Baratza Encore ESP vs. Fellow Opus: Best Budget All-Rounder?

The Baratza Encore ESP and the original Fellow Opus are both electric conical burr grinders sold as one grinder for espresso and filter coffee. They solve the same problem in different ways. The Encore ESP splits its 40 settings into a fine-stepped espresso half and a wider-stepped filter half, and it keeps beans in a hopper. The Opus is built for single dosing: you weigh or measure the beans, load them, and a timed auto stop ends the grind.

Daily Home Coffee does not test grinders hands-on, so this comparison does not rank grind quality, noise or speed. It sets out what Baratza and Fellow publish about each grinder, what those design choices mean in daily use, and which kind of home brewer each one suits.

Quick Verdict: Which One Fits Your Routine

Choose the Encore ESP if you want a hopper grinder with a simple numbered dial, a published starting setting for each common brewer, and a manual that walks you through removing the burrs, clearing a clog and fitting shims yourself.

Choose the Opus if you prefer to grind one dose at a time, want a timed auto stop instead of holding a button, and would use a second adjustment ring to fine-tune espresso between the numbered settings.

One buying note matters before either: the address Fellow used for the Opus product page now sells the Opus 2, which Fellow lists with 48 mm conical burrs and a stepless dial. The original Opus described here has 40 mm burrs and stepped settings. Check which model a listing actually is before you compare it with anything in this article.

Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus: Key Specs Comparison

The table lists only what the two makers state in their own manuals and guides.

Feature	Baratza Encore ESP	Fellow Opus (original)
Settings	40: settings 1-20 for espresso, 21-40 for filter	41 on the outer ring (1 to 11 with quarter steps), plus an inner ring for micro adjustments
Burrs	Conical; removable ring burr and quick-release cone burr	40 mm stainless steel conical, six blades
Loading	Bean hopper	Single dose load bin; lid measures 20 g, 40 g or 100 g
Starting and stopping	On/off switch or hold-to-grind pulse button	Timed auto stop (30, 60 or 90 seconds, or 2 minutes); manual mode available
Espresso dosing	Dosing cup with 58 mm adapter ring, for 54 mm or 58 mm portafilters	Portafilter dosing cup for 54 mm and 58 mm portafilters

Baratza Encore ESP: A Split Dial for Two Kinds of Coffee

The Encore ESP’s manual explains its main idea plainly. Settings 1 to 20 are the espresso range, where each click changes the grind size by only a small amount, because espresso needs small corrections. Settings 21 to 40 are the filter range, where each click moves further, so the dial can still reach the coarsest cold brew grind within 40 clicks.

Published Starting Settings

Baratza gives suggested starting points rather than fixed answers:

• Espresso: 15
• AeroPress: 22
• Hario V60: 25
• Automatic brewer: 28
• Chemex: 30
• French press: 32

The espresso figure assumes a medium roast and an 18 g dose. Baratza says to set a higher number for darker roasts or larger doses and a lower number for lighter roasts or smaller doses, and to adjust from there by recipe and taste.

Maintenance You Can Do Yourself

The manual covers removing the hopper, the ring burr and the cone burr for cleaning, and it shows the parts that sit under the cone burr in order. A few of its rules are worth knowing before you buy:

• Never wash the burrs in water, because they will rust.
• With daily use, brush the burrs about once a month with the included brush.
• If you often grind dark, oily or flavoured coffee, use grinder cleaning tablets, since oil build-up can clog the grinder.
• Empty the grounds bin before it reaches the max fill line, or the grinder may clog.
• Change the grind setting only while the grinder is running or completely empty of beans, to avoid damaging it.

The box also includes shims. Baratza explains that as parts settle in, you may need to use a finer setting than before; if the finest settings are no longer fine enough for espresso, one shim shifts the grind by about five settings.

Who This Design Suits

Picture a household that brews filter coffee most days and makes espresso now and then. The hopper and the on/off switch suit the filter routine, and the separate espresso range gives small steps when it is time to dial in a shot. The trade-off is that a hopper invites you to store beans in the grinder, and you still need a scale if you want an exact dose.

Fellow Opus: Built Around Single Dosing

Fellow’s guide for the original Opus tells you not to store beans in it: pour them into the load bin right before grinding. Everything else follows from that. The lid doubles as a measure, with 20 g and 40 g compartments, or 100 g when filled to the top.

Two Rings for Adjustment

The outer ring runs from 1 (fine) to 11 (coarse), with four quarter steps between each number, which is where the “41 settings” figure comes from. Underneath the load bin is a blue inner ring. Fellow says it allows micro adjustments between those quarter steps, expands the range to 0 and 12, and lets you recalibrate as the burrs wear. That is the “+” in the “41+ settings” Fellow advertises.

Timed Auto Stop and Anti-Static Design

A single short press grinds for 30 seconds, a double press for 60 and a triple press for 90; a long press runs for 2 minutes, and the grinder turns itself off. A manual mode is available if you would rather stop it yourself.

Fellow also describes anti-static technology and a magnetically aligned catch to keep grounds tidy. Its own FAQ adds a maintenance note: the anti-static feature works best for about 60 grinding cycles before the exit chute needs brushing out.

What Fellow Claims, and What It Does Not Prove

Fellow describes the Opus as quick and quiet, with low grind retention. Those are the maker’s descriptions, not measurements this site has made or verified. Fellow does say the Opus can grind fine enough for a true 9-bar espresso shot as well as coarse enough for cold brew.

Head-to-Head: The Differences That Matter

Espresso Adjustment

Both grinders are designed for espresso, and both include a dosing cup for 54 mm and 58 mm portafilters. The Encore ESP gives you 20 small, numbered espresso steps on a single dial. The Opus gives you numbered quarter steps plus an inner ring for positions in between. The Opus adds the inner ring for adjustments between its quarter steps; the Encore ESP keeps all of its espresso steps on one numbered dial. Either way, the dialing-in method is the same: when fast espresso shots are the problem, change the grind one step at a time and keep the dose and yield fixed.

Workflow

The Encore ESP is a hopper grinder with a switch or a pulse button. The Opus is a single-dose grinder with a timer. Neither approach is better in general. A hopper suits people who grind the same coffee every morning for one brewer; single dosing suits people who switch coffees or brew methods and want only the beans they need in the grinder.

Repairs and Support

Baratza’s manual shows how to remove both burrs, clear a clog and fit shims, and it points to baratza.com for parts and troubleshooting. Its US and Canadian limited warranty runs for 1 year from purchase. Fellow’s guide says the Opus can be cleaned and calibrated with no tools required, and its FAQ covers installing and calibrating the Opus 40 DLC Brew Burrs. Check the current warranty terms on each maker’s site before you buy, since they can change.

Who Is the Baratza Encore ESP For?

• Mostly filter brewers who also make some espresso
• People who like a hopper and a simple on/off switch
• Owners who want a manual that covers burr removal, clogs and shims
• Anyone who wants a published starting setting for each common brewer

Who Is the Fellow Opus For?

• Single-dose grinders who weigh or measure each dose
• Households that switch between coffees or brew methods often
• Espresso drinkers who want positions between the numbered settings
• People who prefer a timed auto stop to holding a button

When Neither Is the Answer

If you are building a first setup and have not bought a brewer or a scale yet, a grinder this capable may be more than you need on day one; a budget home coffee setup can start with a brewer and a scale and add a burr grinder as the first upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fellow Opus the same as the Opus 2?

No. Fellow lists the Opus 2 with 48 mm conical burrs and a stepless adjustment dial. The original Opus has 40 mm conical burrs and 41 stepped settings plus an inner ring. Make sure a listing names the model you mean.

What Encore ESP setting should I use for espresso?

Baratza suggests 15 as a starting point for a medium roast and an 18 g dose. Go to a higher number for darker roasts or larger doses and a lower number for lighter roasts or smaller doses, then adjust by taste.

Can I wash the burrs?

Not on the Encore ESP: Baratza says the burrs will rust if they get wet. Brush them instead. For the Opus, Fellow points to its Safety Manual for cleaning instructions; its FAQ also says to brush out the exit chute when the anti-static effect fades.

Final Verdict and Recommendations

These two grinders differ more in workflow than in what they can grind. The Encore ESP is the simpler hopper grinder, with a split dial, published starting points and a manual written for owners who maintain their own grinder. The original Opus is the single-dose option, with a timer, a measuring lid and an inner ring for finer espresso adjustment. Decide how you want to load and stop the grinder, confirm whether a listing is the Opus or the Opus 2, and the choice usually follows.