¡Hi tom! Thanks for such a good video. I've the Baratza Encore ESP since july and I'm really happy with it. Moreover, I've the Delonghi Dedica EC685 as you in the video (with the upgrade of the Rancilio Silvia) and I've the problem that the portafilters looses pressure during the extraction and it gets out of the coffee machine if I don't grab with my hand. I bought a filter of 52mm and the problems continues although it ins't so notorious. I want to ask you about your portafilter because it can be the solution. What portafilter is the one of the video? Thanks a lot of and continue making such a good videos!
Using the exact same combo. Very happy with results of ESP. Good investment and really helps you get the best of out Dedica. Really helps having a consistent fine grind. Tried lots of beans and always regret whenever buy the cheaper stuff.
Totally agree! I've been tempted by some beans in fancy packaging sometimes, just to be disappointed. You need to know the roast date, and if they fail to put it on the bag, you can assume it's already months old.
Normally around 5 clicks from the finest grind. Using 18 grams in (fills aftermarket open basket I use to the brim before tamping) and mess around with the times and output a little. Don't drink espresso often so happy with what I get to drink with some milk. Also use a screen which saves on time cleaning.@@zydderd8815
You didn't mention the black single hopper as an optional extra. I got this and it's super cool to look at and to use. It also doubles as a small pump action to remove grinds. Never had issues with clumping like you did though. Very happy with it, used every morning in France for 2 months in my Moka pot.
Great review, especially of the closeup of the way to remove the burrs. I also did not think of your method of counting the seconds to weigh the grounds, very ingenious. Our machine took a few months to settle in, the grind was always good but we drifted down from 14 to 11. We get excellent results with the Hario Mugen as well. 25 for super smooth and 24 for a teeny bit more bite.The first thing we noticed was the clumps, but since we always use the WDT it hasn't been an issue. Examining the burrs they look to be of very high quality. If you measure the beans beforehand, and use a little ring funnel, you can just hold the espresso portafilter under the spout and push the button or use the lever. If you prefer conical burrs to flat burrs this is a solid choice for the price and versatility, especially if you like a pour over (strongly recommend the Mugen) in the AM and espresso in the PM.
Hey, thanks much for sharing your experience! I've heard from someone else that their ESP drifted downwards a little too. But these have quite a bit of range, so that's good. I hadn't heard of the Mugen before...looks interesting with that oblong slotted hole. I guess that's to accommodate larger cups? Sounds like we're in a similar range for pour over, nice. Glad you're happy with the grinder, I am too. By the way, I am pretty sure these are the burrs Breville's using in their newest machine, the Touch Impress.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The Mugen is awesome as a pour over! I was looking at the Impress but for now we are sticking with the De Longhi that you recommended, the 3420 with the open portafilter
Tom, I've put about 7 kilos through mine, and it has settled in on about 4-6 seconds per click. With a tap or two on top I get about .1 grams of retention for 3-5 shots. After a while you will eventually get that .5(ish) grams that builds up over time in your dosing cup after a tap, so I like to make sure I give it a good whack at the of the day or use the cleaning brush quicky. Oh, and as for astringency, I think it isn't the coffee you are using. Mine brings out the bitter flavors more so than my K6 in every coffee I have put through it. Maybe because it produces more fines, idk. But it isn't extreme, and I am fine with it. Another thing, I started out having to grind at around 16-18 clicks with a 17-gram dose but now I am down to around 11-13 on average. Well, aside from this natural Brazil I have, it seems to need a coarse grind, but it is an outlier so far. As an aside to, I'd recommend anyone wanting the single dose hopper to get an aftermarket one with a bellow. It cost more but I think I'd have rather gone that route rather than the stock one that I have. All said and done, I think it is worth the $200 price tag it weighs in at. Would I have been happier with a Sette 270, probably but it is twice the price. (My wife hates single dosing so the timed function would have been a plus.) Anyway, I think the ESP is a good grinder for a lot of people. Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Interesting note about astringency - I'd have to get a sifter and check it out. Some day... Which single dose hopper would you recommend? I have not tried any with this machine yet. I do think it's a great value. The Sette 270 is nice, but the transmissions are known for breaking. I think the Baratza Encore is a best selling grinder also for its durability over time. Cheers!
Excellent review! Full of information and straight to the point, including a pulled shot of espresso using the grinder! I owned a Baratza Preciso when they first came out, and those line of grinders are tanks! You can get any part you need to repair the grinder from their website, and they are actually fairly inexpensive to boot. This is an exellent entry level grinder. As far as the clumping, I feel this is fairly standard, because if you look at the way the grinder works, the fins throw the coffee into a 90 degree angle coffee shoot, which forces the grinds downwards after hitting a wall (WDT/RDT helped address this a little). I was looking at the Baratza Sette to address this problem for me, since the grinds fall straight down.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The parts for the Baratza are very inexpensive on their website and surprisingly easy to repair for simple DIY. Baratza also provides step by step instruction videos on TH-cam to assist in this regard as well.
I’m happy with my purchase of this grinder. It does a great job both for espresso and for pour over. It does sound like a moaning old man, the bean hopper dances around like a mad hula dancer and the top of the hopper keeps popping off. Bad design choices. But it works well and for the price I am very happy.
Hi Tom. I had the Barza Solis for over 20 years but replacement burrs are no long available and so bought the Encore. I hate the encore for one very annoying aspect. It is 100 times messier than the Solis, OK maybe 100 times, lol. There are ZERO issues with static dust with the Solis...just reconfirmed that today (even swapped collection bin to no avail), while the encore is a dust bowl and creates a constant mess. I had to buy a small vacuum just for Encore cleanup! I refuse to spray my coffee with water and waiting a min or two doesn't help very much. It's night and day and there's way too much plastic in the Encore construction compared to the much heavier Solis which could be some or all of the problem. I'm tempted, as an engineer, to take both of them apart and see what I can do about this, maybe creating a better grounding path, etc. I feel I wasted $200. at this point and will continue to use the Solis until it can't be used any longer. The burrs are not worn out yet, which is the reason I bought the Encore as well as for it's finer grind resolution and control.
I had a Eureka Mignon Specialita which was a pain to clean so I sold it and bought this grinder instead which is so easy to clean. I had an encore years ago so when they came out with the ESP I knew I had to buy it. As for the clumps I just use an WDT which isn't as much as much as a pain as taking the Eureka apart all the time.
This was my first espresso grinder, and I really like it! It is a great deal and performs well. Easy to dial in. I use the single-dose hopper with it. It’s been just a few months and I upgraded to the Eureka Mignon Zero. Even though I love the Baratza, there’s no comparison… quality on the Eureka is simply amazing! (Not to mention how beautiful it looks next to my Gaggia Classic). I will keep the Baratza for coarser grinds and as a backup 💕
Can you elaborate on the difference between the mignon zero and the ESP in terms of cup quality? Would you say there is a noticeable difference between the two?
Hey. I liked your video. I am pretty happy with my baratza encore esp but unfortunately the burr holder which is a plastic piece pretty much broke in half after just 4 months…. The grinder did it’s job very well until that piece broke. The machine is in service at this moment, I am just curious if somebody else had this issue with their baratza encore esp grinder. By the way, love your videos. Have a nice day!
Just as I was planning to buy a Encore ESP together with a Dedica wanted to search for ESP a bit, came across this video, and you have exactly setup I have been planning :D Would you recommend this machine or a Kingrinder K4 based on the grind quality? If the quality is similar I would like to go with an automatic one for sure though I am not sure I thas been a nice insight, great video, thanks a lot
Honestly I haven't tested them side by side. I bet someone with a seasoned palate could tell the difference between the K4 and the ESP, but I bet most people will find them quite similar. The ESP of course is much easier due to the motor. Cheers!
Hello Tom. I’ve been watching a lot of your videos and I want to thank you for your amazing content. I’m looking forward to get this grinder paired with a bambino as it is on a good sale (both for 400€). Is it worth it if (for now) I’m only going to buy beans from the grocery store? Don’t have any local roasters near me and not sure if I want to get a subscription for fresh coffee for now. Cheers from Portugal.
I do think it's worth it - even the ESP on it's own costs $200, so that's a good deal for the bundle. You might just want to use the pressurized filters and grind a little coarser, if using supermarket beans, since they have likely lost their freshness, and therefore their resistance to pressure. Cheers!
Hello. Thank you for your video, it was great. I would like to ask you what kind of bottomless porta filter can you recommend me for a dedica maestro plus espresso machine? I bought this Baratza grinder, but I have tried a lot to use grinder #15 for espresso with my machine, but it seems to be very fine, and the stream of coffee is very thin, with poor cream. That's why I am thinking to buy a bottomless porta filter for my dedica maestro plus.
Hey! Great video. Just wanted to know what scale you're using that fits on your Delonghi so well?. Having trouble finding a scale that fits mine. Thanks! 4:52
Hey Tom, thanks for the video. Great content as always. I've just watched this and your video on the fellow opus. They both seem very similar and I am struggling to choose between them. Which would you recommend if they were the same price? thanks! I am planning to use with a dedica machine
I think the Crono is the better build by a lot. The Crono's burrs are designed for coffee brewing, but I have heard that they work for espresso as well.
So you start counting your shots when you start the Dedica. I’ve been hearing to time first drip to last drip. I use the Nano Coffee Scale with Timer and it doesn’t start until the first drip. What do you think the difference is between starting the timer when you start the machine or at first drip? Thanks!
Do you have any experience or thoughts on the Virtuoso plus? I originally was going to get the encore ESP, but I saw that the Virtuoso + was marketed for espresso and drip + pour over. Since I also have a Chemex, I went with the Virtuoso +. The reason for the purpose was mainly for my new Delonghi Dedica. I am using a bottomless Portafilter and I'm trying to "dial-in" my shots. Concerned that I'll have issues especially when trying new beans.
I also should add that my concern is mainly coming from what seems to be a general consensus from online forums that the virtuoso isn't a great choice for espresso. A bit bummed since Baratza clearly markets the Virtuoso + as a grinder for both espresso and other brew methods.
Well, the Virtuoso has the same 6 bladed M2 burr as the ESP, and the same small 70 watt motor. But it looks like the adjustment collar is different. I'd venture to guess they are going to be similar in performance.
And with it to complete the package - for around $500 (or less) - the Bambino Plus is the winner? What's your top 3 for that price point? Thank you again!
Hey! I just purchased the same delonghi coffee machine you have and Im having so much trouble finding a good espresso shot, however your videos have been incredibly helpful and informative! I cannot thank you enough for helping me find grinders, tips and tricks, and teaching your audience about coffee. Thanks again, please keep posting more videos!! :)
Thanks so much for your kind and warm encouragement! I like the interaction with you guys. Just keep at it! It takes some practice, and experimenting with different beans and milks.
I've been using a hand grinder for my espresso. I'm the only coffee drinker in the house. Budget does matter. I have a Cuisinart flat-burr that is fine for pour-over and drip. Not so much for espresso. This just might be the ticket. Do you think with the washers if could grind for Turkish coffee? Something I want to try as I do like the rare occasions I get somewhere I can order Turkish coffee.
Thanks! I ordered one a few days ago. Just being able to have a second espresso without having to do a 3-4 minute grind by hand will be nice. LOL. Also, being able to do an espresso for a couple of guests without a long interlude between pulls would be nice.
Was debating on this grinder, but went with a Breville Smart Grinder Pro instead, which I'm curious to see your thoughts on one day if they're available where you live. Either way the results look similar to SGP although in my case, some internal grind adjustments were needed to get fine enough grind
I think that these two grinders are similar, however the ESP uses more updated burrs...in fact Breville decided to use the new 6 bladed M2 burr from Baratza in their newest Barista Touch Impress machine. But whether or not you notice a big difference is the question. I'm not thinking I would. Have fun!
Hey! I’m wondering if you can answer a question for me. I’ve almost gone through a 1kg bag of beans and still not getting a perfect shot. With the delonghi dedica, in a double basket I’m using 18grams of coffee, which means my shot should be 32 grams? That seems rather small. Isn’t a double shot 60ml?
I found that I could not get my Encore Esp to grind fine enough for a dark roast with my Dedica Arte. I tried to add the additional spacers and found that my grinder only had 2 spacers pre-installed although it should have 6 according to an official Baratza TH-cam video I found. I have heard that this has been an issue with others as well. Can I ask how many spacers yours had installed out of the box?
Oh gosh, I don't know. I don't remember any spacers. It ground totally fine for me out of the box. Are you using fresh beans, or supermarket beans? These videos may help: How to extract the perfect espresso: th-cam.com/video/piO6c695Op8/w-d-xo.html How to Get Crema: th-cam.com/video/00NSG9459a8/w-d-xo.html Why Supermarket Coffee Beans are RUINING your Espresso! th-cam.com/video/5BgMKqu8fJI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Tom!! I have the same combo, but my dedica cannot pull a good shot beyond (finner) than setting 18 - 19 and I dont know why :( I changed the shower screen on the dedica, could it be the problem? Regards from Chile, love your content!!
Well, you might not need to go finer. I was using Costco beans in this example, which were probably several months old. The fresher the bean, the coarser you have to set the grinder.
That's a hard call! For workflow, I'd say the ESP. For delightfulness of use, and maybe a tiny bit better espresso the Opus. But they are both very good in this price range.
Nice video. I like my ESP but it does throw grinds all over unless you use some sort of larger cup or raised base. I made a portafilter holder for my bottomless PF but I use a large dose funnel with my double spout PF. I also marked the raised tab with a white paint pen to see what grind # setting I'm on, easier.
I bought the CAFEMASY Single Dose Hopper with Silicone Bellow and Aluminum Lid. 40 US or 35 with plastic lid. It fit perfectly despite some reviews saying the opposite? I rarely have any retention after hitting the bellows 3x. Oddly, the lid stays attached and I remove bellows to fill hopper. Also, two 8 oz mason jars (2 -1/2") can work in a pinch for a PF holder. Thanx again for your videos.
Yes and the "raised tab with a white paint pen" I spoke of is on that hopper. Unlike the factory one, the marking on the Cafemasy is unpainted and hard to see. That's the only con against it. @@TomsCoffeeCorner
Well, they're really two different types: conical and flat. So they kind of have their own unique flavor characteristics. Most people say that flats can bring out more fruity notes, while conicals bring out more chocolate and body. I'd honestly have to compare them both side to side however with the same bean, to try to describe the differences. I have these grinders in different locations though. Good idea for a future video.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks for the reply, I put two shims and now is better but It seems every step on the espresso side is larger than it should be, I move one step coarser and reduced the extraction time by 8 seconds :( The beans have less than 2 weeks roasted so I don’t know what’s wrong with
Do you know anything about Hibrew's coffee grinders and espresso machines? They have espresso machines, and one of these machines is the H10A. Its price is the same as the Dedica. And they have 3 models of coffee grinders and the highest category is G5 , but there are no reviews for them. Do you know anything about this company because I am confused between it and DeLonghi and the baratza esp grinder
Hibrew seems to come directly from China. No, I don't know the company. Delonghi is designed in Italy, and made in China. Baratza is designed in the USA, and made in China.
Hi Tom, I'm a southeast Bavarian living in Southeast Asia :) do you have any recommendation for specialty coffee roasters in Oberbayern for me? Would be good if they provide all the information a great coffee typically comes with. Thank you!
I bought a Fellow Opus after watching your review, after a month of using it i'm so disappointed. It's an absolute mess to use. It retains a lot of residual grounds and spits beans all over my counter and base plate. Shame, i really wanted to like it. Hoping to hear back from them for a refund and possibly try this Baratza out. Any experience w/ a Breville Smart grinder?
Well, I have used the SGP essentially in all the Breville Barista integrated grinder machines. It does a fine job, but somehow I prefer grinders that are more basic. Just hit a button to grind. That's what I like about this ESP. It also uses Baratza's newest design.
Thanks for great variant for grinding coffee to Dedica. Is there something similar on Aliexpress? For me, this Chinese market place if preferable in terms of shipping methods.
Clockwise to loosen, counterclockwise to tighten? That's insane. Is there no portafilter platform? That also seems silly...but the dosing cup makes up for that, I suppose.
I have the previous version of Baratza Encore and it made me hate the brand in general. The plastic ring broke (on this mode it's black @1:35) and I could not find a replacement in all of Europe without playing 3 times the shipping cost (it's about 10 euros and the shipping starts from 25 euros...) so watch out that yours doesn't break too. If they made it so cheap that the first plastic thingy that breaks it also brakes any chance for a decent espresso, then it's not a brand worth considering imo for any type of coffee and I will go out of my way to actively avoid any other Baratza product. I still have the DeLonghi Burr Coffee Grinder for several years now and it still grinds better than the Encore.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I did, but they're in the US. They only offered a list of European stores with spare parts, which I already had (see above the prices) and nothing else, not even "sorry" it broke... They may have a great reputation in the US, but that did not help me here.
Nice but it´s a 200 euro grinder. Is there any good grinder por less than 100 ?? it´s kind of weird to buy a coffe grinder that is more expensive than the cofee machine
I think the motor and the burrs are the main cost factor. Plus the adjustment mechanism. The only cheaper electric one I can recommend is the Graef CM702, but that's only available in Europe.
Thank you Tom, im a long time subscriber! @@TomsCoffeeCorner Also, is there any good portafilter for the delhongi dedica ?? I have the same issue, they all cost super expensive. I bought a bottomless NEOUZA portafilter and every time i use it, it makes a mess
Just bought my Encore Esp and it grinds too coarse, beans fresh out of bag, dark roast, and I need to go 0 setting to get semi decent extraction, does anyone had similar problem?
Encore ESP appeared in the Korean market about three months ago. Sales performance does not seem to be as good as in the past due to competition from several grinders in a similar price range. In the past (about 10 years ago) in Korea, among entry-level coffee grinders, the most useful product under $200 was Encore, and unlike products sold in other countries, it provided a higher-end burr (simmlar current encore esp burr), so it received good reviews. Currently, there are many inexpensive coffee grinders from Chinese manufacturers, which makes them less competitive, but many roasters are using encore to check how the coffee is expressed when ground in a home grinder.
Thanks for those insights into the Korean market. China is certainly making things harder on conventional manufacturers price-wise. I wonder if China will overtake the market at some point...
I'm curious why the resolution is so good in the first 20 settings. I have an Encore and upgraded to an M2 burr. Can you explain the key feature of Encore ESP more?
![โรงเรียนห้ามรัก โดนจับได้ตาย...!! [เอิร์นไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4u02Sbr556Q/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for watching! Comments and experiences welcome!
***Crap! It uses the M2 burr, NOT the M3 burr, as stated in the video. Sorry!***
¡Hi tom! Thanks for such a good video. I've the Baratza Encore ESP since july and I'm really happy with it. Moreover, I've the Delonghi Dedica EC685 as you in the video (with the upgrade of the Rancilio Silvia) and I've the problem that the portafilters looses pressure during the extraction and it gets out of the coffee machine if I don't grab with my hand. I bought a filter of 52mm and the problems continues although it ins't so notorious.
I want to ask you about your portafilter because it can be the solution. What portafilter is the one of the video?
Thanks a lot of and continue making such a good videos!
So happy I got this grinder instead of the niche zero I was considering. Works great and saved me a nice chunk of cash.
Thanks again for keeping lower cost products visible for those of us without unlimited funds and still enjoying our coffee.
Finally got my Baratza ESP, the bottomless portfilter and IMS basket as you recommended, dude it's life changing , thank you so much!!!!
Great to hear! Have fun!
Thank you for the review! I'm looking for an entry-level grinder, and my local coffee shop was selling these, so thanks for explaining its features.
Using the exact same combo. Very happy with results of ESP. Good investment and really helps you get the best of out Dedica. Really helps having a consistent fine grind. Tried lots of beans and always regret whenever buy the cheaper stuff.
Totally agree! I've been tempted by some beans in fancy packaging sometimes, just to be disappointed. You need to know the roast date, and if they fail to put it on the bag, you can assume it's already months old.
What setting and amount of coffee do you use?
Normally around 5 clicks from the finest grind. Using 18 grams in (fills aftermarket open basket I use to the brim before tamping) and mess around with the times and output a little. Don't drink espresso often so happy with what I get to drink with some milk. Also use a screen which saves on time cleaning.@@zydderd8815
Hello, excellent info. I just got the Breville barista touch, do you recommend using the stock grinder or the Baratza ESP ?
You didn't mention the black single hopper as an optional extra. I got this and it's super cool to look at and to use. It also doubles as a small pump action to remove grinds. Never had issues with clumping like you did though. Very happy with it, used every morning in France for 2 months in my Moka pot.
Awesome! I will have to take a look for that. Did you buy this in France? I cannot find it in the EU anywhere yet.
29 euros from Netherlands company@@TomsCoffeeCorner
Hi steph, just got it but i don’t have more range for going finer, how can I add more
@@TomsCoffeeCornerBought in France at maxicoffee
Great review, especially of the closeup of the way to remove the burrs. I also did not think of your method of counting the seconds to weigh the grounds, very ingenious.
Our machine took a few months to settle in, the grind was always good but we drifted down from 14 to 11. We get excellent results with the Hario Mugen as well. 25 for super smooth and 24 for a teeny bit more bite.The first thing we noticed was the clumps, but since we always use the WDT it hasn't been an issue.
Examining the burrs they look to be of very high quality.
If you measure the beans beforehand, and use a little ring funnel, you can just hold the espresso portafilter under the spout and push the button or use the lever. If you prefer conical burrs to flat burrs this is a solid choice for the price and versatility, especially if you like a pour over (strongly recommend the Mugen) in the AM and espresso in the PM.
Hey, thanks much for sharing your experience! I've heard from someone else that their ESP drifted downwards a little too. But these have quite a bit of range, so that's good. I hadn't heard of the Mugen before...looks interesting with that oblong slotted hole. I guess that's to accommodate larger cups? Sounds like we're in a similar range for pour over, nice. Glad you're happy with the grinder, I am too. By the way, I am pretty sure these are the burrs Breville's using in their newest machine, the Touch Impress.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The Mugen is awesome as a pour over! I was looking at the Impress but for now we are sticking with the De Longhi that you recommended, the 3420 with the open portafilter
Love it! Found the ESP on Amazon just recently for $159.00
Thanks for watching, comments welcome!
Tom, I've put about 7 kilos through mine, and it has settled in on about 4-6 seconds per click. With a tap or two on top I get about .1 grams of retention for 3-5 shots. After a while you will eventually get that .5(ish) grams that builds up over time in your dosing cup after a tap, so I like to make sure I give it a good whack at the of the day or use the cleaning brush quicky.
Oh, and as for astringency, I think it isn't the coffee you are using. Mine brings out the bitter flavors more so than my K6 in every coffee I have put through it. Maybe because it produces more fines, idk. But it isn't extreme, and I am fine with it.
Another thing, I started out having to grind at around 16-18 clicks with a 17-gram dose but now I am down to around 11-13 on average. Well, aside from this natural Brazil I have, it seems to need a coarse grind, but it is an outlier so far.
As an aside to, I'd recommend anyone wanting the single dose hopper to get an aftermarket one with a bellow. It cost more but I think I'd have rather gone that route rather than the stock one that I have.
All said and done, I think it is worth the $200 price tag it weighs in at. Would I have been happier with a Sette 270, probably but it is twice the price. (My wife hates single dosing so the timed function would have been a plus.) Anyway, I think the ESP is a good grinder for a lot of people.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Interesting note about astringency - I'd have to get a sifter and check it out. Some day...
Which single dose hopper would you recommend? I have not tried any with this machine yet.
I do think it's a great value. The Sette 270 is nice, but the transmissions are known for breaking. I think the Baratza Encore is a best selling grinder also for its durability over time.
Cheers!
Excellent review! Full of information and straight to the point, including a pulled shot of espresso using the grinder! I owned a Baratza Preciso when they first came out, and those line of grinders are tanks! You can get any part you need to repair the grinder from their website, and they are actually fairly inexpensive to boot. This is an exellent entry level grinder. As far as the clumping, I feel this is fairly standard, because if you look at the way the grinder works, the fins throw the coffee into a 90 degree angle coffee shoot, which forces the grinds downwards after hitting a wall (WDT/RDT helped address this a little). I was looking at the Baratza Sette to address this problem for me, since the grinds fall straight down.
I have the Sette 30 and I love that grinder. The only issue is that they eventually burn out the plastic gears in the Settes for some people.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The parts for the Baratza are very inexpensive on their website and surprisingly easy to repair for simple DIY. Baratza also provides step by step instruction videos on TH-cam to assist in this regard as well.
I’m happy with my purchase of this grinder. It does a great job both for espresso and for pour over. It does sound like a moaning old man, the bean hopper dances around like a mad hula dancer and the top of the hopper keeps popping off. Bad design choices. But it works well and for the price I am very happy.
Hi Tom. I had the Barza Solis for over 20 years but replacement burrs are no long available and so bought the Encore. I hate the encore for one very annoying aspect. It is 100 times messier than the Solis, OK maybe 100 times, lol. There are ZERO issues with static dust with the Solis...just reconfirmed that today (even swapped collection bin to no avail), while the encore is a dust bowl and creates a constant mess. I had to buy a small vacuum just for Encore cleanup! I refuse to spray my coffee with water and waiting a min or two doesn't help very much. It's night and day and there's way too much plastic in the Encore construction compared to the much heavier Solis which could be some or all of the problem. I'm tempted, as an engineer, to take both of them apart and see what I can do about this, maybe creating a better grounding path, etc. I feel I wasted $200. at this point and will continue to use the Solis until it can't be used any longer. The burrs are not worn out yet, which is the reason I bought the Encore as well as for it's finer grind resolution and control.
I had a Eureka Mignon Specialita which was a pain to clean so I sold it and bought this grinder instead which is so easy to clean. I had an encore years ago so when they came out with the ESP I knew I had to buy it. As for the clumps I just use an WDT which isn't as much as much as a pain as taking the Eureka apart all the time.
Excellent shot dude.
Thanks for share with us.
Thank Tom. Cheaper than this is Shardor with 51 settings for espresso. Would you please do a comparison between the two! Thanks in advance.
This was my first espresso grinder, and I really like it! It is a great deal and performs well. Easy to dial in. I use the single-dose hopper with it. It’s been just a few months and I upgraded to the Eureka Mignon Zero. Even though I love the Baratza, there’s no comparison… quality on the Eureka is simply amazing! (Not to mention how beautiful it looks next to my Gaggia Classic). I will keep the Baratza for coarser grinds and as a backup 💕
Can you elaborate on the difference between the mignon zero and the ESP in terms of cup quality? Would you say there is a noticeable difference between the two?
@@GriuGriu64 So the ESP gets the job done but the shots lack complexity?
@@GriuGriu64 I already own the zero, I was hoping someone could elaborate on the cup quality of the ESP.
@@GriuGriu64 I don't, i'm asking for a friend.
Thank you for your helpful informative videos, What is the best grinder do you recommend for espresso? Thanks
Honestly, my favorite is the Eureka Specialita.
Hey. I liked your video. I am pretty happy with my baratza encore esp but unfortunately the burr holder which is a plastic piece pretty much broke in half after just 4 months…. The grinder did it’s job very well until that piece broke. The machine is in service at this moment, I am just curious if somebody else had this issue with their baratza encore esp grinder. By the way, love your videos. Have a nice day!
Fingers crossed they will sell in Europe! Thanks for all your videos, you've helped a novice like me get into espresso.
They do. I can find it in France.
Just as I was planning to buy a Encore ESP together with a Dedica wanted to search for ESP a bit, came across this video, and you have exactly setup I have been planning :D
Would you recommend this machine or a Kingrinder K4 based on the grind quality? If the quality is similar I would like to go with an automatic one for sure though I am not sure
I thas been a nice insight, great video, thanks a lot
Honestly I haven't tested them side by side. I bet someone with a seasoned palate could tell the difference between the K4 and the ESP, but I bet most people will find them quite similar. The ESP of course is much easier due to the motor. Cheers!
Do you prefer the Baratza Encore ESP over the HiBrew G5 for espresso? I'm asking since they're in the same price range.
Hello Tom. I’ve been watching a lot of your videos and I want to thank you for your amazing content.
I’m looking forward to get this grinder paired with a bambino as it is on a good sale (both for 400€). Is it worth it if (for now) I’m only going to buy beans from the grocery store? Don’t have any local roasters near me and not sure if I want to get a subscription for fresh coffee for now.
Cheers from Portugal.
I do think it's worth it - even the ESP on it's own costs $200, so that's a good deal for the bundle. You might just want to use the pressurized filters and grind a little coarser, if using supermarket beans, since they have likely lost their freshness, and therefore their resistance to pressure. Cheers!
Great review Tom! Could you please consider doing a comparison video between this and the Opus? (Maybe with a focus on pairing them with the dedica)
Sure, I filmed one. Here's a sneak peek: th-cam.com/video/J-aSxvpDBCk/w-d-xo.html
Hello. Thank you for your video, it was great. I would like to ask you what kind of bottomless porta filter can you recommend me for a dedica maestro plus espresso machine? I bought this Baratza grinder, but I have tried a lot to use grinder #15 for espresso with my machine, but it seems to be very fine, and the stream of coffee is very thin, with poor cream. That's why I am thinking to buy a bottomless porta filter for my dedica maestro plus.
Thanks for the review Tom 😊
Hi , I really like your videos and it certainly got me into making espresso, i wanted to know, what steam wand are you using in your delonghi dedica?
I have an EC885, which already comes with a proper steam wand. Cheers!
Hi thanks for the video! Would you prefer the baratza encore ESP or the kingrinder K4 if you mainly use it for espresso? thanks in advance(:
I'd do the ESP, because the workflow with a handgrinder gets tedious quickly.
Thanks for
Excellent review!
Hey! Great video. Just wanted to know what scale you're using that fits on your Delonghi so well?. Having trouble finding a scale that fits mine. Thanks! 4:52
Hi there! That's the MiiCoffee one: geni.us/MiiCoffeeNanoScale (affiliate link) Cheers!
I am looking for grinder ,I am growing into espresso coffee,and have learnt lot from your videos.Looks like you recommend.thsnks
Yes, this is a nice one. The Opus is really nice too. But the workflow is better on the ESP.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you sir
Hey Tom, thanks for the video. Great content as always. I've just watched this and your video on the fellow opus. They both seem very similar and I am struggling to choose between them. Which would you recommend if they were the same price? thanks! I am planning to use with a dedica machine
ESP for workflow, Opus for slightly nicer grind result. Opus has a cumbersome workflow though.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner ok thank you!
Thank you, Tom. Please, can you tell me which you recommend between this ESP and the Zette 30 for espresso?
I'm honestly partial to the Sette 30. I like the haptic feedback of the grind adjust wheel. They both do well though.
Hey Tom, thanks for the video! By any chance do you know what’s the minimum grind size in microns?
I don't know, sorry!
Hi ! Thanks for the review, on my town i can get it for 180€ or the Eureka Mignon CRONO for 199€.. Wich one should I buy for espresso ? Cheers
I think the Crono is the better build by a lot. The Crono's burrs are designed for coffee brewing, but I have heard that they work for espresso as well.
Hey Tom, what kind of glass cups are using in this video?
And is the ESP that much better than the Encore?
The ESP is made to grind finer, so yes it's better if your aiming to do espresso. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you ! And what brand glass cups are using?
Helpful review, mine arrived yesterday and used it this morning for the first time!
So you start counting your shots when you start the Dedica. I’ve been hearing to time first drip to last drip. I use the Nano Coffee Scale with Timer and it doesn’t start until the first drip.
What do you think the difference is between starting the timer when you start the machine or at first drip? Thanks!
th-cam.com/video/7hSyY9UBcsU/w-d-xo.html
Do you have any experience or thoughts on the Virtuoso plus? I originally was going to get the encore ESP, but I saw that the Virtuoso + was marketed for espresso and drip + pour over. Since I also have a Chemex, I went with the Virtuoso +. The reason for the purpose was mainly for my new Delonghi Dedica. I am using a bottomless Portafilter and I'm trying to "dial-in" my shots. Concerned that I'll have issues especially when trying new beans.
I also should add that my concern is mainly coming from what seems to be a general consensus from online forums that the virtuoso isn't a great choice for espresso. A bit bummed since Baratza clearly markets the Virtuoso + as a grinder for both espresso and other brew methods.
Well, the Virtuoso has the same 6 bladed M2 burr as the ESP, and the same small 70 watt motor. But it looks like the adjustment collar is different. I'd venture to guess they are going to be similar in performance.
gotcha, thank you for the response! @@TomsCoffeeCorner
Saw your video and went to buy me a one , thank you 💯
Awesome, enjoy the delightfulness!
Would you still recommend this grinder? Do you have another great option for aournd the same price? Thank you!
I like the ESP. For $200, it's the best one I think. For $229 though, you can get a DF54, which is quite a bit nicer. Cheers!
And with it to complete the package - for around $500 (or less) - the Bambino Plus is the winner? What's your top 3 for that price point? Thank you again!
Hey! I just purchased the same delonghi coffee machine you have and Im having so much trouble finding a good espresso shot, however your videos have been incredibly helpful and informative! I cannot thank you enough for helping me find grinders, tips and tricks, and teaching your audience about coffee. Thanks again, please keep posting more videos!! :)
Thanks so much for your kind and warm encouragement! I like the interaction with you guys. Just keep at it! It takes some practice, and experimenting with different beans and milks.
I've been using a hand grinder for my espresso. I'm the only coffee drinker in the house. Budget does matter. I have a Cuisinart flat-burr that is fine for pour-over and drip. Not so much for espresso. This just might be the ticket. Do you think with the washers if could grind for Turkish coffee? Something I want to try as I do like the rare occasions I get somewhere I can order Turkish coffee.
I haven't tried turkish, but it was already fine enough for espresso at a setting of 12, so I'm thinking it can do turkish, too. Cheers!
Thanks! I ordered one a few days ago. Just being able to have a second espresso without having to do a 3-4 minute grind by hand will be nice. LOL. Also, being able to do an espresso for a couple of guests without a long interlude between pulls would be nice.
Was debating on this grinder, but went with a Breville Smart Grinder Pro instead, which I'm curious to see your thoughts on one day if they're available where you live. Either way the results look similar to SGP although in my case, some internal grind adjustments were needed to get fine enough grind
I think that these two grinders are similar, however the ESP uses more updated burrs...in fact Breville decided to use the new 6 bladed M2 burr from Baratza in their newest Barista Touch Impress machine. But whether or not you notice a big difference is the question. I'm not thinking I would. Have fun!
Hey! I’m wondering if you can answer a question for me. I’ve almost gone through a 1kg bag of beans and still not getting a perfect shot.
With the delonghi dedica, in a double basket I’m using 18grams of coffee, which means my shot should be 32 grams? That seems rather small. Isn’t a double shot 60ml?
I'd try between 36-45 grams. But go according to taste. The shot generally starts sour, and ends bitter, so keep that timeframe into consideration.
Thank you Tom!!❤☕
I found that I could not get my Encore Esp to grind fine enough for a dark roast with my Dedica Arte. I tried to add the additional spacers and found that my grinder only had 2 spacers pre-installed although it should have 6 according to an official Baratza TH-cam video I found. I have heard that this has been an issue with others as well. Can I ask how many spacers yours had installed out of the box?
Oh gosh, I don't know. I don't remember any spacers. It ground totally fine for me out of the box. Are you using fresh beans, or supermarket beans?
These videos may help:
How to extract the perfect espresso: th-cam.com/video/piO6c695Op8/w-d-xo.html
How to Get Crema: th-cam.com/video/00NSG9459a8/w-d-xo.html
Why Supermarket Coffee Beans are RUINING your Espresso! th-cam.com/video/5BgMKqu8fJI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Tom!! I have the same combo, but my dedica cannot pull a good shot beyond (finner) than setting 18 - 19 and I dont know why :(
I changed the shower screen on the dedica, could it be the problem?
Regards from Chile, love your content!!
Well, you might not need to go finer. I was using Costco beans in this example, which were probably several months old. The fresher the bean, the coarser you have to set the grinder.
If I were to decide between this grinder and say perhaps a 1zpresso J-Ultra manual grinder - What would produce the best results? Thanks!
I have not tried the J ultra, but tbh I prefer electric grinders like this, because the workflow is so much easier.
Finally have a Bambino on the way. Should I get this grinder or the Fellow Opus? Price is roughly the same.
That's a hard call! For workflow, I'd say the ESP. For delightfulness of use, and maybe a tiny bit better espresso the Opus. But they are both very good in this price range.
Nice video. I like my ESP but it does throw grinds all over unless you use some sort of larger cup or raised base. I made a portafilter holder for my bottomless PF but I use a large dose funnel with my double spout PF. I also marked the raised tab with a white paint pen to see what grind # setting I'm on, easier.
I bought the CAFEMASY Single Dose Hopper with Silicone Bellow and Aluminum Lid. 40 US or 35 with plastic lid. It fit perfectly despite some reviews saying the opposite? I rarely have any retention after hitting the bellows 3x. Oddly, the lid stays attached and I remove bellows to fill hopper. Also, two 8 oz mason jars (2 -1/2") can work in a pinch for a PF holder. Thanx again for your videos.
Thanks for sharing those tips! Glad to know that Cafemasy bellows fits and works well!
Yes and the "raised tab with a white paint pen" I spoke of is on that hopper. Unlike the factory one, the marking on the Cafemasy is unpainted and hard to see. That's the only con against it. @@TomsCoffeeCorner
would you say that there is a huge difference in quality of espresso between ESP and specialita?
Well, they're really two different types: conical and flat. So they kind of have their own unique flavor characteristics. Most people say that flats can bring out more fruity notes, while conicals bring out more chocolate and body. I'd honestly have to compare them both side to side however with the same bean, to try to describe the differences. I have these grinders in different locations though. Good idea for a future video.
Is there a way to grind directly into the portafilter?
You could hold the PF under there, if you want.
Sage dose, baratza esp or hibrew g5?
Hi tom, thanks for the review, how can I add more space for going finer, im in the finer position and my espresso is too short
It comes with shimming washers. But I certainly didn't need them. Are your beans by chance super old?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks for the reply, I put two shims and now is better but It seems every step on the espresso side is larger than it should be, I move one step coarser and reduced the extraction time by 8 seconds :(
The beans have less than 2 weeks roasted so I don’t know what’s wrong with
Do you know anything about Hibrew's coffee grinders and espresso machines?
They have espresso machines, and one of these machines is the H10A. Its price is the same as the Dedica. And they have 3 models of coffee grinders and the highest category is G5 , but there are no reviews for them.
Do you know anything about this company because I am confused between it and DeLonghi and the baratza esp grinder
Hibrew seems to come directly from China. No, I don't know the company.
Delonghi is designed in Italy, and made in China.
Baratza is designed in the USA, and made in China.
Hi Tom, I'm a southeast Bavarian living in Southeast Asia :) do you have any recommendation for specialty coffee roasters in Oberbayern for me? Would be good if they provide all the information a great coffee typically comes with. Thank you!
Hi there! Well, Dinzler is always a staple. There are many small ones too. Mira coffee is also nice. mira-coffeeroasters.de/
I bought a Fellow Opus after watching your review, after a month of using it i'm so disappointed. It's an absolute mess to use.
It retains a lot of residual grounds and spits beans all over my counter and base plate. Shame, i really wanted to like it.
Hoping to hear back from them for a refund and possibly try this Baratza out. Any experience w/ a Breville Smart grinder?
Well, I have used the SGP essentially in all the Breville Barista integrated grinder machines. It does a fine job, but somehow I prefer grinders that are more basic. Just hit a button to grind. That's what I like about this ESP. It also uses Baratza's newest design.
Baratza ESP or Turin SK40?? (for espresso) Tks :)
Oh, I'd say they're pretty even, but would give the nod to the SK40 for robustness.
HI i have a timemore c3 esp and im getting my esprrsso machine soon, do i need an upgrade?
The C3 should be comparable, but it gets cumbersome hand grinding. I only hand grind at work...
Thanks for great variant for grinding coffee to Dedica. Is there something similar on Aliexpress? For me, this Chinese market place if preferable in terms of shipping methods.
Sorry, I don't know much about Aliexpress...I bet you can find similar machines, but I like to stick with the manufacturers I know. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks for reply)
Clockwise to loosen, counterclockwise to tighten? That's insane.
Is there no portafilter platform? That also seems silly...but the dosing cup makes up for that, I suppose.
Bike pedals are like this too. It has to do with the nut not loosing while turning I think.
Si lleno la tolva de cafe y solo quiero sacar 18 gramos. ¿Cuando tengo que parar?
I'd just turn it on for about 10 seconds, then weigh it. Adjust accordingly. Too bad there's not a timer though.
I have the previous version of Baratza Encore and it made me hate the brand in general. The plastic ring broke (on this mode it's black @1:35) and I could not find a replacement in all of Europe without playing 3 times the shipping cost (it's about 10 euros and the shipping starts from 25 euros...) so watch out that yours doesn't break too.
If they made it so cheap that the first plastic thingy that breaks it also brakes any chance for a decent espresso, then it's not a brand worth considering imo for any type of coffee and I will go out of my way to actively avoid any other Baratza product. I still have the DeLonghi Burr Coffee Grinder for several years now and it still grinds better than the Encore.
Sorry to hear that your black ring broke! Did you contact Baratza about a replacement? I've heard they offer quite good customer service.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I did, but they're in the US. They only offered a list of European stores with spare parts, which I already had (see above the prices) and nothing else, not even "sorry" it broke...
They may have a great reputation in the US, but that did not help me here.
Nice but it´s a 200 euro grinder. Is there any good grinder por less than 100 ?? it´s kind of weird to buy a coffe grinder that is more expensive than the cofee machine
I think the motor and the burrs are the main cost factor. Plus the adjustment mechanism. The only cheaper electric one I can recommend is the Graef CM702, but that's only available in Europe.
Thank you Tom, im a long time subscriber! @@TomsCoffeeCorner Also, is there any good portafilter for the delhongi dedica ?? I have the same issue, they all cost super expensive. I bought a bottomless NEOUZA portafilter and every time i use it, it makes a mess
You just have to watch your puck prep, dose, and use fresh beans. Cheers!@@ignaciobrenner1620
Just bought my Encore Esp and it grinds too coarse, beans fresh out of bag, dark roast, and I need to go 0 setting to get semi decent extraction, does anyone had similar problem?
Oh gosh, not for me. It was already super fine for espresso around 15.
Can you please do a comprison against the Opus
Coming soon!
Encore ESP appeared in the Korean market about three months ago. Sales performance does not seem to be as good as in the past due to competition from several grinders in a similar price range.
In the past (about 10 years ago) in Korea, among entry-level coffee grinders, the most useful product under $200 was Encore, and unlike products sold in other countries, it provided a higher-end burr (simmlar current encore esp burr), so it received good reviews.
Currently, there are many inexpensive coffee grinders from Chinese manufacturers, which makes them less competitive, but many roasters are using encore to check how the coffee is expressed when ground in a home grinder.
Thanks for those insights into the Korean market. China is certainly making things harder on conventional manufacturers price-wise. I wonder if China will overtake the market at some point...
You didn’t talk about retention.
💪
Hi i want t by it
Nice middle finger buddy😂😂😂
I'm curious why the resolution is so good in the first 20 settings. I have an Encore and upgraded to an M2 burr. Can you explain the key feature of Encore ESP more?
Honestly I haven't figured out how they got the resolution finer in the lower range. Maybe I should take the thing apart, lol. Cheers!