The original Encore is a workhorse for pour-over and drip, with owners logging eight-year runs and easy repairs when parts finally wear out. The ESP variant chasing espresso grinds fine enough on paper but ships with a plastic burr holder that cracks predictably and an undersized rubber seal that lets grounds leak into the body, turning routine cleaning into archaeology. If you brew filter coffee and value long-term repairability, the original is a safe bet. If you need espresso, the ESP's fragile internals make it a gamble you'll likely lose within two years.
Mahlkönig's first home grinder brings commercial 54mm flat burrs and whisper-quiet operation to your counter, grinding clean and consistent across every method when it cooperates. The gears can seize completely within months, one owner hit total failure at three months, outside the return window, and older units earned complaints for slow grinding and finicky dialing before a quiet 2024 update. Expect a learning curve (multiple shots to dial in, possibly lower brew temps for flat burr balance), and light roast espresso fans worry it won't grind fine enough. If you're patient and willing to gamble $650 on durability, this delivers café performance at home; if a dead grinder outside warranty sounds like a nightmare, the Eureka Atom W65 Casa offers similar capability with fewer reported problems.