Yes, if the grinder has enough usable adjustment in both ranges — and many marketed as both do not.
What each range needs
Espresso needs fine grinding with fine adjustment: many small steps inside a narrow band, so one click moves a shot by a couple of seconds.
Filter needs a much wider range at coarser settings, where the steps can be larger without causing problems.
A grinder built for filter typically bottoms out too coarse for espresso, or jumps in steps far too large.
How to judge one
Look at how many steps sit in the espresso range, not the total number. A grinder with sixty steps of which three are usable for espresso is a filter grinder.
The Baratza Encore ESP is the clearest example of getting this right: settings 1 to 20 of its 40 are the espresso band, in steps fine enough to move a shot by a few seconds, and 21 to 40 cover filter.
The daily annoyance
Even with a capable grinder, switching between espresso and filter means re-dialing every time — and back again. Owners who do both regularly usually mark the two positions, or own two grinders.
The alternative
A dedicated filter grinder like the Fellow Ode refuses espresso entirely, and grinds filter better than any do-everything grinder at the price. If you only brew one way, buy for that.
What people want to know
Will switching between espresso and filter wear the grinder?
Not meaningfully. The cost is time: each switch means purging a few grams and re-dialing, because the setting rarely lands exactly where it was. Marking your two positions on the collar makes the round trip quicker.
Is a hand grinder a good second grinder for filter?
Often the best one. A filter-tuned hand grinder costs less than a second electric grinder, needs little effort at coarse settings, and leaves the electric grinder parked on its espresso setting.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026