Breville Smart Grinder Pro vs Baratza Encore ESP
Last checked 2026-10-03.
Per their manuals, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro has 60 settings with a timer and grinds straight into a portafilter held in an included 50–54mm or 58mm cradle; the Baratza Encore ESP has 40 settings, half of them an espresso range, and grinds into a dosing cup you flip into a 54mm or 58mm portafilter.
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Side by side
| Breville Smart Grinder Pro | Baratza Encore ESP | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | BCG820BSS | ZCG495 |
| Grind settings | 60 | 40 |
| How you adjust | grind size dial; 60 settings from espresso to press, with a digital timer for dose | turn the hopper; 40 stepped settings |
| How the settings are divided | the manual says to use the finer settings 1–30 in the espresso range | settings 1–20 are the espresso range, where each step changes grind size by a small amount; settings 21–40 are the filter range, with larger steps |
| Manual's espresso starting setting | not stated | 15 |
| Burrs | hardened stainless steel conical (manual); size not stated | conical (manual); size not stated in the manual |
| Espresso dosing parts in the box | portafilter cradle 50–54mm, portafilter cradle 58mm | espresso dosing cup, dosing cup base, 58mm adapter ring |
| Portafilter sizes the maker says they fit | manual accessories list: portafilter cradle 50–54mm and portafilter cradle 58mm | manual: the dosing cup and 58mm adapter ring 'allow for easy transfer of coffee into a 54mm or 58mm portafilter'; remove the adapter ring for 54mm |
| Grinds into | portafilter (in a cradle), grinds container, or a drip filter basket | dosing cup (espresso) or grounds bin (filter) |
| Size, case only (maker) | 8.5 × 6.3 × 15.3 in (W × D × H) (Breville BCG820 US product page) | 13 × 15 × 34 cm (W × D × H) (Baratza ZCG495 US product page) |
| Operating space the maker requires | unknown: none of the manual's setup or safety text states a clearance | unknown: none of the manual's setup or safety text states a clearance |
| Power | 165 W (Breville BCG820 US instruction book) | 70 W (Baratza ZCG495 US product page) |
| Voltage | 120 V (manual) | 120 V (US listing) |
| Seller | Sold by Seattle Coffee Gear | Sold by Amazon.com |
| Manual | Breville BCG820 Smart Grinder Pro US instruction book | Baratza Encore ESP operations manual (v1.0) |
| Buy | No Amazon link: on 2026-10-03 its Amazon US listing (B00OXGXW8O) was sold by Seattle Coffee Gear, a third-party seller, not by Amazon.com | Amazon › |
What differs in use
- Dosing: the Smart Grinder Pro doses by a digital timer into the portafilter; the Encore ESP runs by switch or pulse into its cup.
- Portafilter sizes: the Breville's cradles cover 50–54mm and 58mm; the Baratza's cup and ring cover 54mm and 58mm. Neither manual states a fit for other sizes.
- Power: the Breville manual states 165 W; Baratza states 70 W on its US product page, not in the manual.
- Size: 8.5 × 6.3 × 15.3 in (W × D × H) for the Breville and 13 × 15 × 34 cm (W × D × H) for the Baratza, each from the maker's US product page. Those are the case alone; neither maker states how much space above or around it the grinder needs, so height under a cabinet with the hopper lid off is unknown.
Kinds of claim on this page: settings, suggested starting points, included parts and portafilter fit come from each maker's manual, and size and power from its manual or US product page; each is a manufacturer claim; the seller is the Amazon listing on 2026-10-03, and no price is shown; product evidence here means those documented specifications, not a grind test; anything no source states is unknown.
Left out, and why
- Baratza Encore ESP Pro ZCG595 (B0FN6NHYDW): a different model from the Encore ESP; not compared, so the two are never confused
- Fellow Opus 2 (B0FPCHNSX2): its US manual was not read for this pilot
- Baratza Encore ZCG484WHT and ESP ZCG495WHT: white versions of the listed models; one exact listing per model is linked
We tested nothing: no particle-size, retention, noise, speed or taste measurements, and nothing here ranks grind quality. More settings is not shown as better grinding; a manual's suggested setting is a starting point it says to adjust.
The Encore ESP against the plain Encore: Baratza Encore vs Encore ESP.