7 Best Coffee Scales for Precision Brewing: Pros, Cons & Verdict

Guide, finding

Have you ever wondered why your favorite coffee shop barista always serves the perfect cup when you order from the Slow Bar or Espresso machine?

Initially, you thought it must be something about the barista skill.  But soon you realized that the perfect cup also depends on perfect measurement and solid ratios.

So for leveling up your brewing at home just like the pros, you don’t want to leave space for guessing and that’s where a quality coffee scale is quintessential for maintaining uniform measurement and experimenting with ratios to find that perfect balance.

weight hot water ready for a cup of Joe

Our Comparison for the Best Coffee Scales

Coffee ScaleProductFeaturesPrice
The highest precision
Hario V60 drip scale

Hario V60 drip scale

  • Measures in 0.1-gram increments
  • Built-in timer for accurate repeat brew recipes
  • Auto-off feature after 5 minutes (not activated while the timer is in use)
  • Slim Design
  • 17 x 14 x 11 inches (W120×D190×H29mm)
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The Most Perfect Size
Acaia Lunar Espresso scale

Acaia Lunar Espresso scale

  • Built-in timer
  • Perfect size
  • Attractive design
  • Weight-timer dual display
  • 5.3 x 2.2 x 5.5 inches
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The Most Affordable
Apexstone Coffee Scale

Apexstone Coffee Scale

  • High precision sensors to ensure accurate measurements 
  • Clear readable display
  • Built-in timer
  • Safe silicone mat
  • 9 x 6 x 2 inches
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The Most of Your Measuring
Brewista smart scale

Brewista smart scale

  • Comes in a compact size
  • Long battery life
  • Can be recharged
  • Fits well for your pour-over or espresso
  • 8 x 6.5 x 2 inches (LxWxH)
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Best Power Saving
Timemore Coffee Scale

Timemore Coffee Scale

  • 0.1-gram accuracy
  • Integrated timer
  • Power-saving, with a timer function that automatically turns off after 3 minutes of standby
  • Rechargeable lithium battery
  • 7.4 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches (LxWxH)
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Best Espresso Scales
Greater Good's Digital Coffee Scale

Greater Good's Digital Coffee Scale

  • Auto-off function
  • Compact size
  • Comes with a 5-year warranty
  • Extremely durable with Rubber Waterproof Mat
  • Best Scales for Espresso
  • 7.63 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
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Most Economical
ProScale XC2000

ProScale XC2000

  • Fit well on most espresso machine drip trays
  • Compact size
  • Pop-up control panel
  • Inexpensive
  • 4.45 x 0.98 x 35.04 inches
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7 Best coffee scales for brewing coffee

Hario V60 drip scale

Most coffee enthusiasts say the best way to get the perfect coffee flavor is to grind just when you are ready to brew. Otherwise, oxidation may degrade the flavor.

That’s one perfect reason to buy the Hario V60 drip scale.

With its specialized features, you can measure just enough amount of coffee grounds for your recipes and determine the exact brew time using the same tool.

If you want a consistent coffee flavor every morning, then consider investing in a Hario V60 drip coffee scale. It comes with a 0.1-gram precision, which helps in the coffee brewing process.

Pros

  • Offer features that rival an expensive coffee scale
  • Coffee scale with timer
  • Easy to use with auto-off function
  • Durable

Cons

  • Slow response time
  • Not as stylish as other coffee scales,
  • Not waterproof

Acaia Lunar Espresso scale

Should you even consider buying an Acaia Lunar Espresso, given that there is an affordable coffee scale under $50 in the market?

With the promising features of this Acaia Lunar Espresso scale, the answer is probably yes. 

Just as you will not buy any regular coffee maker or espresso machines, you’d also love to invest in a good coffee scale that has all the features other than a built-in timer.

Acaia Pearl scales are another good set of scales to consider as it’s they’re a little cheaper but still have quality. You can read our review here.

This smart scale is ideal for enhancing the uniformity of espresso shots and is made of high-quality metal, making it more durable than most coffee scales.

It features a glass display, with only two buttons that provide all the functionalities you’ll need in weighing and brewing excellent coffee.

This scale has a minimalist design, which makes its highly advanced functions more attractive to coffee lovers.

Pros

  • Best coffee scale with timer
  • Perfect size
  • Attractive design
  • Weight-timer dual display

Cons

  • The display is a bit sensitive to the touch
  • Pricey

Apexstone coffee scale

If you are a coffee drinker who requires just a coffee scale to weigh your coffee beans reasonably well, then go for an Apexstone Coffee scale.

It’s well-made for its price and is highly recognized in the specialty coffee community. It comes with a replaceable rubber mat and a removable plastic cover.

This coffee scale not only has a timer but has five different units to measure in. It can measure down to 0.1 grams and has a maximum weight of 3,000 grams.

Do you worry about droplets and spills?

A silicone pad is included with this scale to protect it from heat and spills.

Weigh coffee beans

The unit’s timer, low battery indicator, tare, and auto-off function, are all shown on the LCD, which has a backlight for easy reading.

Pros

  • Display for easy reading
  • Built-in timer
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Not as stylish as other scales
  • Fragile look

Brewista smart scale

The Brewista Smart scale is excellent for your coffee grounds. This smart coffee scale is designed as best-in-class kitchen equipment for quality and cost.

It is a simple coffee scale with a water-resistant covering and has a weighing capacity of up to 2000g.

The timer is also amazing, and for as long as you are aware of how the tare works, it will function flawlessly every time.

Investing in this scale will allow you to perfect the art of coffee from the comfort of your own home.

Pros

  • Come in a compact size
  • Long battery life
  • Can be recharged
  • Fits well for your pour-over or espresso

Cons

  • Does not work with dual spout portafilter
  • The difficulty of pressing the buttons
  • Hard time sensing small differences in weight

Timemore coffee scale

The Timemore coffee scale is a compact coffee scale that gives a touch of refinement to your morning coffee experiences.

It’s an accurate coffee scale that measures up to a 0.1-gram accuracy. It also has an integrated timer, so you can take complete control of your brew and make the greatest cup of coffee possible.

While this coffee scale lacks the functionality of other scales, it is power-saving with a battery that lasts up to 10 hours. It also boasts a scratch-resistant matt surface and a professional appearance.

Pros

  • 0.1-gram accuracy
  • Integrated timer
  • Power-saving, with a timer function that automatically turns off after 3 minutes of standby
  • Rechargeable lithium battery

Cons

  • Sensitive buttons,
  • Not water-resistant

Greater Good’s Digital Coffee Scale

Greater Goods Digital Coffee Scale - for The Pour Over Coffee Maker

The Greater Goods coffee scale made it to our list of the best coffee scales for its features that make it perfect for pour-overs.

With it durable rubber waterproof mat and ideal size, we also recommend these as the best espresso scales.

With this scale, you will have that perfect coffee scoop, and be rest assured that your coffee will taste just the way you like it.

Pros

  • Auto-off function
  • Compact size
  • Comes with a 5-year warranty
  • Extremely durable
  • Best Espresso Scales

Cons

  • The timer function is not automatic
  • Rhe scale does not come with a manual

ProScale XC2000

ProScale XC-2000 Extreme Capacity Digital Scale

The ProScale XC2000 is excellent for coffee lovers who are looking for a small scale to weigh coffee on the go.

Pros

  • Fit well on most espresso machine drip trays
  • Compact size
  • Pop-up control panel

Cons

  • It’s not waterproof
  • Slow response time
  • Cannot be used for large manual brewers

People flock to cafés not just for the flavorful coffees, but also for the consistency of baristas in perfecting the blends. Scales are necessary for baristas to be able to reliably serve the finest, properly roasted, and brewed coffee every time.


Things to consider when choosing the best coffee scale

A coffee scale is useful, especially when you have one with features tailored to make your home brewing experience more enjoyable.

Style and functionality

Scales come in a variety of styles, ranging from practical and basic to artistic!

Remember that while you want a functional item, you are also looking for something that fits well on your kitchen counter.

Precision

When looking for a coffee scale, accuracy is a crucial factor to keep in mind.

You may want to buy scales that will weigh and display measurements even to a degree of 0.01 grams.

Scales come in a variety of styles, ranging from practical and basic to artistic!

Battery life

It is worth considering battery life and how you can possibly charge it.

A scale with removable batteries is a good option, but if you make a lot of coffee, you’d like one with long battery life.

Size

The size of your coffee scale

The size of your coffee scale depends largely on your brewing technique.

If you are someone who wants to explore your options, you want something that is useful for pour-over and espresso.

But, if you just brew pour-over coffee, you may want to invest in a scale that fits the size of your pour-over machine.

Likewise, you can go for a smaller scale that fits in your drip tray if you think you’ll be making espresso most of the time.

Here is a list of the top coffee scales available today to assist you in finding the ideal one for you.

The size of your coffee scale

Coffee scale vs kitchen scale

Coffee scale vs kitchen scale

If you are new to home brewing, you might be wondering whether there is any difference between a coffee scale and a kitchen scale.

I’d say a coffee scale is designed to meet the needs of a coffee connoisseur.

For example, I love that I can weigh with my favorite Harip drip scale, I can weigh my coffee as well as calculate the perfect timing for my brew.

Coffee scale

Coffee beans

You can figure out where you’re making faults by using a scale. It takes the mystery out of weight and ratio, allowing you to concentrate on more important factors like grind size and coffee origin.

A digital scale will enable you to attain this level of accuracy every time you brew.

A scale can also help you improve your coffee experience by allowing you to understand more about what you enjoy and don’t like. You may fine-tune your pour-over technique, coffee-to-water ratio, brewing duration, and even brewing method once you have a better understanding of your taste.

Weigh coffee beans by a digital scale.

If you use a scale to make coffee every day, you can be sure you’re getting exactly what you want every time. You’re getting consistently better coffee.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be able to enjoy good coffee with the knowledge that it will continue to be delicious in the future?


Verdict – Best Digital Coffee Scale

We’ve found our peak with the Hario V60 Drip Scale. It’s one of the most affordable and has most of the features to look for when buying a coffee scale. 

But while we’ve made our pick for the best coffee scales, we believe the Greater Goods Digital Coffee scale can also bring the best brew results. 

Let us know what you think about the coffee scales on our list.


FAQs

Using a scale can assist you to figure out where you're going wrong.

Is buying the coffee scales worth it?

Yes. We need scales to offer the best, properly roasted, and brewed coffee every time. Brewing pour-overs require a certain quantity of water over coffee at four distinct times. Using a scale can assist you to figure out where you’re going wrong.

Do baristas use scales?

Yes. Using scales in making coffee is a basic step among baristas. They have to be accurate with their measurements, as a specific ratio is required to brew coffee consistently. Precision brewing requires weighing the beans to ensure using the same proportions every time. 

Does a regular kitchen scale work for measuring ground coffee?

Yes. A typical kitchen scale can be used as an alternative scale to brew coffee. But if you want to time your brew, you may need to use a separate timer, using your smartphone for example.

Also, you may want to check whether it has an auto-off feature that will activate while it is in use. This is because you risk losing all of your measurements if the scale switches off while you are still brewing your coffee grounds.

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