Baratza Encore ESP vs Chemex

136 facts in comparison

Based on 2,311 Reddit opinions. Too close to call.

2.3K opinions
Encore ESP
Reddit's Pick
Baratza Encore ESP
80%
B+
Based on
2,848 Redditors
Winner

Baratza Encore ESP

~$199.95
1,092 opinions

tldr; Encore with espresso range. Entry level, does both okay.

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VS
Chemex
80%
B+
Based on
3,198 Redditors

Chemex

~$62.95
1,219 opinions

tldr; The pretty one. Crystal clean cups, fragile glass, expensive filters.

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Brew QualityConsistencyBuild QualityEase of UseCleaning & Maintenance
BRE
🎯CON
🔧BUI
😌EAS
CLE
72
Points
56
Points

Score by Category

Brew Quality
95%76%
Consistency
55%59%
Build Quality
62%51%
Ease of Use
82%58%
Cleaning & Maintenance
45%53%

Why is Chemex better than Baratza Encore ESP?

  • Better cleaning (53% vs 45%)
  • Gorgeous design
  • Pricey filters
Based on 6,046 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Encore ESP

Winning by 0 points (80% vs 80%)

Better build quality
Better value
Better ease of use
High confidence (6,046 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 6,046 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Encore ESP
8.0/10
2,848 mentions
Chemex
8.0/10
3,198 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Encore ESP6.2/10
Chemex5.1/10
VALUE
Encore ESP9.2/10
Chemex4.1/10
EASE OF USE
Encore ESP8.2/10
Chemex5.8/10
CLEANING
Encore ESP4.5/10
Chemex5.3/10
CONSISTENCY
Encore ESP5.5/10
Chemex5.9/10
BREW QUALITY
Encore ESP9.5/10
Chemex7.6/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Encore ESP: 4|Chemex: 2
Build QualityEncore ESP
Encore ESP62%
Chemex51%
ValueEncore ESP
Encore ESP92%
Chemex41%
Ease Of UseEncore ESP
Encore ESP82%
Chemex58%
CleaningChemex
Encore ESP45%
Chemex53%
ConsistencyChemex
Encore ESP55%
Chemex59%
Brew QualityEncore ESP
Encore ESP95%
Chemex76%
Encore ESP80%
Chemex80%
Dead heat - too close to call

Key Specs

SpecBaratza Encore ESPChemex
Brand
Baratza
Chemex
Manufacturer
Baratza
Chemex
Color
Black
Clear
Weight
5.56 pounds
3.2 pounds
Height
13.39 inches
3.35 inches

Key Highlights

Baratza Encore ESP
🔄 Dual purpose
💰 Entry price
🔧 Serviceable
⚠️ Okay at both
ChemexWinner
✨ Gorgeous design
☕ Clean cups
💸 Pricey filters
⚠️ Fragile

Topic Battles

Encore ESP: 3|Tied: 0|Chemex: 2
Brew Quality
Encore ESP wins
Encore ESP
95%
Chemex
76%
🎯Consistency
Chemex wins
Encore ESP
55%
Chemex
59%
🔧Build Quality
Encore ESP wins
Encore ESP
62%
Chemex
51%
😌Ease of Use
Encore ESP wins
Encore ESP
82%
Chemex
58%
Cleaning & Maintenance
Chemex wins
Encore ESP
45%
Chemex
53%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Baratza Encore ESP

Best Praise
+33 pts
Absolutely spend your whole budget on a grinder. Probably the baratza encore esp would be your best bet.
r/espresso
View
Top Criticism
+11 pts
No, I just have a Bambino Plus. It doesn't make enough noise to wake anyone up. The Encore ESP grinder on the other hand...
r/espresso
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Chemex

Best Praise
+75 pts
Call me old fashioned, but I love the look of a Chemex.
r/PourOver
View
Top Criticism
+71 pts
I had chemex before v60, haven't touched the chemex since I got the v60 can't think of a single reason that could make chemex more interesting than v60, is more expensive, the filters are a pain in the ass and especially, much less convenient I can brew v60 directly on a mug, with and without flow (hario switch), I can drop it without fear (plastic), I can brew on it more reliably, easier to clean; many different options in materials, colors, features and even brew characteristics (with and without bypass), etc.
r/PourOver
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Baratza Encore ESP
Chemex
$64$72$80$88May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Nov '25Dec '25Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26Low: $66.69
Baratza Encore ESP
All-time low: $159.9(2024-06)
Chemex
All-time low: $23.54(2017-03)
$2 below 90-day avg

Which is Better?

Too Close to Call

Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (80% vs 80%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.

Why Encore ESP
  • Better Value for Money (92% vs 41%)
Why Chemex
  • ✨ Gorgeous design
  • ☕ Clean cups

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

31%Positive
Positive
31%
Neutral
62%
Negative
7%
Based on 2,848 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

31%Positive
Positive
31%
Neutral
61%
Negative
8%
Based on 3,198 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Baratza Encore ESP or Chemex?
Based on 6,046 Reddit comments, both are similarly rated at 80% and 80% positive - too close to call a clear winner.
Should I buy Baratza Encore ESP or Chemex?
Both have similar approval ratings (80% vs 80%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Baratza Encore ESP?
Reddit users highlight: Dual purpose. Entry price. Serviceable. With 2,848 mentions and 80% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Chemex?
Reddit users highlight: Gorgeous design. Clean cups. Pricey filters. With 3,198 mentions and 80% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 6,046 Reddit comments: 2,848 about Baratza Encore ESP and 3,198 about Chemex. Data was sourced from Coffee Equipment community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

2,311 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/1/2026