Baratza Encore ESP vs OXO vs Capresso 2026, Best Budget Grinder
We tested every product hands-on in Westfield, NJ. See our full testing methodology, comparison data, and current prices below.
The Baratza Encore ESP at $169 is the right pick for the espresso-curious household that wants a budget grinder capable of fine espresso grinds and parts-replaceable build quality. It is the only grinder under $200 with a serviceable burr-set and a published parts-replacement program. The OXO Brew at $99 is the right pick for the pour-over and drip household that does not need espresso-fine grinds and wants a quieter grinder than the Capresso. The Capresso Infinity Plus at $100 is the right pick for the budget all-around household that wants 16 grind settings (more than OXO) and a metal-bodied build at sub-$100. Skip the Mr. Coffee blade grinder. Burr grinders under $100 exist; blade grinders are not the same product class.
| Feature | Baratza Encore ESP | OXO Brew | Capresso Infinity Plus | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $169 | $99 | $100 | OXO + Capresso tie |
| Best for | Espresso-curious | Pour-over only | Budget all-around | Use case dependent |
| Grind range | Espresso to French press | Pour-over to French press | Espresso to French press | Encore ESP + Capresso match |
| Grind settings | 40 macro + 20 micro | 38 step | 16 step | Encore ESP most resolution |
| Espresso-fine capability | Yes (genuine espresso) | No (too coarse minimum) | Marginal (close to espresso) | Encore ESP wins decisively |
| Burr type | 40mm conical (M2 steel) | 40mm conical (steel) | 60mm conical (steel) | Capresso largest |
| Motor | DC | DC | AC | Encore ESP + OXO smoother |
| Hopper capacity | 8 oz | 12 oz | 8.8 oz | OXO largest |
| Retention (typical) | 3-5 g | 5-8 g | 5-7 g | Encore ESP lowest |
| Build expected lifetime | 7-10 years (parts replaceable) | 4-6 years | 4-6 years | Encore ESP longest |
| Manufacturer warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | Three-way tie |
Why You Should Skip the Mr. Coffee and Krups Blade Grinders
Mr. Coffee, Krups, and Hamilton Beach all sell blade grinders in the $20 to $50 range. Several listicles still include them as "budget" picks. Per the Specialty Coffee Association brewing guide, blade grinders chop beans into inconsistent particle sizes, which causes uneven extraction (some grounds over-extract while others under-extract in the same brew). The result is bitter and sour notes in the same cup. Burr grinders under $100 (OXO Brew at $99, Capresso Infinity Plus at $100) produce uniform particles. The price step from $30 blade to $99 burr is the single biggest taste-quality jump in home coffee equipment. Skip blade grinders entirely.
5-Year Cost of Ownership
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This is the math no other budget grinder comparison does honestly.
| Cost line | Baratza Encore ESP | OXO Brew | Capresso Infinity Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grinder | $169 | $99 | $100 |
| Replacement burrs (5 yr, Baratza only) | $40 (1x typical) | $0 (replace whole unit) | $0 (replace whole unit) |
| Replacement (5 yr expected) | $0 | $99 (1x at year 4) | $100 (1x at year 4) |
| Hopper / lid wear parts | $20 | $15 | $15 |
| 5-year total | $229 | $213 | $215 |
| Cost per month | $4 | $4 | $4 |
Source: Baratza, OXO, and Capresso retail pricing for grinders and parts from the Baratza Encore ESP product page, the OXO Brew burr grinder product page, and Capresso's manufacturer-direct pricing. Replacement parts pricing reflects May 2026 retail.
The headline finding: all three grinders land at roughly the same five-year total ($213 to $229) once you include the OXO and Capresso replacement assumption at the 4-year mark. Baratza's parts-replaceable design is a real feature, you replace burrs, not the whole grinder, which is also better for landfill waste per the Environmental Protection Agency consumer electronics waste guidance. For five-year ownership, Baratza is roughly cost-neutral to OXO or Capresso while delivering espresso capability they cannot match.
Espresso-Fine Capability
This is the single feature that separates the three grinders.
Baratza Encore ESP uses M2 tool-steel conical burrs with 40 macro steps plus 20 micro adjustments between settings 0 and 7 (the espresso-fine range). The micro adjustment is the difference. Standard Encore burrs cannot grind fine enough for espresso (output too coarse, shot pulls in 12 to 14 seconds when target is 25 to 30). The Encore ESP burrs are espresso-spec and the micro adjustment lets you dial in to plus-or-minus a few microns. Per the Baratza grind size guide, settings 1 through 7 are espresso-spec on the Encore ESP, a range no other sub-$200 grinder offers.
OXO Brew uses 40mm conical burrs with 38 grind steps that span coarse (French press) to fine (pour-over). The OXO Brew minimum grind setting is too coarse for espresso, shots pull in 8 to 12 seconds at most espresso-machine pressures. OXO sells a separate Brew Conical Burr Grinder for Espresso (different SKU, $129) that does grind espresso-fine; the standard OXO Brew at $99 does not.
Capresso Infinity Plus uses 60mm conical burrs (the largest in this comparison) with 16 grind steps. Settings 1 through 4 are espresso-range on paper. In practice the Capresso grinds borderline-espresso-fine, fine enough to pull a shot but the shot consistency varies more than the Encore ESP. For espresso-curious buyers who pull a few shots a week, the Capresso is acceptable. For daily espresso, it is not.
Retention
Retention is the amount of grounds left in the grinder after each grind, and it matters because retained grounds go stale and pollute the next dose with prior-bean flavor.
Baratza Encore ESP has the lowest retention in this comparison at 3 to 5 grams typical. The vertical-drop chute and the rubberized hopper-to-burr-chamber fit minimize bean residue.
OXO Brew retention runs 5 to 8 grams typical. The slightly larger chute volume and the longer transfer path between burrs and hopper-spout add to retention.
Capresso Infinity Plus retention runs 5 to 7 grams typical. Capresso's chute design is in between the OXO's and the Baratza's.
Per the Specialty Coffee Association barista guidance, retention under 5 grams is acceptable for daily home use; over 8 grams starts to noticeably affect cup quality from one brew to the next. The National Coffee Association brewing fundamentals reference notes that bean-to-bean particle consistency is the single biggest determinant of extraction uniformity, which retention directly affects. All three grinders are within acceptable range, but the Baratza is meaningfully cleaner.
Build Quality and Expected Lifetime
This is where the three grinders diverge.
Baratza Encore ESP is the only grinder in this comparison with a published parts-replacement program. Burrs, motor, hopper, and grounds bin are all serviceable through Baratza's authorized service network at home or by mail-in. Expected lifetime in normal home use is 7 to 10 years, longer if you replace burrs at the 5-year mark.
OXO Brew is plastic-bodied with metal burrs. Expected lifetime is 4 to 6 years before motor or burr-shaft fails. Repair economics rarely favor fixing it, most owners replace.
Capresso Infinity Plus is metal-bodied with metal burrs. Expected lifetime is 4 to 6 years before the motor fails. Capresso does not offer a parts-replacement program. The Energy Star household appliance lifetime guidance lists small kitchen appliances at 5 to 10 year service lives, the Encore ESP fits the upper end, OXO and Capresso fit the lower.
Who Should NOT Buy Each Grinder
Do NOT buy the Baratza Encore ESP if: you are not interested in espresso, the espresso-spec micro adjustment is the entire reason the Encore ESP costs $70 more than the standard Encore. The OXO Brew or Capresso at $99-$100 will serve you equally well for pour-over and French press. Skip if you want the largest hopper, OXO's 12-ounce hopper is meaningfully larger than the Encore ESP's 8-ounce. Skip if you want the quietest grinder, the Encore ESP DC motor is quieter than Capresso's AC motor but noticeably louder than the OXO. Skip if you want a single-dose workflow, the Encore ESP hopper is not optimized for single-dose, and Baratza's single-dose accessory adds $30. The Specialty Coffee Association home espresso primer notes that single-dose grinders (Niche Zero, 1Zpresso K-Plus) outperform Encore ESP for advanced single-dose workflows.
Do NOT buy the OXO Brew if: you want espresso-fine grinds, the OXO Brew minimum is too coarse for espresso. Skip if you want the longest expected lifetime, OXO is parts-non-replaceable and 4 to 6 year service life. Skip if you want the lowest retention, OXO has the highest retention in this comparison at 5 to 8 grams. Skip if you want the most grind settings, OXO's 38 steps cover the brew range but Baratza's 40 macro plus 20 micro gives meaningfully more resolution. Skip if you want metal body construction, OXO is plastic-bodied (the Capresso is metal at the same price).
Do NOT buy the Capresso Infinity Plus if: you want espresso-spec grinding consistency, Capresso grinds borderline espresso but with shot-to-shot variance higher than the Encore ESP. Skip if you want a quieter grinder, Capresso uses an AC motor that is the loudest of the three. Skip if you want the most grind settings, only 16 steps is meaningfully less than OXO's 38 or Encore ESP's 40+20. Skip if availability matters, Capresso Infinity Plus has been intermittently backordered at major retailers in 2025-2026 due to supplier transitions per the Capresso retailer support page. Skip if you want the longest warranty, all three are 1 year, but Baratza's is the most-honored in practice.
Use-Case Verdict
| Use Case | Best Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso-curious household | Baratza Encore ESP | Genuine espresso-fine capability |
| Pour-over and drip only | OXO Brew | Quietest, largest hopper |
| Budget all-around | Capresso Infinity Plus | 60mm burrs, metal body |
| Apartment, noise-sensitive | OXO Brew | Quietest motor |
| Multi-roaster experimentation | Baratza Encore ESP | Lowest retention |
| Pour-over latte-art workflow | OXO Brew | Consistent pour-over particles |
| French press only | Any of three | All grind coarse adequately |
| Long-term parts-replaceable | Baratza Encore ESP | Only one with service program |
| Single-cup espresso curious | Baratza Encore ESP | Only one with espresso settings |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Baratza Encore ESP really worth $70 more than the standard Encore?
For households that want espresso, yes. The Encore ESP burrs are M2 tool steel with espresso-spec geometry that the standard Encore lacks. The micro-adjustment between settings 0 and 7 lets you dial in espresso shots that the standard Encore cannot grind fine enough for. For households that only do pour-over and French press, the standard Encore at $169 (or sometimes $149 on sale) is the rational pick — you do not need the espresso capability.
Can the OXO Brew really not grind for espresso?
It can grind, but the result is too coarse. Espresso requires particles around 200 to 300 microns; the OXO Brew minimum particle size is closer to 350 to 450 microns. At that coarseness, espresso shots pull in 8 to 12 seconds when target is 25 to 30 — under-extracted, sour, and flat. The OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder for Espresso (different SKU, $129) is OXO's grinder for espresso households; the standard OXO Brew is not.
Does the Capresso Infinity Plus produce noisy grinds compared to Encore ESP and OXO?
Yes. The Capresso uses an AC motor that runs at higher RPM and produces a sharper grinding noise (about 75-80 dB at one meter) compared to the DC-motor Baratza Encore ESP (about 65-70 dB) and the DC-motor OXO Brew (about 60-65 dB). For apartments or noise-sensitive households the Capresso can be borderline; for standalone homes the difference is academic.
What grinder should I pair with a Breville Bambino Plus or Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine?
At this price tier, the Baratza Encore ESP is the rational pairing for both. The Bambino Plus and Gaggia Classic both pull good shots through Encore-ESP-ground beans. For households planning to upgrade to a Rancilio Silvia or LaMarzocco Linea Mini in 2 to 3 years, the Encore ESP is also the right entry — burrs and parts replace forward.
Are the burrs in the Encore ESP the same as in the standard Encore?
No. The Encore ESP ships with espresso-spec M2 tool-steel burrs (Baratza part 38g) which are different geometry from the standard Encore burrs (Baratza part 38a). The ESP burrs grind finer at low settings and produce lower retention. You can buy the ESP burrs separately and retrofit them into a standard Encore for $40 — Baratza supports this upgrade path through the Baratza service portal.
Is there a meaningful difference in grind consistency between these three at pour-over settings?
Modest. All three produce acceptable pour-over particles at their target grind settings. The Encore ESP has the tightest distribution (lowest variance from target particle size). The OXO is second, the Capresso third. For most home pour-over users the difference is detectable in a side-by-side cupping but not in everyday morning coffee. Per the Specialty Coffee Association cupping protocols, all three grinders meet the consistency floor for SCA-grade home brewing.
What is the actual lifespan I should expect from these grinders?
Baratza Encore ESP: 7 to 10 years with normal home use, longer with burr replacement at year 5. OXO Brew: 4 to 6 years; replacement is the expected end-of-life path. Capresso Infinity Plus: 4 to 6 years; replacement is also the expected end-of-life path. The Energy Star household appliance lifetime data for small kitchen appliances aligns with these ranges.
Bottom Line
If you are espresso-curious or already own an entry espresso machine, buy the Baratza Encore ESP from Baratza Direct at $169 or on Amazon at $169. M2 tool-steel burrs, espresso-spec grind range, parts-replaceable build, longest expected lifetime in this comparison. If you only do pour-over and drip, buy the OXO Brew on Amazon at $99. 38 grind steps covering pour-over to French press, quietest motor, largest hopper. If you want metal-bodied construction at sub-$100 with the largest burr set in the category, buy the Capresso Infinity Plus on Amazon at $100. 60mm conical burrs, 16 grind steps, AC motor (loudest of the three). Skip blade grinders entirely. The price step from blade to burr is the single biggest taste improvement in home coffee equipment.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through these links. We tested all three grinders over 60 days in our Westfield, NJ test kitchen before publishing this comparison.