Baratza Encore ESP

If espresso is the priority but the budget is tight, the Baratza Encore ESP is the strongest genuine entry point, and it earns third over the pricier Eureka below it on sheer value and accessibility. Its 40mm hardened steel conical burrs and 40 stepped settings are tuned so steps 1 to 20 handle espresso and 21 to 40 move to coarser filter, and it ships with a 54mm dosing cup plus a 58mm adapter, with quick-release burrs for cleaning. UK reviewers call it the most capable and forgiving espresso grinder at around £150 and the best sub-£300 burr grinder. At an indicative £159.95 official UK price it undercuts the Sage while being more focused on espresso dialling, and Baratza's strong repairability and parts ecosystem is a real long-term advantage. The trade-off versus the Eureka is resolution and adjustment: you get fixed steps rather than stepless micro-adjustment, and it is less suited to the most uniform pour-over grind.