking over. (Coffee Chronicler)
No timer or weight-based dosing. Manual on/off only. You'll be holding the button and eyeballing, or weighing your dose separately.
How it compares
vs Breville Smart Grinder Pro (~$299–$369 AUD): The direct AU-price competitor. The Breville wins on grind adjustability (~600 effective settings vs 40), noise (77–81 dB vs 92 dB), and its Dosing IQ timer. The Baratza wins on burr quality (Etzinger M2 vs Breville's unpublished ~40mm conicals), simpler cleaning, and arguably better espresso grind consistency at comparable settings. The Breville also carries a reliability concern — impeller wear within 18–24 months is widely reported. If you want a quieter, more adjustable grinder and you're in the Breville ecosystem, go Breville. If you want better burrs and a longer-lived machine, go Baratza.
vs 1Zpresso JX-Pro (~$210–$280 AUD): The manual alternative. The JX-Pro delivers objectively finer espresso precision (12.5 μm per click) and zero retention — but you're hand-cranking every dose. If you grind 2–3 doses a day and don't mind the workout, the JX-Pro is better value. If convenience matters, the Encore ESP is the electric answer.
Verdict
The Baratza Encore ESP is the best electric grinder under $350 AUD for a beginner building their first espresso setup in Australia. It handles the full range from espresso to French press, the M2 burrs are a genuine upgrade, and the platform is proven reliable. Accept its trade-offs — the noise, the clumping, the light-roast ceiling — and it will serve you well for years. Pair it with a Bambino and a decent scale, and you've got a setup that punches well above its price class.
Rating
4 / 5 — Outstanding value for beginners; loses a point for noise and light-roast limitations that more experienced baristas will notice.
Where to buy (Australia)
| Stockist | Price (AUD) | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Baratza AU (direct) | $349.00 | baratza.com/en-au |
| Alternative Brewing | $349.00 | alternativebrewing.com.au |
| Barista Warehouse | $329.90 | baristawarehouse.com.au |
| JB Hi-Fi | $349.00 | jbhifi.com.au |
| Coffee Bird | $350.00 | coffeebird.com.au |
| Amazon AU | ~$269–$299 | amazon.com.au |
Prices checked 17 April 2026. Amazon AU is frequently cheapest but stock varies. Baratza is now Breville-owned — AU warranty is handled via Breville/Baratza AU support.