Baratza Sette 270 vs Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Both grind into the portafilter, but the Sette is the serious espresso tool. The Baratza Sette 270 at $399 has near-zero retention and 270 precise positions for fast, clean espresso grinding. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro at $200 is half the price, more versatile for filter, and programmable — but suffers high retention and more fines. Choose the Sette for espresso quality and zero waste; choose the Breville for budget and filter versatility.
Spec face-off
Bars scaled to the higher value. Coloured = wins that spec.
Full specifications
Strengths & weaknesses
Full comparison
The Sette 270 is purpose-built for espresso: an outside-in burr design grinds directly into the portafilter with under 0.1g retention, 270 positions (9 macro x 30 micro) give fine dialing, and a 720 RPM direct-drive motor doses 18g in about 5 seconds — the fastest, cleanest espresso workflow under $500. The Smart Grinder Pro is a more general 60-setting hopper grinder that also grinds into the portafilter, with timed dosing and good filter-side control, at half the price.
Retention and grind quality strongly favor the Sette. The Breville's defining weakness is retention (~18g in, 16g out) that carries stale grounds forward, plus more fines and dust that can muddy espresso. The Sette's near-zero retention means every gram dosed is fresh, and its grind is cleaner for espresso — though its outside-in geometry is poor at coarse filter settings.
Versatility and price favor the Breville. The Sette is espresso-focused and not a good all-rounder; the Breville handles filter well and costs $200 less, making it the value pick for someone who grinds for both espresso (with forgiving baskets) and drip. The Sette also vibrates enough to need a mat.
Buy the Sette 270 ($399) for fast, clean, zero-retention espresso grinding if espresso is the priority. Buy the Smart Grinder Pro ($200) for budget, filter versatility, and programmable dosing, accepting more fines and retention.