The Baratza Encore ESP and the Turin DF64 Gen 2 sit at opposite ends of the entry-to-mid espresso grinder market, but they get cross-shopped constantly because they solve the same problem at different price points: how do you get a real espresso-fine grind without spending $600+. One is a $199.95 hopper-fed conical grinder from an established US brand with 20 years of customer support behind it. The other is a $399 single-dose flat-burr grinder built around the workflow serious home baristas actually want. Neither is the wrong choice - they are built for different people.
This comparison covers burr geometry and what it changes in the cup, retention and single-dose workflow, grind consistency, noise, and long-term support, with a buy recommendation broken down by budget and use case.
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Quick Picks: Encore ESP vs DF64 Gen 2
| Grinder | Burrs | Retention | Best For | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore ESP (Black) | 40mm conical steel | ~3g | Beginners, hopper workflow, filter + espresso in one machine | ~$199.95 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Baratza Encore ESP (White) | 40mm conical steel | ~3g | Same performance, lighter finish | ~$199.95 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Turin DF64 Gen 2 (II) | 64mm flat steel | 0.1-0.3g (with bellows) | Single-dose, weighed doses, consistency-focused buyers | ~$399 | Check Price on Amazon |
Specs Head-to-Head
| Specification | Baratza Encore ESP | Turin DF64 Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $199.95 | $399 |
| Burr Size & Type | 40mm conical steel | 64mm flat steel |
| Grind Adjustment | 40 stepped (20 espresso micro-steps, 20 filter macro-steps) | Stepless micrometric |
| Motor | 12V DC, 550 RPM, 70W | AC, 1,400 RPM, 250W |
| Retention (real-world) | ~3g | 0.1-0.3g (with bellows) |
| Dosing Method | Hopper-fed, dosing cup | Single-dose, bellows-assisted |
| Hopper Capacity | 227g | 50g chamber (single-dose) |
| Noise Level | 72-82 dB | ~85-90 dB (owner reports) |
| Weight | 3.2 kg (7 lbs) | 6.8 kg (15 lbs) |
| Burr Upgrade Path | No (proprietary conical set) | Yes (SSP compatible) |
| Grind Range | Espresso through coarse filter/French press | Espresso to pour-over |
| Portafilter Fit | 54mm/58mm dosing cup (adapter included) | 58mm dosing cup or direct portafilter rest |
Burr Geometry: 40mm Conical vs 64mm Flat
The Encore ESP uses Baratza's 40mm M2 conical burr set - the same burr family Baratza has refined for over a decade in the standard Encore, upgraded here with a dual-resolution grind collar that dedicates 20 of its 40 total steps to fine espresso adjustment. Conical burrs produce a bimodal particle distribution: a mix of larger and finer particles rather than one uniform size. In the cup, this typically reads as rounder, heavier body with more tolerance for small recipe drift - useful for a grinder aimed at people still dialing in their technique.
The DF64 Gen 2 uses 64mm flat stainless steel burrs - a full 24mm larger than the Encore ESP's conical set, and a completely different geometry. Flat burrs cut a narrower, more uniform particle size distribution, which generally produces brighter, more clearly defined flavor and tighter shot-to-shot repeatability once you have your recipe dialed in. The tradeoff is less forgiveness: small grind or dose changes on a flat-burr setup show up more obviously in the cup, for better or worse.
Neither burr geometry is objectively superior. The Encore ESP's conical burrs are the more forgiving choice for someone still learning to read shots. The DF64's flat burrs are the more precise choice for someone who already knows their recipe and wants the grinder to disappear from the equation.
Retention and Workflow: Hopper-Fed vs Single-Dose
This is the single biggest practical difference between these two machines, and it matters more than the burr spec sheet.
The Encore ESP is built around a 227g hopper. Load beans once, grind on demand, and go - roughly 3g of retention stays in the burr chamber and chute between doses. For most home users grinding the same bean day after day, that retention is invisible: the grounds you get today are functionally identical to the grounds sitting in the chamber from yesterday. It becomes a real cost only if you switch beans or roast levels often, since old grounds from a previous bean carry over into the new dose.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a single-dose grinder by design: a 50g chamber sized for one shot's worth of beans, with an anti-popcorning disc and a bellows system that pushes real-world retention down to roughly 0.1-0.3g. The workflow is deliberate - weigh 18g, load the chamber, grind, pump the bellows a few times to clear the chute, dose into your portafilter. It is more steps than the Encore ESP's grab-and-go hopper routine, but it means the beans you weigh are, almost exactly, the grounds you get.
If you rotate beans frequently, weigh every dose, or simply want zero cross-contamination between grinds, the DF64's single-dose design earns its higher price. If you run one bag of beans at a time and want to grind and go without a bellows ritual, the Encore ESP's hopper workflow is the more practical daily driver.
Grind Consistency and Espresso Quality
The Encore ESP's 20 espresso micro-steps (roughly 20 microns per click) are Baratza's answer to a long-standing complaint about the standard Encore: not enough usable resolution in the espresso zone. That fix works. You can genuinely dial in a workable espresso shot on the Encore ESP, something that was hit-or-miss on cheaper stepped grinders in this price range. It is a stepped grinder, though - you are choosing between 20 fixed positions, not dialing to an arbitrary point the way a stepless grinder allows.
The DF64 Gen 2's stepless adjustment ring lets you dial to any position across its full range, which matters most when you are chasing a very specific shot time and the "correct" grind setting falls between two of the Encore ESP's fixed steps. Combined with the larger flat burrs, the DF64 produces a shot with more clarity and more repeatable extraction once your recipe is locked in.
For a beginner still learning to taste channeling, sourness, or over-extraction, the Encore ESP's simpler stepped system and forgiving conical burrs are arguably the better teaching tool - fewer variables to chase. For an experienced home barista who already knows what they are dialing toward, the DF64's stepless precision gets you there faster and holds the result more reliably.
Noise and Build
The Encore ESP runs a low-RPM 12V DC motor (550 RPM) specifically tuned to reduce heat and static, and independent testing puts it around 72-82 dB depending on measurement distance and hopper load. It is not silent, but it is on the quieter end for a grinder in this price range.
The DF64 Gen 2 runs a higher-torque AC motor (250W, 1,400 RPM) that grinds faster but runs louder in most owner reports - commonly cited in the high-80s dB range. Neither grinder should be mistaken for a whisper-quiet machine; if noise is a hard requirement, both of these are compromises rather than solutions.
Build-wise, the Encore ESP is lighter (3.2 kg) with a metal-and-plastic body typical of Baratza's consumer line, backed by a US-based 1-year warranty and parts availability that has remained strong for over a decade across the Encore family. The DF64 Gen 2 is heavier (6.8 kg) with a powder-coated metal chassis, and benefits from an active online community of modders, though official support runs through smaller specialty retailers rather than a large US service network.
Who Should Buy the Baratza Encore ESP
Buy the Encore ESP if:
- Your budget stops at $200
- You want one grinder that handles both espresso and filter coffee
- You keep one bag of beans loaded and grind on demand without weighing every dose
- You want established US customer support and long-term parts availability
- You are new to home espresso and want a more forgiving burr geometry while you learn
Check Price on Amazon - Baratza Encore ESP (Black)
Check Price on Amazon - Baratza Encore ESP (White)
Who Should Buy the DF64 Gen 2
Buy the DF64 Gen 2 if:
- You weigh every dose and want the grounds to match the beans you loaded
- You rotate through multiple beans or roast levels regularly
- You want stepless adjustment and the flat-burr clarity profile
- You plan to explore SSP burr upgrades down the line
- Your budget stretches to $399 and single-dose precision matters more than hopper convenience
Check Price on Amazon - Turin DF64 Gen 2
How to Choose: Buyer's Decision Framework
Three questions settle this decision for most buyers:
Question 1: What is your hard budget ceiling? If $200 is the limit, the Encore ESP is the only real option here - the DF64 costs roughly double. Do not stretch past your budget for burr geometry you can upgrade into later with a different grinder.
Question 2: Do you weigh every dose before grinding? If yes, the DF64's single-dose design and near-zero retention are built for exactly that workflow. If you load a hopper and grind on the fly without weighing, the Encore ESP's retention is a non-issue in daily use.
Question 3: Do you need one grinder for both espresso and filter coffee? The Encore ESP's 40-step range covers both brew styles on one machine. The DF64 leans espresso-focused, though it can grind coarser for pour-over with adjustment.
If your budget allows either and you are unsure, buy the Encore ESP first, learn your palate, and upgrade to a single-dose flat-burr grinder like the DF64 once you know exactly what you are chasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Baratza Encore ESP good enough for real espresso?
Yes, with a caveat. The Encore ESP's 20 micro-steps in the espresso zone give it enough resolution to dial in a real shot, and its 40mm conical burrs produce a forgiving, bimodal grind that tolerates minor recipe drift better than flat burrs do. It will not match a flat-burr single-dose grinder's clarity or consistency, but for a $199.95 hopper-fed grinder, it is the first Baratza in this price range that actually holds an espresso-fine setting without hunting between two unusable positions.
Is the DF64 Gen 2 worth the extra money over the Encore ESP?
If you weigh doses and care about grind consistency, yes. The DF64 Gen 2 costs roughly double the Encore ESP but delivers 64mm flat burrs, stepless adjustment, and near-zero retention with its bellows - all of which produce a more consistent, more repeatable shot. If your budget stops at $200 or you want a simple hopper-fed grinder that also handles filter coffee, the Encore ESP is the more practical buy.
What is the difference between conical and flat burrs for espresso?
Conical burrs, like the Encore ESP's 40mm M2 set, produce a bimodal particle distribution - a mix of larger and smaller particles - which tends to be more forgiving of small recipe changes and produces a rounder, heavier body. Flat burrs, like the DF64's 64mm set, produce a narrower, more uniform particle size, which generally means brighter, more clearly defined flavor and more repeatable extraction shot to shot. Neither is objectively better - the choice depends on whether you prioritize forgiveness or precision.
Can the Baratza Encore ESP single dose like the DF64?
Not natively. The Encore ESP is a hopper-fed grinder with roughly 3g of retention, so single-dosing means purging stale grounds before each shot or accepting some carryover between doses. The DF64 Gen 2 is purpose-built for single dosing, with a 50g chamber and a bellows system that pushes retention down to roughly 0.1-0.3g. If single dosing is your priority, the DF64 is the correct tool; the Encore ESP is not designed for it.
Is the DF64 Gen 2 louder than the Baratza Encore ESP?
Independent testing puts the Encore ESP around 72-82 dB depending on measurement distance, while the DF64 Gen 2's higher-torque 250W AC motor generally measures louder in owner reports, in the high-80s dB range. Neither grinder is whisper-quiet. If noise is a hard requirement, budget for a different tier of grinder - both of these machines are aimed at performance and value, not silent operation.
Which grinder should a beginner buy, the Encore ESP or the DF64?
The Encore ESP is the easier first grinder. It has a hopper for grab-and-go mornings, handles both espresso and filter coffee on one machine, and costs about half what the DF64 costs. The DF64 rewards a workflow most beginners have not built yet - weighing doses, single-dosing discipline, and burr maintenance. Start with the Encore ESP if you are new to home espresso; move to the DF64 once you know you will stay in the hobby and want the consistency upgrade.
The 2026 Verdict
The Baratza Encore ESP and DF64 Gen 2 are not really competing for the same buyer - they are competing for the same shelf space at different points in someone's espresso journey.
The Encore ESP is the better value for anyone starting out or working with a firm $200 ceiling. It handles espresso and filter coffee on one machine, holds an espresso-fine setting reliably enough to pull a real shot, and comes backed by Baratza's long US support history.
The DF64 Gen 2 is the better tool for anyone who already knows their workflow: weighed doses, single bean at a time, chasing a specific shot profile. The larger flat burrs and near-zero retention translate directly into more consistent, more repeatable espresso - the kind of upgrade that shows up in the cup, not just the spec sheet.
Buy the grinder that matches your actual routine today, not the one you aspire to grow into. Both machines pull genuinely good espresso when used the way they were designed to be used.
Baratza Encore ESP: Check Price on Amazon | DF64 Gen 2: Check Price on Amazon
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