Best Coffee Grinders · head-to-head

Encore ESP vs Mignon Specialita

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Encore ESP is cheaper at $199.95. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Encore ESP or Mignon Specialita?

The Encore ESP wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Encore ESP is the cheaper at $199.95. The Encore ESP 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 Mignon Specialita
US price $199.95 MSRP, official Baratza store $549
BrandBaratzaEureka
Released20222018
Type electric electric
Burr type conical flat
Burr size (mm) 40 55
Grind settings 40 stepped (steps 1-20 espresso at 20µm/click, 21-40 filter at ~90µm/click) stepless
Hopper capacity (g) 227 300
Best for espresso espresso
Weight (lb) 7 12.3
Release 2022 2018

Sources — Encore ESP: baratza.com (verified 2026-06-19). Mignon Specialita: completehomebarista.com (verified 2026-06-19).

What's the difference between the Encore ESP and Mignon Specialita?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Burr type: Encore ESP conical vs Mignon Specialita flat
  • Burr size (mm): Encore ESP 40 vs Mignon Specialita 55
  • Grind settings: Encore ESP 40 stepped (steps 1-20 espresso at 20µm/click, 21-40 filter at ~90µm/click) vs Mignon Specialita stepless
  • Hopper capacity (g): Encore ESP 227 vs Mignon Specialita 300
  • Weight (lb): Encore ESP 7 vs Mignon Specialita 12.3

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 Wirecutter's 2026 grinder roundup mentions the base Encore ESP only in passing, now deeming it a superseded 'prototype' next to its ESP Pro pick.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

Mignon Specialita

Only one whitelisted hands-on tester (Tom's Guide) reviewed this exact grinder; coffee blogs like Coffee Chronicler and Home Grounds were excluded as non-testers. Tom's Guide's Peter Wolinski ran a long-term hands-on test and calls it a fantastic, tank-built espresso grinder praised for low retention and consistent low-static grinding, but flags a messy high-angle chute, single-brew-type focus, and pricey, hard-to-find U.S. availability. No lab measurements or benchmark numbers were reported. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Fantastic, durable full-metal build quality; Low retention makes dialing in near-instantaneous; Consistent, even grind with little static or clumping.

Flagged: High-angle chute causes messy worktops; Long adjustment throw makes switching brew methods awkward; Pricey and hard to find in the U.S..

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