Baratza Encore ESP vs DF54
Buy the DF54 if espresso is the point and you want the better grind; buy the Baratza Encore ESP if you want the cheaper grinder and a company that will still be sending you parts in ten years. The DF54 uses 54mm flat burrs with an SSP upgrade path, true single-dosing and low retention, and it out-grinds the Encore ESP for espresso — but the fit and finish is basic and there is some grind-path mess. The Encore ESP's 40mm conical burrs and stepped adjustment cover espresso through French press, cost less, and come with Baratza's parts-and-repair support, which is the reason it is still the default first grinder.
Part of our guide to the best coffee grinders.
Head to headHighest overall score: DF / Turin DF54 (8.1 vs 8.5) — but pick by how you brew.
What the extra money buys — The DF54 costs roughly $60 more than the Encore ESP. That buys the 54mm flat burrs and the SSP upgrade path, true single-dosing and low retention — the reasons it out-grinds the Encore ESP for espresso. What the extra money does not buy is polish or support: the fit and finish is basic, there is some grind-path mess, and Baratza's parts-and-repair programme is the Encore ESP's answer to all of it.
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Approximate — verify the latest price
BrewSift earns a commission on some purchases. It never changes our scores. Why you can trust us
Which one wins — for you
54mm flat burrs, upgradable to SSP, score higher on grind consistency and espresso range here.
Baratza's parts-and-repair programme is the reason people call it the grinder you buy once.
Built around single-dosing with low retention; the Encore ESP holds back more between doses.
Cheaper, and it avoids the DF54's basic finish and grind-path mess.
Score by dimension
BrewSift sub-scores for grinders. The longer bar wins each row.
Specs side by side
The bottom line
The right pick depends on how you brew — match the machine to your actual use case using the “which one wins” cards above. If you just want the stronger all-rounder, the DF / Turin DF54 edges it on our overall score (8.1 vs 8.5).
More comparisons in coffee grinders
Other matchups we have run side by side, same scoring, same spec sheet.
Common questions
Is the DF54 worth more than the Baratza Encore ESP?
For espresso, yes. Flat burrs at 54mm are a step up from the Encore ESP's 40mm conicals for shot work, the DF54 single-doses with low retention, and its burrs can be swapped for SSP sets later. What you give up is polish and support: the DF54's fit and finish is basic, the grind path is messier, and the brand is far newer than Baratza. If you mostly brew filter, or you want the least fuss, the price difference is not buying you much.
Can the Baratza Encore ESP really do espresso?
Yes — that is what separates it from the original Encore. It adds a finer adjustment range that reaches true espresso while keeping the range out to French press, so one grinder covers both. It is stepped rather than stepless, so you are choosing between fixed clicks rather than dialling infinitely, which is the usual complaint from people pulling shots daily.
Which grinder is quieter?
Neither is quiet. Both score in the low 70s for noise here, and both are noticeably louder than a premium flat-burr grinder in a sealed housing. If a quiet kitchen is a real requirement, that is worth weighing before either of these — it is not a difference that decides this particular pairing.