Watch before you buy… Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore ESP Coffee Grinder

[@MrJaredloucks]

Fellow Opus for me. While I like the Baratza Encore and have used it many times, the Opus sits on my counter for my daily use and I couldn't be happier! Static had a lot to do with the final choice for me. I got tired of the static build up and the messes it left behind, and I think the Opus really had a heads up on that. Great Video!

[@Coady_09]

This is one of the best videos I have seen with relevant information. I have been on the hunt for a grinder and after this video I have decided on the Opus. It seems as though it’s a bit more tedious to dial in but my wife and I stick to 1 espresso blend. The design and counter esthetics are much better as well. Thank you for the video 😊

[@jolonf]

I ended up returning the Baratza ESP after a month. It produced excellent grinds for espresso and cold brew, but the exit chute would clog after only one grind. I bought some bellows which wouldn’t move at all indicating it was completely clogged. This only happens with espresso. I think the sweeper design is flawed. Mine came with 5 shims installed which lifts the sweeper off the bottom of the grind chamber so it doesn’t actually clear them out. I live in a very high humidity area 22c dew point which might contribute to it. Apart from that issue I really liked the look, how the grinds bin is completely enclosed, and the quality of the grinds. It does shake quite a bit when grinding and the constant clogging ended up being a dealbreaker for me.

[@Penul15]

Saw your excellent review and it helped me finally decide. I bought the Opus - aesthetics; less retention; quieter and I currently have a Capresso ( which is virtually identical to the Barattza. Cleaning & retention is a PAIN. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[@dperreno]

I have the original Baratza Virtuoso which has a bit more robust of a build (metal chassis) than the Encore. The ionizer on the Fellow looks like a real advantage. My Baratza retains grounds and also sheds grounds on the counter top. Yes the hopper is a bit wobbly, yes it's loud, but it's been grinding my coffee for almost 20 years now without complaint, and it still looks like it did when it was new.

[@targetacquired2061]

Thanks for this video. I just got the Opus. You're breakdown lead me in that direction. Very good review, and i appreciate it.

[@russelljt3525]

Great review, thanks! I think i'm leaning towards the Opus based on all factors. Looks like the better option for Espresso.

[@brandonux]

I'm going back and forth with these two but I'm leaning towards the Opus. It looks way better sitting on a counter and I do switch between reg. in the morning to decaf in the afternoon. I'm not an espresso snub (yet) so I don't think I would notice much of a difference in the minute dialing.

[@hoosierpatriot1946]

I own both of these and the Baratza Sette 30. You really can’t go wrong with either one. Baratza has been around forever and they make excellent machines. Fellow is a newer American company that is creative and is passionate about the specialty coffee home brewer. I actually bought the Sette 30 new but then I saw a gently used Encore at a garage sale and couldn’t pass it up for the ridiculous price: the 30 has been my espresso workhorse and the Encore was for single dosing pour overs. That made for easy work flow for years. Now, I was just recently gifted an Opus and can’t wait to try it out! Since the Opus is quieter, I may keep it at home and move the Encore to my office (where I generally use an AeroPress for my afternoon coffee); which means I can finally get rid of my old Cuisinart grinder at the office 😂

[@erwinancer]

Baratza Encore ESP is a fantastic grinder . I have the black colour .Makes awesome coffee

[@fargley001]

For me, its Baratza... Daily+ use since 2013 - always reliable, always consistent. If something gets broken, or you wish to upgrade the burr (i.e. M3 > M2), they have you covered at a very reasonable replacement prices. Wet chopstick or spoon solves any static issues - just pour and stir. Some of the newer models may require recalibration, but its not very difficult at all. For my use, I home roast with 90% press and 10% espresso - aeropress btw, is a must have for travel... I use a hario mini to accompany the areopress.

[@ShermRom]

Can you explain the static fix with a, “wet chopstick or spoon”?

[@fargley001]

@@ShermRom Sure. As the grinder grinds your coffee, it will generate static. This can cause voids in your puck and some grounds to stick in the grinder (retention). Adding a little moisture before grinding will help. The chop stick, which is what I use, is run under the tap for a couple of seconds to get it wet. I then tap the stick to remove any excess, and stir the beans in the charge cup before adding to the grinder. It distributes enough moisture to reduce static/retention, and coffee grounds dont clump/stick. A metal spoon can be used too - same process, but I like the chop stick as it is more controlled - the wood acts like a wick/sponge to distribute the moisture as you stir. For 20g of coffee, I stir for 2-3 seconds. Enjoy!

[@grantsewellaustin]

I have a opus at home and a encore at work. Far and away, the opus is better. The fall through design of the burrs makes ground retention less of an issue. The noise, design, build quality is better on the opus.

[@broom-closet]

For me I'm not particularly picky with noise and mess. While cleaning is a hassle in the baratza the most important thing to me is the learning curve. With the esspresso and coffee quality roller coaster, it's quite difficult to learn all the components of good coffee especially esspresso. So the fact the baratza is easier to dial in is the biggest factor for me. I would much rather take a while longer on prep and cleaning and understand what I am doing and why am doing it.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Yup this is a totally fair point!

[@bryguypgh]

I had an opus for about 9 months. There was a lot more retention, I had to weigh my grounds each time. It did a great job grinding but over time it would get stuck in the exit chute and just knocking it wasn't enough to get it loose. I had to use a coffee stirrer regularly to purge the exit chute.

[@Cachapeluo]

Great review shootout: one important factor you didn’t mention is maintenance and serviceability. Baratza makes access to parts and DIY repairs. Don’t know about the Opus.

[@AleX-je2sw]

I was just choosing between these two as an upgrade from a cheap burr grinder I have and ultimately chose the Opus, waiting for it to arrive now. A quieter motor, less static and easier access to internals won the day for me. And the extra fuss with adjustment to get exactly where you need to be in terms of grind size seems like a blessing after working with the godawful grind adjustment of my current machine. UPDATE: after using Opus for a while I can say that grind size calibration on the grinder is quite a bit off relative to their recommended grind size chart. They recommend grinding on settings 1-2 for espresso, but in order for the shot to even start coming out at all (on Flair, using medium roast), I have to go all the way to 4, and then to 5 to get a decent shot. After searching for a little, this misalignment seems to be quite a common issue. Will try to readjust the burrs and report back

[@colourlessbluethings]

I'm still trying to decide between these two. Changing from a Sage Dose Control Pro, I'm not even sure if either is an upgrade. They look nicer though and I'm having trouble getting decent results with the Sage since I upgraded my Bambino to a Profitec Go a couple of weeks ago. . I'm edging towards the Opus because of the single dose, static and noise aspects. How did your readjustment go?

[@AleX-je2sw]

@@colourlessbluethings Might still need to brew some more cups with it, as well as season it properly (so far I've only put about 2,5 kilos of coffee through), but so far, after adjusting the range to be 12 steps coarser, the experience has been quite good, actually. I'm able to go almost-turkish-but-not-quite on "zero" setting (1 with macro adjustment all the way fine), pull good shots on the Flair on 2-3, and do V60s on 6-8, with setting 11 looking like a solid cold brew grind (haven't tasted it though) Noise levels are good, and even now, with the heating blasting to the full and my flat being a static hell, I get zero retention (or about 0.1 gram on occasion) after tapping the grinder a few times. With the catch cup in place, you get zero spillage, but the "messiness" complaint in the video rings true, as the catch cup with the lid on is a snug fit and if you have any grounds on the tray, the catch cup will scratch it, kind of a lot. Apparently, Lance Hedrick addressed the issue of misalignment in his review, saying that Opus will grind a little finer until it's properly seasoned, but there's "a little" finer and then there's "a whole third of the range" finer, so make of that what you will. Overall, if you don't mind getting inside the grinder (the whole process is nothing complicated, but I'm not sure if it voids your warranty or not), I'd say go for it and give Opus a try.

[@brendaburdge2609]

I’m leaning towards the Opus because of single dose and static. Just jumping on the French press train so cost is a limiting factor. Right now I’m getting my beans ground where I purchase them but their coarse grind seems too fine for my liking.

[@shelshant]

Good comparison video. Also I like your חסד tatoo

[@tomscott4438]

I had an ESP and now a Vario W+. Both were noisy, common with Baratza. Can you adjust the ESP from coarse to fine without the need to have it powered up and grinding? On my Vario W+ you can't, which makes switching coffee and grind settings a pain. (Which means two grinders, if I want to add espresso) BTW, I've been using AeroPress for years and recently got a Clear model. I hand wash and the markings have flaked off to the point they're barely legible. You get a smaller pack of filters, no filter holder, no funnel, and the price went up. Rip off.

[@guillaumegirard821]

I am currently looking for grinder and this video helped me a lot with my choice. I was in between those two grinder but i think i am going to go with the opus!

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

It’s a great grinder!!

[@sdufg]

what aboutthe breville smart grinder pro??

[@kellydavis3108]

I'm diving into espresso. I have a cheapo grinder for brew and looking to replace it with one of these two. My biggest needs are ease of clearing any retention and still being able to easily grind for a full pot of drip or dose of espresso.

[@almond1117]

Opus still has notable retention but it is a good grinder.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

How much coffee can you grind for drip at a time i generally brew 80 grams for a moccamaster pot

[@SureFeelsGood]

how would you compare these to the new df54 and the lagom mini?

[@chianti95]

Also interested in DF54 … one video I saw seemed to suggest it requires a complicated take-apart procedure for cleaning. I would be interested in seeing a review vs baratza and Opus

[@WillNewcomb]

I have a Dualit burr grinder, but it doesn’t grind fine enough to dail in espresso. I’d like to get the Baratza Encore ESP

[@mapleridge8]

I got the right one, thanks!

[@jasperstromy2778]

I bought the Baratza....What I don't like is the lid rattling off....ugh. it's loud too....

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Yupppppp

[@KezAH-GT]

I want the looks of the opus with ease and consistency of the ESP lol

[@valhala73]

Great video!!! I will use it for V-60, which one is better for that?

[@samirchamandour]

I go for Baratza Encore ESP for sure ... Thank you for your excellent video .

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Your welcome! Thanks for the encouragement 😄

[@naterpotater76]

Not even tempted by the opus. Just ordered the Baratza. The big thing for me is my portafilter is 51mm so that cup on the opus would be a nightmare getting grounds into it. Also, am I living in crazy world, why would a bigger hopper make it any harder to single dose? I may buy one with a bellows attached, but not cause I think a smaller hopper has an advantage for some reason.

[@brendansmith]

the single dose hopper on the Baratza Encore ESP makes it just as easy for that work flow. I own one and use it that way. The dial in should be the deciding factor IMO.

[@ThatHz-]

Opus, static control is huge!

[@RobinJanssen976]

Would you recommend the encore esp or the sage smart grinder pro, in combination with the sage bambino?

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Personally I prefer the encore, but the smart grinder does get a +1 for time based dosing

[@luispreciado4204]

The Dialing In Espresso was a game changer for me - I had to return the Opus. that inner dialing was so tricky. i burned through a bag of beans before I gave up.

[@zuuzuka]

Would like to know about the taste of opus and c40.

[@WTFA54]

A member of the community made an app called Beanie for the Opus which consolidates both the outer dial and inner dial into a single adjustment so it's easier to track your grind settings! You still have to make adjustments to both of them when dialing in, but that might at least make the Opus's adjustment setting less of a headache. Iirc the smallest increment you can get on the Opus is actually super fine, something like 5 or 6 microns? But the adjustment you have to make to both to get the smallest increments is a little unintuitive

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Just looked it up! What a great app! But the fact that it is needed really says something lol

[@EmileeBryant]

I’m pretty skeptical if the app is accurate. EVERY single creator got the dial mechanics wrong on it and I was only able to fully understand when I took it apart to make it stepless lol. I’ll just say this. The inner ring doesn’t touch the burrs at all.

[@WTFA54]

@@EmileeBryant ope time to watch your video on it now lol

[@EmileeBryant]

@@WTFA54haha I didn’t make a dial in video but I did make a “stepless” video and I briefly show the inner ring disassembled haha. I’ll make a dial in video just cuz it’s universally confusing. Also also that app is a great tool and major props to the creator. It’s just the actual grinder hides what’s really going on so it’s confusing on the outside.

[@coachthierry1]

@@EmileeBryant If you ever have the chance I would appreciate your opinion on if the app is accurate or not. For me and I'm sure a lot of people it's a good enough solution but it's assuming it's accurate so if you could confirm or deny that would be great!

[@wdfx6030]

I have the Encore and the mess drives me crazy. You take the bin out and grounds spill out onto the counter, you move the grinder to wipe up the mess, and more grounds come out due to the retention. For this reason, I cannot entertain the idea of going with the ESP. It’s unfortunate because I’ve been happy overall with the wide range of settings. I just can’t stand the mess.

[@AT1754]

Newb here. I just want a grinder for my Moccamaster. So will not be doing espresso. Everytime I settle in on one I see reviews on it that turns me back. Even if you get the Baratza you will still have to measure out at the end of the day for a pot or half pot correct? So you could essentially be grinding more or less than you need? I don’t want a big mess so I guess I will have to remember to tap Fellow. I just don’t want to pick one and then wish I went the other way.

[@lindaburnsherman9420]

I have a moccamaster (10+ yrs) got the K% grinder and love it. It is made for your machine

[@lifewithamberb]

Thanks for this. I came here to hear about the baratza but now leaning to the opus as I prefer to grind as I go. Do the beans remain fresh in an open hopper like that? It takes me about a week and a half to two weeks to run through a 12 oz bag.

[@maylikethemonthc]

I’ve watched so many of these reviews and countless reddit threads, and this is probably the best comparison I’ve seen! What really tipped the scale for me towards getting the ESP is the aesthetics. I normally love Fellow’s designs, but to me the Opus just looks like a hunk of plastic. The Baratza on the other hand, looks like a retro/minimal coffee grinder and matches the look that most Espresso machines. My ESP is coming in this week, and I’m hoping I’ll get better results!

[@afiskandar]

thank you for the informative comparison

[@solitary200]

Kind of wish I got it in the white now

[@Mynameisgus94]

In the market for a grinder, i love the look of the Opus. But Encore has a better convenience of use. Thanks for the Video! 👍

[@ofreed3973]

Thank for that detailed video! Currently want to make a set up with Flair 58, so can you recommend good espresso grinder? Currently thinking about Fellow Opus, DF64 Gen 2 and Varia VS3. Maybe you can recomend something in 300-500 range? Thanks!

[@Hanniballectershiss]

I was looking for these compared i really wasn’t sure which one to get i decided im getting the opus but not for any of the reasons you mentioned 😂 I realized watching this video the esp is just a bit too tall for where I plan on sitting it 💀

[@garymchone7172]

Which one of these would be best for grinding mainly for cold brew?

[@kylecorrow702]

Just bought the esp and love it. Just saw fellow is having a black friday sale and was thinking about buying that one too

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Honestly they’re both great and you could probably sell either one without a huge loss

[@Ahadundron]

Great video - seems very well researched, super helpful and excellently delivered - really appreciate the quality of your reviews :)

[@kulkulan223]

My Baratzas grind size changes and you don't notice it, even if its a slight change its enough to throw off your dialed setting. It's because you have to open and close the lid which can turn the hopper slightly. It's a pretty bad design tbh, why touch the adjustment when its not needed

[@bradsyoutube]

If you’re noticing a difference in that minute of an adjustment, you should be buying a much more expensive grinder

[@bigblockheed]

I have the opus and have minimal complaints. The design is great, the grind quality is superb (i mainly do espresso), easy to clean and not too noisy. On finer dark roast grinds, the retention is a bit poor, but easily solved with just a few quick taps. For the inner/outer ring, Fellow should have just made it a single up/down micro adjustment. They confused people by adding way too much adjustment range. It should have been pick your outer range setting and if its close but not quite there, then just micro adjust up/down by one step to go between outer ring steps. Overall, great grinder for the price and I'm getting excellent espresso shots from it.

[@jfess1911]

Good video. Thanks

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

You’re welcome!

[@richardschofield2201]

I just want the Opus with the Encore adjustment design. But for £200. Please?

[@jefjaeger]

Good video overall. I am having a hard time finding out how much coffee fits in the hopper on the Opus. People talk about using it for single dose, but it obviously has room for a larger amount. Obviously not as much capacity as the hopper on the Encore, but how much? No one ever mentions it. Update: I ultimately chose the Opus and it is awesome.

[@SebastianCristanchoYT]

If you care about this then buy the encore

[@coffeeboy971]

1 point for gryffindor.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

😂😂👏

[@frog-spit-182]

Not mentioned in your review but in terms of build quality, Baratza seems to be all about offering replacement parts whereas Fellow wants you to junk it if it breaks. I'm all for aesthetics but that makes me lean heavily towards the Baratza despite the noise. I'm a BIFLer and if I'm dropping $$$ I don't want the item to be destined for a landfill and as a result, creating more waste.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

I think the difference is baratza sells the parts in a front facing way. I’ve gotten parts from fellow for random stuff that’s several years old - inc lids for kettles and all kinds of random stuff. But it’s through customer service rather than self serve. Baratza is great in this regard though. I hope they keep this element of the brand now that they have been bought by breville

[@frog-spit-182]

@@DaddyGotCoffee Yikes didn't know about breville buying baratza...outlook not good considering my past experiences with breville products.

[@danlee6712]

@@frog-spit-182 Yup :(

[@joerjjj]

There's one point missing, What about the replacements? Because of course we want them keep working for their whole life if possible. My personal point goes for the encore esp. What you think?

[@yardenmaimon1854]

New tattoo between shots?

[@chrisfournier6144]

Ordered the Baratza Encore ESP yesterday. Covers all the coffees that I drink and owners have given it pretty glowing reviews. Coffee nerds are their own worst enemies with their (to me) ridiculous expectations of precision and it’s impact on the enjoyment of a simple cup of coffee. 0.3 grams retention! Uh huh. Your taste test says it all. Most of the criteria have zero impact on taste!

[@bradsyoutube]

ESP all the way. For several reasons, but one of the most important ones, Customer Service.

[@user-fj5xj8fj6f]

You said nothing about the coffee quality, all I heard was about the particle size and mechanics, am I missing something here?

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

They are basically equal in this regard. I maybe have over generalized but they both produce excellent quality cups in the price range for both filter and espresso and are nearly identically comparable in this regard! I discuss this more in my individual review for each of these grinders ☕️

[@Druhue]

Seems like points were made just to fluff numbers and have both grinders come out at about the same. Having owned both, the Fellow is way cleaner...how could all that static not make you want to clean it instantly? Disagree whole heartedly there.

[@heyitsyeh]

Daddy got Zerno?

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Hahahahaha - I wish! Just borrowing/testing this one for review! Great grinder - if you can get ahold of one!

[@joshwwarren]

If you want a hopper full of beans, you should not be spending this much on a grinder. You already have room for improvement in bean storage.

[@evmdafilipino]

Or for $30 more you can get a DF54 which is much better quality and value..

[@thorshammer8979]

Why is it better quality?

[@jebegonzalez]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jackgtravis]

I couldn’t overlook the adjustment on the opus. It’s just a shocking design choice and I’m very glad I got a Varia VS3 over it. It could be the best grinder in terms of pure performance ever, that ring just ruins it completely.

[@Winston-1984]

Opus

[@russelljackman1413]

The Baratza has grinds and chaff flying all over the place, and yet you STILL give the point to it for cleanliness??? Oy...

[@hurkamur1]

The worst problem with the encore is esthetically it looks like shii

[@rafaromek4612]

I bought Baratza because it was much cheaper in Poland than Opus. Also Opus looks like old kitchen devices that were made during komunist era. Its not modern its like "Made in USSR".

[@cmdalbem]

As a professional designer I love how this comment makes it super clear that what some might call "modern", "atemporal" or even "universal" design is just empty words and all design exists in a context and might be perceived differently by different people with different cultures or backgrounds.

[@makenomistake_mynameisjeff8731]

I dont own either of these griders so i have no opinion.

[@SxWerks]

You can keep the retention and mess way down on the Opus if you just spritz the beans before you grind.

[@SxWerks]

I have bought 3 Opus grinders. They have varied in quality. The one from Europe is the loudest. The most recent one for my son in OC has a much higher quality burr still grinds slow but is quieter.

[@killua_148]

Do you happen do know the source of this information? I'm from Europe and I'd go with the Opus just for low noise... Anyway, what is 'OC' ?

[@SxWerks]

@@killua_148 OC = Orange County California

[@SxWerks]

@@killua_148 The European Opus was ordered online. Powered by 220v with European plug.

[@killua_148]

@@SxWerks What about the Europe model?

[@SxWerks]

@@killua_148 Europe model was ordered online. It’s the same as US model but 220v with EU plug.

[@SxWerks]

Opus is not set up for grinding a full bag of beans. I like a fresh grind so I just grind for my morning cup.