Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Timothy Byron Smith
Brewing espresso is an art that is dependent on many things. The method of brewing, coffee beans, and measuring ingredients are most important.
Yet, most of us overlook minimal details like measuring the coffee beans. Trust me! it plays a significant role in determining the taste and quality of espresso shots.
For accuracy and consistency in every shot. There are scales made just for preparing coffee and espresso drinks.
We have shortlisted the best espresso scales for 2023. Detailed features like accuracy, ease of use, and responsiveness are included.
Our Top 5 Picks
| Picture | Product | Precision | Key Feature | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale and Timer | ±0.1 grams | Integrated timer | Check Price |
  | Acaia Lunar Interactive Espresso Brewing Scale | ±0.01 grams | High Accuracy | Check Price |
  | TIMEMORE 2022 New Version Digital Espresso Coffee Scales | ±0.5 grams | Rechargeable 1600MAH lithium-ion battery | Check Price |
  | KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer | ±0.1 grams | Back-Lit Large LCD Display | Check Price |
  | OUTRY Espresso Scale with Timer | ±0.1 grams | Affordable And Precise | Check Price |
Recommended Read: Best Espresso Machines Under $400
5 Best Espresso Scales for Accurate Measurement
We know that measuring ingredients is of utmost importance in any recipe.
Brewing a quality shot of espresso is no different. For this reason, we have picked the 5 best espresso scales for you that are precise and responsive.
1. Hario Espresso Scale and Timer
This sleek-looking scale measures to a fine precision of 0.1 grams. It also comes with a built-in timer so you can note down the timings for each brewing process. This battery-operated scale has auto power-off options that turn the scale off if not used in 5 minutes.
It is easy to use as it comes with an ON/OFF button and a tare button that sets the scale to zero every time you want to weigh the coffee without the container. This compact and lightweight scale can be placed in any of your kitchen cabinets or even on the countertop.
Pros:
Easy to use control panel
Light-weight
The fine precision of 0.1 gram
Cons:
The top of the scale is made of plastic
Hario Espresso Scale
2. Acaia Lunar Espresso Scale
The Acaia Lunar scale can be a very fancy addition to your kitchen. Built with anodized aluminum, this espresso scale proves to be durable. This waterproof espresso scale can prevent any damage from spills or splashes. It has a ceramic top that can be easily cleaned with a moist cloth.
It is designed with a quick response time and high accuracy for the perfect espresso measurements. It is equipped with an auto-start timer that initiates as soon as you add weight to it. The weight can be shown on the LED display. The on/off and tare buttons are sensitive to touch, making it effortless to use.
Pros:
Waterproof body
Lightweight & small espresso scale
Powered by a lithium-polymer battery
Fast response time
High measurement accuracy
Cons:
A bit costly
Acaia Lunar Espresso Scale
3. Timemore Digital Espresso Scale
The Timemore Espresso Scale is a black matte beauty. With a weighing precision of 0.5 grams, this scale can hold up to a maximum of 2kg and a minimum of 0.5 grams. The Timemore scale is integrated with an automated timer that can assist you in measuring the espresso extraction time as well as the weight.
The best part about this scale is that it saves energy with its auto-off option that switches off the scale if not in use for 3 minutes. Powered with a lithium battery, this black beauty is rechargeable, so you don’t have to rush to the store to get batteries every time they dry out.
Pros:
Integrated automatic timer
Energy saving
Rechargeable use
Compact and lightweight
Cons:
Delayed response time
Timemore Digital Espresso Scale
4. Kitchen Tour Espresso Scale with Timer
If you’re looking for something durable, then Kitchen Tour’s espresso weighing scale is an ideal option. The user-friendly scale has touch sensory on/off and tare keys. The tare key can allow the addition of different weighed ingredients to your coffee.
It also comes with an intelligent low-battery and overweight indicator. It can hold from a minimum of 0.3 grams to a maximum of 3kgs. It also comes with the option of unit conversion among grams, ounces, and milliliters to weigh all sorts of ingredients. The Kitchen Tour scale is a sturdy yet elegant appliance that comes with a silicon pad.
Pros:
Durable
Stylish design and lightweight
Automatic timer
Auto-off after 2 minutes
LCD display
Cons:
Battery-powered
Kitchen Tour Espresso Scale
5. OUTRY Espresso Scale with Timer
Now if you are looking for an easy-to-store scale then the Outry Scale is perfect as it has a hole at the top to hang it on the kitchen wall. This way you can save countertop space. This scale has a very high precision of 0.1 grams and can hold up to 3Kgs. This espresso scale with a timer has a limit of 100 minutes.
With an instant response time, Outry has an easy-to-use panel with on/off, tare keys, and low battery, and a weight overload indicator. The scale is quick to clean and comes with a silicon mat that prevents any slips. The appliance also has an auto-off option that switches the machine off after 4 minutes to save battery life.
Pros:
High precision of 0.1 grams
Quick response time
Auto-off
Compact and easy to store
LCD screen with green background light makes weight easy to read
Cons:
Not rechargeable
OUTRY Espresso Scale
How Important is an Espresso Scale for Daily Pour-overs?
The pour-over method, as the name suggests, is a manual espresso brewing method where water is poured over ground espresso. This method doesn’t alter the espresso’s flavor. However, it does give you more freedom to experiment with your shots.
Using a scale to acquire precision whilst making an espresso is equally essential in the pour-over method as in any other brewing process. To begin the process you can boil water. Then add a pour-over brewer on the scale and insert a filter paper. Press the tare option.
Make sure to finely grind the espresso beans. Add the ground coffee to the brewer and note the quantity. Press the tare option again. Once the water is sufficiently heated, you may begin to pour it through the ground coffee. Make sure to note the dripping time.
Once you have obtained the desired quantity, note the quantity of water added. You can experiment with the quantities you have noted that will help you reach the perfect espresso flavor according to your preference.
Buyer’s Guide For Getting the Best Expresso Scale
Should you consider the size, the design, or the price? Before today, if you didn’t know the secret to a perfect espresso is precision, then you might also not know that a good scale matters. There are features to consider before you bring home an espresso weight scale.
To help you make the right decision, we have collected the qualities you must look at before purchasing a scale. We will also walk you through how and why each feature plays an important role.
1. Accuracy
To brew the perfect espresso, you can’t just add random scoops of coffee. You need to measure the amount and balance the ratio of water and coffee. This is why the first and foremost feature you must focus on when investing in a scale is the accuracy of the scale.
The scale you buy should have the precision to weigh 0.5 grams or less.
2. Compactness
Got all the equipment to make a mini coffee bar at home but no place to keep it? For this reason, you need to look for a scale that is lightweight, compact, and easy to store. It can be kept in a cabinet or hung on the wall.
3. Power Backup
When you are investing in an espresso scale, you wouldn’t want to waste your time running to the store when the batteries are out. The best kinds of scales are those which have batteries that are easily rechargeable either with a USB plug-in or an AC plug.
The other kind of scales have batteries that can be replaced. In this case, you might want to go for a scale that has easily purchasable batteries such as double or triple-A.
4. Functionalities
Before adding a scale to your home coffee bar, you will also need to consider the bells and whistles that come along with it. These are important features of your appliance, that seem trivial, but can help you brew better coffee.
5. Tare Function
This essential feature can save you a lot of time. You can add a cup or a filter and tare the scale to set it at zero again. You can then add ground coffee and tare to zero again. You can then also separately weigh the quantity of water you add. You can repeat this process for all espresso-based beverages.
Without this feature, you would be doing a lot of calculations just to make an espresso shot!
6. Display
If it’s not easy to read then it is of no good. Whether it be the weight or the time, the display should be easily readable. The digits shouldn’t be too small. The backlight shouldn’t be too bright or too dim.
7. Water-Proof Material
If your espresso scale stops working or malfunctions because of a spill, then you’re going to have to buy a new scale quite often. Spills and splashes, whilst brewing coffee, is inevitable. You would want to invest in an appliance that is water-resistant so it lasts a long time.
8. Auto Timer
If you are a coffee enthusiast, you would know that a single espresso shot takes just a few seconds to pull. If it exceeds more than that, your espresso might taste sour. For this reason, noting the brewing time is important when making an espresso.
Espresso weighing scales that have auto-timers are like the cherries to the cake! This way you don’t have to pull out your cell phone to note the time.
FAQs
Wrapping Up
You might have not known how important a scale can be in brewing an espresso shot. But we are sure after reading our thorough guide, you must have understood the importance of precision and consistency. For this reason, we have picked out the best espresso scale in every price range.
Here is a highlight of our top 3 picks with their key features:
- Hario Espresso Scale and Timer: Being accurate measuring with a precision of ±0.1 grams, This coffee scale is our overall winner for the best coffee scale for espresso. It has an easily visible display along with an integrated timer to control the entire brewing process.
- Acaia Lunar Interactive Espresso Brewing Scale: This measuring scale has the most accurate measuring capability of ±0.01 grams. Made to fit in most espresso machine drip trays, the coffee scale has an ultra-fast response time and a beautiful exterior.
- Timemore Digital Espresso Scale: It can measure up to 2000 grams of weight with an accuracy of ±0.1 grams. This measuring scale has a rechargeable 1600MAH lithium-ion battery. As for the interface, it has large numbers and an LED display.
Before investing you need to also consider key factors that will help you buy a scale for long-term use. So before you venture out to buy an espresso scale, make sure to keep this checklist with you. We are sure with trial and error you are bound to reach the perfect-tasting espresso.
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