Is the Baratza Encore ESP Worth It for a Breville Bambino Plus?
These picks are based on our review methodology — manufacturer specifications, aggregate user reports, and consensus from independent sources.
Based on the Baratza Encore ESP's published specs and reported user experience — no first-hand lab testing claimed. Editorial framing only.
Quick specs
| Product | Baratza Encore ESP |
|---|---|
| Brand | Baratza |
| Price (USD) | $199 |
| Price tier | mid |
| burr type | Conical steel |
| burr size mm | 40 |
| motor watts | 100 |
| stepless | false |
| step count | 40 |
What it nails
- 20 dedicated espresso steps in the 1-10 macro range — fine enough for Bambino tolerances
- Same Baratza parts ecosystem as the standard Encore
- Holds settings well shot-to-shot once dialed in
Where it falls short
- Retention is around 1.5-2g — okay for single-bean households, annoying for daily bean switchers
- Stepped adjustment limits ultra-fine dialing — stepless grinders (Specialita, DF64) have a edge for the perfectionist
- Slow grind speed compared to flat-burr alternatives
Worth it for whom
- Bambino Plus and Bambino owners on a $200 grinder budget
- One-bean-at-a-time households who can leave the grinder dialed for weeks
- Buyers who value Baratza's 5-year warranty and parts ecosystem
Skip if
- You switch beans daily — single-dose grinders like the Fellow Opus or DF64 are the better match
- You will upgrade to a Gaggia or Silvia within a year — stretch to a Specialita instead
Alternatives at this price point
-
Eureka Mignon Specialita
Best for: espresso shots, milk drinks, single-machine espresso setups
-
1Zpresso JX-Pro
Best for: espresso shots, pour over, drip coffee
-
DF64 Single Dose Grinder
Best for: espresso shots, pour over, single-dose workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Encore ESP or Eureka Specialita for a Bambino Plus?
Encore ESP if budget caps at $200. Specialita ($700) is genuinely better — stepless, larger flat burrs, faster grind — but it is 3.5x the price for an arguable 1.3x improvement in cup quality on a Bambino. Diminishing returns kick in hard.
Is the Encore ESP good for filter coffee too?
Decent but not ideal — the espresso steps compress the fine end, leaving the filter range with similar resolution to the standard Encore. If you do both espresso and filter, you save nothing by going ESP for filter use.
Does the Encore ESP work with the Gaggia Classic Pro?
Yes — it dials espresso for the Gaggia just as well as for the Bambino. The Gaggia's 58mm basket needs slightly different grind volumes, but the grinder adjusts in either direction.
This verdict is based on the Baratza Encore ESP's published specifications and aggregated user experience reports. It is not a first-hand product test. Verify current pricing and availability on Amazon directly.
Last reviewed: . We update this review when the product's price drops significantly, when a successor model launches, or when user reports shift our assessment.