Wow this is actually interesting. Ioniser is a nice touch, hopefully it works well. 2.2 micron steps sounds good but we'll have to see what this actually like in practice based on: practical differences between steps ability to easily cover espresso and filter range repeatability (although I always think people blame grinders too much for human inconsistencies). The price is not bad, still $300. I think it'll be tough to beat the DF54 though which is also $75 cheaper. More on reddit.com

I love it. It has been solid with my Bambino. More on reddit.com

I think that the ESP is a great entry point for espresso, and it could be the final game for many people as well. With the benefit of being able to grind for other coffee preferences as well. (And even if one later moves to a more expensive espresso grinder, one still has the ESP for use with other coffees--a win-win.) In addition to what others have said here, I get way low retention with it (less than .1g); recently, I've gotten into the habit of tapping it a few times towards the end of the grind and using the top à la a bellows for a few puffs, almost entirely eliminating any later falling grounds. (Before adopting this practice, I would come to the machine in the morning and find a tiny amount of fallen grounds in the machine's dosing cup, even though I hadn't been anywhere near the machine since my last grind--it was as if the grounds leprechauns had left me a tiny overnight gift, lol.) One further note: Baratza also sells its single dose hopper accessory (US$24), which fits the ESP as well. The OEM hopper is just fine, but I was persuaded by the aesthetics and design of the single dose hopper (I just like it), which shrinks the profile of the grinder as well. And the rubber-like cap of that hopper can be used for the aforementioned bellows purpose, and to carry and weigh beans. (Baratza likewise sells a portafilter-holding bin which I believe will fit the ESP, but the reviews on that have been mixed, noting that grounds sometimes escape the portafilter--instead, I simply hold my portafilter, with flared dosing funnel attached, under the grinder's grounds chute for the short period of the grind. But who knows, maybe, sometime, I'll try the bin accessory as well.) More on reddit.com

I hate to say it but the Niche is probably exactly what you're looking for. Yes, it's at the top of your budget, but the general workflow and ability to cross over brew methods is huge. I think it also has a more intuitive adjustment than the Turin grinders (DF64, SD40 etc). That being said I think it is worth it to look into the "motorized hand grinders" including the Turin SD40 V2 and the Option O Lagom Mini . These machines have smaller burrs and motors which means they grind slower and can't do a ton of back-to-back espresso but are overall compact and held in good regard. I think any of these will give you better results than something like the Baratza Encore ESP. The Encore ESP has discrete 'stepped' adjustments while many of these are continuous stepless making dialing much easier. In addition, many single-dose grinders have lower retention or a dedicated bellows to make sure what you put in, is exactly what you get out. Good luck! More on reddit.com