# Encore ESP vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Encore ESP (Baratza) and C40 MK4 Nitro Blade (Comandante) among coffee grinders. Encore ESP is the cheaper of the two at $199.95.

## Side by side

| Spec | Encore ESP | C40 MK4 Nitro Blade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $199.95 | $325 |
| Brand | Baratza | Comandante |
| Released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Type | electric | manual |
| Burr type | conical | conical |
| Burr size (mm) | 40 | 39 |
| Grind settings | 40 stepped (steps 1-20 espresso at 20µm/click, 21-40 filter at ~90µm/click) | ~40 clicks per rotation |
| Hopper capacity (g) | 227 | 40 |
| Best for | espresso | all |
| Weight (lb) | 7 | 1.63 |

## Key differences

- Type: Encore ESP electric vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade manual
- Burr size (mm): Encore ESP 40 vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade 39
- Grind settings: Encore ESP 40 stepped (steps 1-20 espresso at 20µm/click, 21-40 filter at ~90µm/click) vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade ~40 clicks per rotation
- Hopper capacity (g): Encore ESP 227 vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade 40
- Best for: Encore ESP espresso vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade all
- Weight (lb): Encore ESP 7 vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade 1.63

## What reviewers say

**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 Wirecutter's 2026 grinder roundup mentions the base Encore ESP only in passing, now deeming it a superseded 'prototype' next to its ESP Pro pick.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.)

**C40 MK4 Nitro Blade** — Only one whitelisted hands-on reviewer survived verification: Tom's Guide, which lab-measured grind uniformity (Kruve sieves), retention (scale, before/after) and grind speed, and named the Comandante C40 MK4 Editor's Choice. Every quote and measured value in this entry was confirmed verbatim against the fetched article. Verdict: best-in-class hand grinder for consistency and low retention, but slow to crank at fine settings and very expensive. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Encore ESP: https://www.baratza.com/en-us/product/encoretm-esp-zcg495 (baratza.com, verified 2026-06-19)
- C40 MK4 Nitro Blade: https://prima-coffee.com/equipment/comandante/c40-mk4-coman-pp (prima-coffee.com, verified 2026-06-19)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/coffee-grinders/baratza-encore-esp-vs-comandante-c40-mk4/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Encore ESP ($199.95) vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade ($325) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/coffee-grinders/baratza-encore-esp-vs-comandante-c40-mk4/
License: CC BY 4.0.