The Best Home Espresso Grinder Under $300

If you're putting together your first home espresso setup, the grinder is where your budget does the most good. A modest machine with a capable grinder makes better espresso than an expensive machine with a weak one. The challenge is that espresso asks a lot of a grinder: very fine grounds, very small adjustments, and consistency from one shot to the next. Under $300, most grinders can't do that. Two can.

What an espresso grinder needs

• Fine enough grounds. Espresso needs a grind close to powdered sugar. Many drip grinders simply can't go that fine.
• Small adjustment steps. One step on a drip grinder can be the difference between a shot that gushes in 15 seconds and one that chokes the machine. Espresso needs smaller steps.
• Consistency. The same setting should give the same result tomorrow.

Baratza Encore ESP ($199.95): best for espresso and filter

The Encore ESP takes the 40mm conical burr from the original Encore, one of the most-recommended starter grinders around, and splits its range in two. The first 20 settings are fine steps tuned for espresso. The other 20 are wider steps for AeroPress, pour-over, drip, and French press.

That split is the reason to buy it. You can dial in a shot in the morning and grind for a pour-over in the afternoon without owning two grinders.

Good to know: 20 espresso steps is enough for single-boiler and entry-level machines, and for learning. As your technique improves, you may find yourself wanting a setting between two steps. That's the point where people move up to a Sette. Add the PortaHolder ($19.20) to grind directly into your portafilter.

Comes in: black and white.

Baratza Sette 30 ($299.95): best for espresso only

The Sette 30 is built differently. Grounds fall straight from the burrs into your portafilter, so almost nothing gets left behind in the grinder. That means fresher shots and less waste when you switch beans. It's also fast: a strong motor grinds a double dose in seconds.

It has 31 settings and no separate fine adjustment. Think of it as an espresso grinder for someone who will find a good setting for their beans and mostly leave it there. It's not a great choice for filter coffee.

Good to know: Every Sette is loud. Not unbearable, but noticeably louder than an Encore. It comes with that powerful motor.

Side by side

Which one?

• Get the Encore ESP if you make espresso and also drink filter coffee, or if this is your first grinder and you want room to experiment.
• Get the Sette 30 if espresso is all you make and you value fresh, low-retention doses over versatility.

When to stretch to $400

If you know espresso is going to be a daily habit, the Sette 270 ($399.95) is worth a serious look. Same low-retention design as the Sette 30, but with 270 settings: 30 main positions, each with 9 fine steps. That fine dial is what lets you taste-tune a shot instead of settling for close enough. It also has three programmable timer buttons. For a lot of home espresso drinkers, it's the last grinder they buy for years.

Don't forget the scale

Whichever grinder you choose, weigh your dose and your shot. It's the difference between guessing and knowing what to change. The OXO 6 lb Precision Scale reads to 0.1g and has a built-in timer. Then work through how to dial in espresso.

Want to see how these fit into Baratza's full lineup? Read our Baratza grinder comparison.

Shop this guide

• Baratza Encore ESP: espresso and filter in one grinder
• Baratza Sette 30: low-retention espresso grinding
• Baratza Sette 270: the step up, with fine adjustment
• Baratza PortaHolder: grind straight into your portafilter
• OXO 6 lb Precision Scale: weigh every dose