Cheapest Grinder that can Actually do Espresso? Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore ESP

[@pandal00ps]

I appreciate how this review actually includes how each of these options sound when running. Quick and informative vid!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@timothyleonard5056]

Another handy tip on the ESP is if you are grinding only single doses, and not storing beans in the silo, add a couple of drops of water and the ground coffee is static free.

[@kerbo312]

Excellent video Tom! I agree the Opus is quite slow, it can be frustrating some times but other then that I am really happy with the grinder. it fits my use case with the dedica perfectly!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Excellent, thanks for posting your feedback!

[@elizabethrichie6231]

I love my ESP! I’m glad I purchased over an Opus.

[@matheus4972]

Are you still using it? Im wondering about durability

[@elizabethrichie6231]

@@matheus4972hey! Yep still using it! Works like it’s brand new

[@nickthenightfly9753]

I bought the sage smart grinder pro for 229 euro because these two are hard to find here in Italy, especially for that price. Let's hope for good.

[@kitcraft9516]

Never used the Opus but the ESP is what I'd call good enough. I totally get why people spend more though. My K6 gives me better shots in terms of quality and consistency but it takes way more effort to use when I am braindead at 6am pulling a shot, lol. But I'd love to start seeing espresso dedicated grinders in this range rather than all around grinders (I really don't drink other kinds of coffee). Say the ESP's entire dial was for espresso and the steps were halved, that would be perfect. As always, thanks for the video! I always enjoy them.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I totally agree with you here. Baratza already has the conventional Encore, so they could have dedicated this ESP model to espresso. We shall see how sales go for them. The ESP might cannibalize sales from the original model, whereas an espresso dedicated model might have left room for both to thrive. Or, maybe the ESP will someday replace the Encore. Who knows? Cheers!

[@jonthomas8487]

I was looking at both and ended up buying the Baratza ESP due to build quality and track record of Baratza and knowing some friends that had the original Encore for 6+ years. I’m more interested in having it be a solid workhorse for drip and French press but have the capacity to do espresso if needed. I am replacing a cheap Cuisinart one my son tried to grind chocolate chips in🤣

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Haha, funny idea your son had! :)

[@VoicesofMusic]

Great review as usual. I'm resigned to the clumps but I get a great pour with just one machine.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Agreed! I usually do a little WDT anyway, so the clumps are not really a big deal for me.

[@jeet-Seattle]

Learnt so much from your videos Tom I'm a beginner for espresso. I will get ESP Bratza.. thanks

[@adityajain3697]

How are these as compared to hibrew g5?which is the best amongst these three?pls share your opinion

[@jeffandersen6233]

I've had a Rocky grinder and a number of Baratza grinders. The Rocky was solid but I did not find its espresso grinds great. I've used an older Encor which did not produce good espresso grinds but my current Virtuoso+ grinder works ok with my current ECP 3630. Not sure about Fellow but Baratza does service their products and parts are relatively easy to get.

[@freevin51]

Good video. Maybe it's just my hearing, but the Opus sounded much louder and much more irritating than the ESP.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, that could be. It has a different sound, too.

[@andreacoane4891]

Thanks for these great reviews, Tom! Extremely helpful and to the point. May I ask if clogging is a problem with these particular grinders if oily beans are being ground? I've seen that as a complaint with cheaper grinders (i.e., OXO burr conical grinder) and I'm wondering if that is an issue that is known to arise with these grinders.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I wouldn't use oily beans on ANY grinder. No sense in getting the burrs gummed up, and I don't like the taste of oily beans either. Try a med-dark roast. Cheers!

[@regularchannel3181]

Kingrinder K6 or Baratza ESP in terms of the grind quality for espresso? And perhaps can anyone tell how easier and faster is K6 compared to Timemore C3?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I'll be honest. Hand grinding on a daily basis would be cumbersome, so I prefer electric grinders for home. I use my K4 at work though. I like Kingrinder more than Timemore. Cheers!

[@tomtothem3117]

Hey Tom, hey Community, What are these two doing better than the Breville/Sage Dose Control Pro? I mean, are Baratza and Opus just late to the party and look a little better? I've had my Sage for quite a while now, but it completely broke down on me. Now I'm thinking about which grinder I should get next. I was quite happy with the Dose Control Pro....

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Honestly, I'd say they're quite similar except that the Opus has a deionizer, which is nice. And the blade design is now 6 blade instead of 5. But I don't know if that makes a discernible difference. But I'd go for the new DF54 coming up, to be hones.

[@tomtothem3117]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner wow! The df54 looks cool. Also in the videos it seems not to be as plasticky as the opus and the encore esp. what would be a good option to buy a used grinder when you’re willing to invest around 200€?

[@tomtothem3117]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner btw… If you really wanted to I think I could volunteer for a test run 😬

[@xxyanskatexx]

I have the dedica aswell (althought the model EC680) and I have been looking for a grinder update since the one I have (conical OXO) isn’t espresso capable using a single walled basket, that I have just started to use. I think I’ll go with the Opus seeing that you have this combination aswell and like the shots you’re pulling. I’m just afraid that in 2 years I’ll change my espresso machine because it breaks, get something nicer and feel like changing the grinder for something nicer aswell. Hard to decide if I should already invest 400$ or if I’ll be content with this one for a long period. Just got into the espresso rabbit hole. Well cheers, thanks for the videos Tom.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

To be honest, if you think you’re going to upgrade in the future, you might as well buy a Specialita for example, which is a tank and provides an excellent grind.

[@xxyanskatexx]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner It’s a nice product. It just sucks to think that you need to pay for 150 CAD custom fees compared to people in europe. Is there good deals for the grinders in this price range for black friday? Like Rancilio rocky, eureka line, niche zero, etc.

[@Alex-k5q7c]

​@@xxyanskatexx If you order specialita from Europe, there will be a customs fee?

[@filipefernandesmusic]

After the release of these two wonderful grinders, do you believe the Sage Smart Grinder Pro is still a good choice? I'm looking for something that is espresso-capable and grinds directly onto my 51mm portafilter for under 250€.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

While I find that the Opus is slightly more refined than the ESP or SGP, it's not a huge difference. They're all based on the same principle - small conical burrs. I am not sure that mine, or many people's palates would notice a huge difference between these 3. But they'd have to be tried side by side. Cheers!

[@filipefernandesmusic]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks Tom! By the way I'm loving the videos, keep up the great work :D

[@kylecorrow702]

Fellow just lowered the price of the ode v1 so now I'm not sure which one to get? 1. Opus 2. Esp 3. Ode V1 SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE!!! I like espresso and drip coffee so it needs to do EVERYTHING

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well I guess the Ode 1 was really aimed for coffee, not espresso. I find the Opus a little more refined than the ESP, but they're both capable. Choose which one you find more delightful, aesthetically and ergonomically.

[@kylecorrow702]

@TomsCoffeeCorner everyone says to get the esp if your picking from the ode and esp. I just Hate how loud the esp is. But I love how the ode looks.

[@ilyag8656]

Tom, can you please review the Dedica Coffe Grinder KG521M. I keep thinking i need to get a better grinder and im not sure if my thoughts are correct. It seems to me that the espresso grind is not good enough. I use it for both espresso and pour over.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I'll have to check that out...but I heard you need to mod it for it to grind fine enough.

[@ilyag8656]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner your insight and review of it might be super helpful for alot of people. Depending on the modification, difficulty and price, it might be more worth it to buy a more capable grinder in the first place, maybe if that is the resolution you could also suggest other grinders instead. Looking forward to your potential review of the grinder, no pressure! I appreciate all of your work.

[@vgama]

I have the Dedica grinder and it is not up to the job, I already did the moddification of the washers and even that is not enough for a espresso with bottomless portafilters.

[@DimHim7473]

I was looking for a 200€ grinder,but I have very limited counter space. I was very tired of looking the best for the money. I also don’t like retention of coffee.Finally a new problem come to my mind. Electricity and electronics. So I decided. I bought 1zpresso JMax. 8microns adjustment is the nearest to stepless. Very happy.😂

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Sounds good. The Kingrinder K4 is a nice alternative too, at 16 microns it offers me good resolution. Cheers!

[@merom.1248]

​@@TomsCoffeeCorner Which is better for espresso k6 or k4 ??

[@FaithAndCoffeeBean]

It’s between ones of these or a d464 for me… I am going to make a choice soon ☕️👍🏽

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

How about a DF54? That's better than these, imho.

[@christianfarris6867]

Thanks, very helpful

[@sergiochirivi4786]

Hi Tom, thanks for this insight. I bought a Dedica (thanks to your video) and I am pretty happy with it. I am using a hand grinder which is great but for the day-to-day coffee I am now looking to an electric grinder. What I am really interested in, is an electric grinder that could actually grind fine enough for my espresso machine. I am Italian and I do like a creamy strong shot of espresso. Do you may know which one, between Opus and Baratza, actually grind finer? Or would you recommend something else? Thanks for any help/suggestion you may provide

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

They both grind fine enough for espresso. I find the ESP more ergonomic. The DF54 is also nice. Cheers!

[@sergiochirivi4786]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you! One last question. The De'Longhi KG 521.M Grinder could also be an option or does it not grind fine enough for a creamy strong espresso compared to the Baratza encore ESP? What’s your view? Consider I use bottomless portafilter with unpressurised basket ..Thanks for any help!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@sergiochirivi4786 You can forget the KG 521. It does not grind find enough for unpressurized espresso.

[@kirthgersen291]

Here is a video that interests me the most. That answers my question, which espresso grinder for a small budget. Are there any other contenders for this question?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You could also consider the D40+ by MiiCoffee for $200.

[@myname-mz3lo]

the baratza has 20 of those 40 settings for espresso . with the fellow opus only 4 of them are

[@TabRipley]

I can't find an Encore ESP in Italy

[@josecontreras3823]

Any other recommendations at this price?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You could consider the MiiCoffee D40+.

[@stevegraves280]

You can now get a DF54 flat burr grinder for $229 shipped.

[@ashrih2030]

Opus or mignon manuale?

[@myname-mz3lo]

he skipped over the grind settings wich is the biggest difference between the two . the fellow opus is way harder to dial in and the steps are way bigger

[@What_If_We_Tried]

I've been shopping for a new grinder, and both grinders are on my radar screen, but I'm also considering the Sette 30 as well.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I quite like the Sette 30, but beware of the loudness. It's the loudest grinder I know.

[@What_If_We_Tried]

Tom, at the moment I only have a mokka pot, and brew V60 cafe for my wife, but eventually want to add an espresso machine. Between the Baratza ESP, Sette 30, or Sette 270, or one of the Specialita's which would you recommend? Many thanks... Currently using a inexpensive Oster / Mr Coffee grinder@@TomsCoffeeCorner

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@What_If_We_TriedWell, for the long run I’d recommend the Specialita. It’s built the best and provides excellent grind quality.

[@What_If_We_Tried]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Really appreciate that recommendation, and your time.

[@SpacemanGrechko]

Do I understand correctly that they are the same in terms of grinding quality?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well, I haven't measured their particle distribution, but to me the grind quality is similar. I'd give the Opus the upper hand on that front, but it's kind of slow and cumbersome to use.

[@noelle_celine209]

Hey Tom, erstmal herzlichen Dank für deine tollen Videos! Ich bin bei meiner Suche nach einer elektronischen Kaffeemühle bei Amazon auf die Shardor CG018B gestoßen (ca. 110€) und frage mich wie die im Vergleich wohl performed. Hättest du Lust diese mal zu testen? Herzliche Grüße!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Noelle, die habe ich nicht ausprobiert, aber wie waers mit einem Graef CM702 oder so? Ich bevorzuge lieber etablierten Marken, wenn es geht.

[@jacobnicou]

I wonder how these two compare to the good old Graef CM800

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

To be honest, they have a very similar principle: smaller stainless steel conical burr grinders with 40 settings around $200. I'd say the burrs are updated on the ESP however, with their 6 blade design. The Graef does a good job, but it slides easily over your workspace, and is a bit clumpy. The Opus is best for making static and clump free grinds, and I find it more refined than the ESP or Graef. But really all of these grinders are nice at the just under $200 pricepoint, and should get the job done.

[@jacobnicou]

Oh that’s good to know thanks Tom for your insight! Yes the clumpyness of the Graef is quite bothering so is the electric static and the dead space. But it still works for me and I do enjoy it’s metal body and the button I can press with my portafilter. @@TomsCoffeeCorner

[@mehmetkar3784]

The cheapest coffee grinder is Aicook CG9400D-GS👌🏻

[@0w3nhi]

Just started my homebrew espresso journey here recently. Got an Ecp3420 on sale ! Was curious if anyone knew of some cost-effective entry electric espresso grinders.

[@huzcer]

To my ear the pitch of the Opus is more "cutting".

[@aunabreslingaming3279]

lol 70w motor Cute!

[@loganmontgomery1955]

Hand grinders?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well, I like the K4 by Kingrinder the most. 1zpresso also has some nice options. But it gets cumbersome hand grinding for every single shot - at least for me.

[@josephoberlander]

Hand grinders will always do a superior job for the same price. But they are slow and take effort. My option was Timemore. Beautifully machined and superb results. And honestly, about the same time as the slower electric grinders. 30 seconds and I can just do it myself and get perfect results. But, yes, it is a workout.

[@slayjay77]

Hm..you added click sounds. Annoying!

[@Scannamaiali]

another cheap coffee grinder is the Lelit Fred, will you ever take it for a test or review?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Good idea. But I think it'll be real similar to these two, but in a metal casing.