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The Best Coffee Grinders Espresso

Updated April 2026·Experts: WIRED, seriouseats, Tom's Guide

Best Overall Espresso Grinder

Baratza Encore ESP

$200

This is the grinder to buy if you want one machine that does it all. WIRED, Serious Eats, and Tom's Guide all independently named it their top pick, that kind of consensus is rare and earned.

What holds up

  • 20 micro-adjustment espresso settings plus 20 filter settings in one grinder
  • Conical burrs produce round, full-bodied espresso with excellent shot consistency
  • Baratza's pro-repair program means parts are available and it can last 10+ years
  • Dosing cup works cleanly with portafilters, reducing mess
  • Compact footprint at under 6 pounds

What to know

  • Grind setting indicator can be misaligned, making it hard to know exactly which step you're on
  • Louder than some competitors
  • Not ideal for French press or cold brew enthusiasts who want coarser-focused grind range
  • 40 settings total is limiting for serious espresso perfectionists
Expert verdict
It's hard to fathom how good this Baratza Encore ESP coffee grinder is for the money, and how many types of coffee drinkers it can serve.
WIREDView source
Expert verdict
These weren't precise shots for espresso perfectionists, but they were great for people like me who want to make espresso at home along with a variety of other coffee styles. I quickly realized that I could potentially be happy with the ESP for mixed use, for years, if not forever.
WIRED (Encore ESP Review)View source
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Best Dedicated Espresso Grinder

Baratza Sette 270

$320-$400

If espresso is your primary focus and you want the adjustability to truly geek out, the Sette 270 is the move. The 270 settings aren't marketing fluff, they translate to real dialing-in power that the Encore ESP simply can't match.

What holds up

  • 270 grind settings with both macro and micro adjusters for ultra-precise espresso dialing
  • 3 programmable timed dose settings for repeatable shots
  • Works for brewed coffee too, offering coarser grind options
  • Achieves extremely precise adjustments with minimal fiddling
  • Consistently nailed perfect shot after shot in testing

What to know

  • Loud operation
  • Fewer espresso-focused settings than some dedicated single-use espresso grinders
  • Struggled to achieve ideal 38g shot without micro settings at lowest levels
  • Pricier than the Encore ESP at $400
  • Plastic components feel less premium than the price suggests
Expert verdict
This is a fantastic, fairly priced espresso grinder that intermediates and novices will both be pleased with. It also works for brewed coffee, as it offers coarser grinds in addition to the ultra-fine options.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
It was the only grinder in that price range to offer that many specific micro-adjustments.
Serious Eats (Baratza review)View source
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Best Upgrade Pick

Baratza Encore ESP Pro

$300

The ESP Pro is what happens when Baratza listens to feedback, it takes everything good about the Encore ESP and adds the features espresso drinkers actually want. If you're ready to level up from the base ESP, this is the natural next step.

What holds up

  • Swappable single-dose hopper ideal for espresso drinkers who weigh beans
  • Ion-generating technology reduces static and improves retention
  • Two dosing modes (Single Dose and Timer) both perform accurately
  • LED light illuminates dosing area during grinding
  • Sleek, minimalist design in a compact footprint

What to know

  • Still retains a small amount of grounds even in Single Dose Mode despite anti-static tech
  • Cannot use portafilter directly with Single Dose Mode
  • At $300, costs $100 more than the standard Encore ESP for incremental upgrades
  • Newer model with less long-term reliability data than the proven Encore ESP
Expert verdict
A new offering from Baratza, the Encore ESP Pro combines all of our favorite features of the Encore ESP and Sette 270, and looks good doing it. Like the Encore ESP and Sette 270, it's a solid espresso and coffee grinder hybrid.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
The Single Dose Mode had excellent retention, stopping the grinder after everything in the hopper had been ground. The Timer Mode was accurate within a few tenths of a gram every time we tested it.
Serious EatsView source
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Best Premium Espresso Grinder

Mazzer Philos

$1,495

If you're spending $1,000+ on an espresso machine, the Philos is the grinder that finally matches it. WIRED called it responsible for 'some of the most delicate and full-bodied cups of espresso' they've made at home, that's not hyperbole.

What holds up

  • Near-zero retention grinding with vertical burr orientation, vibration dampeners, and static grounding plate
  • 145 grind adjustments at 6-micron increments for surgical espresso precision
  • Significantly fewer fines than grinders in the $200-$500 range per particle size analysis
  • Swappable burr sets (i189 for medium-dark, i200 for light roasts)
  • Commercial Mazzer durability with mostly metal build and replaceable parts

What to know

  • $1,495 price tag, only justifiable for dedicated espresso enthusiasts
  • Better with espresso than drip coffee
  • Large countertop footprint at 28 pounds and over a foot long
  • Small hopper capacity (~60g) relative to its size
  • Overkill for anyone who also wants to brew filter coffee regularly
Expert verdict
Use the Philos to grind coffee for pretty much any espresso machine. Your cup of coffee will still come out so full-bodied and syrupy you'd swear it was fed by Willy Wonka's chocolate river.
WIREDView source
Expert verdict
The Philos has made a firm argument for coffee grinders that cost as much as an entry-level ebike, especially if you love light- and medium-roast espresso.
WIREDView source
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Best Budget Espresso Grinder

Breville Smart Grinder Pro

$180-$200

The Smart Grinder Pro is the grinder for people who want more settings than the Encore ESP but aren't ready to commit to a dedicated espresso grinder. 60 steps gives you real room to experiment, and the grind quality punches above its price.

What holds up

  • 60 grind settings, most of any grinder in its price range
  • Stainless steel conical burrs with replaceable design
  • Produced so few fines in testing that Serious Eats' scale couldn't register them
  • Versatile enough for espresso, drip, pour-over, and French press
  • Widely available and well-supported

What to know

  • Not as espresso-focused as the Baratza Sette 270
  • Plastic hopper and some plastic components feel less premium
  • Grind-to-grind consistency slightly behind the Baratza Virtuoso+ in head-to-head testing
  • Can produce static with some bean types
Expert verdict
The Virtuoso+ and Breville often produced so few fines that our scale couldn't even register them.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro at Amazon $182, The Other Best Burr Coffee Grinder (Editor's Pick)
Serious EatsView source
View at Amazon
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