Baratza
Encore ESP
$199.95
Released 2022
Best Coffee Grinders · head-to-head
Encore ESP vs J-Max
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. J-Max is cheaper at $199. Every spec and price links to its source.
1Zpresso
J-Max
$199Cheaper
Which is better: the Encore ESP or J-Max?
The J-Max wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The J-Max is the cheaper at $199. The J-Max both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Encore ESP | J-Max |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $199.95 MSRP, official Baratza store | $199 |
| Brand | Baratza | 1Zpresso |
| Released | 2022 | — |
| Type | electric | manual |
| Burr type | conical | conical |
| Burr size (mm) | 40 | 48 |
| Grind settings | 40 stepped (steps 1-20 espresso at 20µm/click, 21-40 filter at ~90µm/click) | 90 clicks per rotation (8.8 µm/click), external dial |
| Hopper capacity (g) | 227 | 40 |
| Best for | espresso | espresso |
| Weight (lb) | 7 | 1.7 |
| Release | 2022 | — |
Sources — Encore ESP: baratza.com (verified 2026-06-19). J-Max: 1zpresso.coffee (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Encore ESP and J-Max?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Type: Encore ESP electric vs J-Max manual
- Burr size (mm): Encore ESP 40 vs J-Max 48
- Grind settings: Encore ESP 40 stepped (steps 1-20 espresso at 20µm/click, 21-40 filter at ~90µm/click) vs J-Max 90 clicks per rotation (8.8 µm/click), external dial
- Hopper capacity (g): Encore ESP 227 vs J-Max 40
- Weight (lb): Encore ESP 7 vs J-Max 1.7
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Encore ESP
Only one whitelisted tester ran a full hands-on test of the exact base Encore ESP: Tom's Guide, which calls it a great-value, no-learning-curve entry grinder that 'lives up to its hype' but grinds unevenly and can't reach espresso-fine. Wirecutter's 2026 grinder roundup mentions the base Encore ESP only in passing, now deeming it a superseded 'prototype' next to its ESP Pro pick. Both sources verified as literal, on-model; nothing dropped. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Excellent value and beginner-friendly with virtually no learning curve; Tool-free burr removal for easy cleaning, and very low clumping.
Flagged: Cannot grind fine enough for true espresso/Turkish; lacks fine-grind control; Grind uniformity/consistency is only mediocre; Retention spikes when the hopper is filled (2.1g at 150g).
J-Max
No sourced tester review yet.