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Which Grinder Fits a Home That Switches Between Espresso and French Press?

For a household that expects to switch between espresso and French press, the Encore ESP has the more explicitly separated adjustment layout: Baratza assigns settings 1–20 to its espresso range and 21–40 to filter brewing. OXO also publishes settings from fine espresso to coarse French press and adds a timer that stops after a selected run; Baratza instead includes an espresso dosing cup and pulse/on-off controls. Treat these as workflow differences and manufacturer starting points, not proof that either grinder will produce better shots or fit every espresso setup.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-09-30

Source checked 2026-09-30 21:20 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Which grinder's documented adjustment and dosing routine better fits a household that changes brew methods?

OXO uses a time-selected grind cycle that remembers its last setting, while Baratza separates espresso and filter adjustment ranges and includes a dosing cup for espresso; neither manufacturer's settings alone establish cup or shot quality.

Quick verdict

Choose OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver) if

  • You want to set a grind time, have the grinder stop at that time, and reuse the remembered setting.
  • OXO's published range and manual setting chart fit your planned brews, and a separate espresso-focused range is not a deciding feature for you.
View OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver) on AmazonPaid link

Choose Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black) if

  • Espresso is a recurring brew method and you want the grinder's settings explicitly split between espresso and filter ranges.
  • You prefer the included espresso dosing cup and pulse or on/off grinding controls for portioning and transferring grounds.
View Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black) on AmazonPaid link
When the recommendation changes
  • Your espresso basket and dose routine require compatibility evidence beyond the manufacturers' published grind settings.
  • You prefer weighing beans before grinding or timed repeat batches over using a dosing cup and pulse or on/off controls.

The differences that matter

Grind Adjustment

OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver)

The OXO manual maps settings 1–5 to espresso, 6–10 to pour-over/drip, and 11–15 to French press/cold brew; settings change by rotating the hopper. With beans in the hopper, it advises adjusting while the grinder runs.[2]

Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black)

The Encore ESP manual divides its scale into espresso settings 1–20 and filter settings 21–40, with larger grind-size changes per step in the filter range. It lists French press at setting 32 as a suggested start and says adjust while running or with the bean hopper empty.[4]

What this changes: The ESP has a more explicitly divided range for switching between espresso and filter brewing; OXO documents starting ranges across both methods. Neither range proves espresso output quality or basket compatibility.[1, 2, 4]

Best fit: Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black)View Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black) on AmazonPaid link

Dose Workflow

OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver)

OXO selects a grinding time, stops automatically when that time elapses, and keeps the timer at the selected setting. Its manual says grind output varies and recommends weighing or measuring it with a scale or scoop.[2]

Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black)

Encore ESP offers on/off and held pulse controls; its manual describes grinding espresso into the included dosing cup for transfer and using the grounds bin for filter coffee.[4]

What this changes: The OXO's timed stop can suit repeated time-based runs, while the ESP's included cup gives espresso grounds a transfer step. Neither fact establishes greater dose accuracy; the OXO manual explicitly recommends measuring or weighing output.[2, 4]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Cleaning And Service

OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver)

OXO's manual says only the upper burr is removable, directs cleaning of burrs and chute with a small brush without liquids inside, and says service beyond cleaning should be done by an authorized service representative.[2]

Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black)

Encore ESP's manual describes removing the ring burr for cleaning and the cone burr for cleaning or replacement; it recommends regular brushing (about monthly with daily use) and Baratza support if a clog cannot be cleared.[4]

What this changes: The documented maintenance steps differ in how much burr disassembly owners can perform and where the manual directs unresolved service questions; these procedures do not establish reliability or lifetime cost.[2, 4]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Best for your routine

Use a selected grind time with automatic stop and remembered timer setting

Best fit: OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

The OXO manual documents a selected timer that stops the grinder after the set time and remains at that setting; it also advises measuring output because yield varies.

View OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder (8717000, Silver) on AmazonPaid link

Switch regularly between espresso and filter settings using a divided adjustment range

Best fit: Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

The Encore ESP manual identifies separate 1–20 espresso and 21–40 filter ranges and supplies suggested starting points for common brew methods.

View Baratza Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A, Black) on AmazonPaid link

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

Whether a price difference is worthwhile depends on whether the ESP's separate espresso range and dosing-cup routine are useful in your household. No time-savings, performance, or payback claim is established here.

Price-history coverage is not established in this draft, so no historical timing conclusion is offered.

Limitations

  • This comparison uses manufacturer instructions and product documentation; no hands-on or controlled side-by-side grind test was performed.
  • Manufacturer grind settings are starting guidance, not evidence of grind uniformity, espresso extraction quality, taste, or compatibility with every machine and basket.
  • The comparison does not establish relative noise, retention, reliability, service cost, or product lifespan.

Questions shoppers ask

Does the OXO 8717000 have settings for both espresso and French press?

Yes. OXO's manual labels settings 1–5 fine/espresso and 11–15 coarse/French press or cold brew. That is manufacturer guidance for where to start, not a test result or a guarantee for a specific espresso machine.

What does the Encore ESP's dosing cup change?

The manual directs espresso grounds into the included dosing cup for transfer to a portafilter; for filter brewing it directs users to the grounds bin. Its pulse button can be held for small amounts or more control, but the manual does not describe this as weighing a dose.

Methodology and sources

Compared official 8717000 and Encore ESP product/manual documentation across grind adjustment, dose workflow, and cleaning/service instructions. Manufacturer-recommended settings are treated as starting guidance only.

Used live product identity data and manufacturer web pages/manuals to verify exact models and compare documented settings, controls, and cleaning instructions; no performance measurements were generated.

View 4 sources
  1. 1.Conical Burr Coffee GrinderOXO · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-09-30 21:19 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Product Details and Specifications; SKU 8717000: Identifies SKU 8717000 and lists 15 grind settings plus microsettings, ranging from fine espresso to coarse French press, and a timer that remembers its last setting.
  2. 2.OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Instruction Manual (8717000)OXO · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-09-30 21:19 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Grind Size Recommendations, Using Your Grinder, Cleaning Your Grinder, PDF pages 5–6: Exact 8717000 manual documents grind ranges and hopper adjustment, timer behavior, scale/scoop measurement, upper-burr removal, brush cleaning and authorized service guidance.
  3. 3.Encore ESP (ZCG495BLK1AUC1A)Baratza · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-09-30 21:19 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Product page with exact SKU query and included dosing cup description: Identifies the Encore ESP product family and describes hopper adjustments with an included dosing cup; the selected SKU is ZCG495BLK1AUC1A.
  4. 4.Encore ESP Operations ManualBaratza · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-09-30 21:20 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Operation, recommended initial grind settings, dosing cup use, care and cleaning, PDF pages 5–10: Encore ESP manual documents 1–20 espresso and 21–40 filter ranges, adjustment conditions, suggested starting settings, espresso dosing-cup and filter-bin workflow, burr cleaning/removal, and support routing.

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