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If you are committed to making the best possible cup of coffee, an essential tool is a coffee scale. Many professional baristas will tell you that the key to consistency and flavor in making coffee is to weigh your grounds instead of measuring them.
If you are ready to take the next step to improve your coffee results, you need to find the best coffee scale for your needs.
In this article, we’ll show you some of the best coffee scales on the market and give you some helpful hints for buying the right scale for your coffee-making experience.
at a glance: Best Coffee Scale
How to Choose the Best Coffee Scale
If you are in the market to select a coffee scale for your home, you may be confused by the number of options that are available. It can be daunting to find the best coffee scale for your needs when they come with so much variety.
To help, we’ve put together a buying guide with some of the basic product features that you should consider when shopping for a coffee scale.
Price
Price is not the most important of the factors that you should consider when shopping for a coffee scale but it is something you should think about. Coffee scales range in price from less than $10 to over $100. This is a big spread and it can really make the process of shopping for a coffee scale confusing.
You may be asking yourself if you can really get good results from a $10 scale. There are some great affordable scales and some not-so-great ones. Similarly, just because you spend $80 or $90 on a scale, doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a great product.
The best advice we can offer when it comes to how much you spend on a coffee scale is to consider your budget. Look for scales that have the features you want that fall into your set budget.
As we mentioned, you can get some great scales for really affordable prices, so don’t feel like you need to spend more to get a great product.
Size
When it comes to the size of your coffee scale, the primary thing you need to consider is how you’ll be using your scale for brewing. If you are using your scale to consistently brew a delicious pour-over, then you’ll want to find a scale that can hold your pour-over carafe.
If you want a delicious cup of drip coffee, look for a scale that can hold your filter basket or a good-sized bowl. For espresso, you’ll want a scale that fits on the drip tray of your espresso machine so you know when to stop pulling your espresso shot.
If you just want to make sure you use the same amount of grounds each time you brew your favorite coffee, look for one that holds a bowl that is large enough to hold your grounds.
Durability
You’ll notice that coffee scales come in two basic materials, stainless steel and plastic. You may find scale options that are a mix of the two. When shopping for a scale you’ll need to consider its durability and that goes hand in hand with the material.
Stainless steel scales tend to be a bit more durable and robust. They can handle higher temperatures and tend to handle occasional bumps and drops without too much complaint. They tend to be more expensive but the more solid material lasts longer.
On the other hand, if you don’t expect it to hold a hot carafe of coffee and just need your scale to weigh grounds, a plastic scale would be sufficient.
Plastic is lightweight and reasonably durable. The best part of plastic is the price. Most coffee scales made from plastic are fairly affordable.
Precision
Precision is all about how accurately you want to measure your coffee. A good scale for coffee should be able to measure less than 1 gram.
For best results, you should consider a scale that can measure one-tenth (0.1) of a gram. If you’re committed to the absolute best coffee result, a scale that measures to one-hundredth (0.01) of a gram is even better.
Functions
Don’t be fooled by a scale that has a ton of functions. Really there are only a couple of functions that scales come with that are useful. The most important is the ‘tare’ or ‘zero’ button. This function allows you to set an item on top of the scale and reset the value to 0.0.
This is important if you want to weigh grounds into a filter basket or add a precise amount of water into your pour-over carafe.
Also, look for a scale that can switch between imperial and metric measurements, especially if you aren’t comfortable measuring in one or the other. An on/off button is also a nice feature as well.
Battery Life
You don’t want to spend a ton of money on replacing batteries in your scale, so you’ll want to consider an option that has a rechargeable battery.
When it comes to rechargeable batteries, make sure that the battery will last at least a week or so before needing a charge. Otherwise, you might as well just use regular batteries.
If you don’t want to deal with battery life at all, there are plenty of scale options that will plug into your electrical outlets. With this option, you never have to worry about your scale not working when you really need it to.
Cleaning
Your scale is an electronic instrument so obviously, it shouldn’t go into the sink or dishwasher. However, you may want to look for a coffee scale that has a removable plate on the scale that can be removed and rinsed in the sink or put in the dishwasher.
This is handy if you spill or are using your scale under your espresso machine or pour over carafe. If you want to reduce or eliminate the need for cleaning your scale, look for an option with a silicone cover on the scale plate. These can be removed and easily washed separately from the scale.
Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for Coffee Scale
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Coffee Gator Coffee Scale |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | Coffee Scale with Timer Small |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | TIMEMORE Coffee Scale |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | Acaia White Pearl Laboratory Grade Digital Coffee Scale |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
Our Top 5 Five Best Coffee Scales
Now that you know what to look for in a coffee scale, we offer a few of our favorites that you may want to consider for your coffee-making process.
1. Coffee Gator Coffee Scale with Timer
The Coffee Gator coffee scale with timer is our pick for the best coffee scale. This multi-function coffee scale does more than just weigh your coffee grounds. While we love the Coffee Gator for making our favorite coffee drinks, this is a great general kitchen scale as well.
This scale is multi-function in the broadest sense. First, it is able to weigh more than many coffee scales. With a max weight of 6.6 pounds or 3,000 grams, this coffee scale does great at weighing everything from your pour-over carafe to cuts of meat or vegetable for your favorite meal.
Second, you’ll notice that this scale is able to measure in a range of units. Not only does it weigh in pounds and grams, but you can also select grams milliliters, milliliters, and ounces. There’s no complicated process to change between units, it’s a simple push of a button.
The Coffee Gator also has the normal functions that you want any coffee scale to have. It has a tare button, reset button, and a bright LCD screen. One of the most convenient features of the Coffee Gator coffee scale is that it comes with a built-in timer. This is ideal for steeping pour-over coffee or timing your French press.
From the construction standpoint, the Coffee Gator is a plastic scale, but it’s more durable than many other scales out there. We like the rubber mat that sits on the scale plate. This is really handy for keeping your items secure. It also makes cleaning this scale much easier.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Compact footprint to fit in most kitchens or small storage spaces
- Measures in multiple units
- Silicone rubber mat for easy cleaning and non-slip surface.
Cons
- Response time on the scale is slower than other options
- Uses alkaline batteries
2. Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale and Timer
The Hario V60 coffee scale and timer are intended to pair with your Hario V60 pour-over coffee funnel. However, we think that it is a great coffee scale and timer even if you don’t have the Hario V60 pour-over funnel.
The first thing that you’ll notice about the Hario coffee scale is its size. This is one of the thinnest coffee scales you’ll find. It is ideal for small spaces and tucks very compactly into your kitchen cabinets.
The next thing you’ll notice is the easy-to-read LCD display. One side of the display shows the timer and the other gives you the weight. This is a nice difference from other coffee scales with timers, which have multiple screens to flip through to see the weight and the timer.
We’re a huge fan of the auto-off feature of the Hario. You don’t have to worry about wearing down the batteries by accidentally leaving the scale on. It will turn off automatically if it’s not been used for a bit. We do like that the auto-off feature doesn’t shut off the scale when the timer is running. If you’ve used the timer, you’ll need to shut off the scale manually.
This is probably one of the most simplistically styled coffee scales. There’s nothing fancy about it. It does, however, come in black and black with a stainless steel plate, so you can pick the one that is best for your kitchen.
Pros
- Super compact design
- Built-in timer with easy-to-read display
- Comes with three AAA batteries
- Simple to use and clean
- Handy auto-off feature
Cons
- Has a hefty price tag
- Not very stylish
- Uses alkaline batteries
- Response time is slow
3. Apexstone Coffee Scale with Timer
There are a lot of things about the Apexstone coffee scale that make it similar to the Coffee Gator. However, it really isn’t the same quality product as you’ll get with the Coffee Gator.
This is another nice coffee scale with an added built-in timer. This allows you to measure the perfect amount of water and grounds for your brewing and then perfectly time steeping for French press or pour-over brewing.
This scale is precise to 0.1 grams and is able to be measured in multiple units. The maximum weight for this scale is 3,000 grams or 6.6 pounds.
The Apexstone is a nice-looking scale. The LCD display can be blue or green, depending on which is easier for you to see. The control panel has a tare button, as well as buttons for switching the unit and setting the timer. The display shows the weight, timer, and battery level all on a single screen.
This option also has a nice rubber mat for the scale plate. This makes for a non-slip surface for setting your carafe or grounds bowl. The rubber mat is also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Pros
- Sleek and stylish to perfectly fit in any kitchen
- Simple to use
- LCD display has two color options
- Easy to clean
- Decent price
Cons
- Uses three AAA alkaline batteries
- Battery life isn’t good
- Slow weight response time
4. Timemore Coffee Scale
Our favorite thing about the Timemore coffee scale is that it is rechargeable. While most of the scales we looked at use standard alkaline batteries, this one, is one of the best we found that is rechargeable.
This is a nice feature if you are trying to be more environmentally responsible, and don’t want to keep throwing out batteries.
The Timemore scale is an ultra-compact option that is great for your pour-over carafe or measuring grinds. However, it is also a great option if you want to use a scale to pull a perfect shot of espresso. This tiny scale fits nicely on the drip tray of your espresso machine.
The backlit screen for this scale is very basic and easy to read. It does have a built-in timer that can be set and read from the same screen as the weight. Speaking of weight, the Timemore coffee scale is precise to 0.1 grams and weighs up to 2,000 grams.
The top of the scale has a removable silicone mat that provides heat protection to the scale and also gives a nice non-slip surface. The mat is waterproof, removable, and dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Sleek modern design
- Easy-to-use controls
- Backlit display is very easy to read, even in lower light conditions
- Super compact for small kitchens or travel
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Doesn’t measure in multiple units. Only measures in grams
- Maximum weight is lighter than other options
- Does not have a tare button
5. Acaia White Pearl Laboratory Grade Digital Coffee Scale with Bluetooth
Yes, the Acaia Pearl is one of the most expensive coffee scales that you’ll find. But, if you’re committed to accuracy and high-quality construction, and precision, the Acaia Pearl is perhaps one of the best scales you can buy.
This laboratory grade scale is a favorite of professional baristas. It is highly accurate, has a very quick response time, and is easy to read.
The Acaia Pearl seems to have a very basic display, but when you start using it, you’ll notice that not only does it display the weight of an item, but it also can help you pace your timing for a perfect pour-over brew. If you are just learning how to brew pour over, this feature can really help you learn how to achieve a perfect bloom and pour for this style of coffee.
Many of the features of the Acaia Pearl are not on the scale itself. For the most functionality, utilize the smartphone app and Bluetooth connectivity to access product features like a timer, unit adjustments, sounds, and a secondary weight readout.
The Acaia Pearl is one of our favorite coffee scales, but it is also a really handy multi-purpose kitchen scale.
Pros
- Laboratory-grade product and construction
- Attractive, compact design
- USB rechargeable battery
- Water-resistant
- Handy flow gauge for pour-over brewing
Cons
- This is a very expensive scale.
- Not as intuitive as more basic scales
- Bluetooth connectivity is a bit sketchy
Best Coffee Scale – Final Thoughts
A coffee scale is a necessary tool if you want to take your coffee-making skills to the next level. A good coffee scale can help you make a better pour-over, French press, and even a more consistent shot of espresso.
Our favorite scale, the Coffee Gator, is easy to use, multi-functional, easy to clean, and a compact addition to your kitchen.
If you’re in the market for a coffee scale, we’ve given you five of our favorites. And to help you with your shopping, we’ve provided a simple buying guide to help you narrow the choices.
A great coffee scale is an essential part of making the absolute best coffee whether you’re a professional, or just love to enjoy coffeehouse-style coffee at home.
