Baratza
Encore ESP
$199.95Cheaper
Released 2022
Best Coffee Grinders · head-to-head
Encore ESP vs C40 MK4 Nitro Blade
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Encore ESP is cheaper at $199.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Comandante
C40 MK4 Nitro Blade
$325
Released 2021
Which is better: the Encore ESP or C40 MK4 Nitro Blade?
The C40 MK4 Nitro Blade wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Encore ESP is the cheaper at $199.95. Get the C40 MK4 Nitro Blade for the stronger spec sheet, the Encore ESP to spend less.
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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 | C40 MK4 Nitro Blade |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $199.95 MSRP, official Baratza store | $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 |
| Release | 2022 | 2021 |
Sources — Encore ESP: baratza.com (verified 2026-06-19). C40 MK4 Nitro Blade: prima-coffee.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Encore ESP and C40 MK4 Nitro Blade?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- 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
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 Wirecutter's 2026 grinder roundup mentions the base Encore ESP only in passing, now deeming it a superseded 'prototype' next to its ESP Pro pick.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).
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, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Consistent, uniform grind across the full range (verified via Kruve sifter test); Low grind retention, averaging 2.75%; Exceptional build quality and ergonomic body/handle.
Flagged: Very expensive (~$277-$323); Hard and slow to crank at finer settings (below ~20 clicks); No indicator showing the current click/grind setting.