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☕ Buying Guides · 2026Baratza's range decoded from its own product sheets: 40 mm conical burrs on the Encore, Encore ESP and Virtuoso+, the straight-through Sette 270 for espresso, 54 mm flat burrs on the Vario+ and Forte. Which one for brew, which for espresso, which weighs the dose - with eleven verified listings.
Written and reviewed by the CoffeeLabAdvisor editorial team · Published 16 September 2026
Baratza sells four families and the choice is mostly one question: brew, espresso, or both. For pour-over, drip and French press, the Encore (40 settings, 40 mm conical burrs, 250 to 1,200 microns per Baratza's sheet) is the entry point and the Virtuoso+ adds a timer and metal trim on the same burr. For espresso, the Encore ESP puts twenty fine micro-steps in the espresso range under the same hopper twist, the new Encore ESP Pro goes stepless and single-dose, and the Sette 270 is the dedicated espresso grinder with 270 settings and a straight-through path that grinds up to 5 g a second. For both at once, the flat-burr Vario+ (220 steps, timed doses, espresso-calibrated) and Vario W+ (steel burrs, grind by weight) are the all-rounders, and the Forte is the compact commercial version. Every Baratza here carries a 1-year warranty and the company's known habit of selling parts and repairing grinders, which is half the reason to buy one.
Baratza publishes a product sheet for each grinder, and the sheets settle most arguments. The Encore family - Encore, Encore ESP, Virtuoso+ - shares a 40 mm conical burr made by Etzinger in Liechtenstein, a 300 g hopper, a 120 g grounds bin, a slow DC motor with a thermal cutout, ABS construction and a 13 by 34 by 15 cm footprint; they weigh 3.1 to 3.6 kg and grind 1.3 to 2.2 g a second at typical settings. The Sette family turns the burr geometry inside out: the outer ring burr rotates around a fixed cone, coffee falls straight through into the portafilter, and the sheet lists 2.9 to 4 g a second (the listing says up to 5) with minimal retention; it is 13 by 41 by 25 cm, 3.2 kg, and draws 200 W to the Encore's 70. The Vario family uses 54 mm flat burrs by Ditting in Switzerland - ceramic on the Vario+, steel on the Vario W+ - in a metal grind chamber, with macro and micro adjustment and a control panel; 4.1 kg, 130 W. The Forte is the Vario in cast zinc at 6 kg, built for a small cafe, with a touchscreen and grinding by time or weight.
Two numbers to read carefully. Settings are not resolution: the Encore's 40 settings span 250 to 1,200 microns, so each step is a large jump, while the Sette's 270 and the Vario's 220 pack many more steps into the espresso end. Microns on Baratza's sheets describe the grind range the burrs can produce, which is a different thing from the adjustment-per-click figures some hand-grinder makers quote, as our grind size chart explains. And speed matters more than it sounds: at 1.3 g a second an 18 g espresso dose takes fourteen seconds on an Encore, four on a Sette.
The Encore is the grinder most people should buy first, and Baratza's sheet says why: 40 settings from fine to coarse across a 250 to 1,200 micron range, conical burrs that stay sharp for years, low retention, and a hopper you turn to adjust. It grinds for every brewer on this site, from AeroPress to cold brew, and it reaches an espresso-fine setting - but in the espresso range each of its steps is a big jump, which is why dialling in espresso on an Encore is frustrating and why Baratza made the ESP. Our coffee grinder guide places it against the other entry grinders we have evaluated. The Virtuoso+ is the Encore's burr and body with three additions: a 40-second digital timer adjustable to a tenth of a second, a backlit grounds bin, and a sculptured metal top and base. The timer is the reason to pay the difference - a repeatable dose every morning without a scale - and the sheet lists a slightly higher top speed (2.4 g a second) and 3.6 kg against 3.1.
Neither is an espresso grinder in practice, and Baratza's own listings describe both as brew-method grinders that also reach espresso. If you brew filter coffee and might try espresso later, buy the Encore ESP instead: it costs a little more than the Encore and keeps the 21 to 40 brew range identical while fixing the espresso end. The Vario+ and Vario W+ also grind superbly for brew - the W+ especially, with its steel burrs and 230 to 1,150 micron range - but at their price the question is whether you will use the espresso side.
The Encore ESP is the same 40 mm conical burr and body as the Encore with a dual-range adjustment: Baratza's sheet describes micro-steps from 1 to 20 for high-resolution espresso grinding and macro-steps from 21 to 40 for filter methods, a quick-release burr for cleaning, factory calibration to micron-accurate adjustment, and an anti-static dosing cup that fits 54 mm baskets or 58 mm with the included adapter. It is the espresso grinder for a Breville, a Gaggia Classic or a Silvia when the budget stops at $200, and it is the one we have evaluated in full - the card links to that evaluation. The Encore ESP Pro replaces the steps with a stepless mechanism on the M2 burr, adds a single-dose mode that stops itself and a timer mode to 0.1 s, active anti-static, a flow-control disk and a display, for people who switch coffees shot by shot.
The Sette 270 is the dedicated espresso grinder. Its sheet describes 30 macro steps plus a fully stepless micro ring - the 270 settings of the name - a mechanism connected directly to the cone burr so adjustment is immediate, three programmable doses by time to a tenth of a second, and a convertible holder that takes a portafilter or the bin. The straight-through path means almost nothing stays in the grinder between doses, which is what single-dosers want, and the speed means a double takes four seconds. The Sette 270Wi adds a built-in scale using Acaia's technology and grinds by weight to a tenth of a gram directly into the portafilter, with three saved doses; its listing records the 2016 Specialty Coffee Association Best New Product award for the 270W. The Sette is louder than the Encore family and its plastic body is a common complaint; what it is not is slow or imprecise. Our espresso grind guide covers what you are dialling in.
The Vario+ is Baratza's flat-burr answer to the brew-and-espresso household: 54 mm ceramic flat burrs by Ditting in a metal grind chamber, 220 steps of macro and micro adjustment, an espresso calibration set at the factory that you can re-set with the included tool, three time-based presets on a backlit panel, a metal portafilter holder, and a 300 g shut-off hopper you can lift off with the beans still in it to change coffees. Ceramic burrs stay sharp for a very long time and suit espresso; the Vario W+ swaps in steel burrs that Baratza's listing describes as giving a 230 to 1,150 micron range with a narrow particle distribution, and adds grind-by-weight with three presets to 0.1 g. The same listing carries a caution worth repeating: Baratza does not recommend single-dosing the W+ for espresso and suggests keeping beans in the hopper for that; for brew grinds it is fine.
The Forte AP and Forte BG are the Vario design in cast zinc for commercial use - a touchscreen, dose by time or weight with three presets, 10 macro steps each divided into 26 micro steps on the AP, the same Ditting burrs (ceramic on the AP, steel on the BG), 6 kg, and a stated capacity of 5 lb of coffee a day. They are the grinders an office bar, a small restaurant or a roaster's tasting room buys, and a home buyer who wants an all-metal grinder that will outlast the espresso machine. The single-dose hopper for the Sette turns any Sette into a single-doser for a few dollars. On every Baratza, plan on cleaning: the burrs come out without tools on the ESP, and grinder tablets are covered on our cleaner guide.
Filter coffee only, first grinder: Encore. Filter coffee, and a repeatable dose without a scale: Virtuoso+. Filter now, espresso maybe: Encore ESP. Espresso on a Breville, Gaggia or Silvia, under $200: Encore ESP. Espresso, switching coffees, stepless: Encore ESP Pro. Espresso first, speed and precision, up to $400: Sette 270. Espresso with the dose weighed for you: Sette 270Wi. Espresso and filter both, one grinder: Vario+, or the Vario W+ if you want weighed doses and steel burrs. An office bar or a small cafe: Forte AP for espresso and brew, Forte BG for brew. If the machine is already decided, the grinder pairing tool narrows this further, and the espresso grinder guide sets the Baratzas beside the Eureka, Niche and DF64 grinders we have evaluated.
Eleven verified listings in range order: the Encore family, the Sette family, the Vario family, the two Fortes and the Sette single-dose hopper. The Encore ESP card links to our full evaluation; every other claim is the listing's own statement, read on the date shown on the card. Live prices come from Amazon rather than being retyped here.
The default first grinder - forty settings, a brew-method grinder that reaches espresso in big steps. Listing states Baratza's best-selling entry grinder with 40 mm commercial-grade conical burrs made in Liechtenstein, 40 grind settings for methods from espresso to French press and automatic brewers, a front-mounted pulse button and on-off switch, and a 1-year warranty.
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40 mm burrs · Conical Burr The best espresso grinder under $200: a repairable 40mm conical with 40 steps that pairs well with entry-level machines. Reliable and consistent, if not the clearest or most premium-feeling option.
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The Encore with a timer, metal trim and the M2 burr - the brew-grinder upgrade. Listing states 40 grind settings on enhanced commercial-grade conical burrs, a 40-second digital timer adjustable to a tenth of a second, an LED backlit grounds bin, a sculptured metal top and base, European hardened steel burrs and a 1-year warranty.
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The stepless, single-dosing Encore for espresso. Listing states stepless grind adjustment on M2 precision steel burrs, a quick-release burr system, single-dose mode with auto-stop and a timer mode with 0.1-second dosing, active anti-static technology, a removable flow-control disk, and a display with a single rotary knob and LED-lit grounds bin.
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The home espresso grinder Baratza built the straight-through design for. Listing states an espresso grinder with 270 grind settings from macro and micro adjustment, three programmable dosing buttons to a tenth of a second, grinding up to 5 g per second with minimal retention in a straight-through mechanism, a convertible holder for a portafilter or the grounds bin, and a range that reaches finer manual brews.
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The Sette that weighs the dose into the portafilter for you. Listing states the Sette with grind-by-weight using Acaia weighing technology and Bluetooth, three programmable doses to a tenth of a gram, 270 settings, up to 5 g per second, the convertible device holder, and the 2016 Specialty Coffee Association Expo Best New Product award for the 270W.
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The flat-burr Baratza: espresso-calibrated from the factory, timed dosing, and a hopper you can lift off full. Listing states 54 mm ceramic flat burrs by Ditting in a metal grind chamber, 220 steps of macro and micro adjustment with a customisable espresso calibration, three time-based presets on a front LED panel, a removable 300 g shut-off hopper, low retention and two LED lights over the bin or portafilter.
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The Vario with steel burrs and a scale - weighed doses for brew and espresso alike. Listing states steel flat burrs with a 230 to 1150 micron range and a narrow particle distribution, three programmable weight presets to 0.1 g, macro adjustment in 10 steps each divided into 22 micro steps, low retention, a slow-turning DC motor with a thermal cutoff, and a recommendation to keep beans in the hopper when grinding for espresso.
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The small commercial Baratza - for an office bar, a low-volume cafe or a home that wants all-metal. Listing states a compact commercial-grade grinder with 54 mm ceramic flat burrs by Ditting, all-metal construction, grinding by time or by weight with a grounds bin and a portaholder, espresso at 2 g per second and press at 3.5 to 3.7 g per second, a 10 oz hopper, 13 lb, and 13 by 36 by 18 cm.
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The Forte with steel burrs - the brew-side sibling with a scale. Listing states 54 mm professional steel flat burrs by Ditting, 260 grind settings, a grinding capacity of up to 5 lb a day, a built-in scale for weight-based grinding or a timer with three presets, a shut-off hopper for changing beans, a polished metal body and a 1-year warranty.
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Turns any Sette into a single-doser for switching coffees. Listing states a small hopper with a soft-touch lid for pre-portioned beans, compatible with the Sette 30, Sette 270 and Sette 270Wi, that limits beans bouncing in the hopper.
Check price on Amazon →The Sette 270 (270 settings, up to 5 g a second, straight-through path) if espresso is the main job; the Encore ESP if the budget stops at $200, because its settings 1-20 are fine micro-steps for espresso; the Vario+ if the same grinder must also do filter coffee well.
The same 40 mm burr and body. The ESP has a dual-range adjustment - micro-steps from 1 to 20 for espresso and macro-steps from 21 to 40 for filter, per Baratza's sheet - plus a quick-release burr, factory calibration and an anti-static dosing cup for 54 or 58 mm baskets.
If you want a timer. The Virtuoso+ adds a 40-second digital timer to a tenth of a second, a backlit bin and metal trim on the same 40 mm burr and 40 settings. For grind quality alone the Encore is the same grinder.
It reaches an espresso-fine setting - its range is 250 to 1,200 microns - but its 40 steps are big jumps in the espresso range, which makes dialling in hard. Baratza built the Encore ESP to fix that.
The scale. The 270Wi grinds by weight to a tenth of a gram directly into the portafilter using Acaia weighing technology, with three saved doses; the 270 doses by time. Burrs, settings, speed and body are the same.
Ceramic burrs and timed doses on the Vario+; steel burrs (230-1,150 microns, narrow distribution) and grind-by-weight on the W+. Baratza's listing advises against single-dosing the W+ for espresso, so keep beans in its hopper for shots.
One year from the manufacturer on every grinder on this page, per Baratza's product sheets and listings. Baratza is also known for selling parts and repairing grinders long past warranty, which the listings describe as world-class support.
From Baratza's sheets: Encore 1.3-2.2 g a second, Virtuoso+ up to 2.4, Vario+ 1.9-2.7, Forte AP 2.6-4.0, Sette 2.9-4.0 (the listing says up to 5). At the slow end an 18 g dose takes about fourteen seconds; on a Sette, four.
Sources for this page: Encore, Encore ESP, Virtuoso+, Sette 270, Sette 270Wi, Vario+ and Forte AP specifications (burr size and maker, settings and adjustment design, grind range in microns, speed to grind, hopper and bin capacity, weight, dimensions, power, warranty, the ESP dual-range 1-20 / 21-40 description and dosing cup, the Sette 30-step macro plus stepless micro description): Baratza's own product sheets (v2.1-2.2, 2023-2024), linked from baratza.com's documents page, read 2026-09-16 · Encore ESP Pro, Vario W+ (230-1,150 micron range, grind by weight, the single-dosing caution), Forte BG, Sette 270Wi (Acaia technology, 2016 SCA award) and the Sette single-dose hopper: each product's own Amazon listing, read 2026-09-16 · Baratza product pages (current prices and descriptions) at baratza.com, read 2026-09-16 · The Encore ESP evaluation and its verdict: our published evaluation, linked from its card · Product prices and availability: each product's own Amazon listing, read 2026-09-16; every card links to the listing it was read from We have not lab-tested brewers; where a figure is a manufacturer's, the page names the manufacturer, and machine capabilities come from our own published review records.