Baratza Encore ESP Espresso and Coffee Grinder

Before using the Encore ESP for the first time, remove all packaging and hand-wash the bean hopper, hopper lid, and grounds bin (or dosing cup if included) in warm soapy water. Rinse and let air dry completely. Do not wash burrs with water — this will cause rust. Do not put any plastic parts in the dishwasher.

Also wash the dosing cup and dosing cup base in warm soapy water and let air dry before first use.

Season new burrs before your first real grind: run 30–50g of whole beans through and discard the output. New burrs have micro-burrs on the cutting edges that affect consistency until broken in. After seasoning, the grinder is ready to dial in.

Place the grinder on a stable, flat surface near a standard household outlet. Baratza grinders are designed for home use and operate on standard 120V AC power. Grind a dose at a time — these grinders are not designed for continuous extended runs.

The Encore ESP has a dual-range adjustment system: settings 1–20 are micro-steps optimized for high-resolution espresso dialing; settings 21–40 are macro-steps for filter brewing. This means adjustments in the espresso range (1–20) make very small grind size changes per click, while adjustments in the filter range (21–40) make much larger jumps per click.

For espresso, use the included dosing cup. Insert the dosing cup base into the grinder in place of the grounds bin, then place the dosing cup on top. The dosing cup fits 54mm portafilters directly; use the included 58mm adapter ring for 58mm baskets. For filter brewing, swap to the grounds bin.

Dual-Range Adjustment: Espresso vs. Filter

Settings 1–20 are the espresso range. Each click in this range changes grind size by a small, precise amount — ideal for the fine adjustments needed to dial in espresso shot time. Settings 21–40 are the filter range, where each click produces a much larger grind size jump, suitable for moving between drip, pour-over, and French press. Do not try to use the lower settings (1–10) for filter brewing — the grind will be far too fine.

Dosing Cup Workflow

Pre-weigh your dose on a scale and load it into the hopper. Insert the dosing cup base, place the dosing cup on top, and grind. After grinding, lift the dosing cup and swirl or tap to settle the grounds, then pour directly into your portafilter basket. The dosing cup's anti-static design reduces grounds clinging to the cup walls. For 58mm baskets, snap the adapter ring onto the base of the dosing cup before inserting into the grinder.

Quick-Release Burr

The Encore ESP features a redesigned quick-release burr mounting system that allows the ring burr to be removed without tools — important for clearing clogs and for regular cleaning. To remove: rotate the adjustment ring fully counterclockwise, then lift the ring burr straight up by the tabs.

Grind Settings by Brew Method

Use these as starting points and adjust to taste. Espresso: settings 5–10. AeroPress: 10–15. Pour-over (V60, Chemex): 18–25. Drip coffee maker: 20–28. French press / cold brew: 28–38. Finer grinds increase extraction and strength; coarser grinds decrease them. Changes of 1–2 settings at a time are enough to notice a difference in espresso; larger jumps are appropriate for filter methods.

Pulse Button

The front-mounted pulse button grinds only while pressed — useful for grinding directly into a portafilter basket or for short doses. Hold the portafilter basket directly under the grounds chute, remove the grounds bin, and pulse to grind directly in. The on/off switch runs the grinder continuously until switched off.

Grounds Retention

All Baratza conical grinders retain a small amount of coffee (approximately 0.5–1g) in the burr chamber and chute between grinds. This is normal. For espresso, always purge 2–3g of beans through the grinder when switching to a new coffee or after a grind setting change to clear the previous grind from the chamber before grinding your actual dose.

Burr Seasoning Over Time

New burrs require approximately 1–2 lbs of coffee to fully season. During this period, you may notice slightly more fines and less consistency than expected. This resolves on its own with use. After seasoning, Baratza's M2 conical burrs produce very consistent particle distributions across the full grind range.

Weekly — Brush the Burrs

Switch off and unplug the grinder. Remove the hopper and set it aside. Lift the ring burr straight up out of the grinder body using the lifting tabs. Use a stiff brush to remove coffee grounds from the ring burr, the center cone burr, and the burr chamber walls. Do not wash the ring burr or center cone burr with water — they will rust. Reinstall the ring burr, aligning the red tab with the corresponding marker, then reinstall the hopper.

Monthly — Grounds Bin and Hopper

Wash the grounds bin, hopper, and hopper lid with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry completely before reinstalling. If grounds have built up on the chute walls inside the grinder, use a brush to clear them.

Quarterly — Grinder Cleaning Tablets

Run a full cycle of grinder cleaning tablets (Grindz or equivalent) through the grinder at a medium setting. This removes coffee oil buildup from burr surfaces and the grinding chamber. After the tablet cycle, run 30g of actual coffee beans through to purge any tablet residue. Do not use rice — it can damage the burrs and internal components.

Clogs

If the grinder runs but no grounds fall into the bin, the chute may be clogged with compacted coffee powder. This most often happens from over-filling the grounds bin, grinding oily or dark-roasted beans without regular cleaning, or grinding flavored coffee. Visit baratza.com/troubleshooting for step-by-step unclogging instructions specific to your model.

Grinder Won't Start

Confirm the hopper is fully seated and locked — the grinder has a safety interlock that prevents starting without the hopper installed. Ensure the power cord is plugged in and the outlet is live. If the motor ran for a long time, a thermal overload may have triggered; unplug, wait 15 minutes, and try again.

Grind Too Coarse / Weak Coffee

Move to a lower (finer) setting. Adjust while the grinder is running or completely empty. Changes of 2–3 settings at a time are enough for drip methods; 1-setting increments for espresso.

Grind Too Fine / Slow Espresso or Clogged Filter

Move to a higher (coarser) setting. For espresso, adjust 1 click at a time. If the portafilter is completely blocked with no flow, jump 3–4 settings coarser and work back in.

Inconsistent Grind / Fines Surge

Clean the burrs with a brush — oil and grounds buildup is the most common cause of inconsistency. If the grinder is new, the burrs may simply need more seasoning. Run another 50g through and retest.

Grinding Noise / Rattling

Check that the hopper is fully seated and locked. Confirm the ring burr is properly installed with the red alignment tab in the correct position. A bean fragment or foreign object occasionally gets lodged between the burrs — if the noise is sudden and severe, stop the grinder immediately, remove the hopper and ring burr, and inspect.

Warranty and Support

Baratza grinders carry a 1-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. For warranty service or troubleshooting, visit baratza.com or contact Baratza support at support@baratza.com / 877-701-2021. Baratza also maintains a full troubleshooting library and video repair guides at baratza.com.