Six coffee scales worth buying for pour-over and espresso, from budget timer scales to drip-tray espresso scales, and what to look for before you buy.
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| Product | Price tier | Resolution | Max weight | Timer | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 | mid-range | 0.1 g | 4.4 lb (2 kg) | Auto-start | Not listed |
| Acaia Pearl (2021), Classic Black | premium | 0.1 g | 4.4 lb (2 kg) | Auto-start | 6.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 in |
| Acaia Lunar (2021), Black | premium | 0.1 g | 4.4 lb (2 kg) | Auto-start | 4.1 x 4.1 x 0.6 in |
| Greater Goods Coffee Scale with Timer | budget | 0.1 g | 6.6 lb (3 kg) | Counts up or down | Not listed |
| Hario V60 Drip Scale | mid-range | 0.1 g up to 200 g | 4.4 lb (2 kg) | Manual start | 4.7 x 7.5 x 1.1 in |
| Weightman Espresso Scale with Timer | budget | 0.1 g | 2.2 lb (1 kg) | Yes | Not listed |
Price tiers compare products within this guide. Specs come from manufacturer pages, or from reputable retailers where a maker publishes none.
Best overall
Fast, accurate and rechargeable, with an auto timer and flow rate. It handles pour-over and espresso well for a fraction of the premium price.
Best premium for pour-over
The reference pour-over scale in many cafés. Very quick response, a live flow rate readout and app support for logging recipes.
Best for espresso
Built to sit on an espresso machine's drip tray. Thin, water resistant and quick enough to track a shot as it pours.
Best budget
A simple timer scale with 0.1 g precision and a large platform. Everything a new pour-over brewer needs, at a low price.
Best simple pour-over scale
Hario's long-running scale and timer in one. Easy to use, widely available and made for V60 brewing.
Best budget for espresso
A thin, compact timer scale that fits under many home espresso machines. A cheap way to weigh your dose and your shot.
We compared what the most consistent coffee reviewers recommend, the scales’ specs and long-term owner feedback, then picked one scale for each type of brewer. We weighed response time and readability more heavily than app features, and left out scales owners often report as drifting.
Pour-over needs a scale with room for a dripper and carafe and a capacity of at least 2 kg. Espresso needs a scale small and thin enough to fit on the drip tray under the portafilter. A few scales, like the Timemore, are a good compromise if your machine has enough space.
Look for 0.1 g resolution. It barely matters for a 300 g pour-over, but for an 18 g espresso dose every tenth of a gram changes the shot. Kitchen scales that read in whole grams are not precise enough for espresso.
A fast scale shows the weight as you pour, not half a second later. Slow scales make you overshoot, especially when an espresso shot is running. This is the main difference between budget and premium scales.
A built-in timer lets you track brew time and weight on one display. An auto timer that starts when weight is added is handy for both pour-over and espresso.
Measure your espresso machine’s drip tray and the space under the portafilter before buying. Compact machines like the Breville Bambino leave very little room.
Rechargeable scales save you buying batteries, and USB-C is the most convenient. Water resistance matters most for espresso, where scales sit under drips and splashes every day.
If you want the same good cup every day, yes. Scoops measure volume, and beans vary a lot in size and density. Weighing coffee and water is the easiest way to repeat a recipe.
For pour-over, a kitchen scale that reads in single grams works in a pinch. For espresso, you need 0.1 g resolution and a faster response than most kitchen scales offer.
Flow rate shows how fast weight is being added, in grams per second. It helps you pour at a steady pace and spot a shot running too fast. It is nice to have but not essential.
A gooseneck kettle for pour-over, a good espresso grinder for espresso, and the other tools in our espresso accessories guide.
Coffee Tested editors
Coffee gear research
We read the reviewers who test coffee gear for a living, compare the specs that change your daily routine and dig through years of owner feedback before recommending anything.
No brand pays for a spot in our guides, and commissions never decide our picks.
