CupClarityOur approach Baratza Encore ESP espresso settings: start with the right model
Separate Encore ESP from ESP Pro, choose a documented starting range and record the changes that make a recipe repeatable.
Research-based guide, checked September 21, 2026. We have not conducted a product test or tasting trial. Manufacturer guidance is attributed; the worksheet and suggested comparisons are editorial guidance. No affiliate links.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Model | Encore ESP or Encore ESP Pro, exactly as labeled |
| Recipe | Coffee dose and target beverage mass |
| Adjustment | Initial setting and the next single change |
| Observation | Actual beverage mass, time and taste |
Which espresso setting should you start with?
Baratza’s dialing-in guide identifies settings 1–20 as the espresso range for the Encore ESP and advises beginning at the coarse end before moving finer. This is manufacturer guidance for the Encore ESP, not a guarantee that one number works with every coffee. Confirm the exact model on your machine before applying a setting from a video or forum.
Encore ESP and ESP Pro are not the same setting system
The same Baratza guide gives the Encore ESP Pro an espresso range of 0–40 and a starting point of 40. Do not copy a Pro setting to the ESP simply because both names include Encore. This article concerns the ESP; the Pro reference is here to prevent model confusion, not to present a tested comparison or recommend an upgrade.
Write a recipe before chasing a number
Record the beans, basket, dry coffee dose and intended beverage mass. Follow the basket and machine instructions for an appropriate dose. A note that says setting 12 without those details is incomplete. Keep your distribution and tamping routine consistent while investigating an adjustment, and distinguish the grinder setting from the espresso machine controls.
Make one change and keep the evidence
Save the initial setting, actual drink mass and shot time. If you change grind, keep your chosen dose and target drink mass stable so the comparison remains interpretable. Taste at a comfortable temperature and record a plain description rather than a score. This record is a suggested workflow, not a set of results we obtained with an Encore ESP.
An empty worksheet is better than a borrowed result
Use one row per attempt. A useful entry might contain the bean name, roast date if known, basket, dose, setting, target mass, actual mass, time and next change. Leave unknown fields blank. The downloadable coffee record on our Start here page provides a general starting sheet; add basket and espresso output fields if you use it for this task.
- Check the model before using a setting range.
- Keep a separate record for each coffee and basket.
- Log the observed result before changing anything else.
If the expected range does not work
Recheck the exact model, recipe and assembly against the manual. Save a photograph of the model label and your recipe notes for support. Do not use this article as a shim, calibration or repair procedure. Repeated abnormal operation should be handled through the maker’s troubleshooting instructions rather than progressively forcing the adjustment.
What the guide can and cannot settle
A published range helps you begin; it does not establish retention, noise, uniformity or flavor in your setup. We have not measured those properties or tested competing grinders. If you are still deciding what to buy, first compare the intended brewing method, local support and daily workflow using our first-grinder checklist.
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