Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2
Short answer: Buy the Encore ESP if you pull espresso and want Baratza's repair support; buy the Opus 2 for a wider coarse range, a single-dose workflow and a quieter kitchen. They are the two best ~$200 all-rounders and cost the same. The Encore ESP's 40mm conical burrs sit on a dual-range dial, with 20 fine micro-steps for espresso and 20 larger steps for filter, per Baratza. The Opus 2 has 48mm conical burrs, 48 settings plus a stepless side dial, auto-stop and a portafilter-friendly catch cup, per Fellow. Both are excellent first grinders; they score 82 each for grind consistency here.
Updated
Part of our guide to the best coffee grinders.
Head to headOverall score: tied (8.1 vs 8.1) — pick by how you brew.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.1/ 10Tied | 8.1/ 10Tied |
| Price | $199.95approx.Checked 2026-10-09 | $199.95approx.Checked 2026-10-08 |
| Get it for | espresso dial-in, repairs & long-term support | coarse range & cold brew, quiet kitchen, single-dose workflow |
| Burrs | 40mm M2 conical steel, quick-release | 48mm conical |
| Range | Espresso → French press | Espresso → cold brew |
| Settings | 40 stepped: 1–20 espresso micro-steps, 21–40 filter | 48 + stepless dial |
| Hopper | 300 g beans, 120 g grounds bin | 100 g single-dose load bin (Fellow) |
| AmazonFull review of Baratza Encore ESP | AmazonFull review of Fellow Opus 2 |
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Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2: which wins for you
Baratza dedicates settings 1–20 to fine micro-steps for espresso. It scores 80 for espresso range here against the Opus 2's 78.
Baratza's parts-and-repair support, and a quick-release burr that comes out for cleaning without tools.
Fellow lists espresso through to cold brew. It scores 86 for brew range here against 84.
It scores 78 for quiet operation here against the Encore ESP's 70. Neither maker publishes a decibel figure, so this rests on owner reports.
Fellow's auto-stop senses when the beans run out, and the catch cup fits 54mm and 58mm portafilters. It scores 84 for workflow here against 80.
Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2: score by dimension
BrewSift sub-scores for grinders. The longer bar wins each row; equal scores are both highlighted.
Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2: specs side by side
Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2: the bottom line
Buy the Encore ESP if you pull espresso and want Baratza's repair support; buy the Opus 2 for a wider coarse range, a single-dose workflow and a quieter kitchen. On our overall score they are tied (8.1 vs 8.1), so the “which wins” cards above are the real decider: match the pick to how you use it.
More comparisons in coffee grinders
Other matchups we have run side by side, same scoring, same spec sheet.
Common questions
Is the Baratza Encore ESP or the Fellow Opus 2 better for espresso?
The Encore ESP, by a small margin. Baratza splits its dial in two: settings 1–20 are fine micro-steps for espresso and 21–40 are larger steps for filter, so a whole half of the dial is spent on the espresso range. The Opus 2 does grind fine enough and has a stepless side dial for fine-tuning, but its 48 settings span espresso to cold brew. The Encore ESP scores 80 for espresso range here against 78.
Which is better for pour-over, drip and French press?
The Opus 2, slightly. Fellow lists it for everything from espresso to cold brew and it scores 86 for brew range here against the Encore ESP's 84. Grind consistency is a tie at 82. The Encore ESP handles filter brewing well on settings 21–40, so this is not a reason to avoid it, but coarse brewers get a little more room on the Opus 2.
Is this the Fellow Opus or the Opus 2?
The Opus 2, the second-generation model and the one currently sold. Fellow moved it to 48mm conical burrs, added a stepless side dial alongside 48 settings, an auto-stop, and a catch cup that fits 54mm and 58mm portafilters. If you are weighing an original Opus bought second hand, note that the specs on this page are the Opus 2's.
Is this the original Baratza Encore or the Encore ESP?
The Encore ESP. It shares the Encore's 40mm conical burr size and simple hopper-twist adjustment, but Baratza added a dual-range dial whose first 20 settings are fine micro-steps built for espresso. The original Encore is a filter grinder. If you only brew filter coffee, the original Encore is still a fine choice, but it is not the grinder being compared here.
What about the Baratza Encore ESP Pro?
It is Baratza's step-up model. Baratza lists stepless grind adjustment, auto-stop grinding for single dosing, a 0.1-second timer, anti-static technology and a flow-control disk, at a higher price than the Encore ESP. Those features close much of the workflow gap with the Opus 2. This page compares the standard Encore ESP.
Which grinder is quieter?
The Opus 2. It scores 78 for quiet operation here against the Encore ESP's 70. Neither Fellow nor Baratza publishes a decibel figure, so this rests on owner reports rather than a spec sheet, and neither is silent.
Which is easier to repair?
The Encore ESP. Baratza is known for selling parts and supporting repairs, and the Encore ESP's quick-release burr comes out for cleaning without taking the grinder apart or using tools. Fellow backs the Opus 2 with a 2-year warranty. If you want a grinder you can keep running for many years, Baratza's support is the stronger case.
Fellow Opus 2
$199.95