Espresso grinders

What Does Each Extra $100 Buy in an Espresso Grinder?

Published · By the Espresso Shortlist editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Baratza's current US lineup lays the steps out clearly. At $199.95 the Encore ESP gives you stepped adjustment with its finer half reserved for espresso, $299.95 adds stepless adjustment and a single-dose mode, $399.95 adds programmed doses ground straight into the portafilter, and around $480 to $600 the grinder weighs each dose for you. Burr size barely moves along the way, since four of the six models below use the same 40 mm conical burrs.

Baratza's espresso grinders by price

ModelPriceBurrsAdjustmentHow a dose is measured
Encore ESP$199.9540 mm conical40 steps, with 1 to 20 set aside for espressoInto a dosing cup that fits 54 mm baskets (58 mm with the adapter)
Encore ESP Pro$299.9540 mm conicalSteplessSingle-dose mode that stops on its own, or a timer to 0.1 second
Sette 270$399.9540 mm conical30 macro steps plus a stepless micro ringThree timed presets, ground into a portafilter held by arms that fit 49 to 58 mm
Vario+$423.96 on sale (list $529.95)54 mm ceramic flat220 stepsThree timed presets, with a metal portafilter holder
Vario W+$479.96 on sale (list $599.95)54 mm steel flat10 macro steps, each split into 22By weight, to within 0.1 g
Sette 270Wi$599.9540 mm conical31-step grind range on its product sheetBy weight, into the portafilter, using Acaia's weighing technology

Time or weight

On the Sette 270 and Vario+ you set a grind time, in tenths of a second, and the grinder repeats it. On the Vario W+ and Sette 270Wi you enter a weight, say 18.0 g for a double, and the built-in scale stops the grinder there. With the Vario models on sale, weight-based dosing starts $120 below the Sette 270Wi.

Hopper or single dose

The Encore ESP Pro is the lowest-priced model here with a named single-dose mode. It holds 200 g of beans with its hopper fitted and 45 g with the hopper off, and in single-dose mode it stops by itself once the beans are through.

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Sources

  1. Baratza — Encore ESP
  2. Baratza — Encore ESP Product Sheet
  3. Baratza — Encore ESP Pro
  4. Baratza — Encore ESP Pro Product Sheet
  5. Baratza — Sette 270
  6. Baratza — Sette 270 Product Sheet
  7. Baratza — Sette 270Wi
  8. Baratza — Sette 270Wi Product Sheet
  9. Baratza — Vario+
  10. Baratza — Vario+ Product Sheet
  11. Baratza — Vario W+
  12. Baratza — Vario W+ Product Sheet

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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