If you enjoy a good coffee, then a coffee scale is one brewing accessory you really should invest in! With a coffee scale, you will rarely (if ever!) experience that occasional brew which doesn’t quite hit the spot; instead, your brew will be consistent from one cup to the next. A coffee scale is also a useful addition to the kitchen as it can be used for weighing other foods, especially those that need using in smaller quantities.
In this review, we consider why the coffee scale is so essential for that perfect cup of coffee, and if you are new to using a coffee scale, we also offer some guidance on using a coffee scale to brew pour over coffee. We have also reviewed ten of the best coffee scales, and whatever your budget or brew preference, we are certain that our reviews will help you pick the scale that will be right for you.Best Pick
The Hario V60 coffee scale is our best pick of the coffee scales with its integrated timer, easy read display and five minute auto power off.
Budget Pick
The Nourish and kitchen coffee scale is our budget pick of the coffee scales with a built-in timer, touch sensitive buttons and a five year limited warranty.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Coffee Scales
1. Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
Measuring in 0.1 gram increments and up to a maximum capacity of 4.4 lbs., the Hario V60 comes with an integrated timer for coffee brewing and a drip timer to measure bloom and pour times. This scale has a five minute auto power off which will not activate when the timer is running. Powered by two AAA batteries which are included in the box, this black scale measures approximately 7.5" long by 4.75" wide by 1.6" deep and has a large easy read display which is also backlit.
This scale may not last as long as expected, and some buyers have experienced it breaking down after a year or so of use. As a scale that is used with liquids, it may not be as waterproof as you may think, and the odd buyer has commented that they find measuring slow compared to other coffee scales.Pros
Cons
2. Nourish Digital Kitchen Food and Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
Able to weigh in 1 gram/0.1 oz increments, the Nourish and kitchen coffee scale has a large easy to read display which is backlit. This white digital scale has touch sensitive buttons to prevent debris from getting trapped and a tempered glass weighing platform. This scale also has a built in timer and measures 10" by 6" by 0.8". This also comes with a satisfaction guarantee and a five year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
Although this scale does have a timer function which can run while weighing, you have to manually scroll through the mode button to actually view either the weight or timer i.e. they do not appear on the LCD together. Some owners have also found that the touch sensitive buttons are a little too sensitive and if you slightly brush against them, they can reset the weight or timing.Pros
Cons
3. ERAVSOW Digital Hand Drip Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
The ERAVSOW coffee scale can weigh in 1 gram/0.1 oz increments up to 6.6 lbs. and has a timer. This digital coffee scale also has a large display which is backlit for easy reading and the auto power off function operates after five minutes of non-use. This scale has a black body with a stainless steel weighing platform.
This also comes with a one year limited warranty and has a hanger hole so you can store it on a hook or rack. It is powered by two AAA batteries which are included with the scale. Some buyers have found this scale can develop faults not long after purchase and the odd buyer considers that as a drip scale it can be inaccurate.Pros
Cons
4. Coffee Gator Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
Able to weigh from 0.003 oz to 6.6 lbs., the Coffee Gator coffee scale has a loading scale for easier weighing, a backlit large LCD screen and it also has a heat-resistant rubber mat on the weighing platform. With a drip timer, this scale can measure volume (fl. oz and liters) as well as weights. The two AAA batteries that this needs to run on are included.
The odd buyer considers this is a slower scale to weigh and some consider this lacks the necessary precision when brewing espresso and also that it can be oversensitive when you add coffee to the scale.Pros
Cons
5. HuiSmart Digital Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
With a maximum weight capacity of 6.6 lbs., the HuiSmart coffee scale is able to weigh to an accuracy of 0.1 gram. With an inbuilt timer, this scale also has a blue backlit LCD display and it will turn itself off in four minutes if not being used.
This comes with a black plastic mat and a lipped plastic tray for the weighing platform, as well as a one year limited warranty from the manufacturer. Some owners have found that the calibration of the scale can alter quite significantly, although this scale can be manually re-calibrated. This can also be heavier on battery power than other coffee scales and it may not have as long a lifespan as other coffee scales.
Pros
Cons
6. Brewista Smart Scale
Highlighted Features
The Brewista Smart Scale II can weigh up to 4.4 lbs. with a 0.1 gram accuracy. This has an auto tare and an auto timer function and has six user modes, including one which is a fully manual mode, as well as one for pour over. This coffee scale is has a water resistant Nano-coating and sealed body to prevent water damage. It also has a silicone pan on the weighing platform.
The LCD display is easy read and large and this scale is powered by a rechargeable battery (included). The protective cover on the scale also doubles as a weighing tray. A small number of owners have experienced variation in weights and the charging port cover is also prone to falling off. There can also be some minor issues around the quality control of new units.
Pros
Cons
7. CoastLine Digital Pro Pocket Kitchen Scale
Highlighted Features
With an easy to read and backlit display, the CoastLine digital pour over scale can measure in either 0.1 gram or 0.01 oz increments. This is a compact scale measuring 4" by 5" by .75" and the weighing platform is made from stainless steel. Unlike other coffee scales, this one does not have a timer function.
There is some confusion as to whether the maximum weight of these scales in 4.4 lbs. or 6.6 lbs. as the manual refers to calibrating at 6.6 lbs. Some owners have also struggled to calibrate the scale. It can also take some time for the scale to update when small adjustments have been made to the load.Pros
Cons
8. Acai Digital Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
With a 20 millisecond response time, the Acai coffee scale is made from laboratory-grade parts and with laboratory-grade technology. This scale is a minimalist white design with a black silicone mat across the top, and the dual display shows the timer and the weight. This can weight up to 4.4 lbs.
This scale is Bluetooth enabled and contains rechargeable batteries with a 25 hour life that are charged through a USB port. It can be paired with an App to track pour times, and the time for the auto shut off function is also adjustable through the App. The odd buyer has struggled with using the App as it may not be as intuitive as expected and it can be prone to crashing.Pros
Cons
9. Saizone Coffee Scale
Highlighted Features
Able to weigh up to 4.4. lbs. in 0.1 gram increments, the Saizone coffee scale also has an inbuilt timer. This has a removeable black rubber mat on the weighing platform and the large and easy to read display is backlit. There is also an incorporated hanging hole for hanging storage and it runs off two AAA batteries which are included in the box. The buttons on this scale may not be as responsive to touch as you would expect, and an occasional buyer considers it can weigh grams inaccurately.
Pros
Cons
10. Cozy Blue Digital Coffee Drip Scale
Highlighted Features
The Cozy Blue coffee scale can weigh up to 6.6 lbs. in 1 gram/0.1 oz increments. It can also measure liquids in fl. oz or milliliters and has an inbuilt timer. This black scale has a removeable black non-slip mat on the weighing platform, although this is only secured by two lips, rather than four, and the touch sensitive LCD display is easy to wipe clean.
This scale has a minimum recommended load of 3 to 5 grams. This also comes with a satisfaction guarantee and the two AAA batteries that it runs off.Pros
Cons
Things to Consider Before Buying A Coffee Scale
For the many of us who tend to eyeball the quantity of beans going into the grinder and then take a guess at a heaped tablespoon of grounds, this is why we can find it almost impossible to get a perfect cup of coffee every time.
Using a coffee scale imparts some consistency to the brewing process, and once you have found the right measure of coffee and water for that particular batch of beans, it is easy to get the same result (and great cup of coffee) the next time you brew.
Using a scale also allows you to experiment with different bean mixes and adjust espresso brew ratios to find the best shot and once you have standardized the quantity of grounds used, it means you are free to start adjusting other brewing factors such as grind size.
If you do not weigh out beans before you grind, then some of the grounds usually end up being thrown out as you have ground too many. A bit of waste here and there may not seem much of an issue, but across a whole bag of beans, you can lose a few cups of coffee, which of course not only means that you are wasting a commodity, but also that this is costing you more per cup.
The coffee scale is not just for weighing the coffee with. Depending on how you brew your coffee, you can also weigh the water before you start so you know you have the correct amount of water going through.
Because the coffee scale is designed to be accurate when weighing lower weights and in smaller increments, a coffee scale is also ideal for weighing out other items such as herbs, tea leaves and yeast for baking. It is also useful for those who make soaps and other types of crafting activities where accuracy is essential.
The Importance of The Coffee to Water Ratio
When brewing coffee, the correct ratio of ground coffee to water is key. This ratio is not only affected by the quantity of grounds you brew, but even the size and density of the individual beans. Espresso volumes also fluctuate depending on the variety of bean, how dark they are roasted, and of course, how fresh they are.
Coffee brew ratios can vary from between one part coffee to one part water (1:1) for a fuller bodied brew, to a one part coffee to two parts water (1:2) which tends to produce a mellower espresso in which some of its more subtle flavors will come through.
There is some consensus that a ratio of between 1:15 and 1:19 of coffee to water will give the best brews. Many keep to the middle of this and brew at a ratio of 1:17, a ratio which is impossible to achieve without accurate measuring out.
If too much coffee is used or too little water when brewing, then your coffee will be under extracted, while the opposite of too little coffee or too much water will give you a bitter and over-extracted brew.
Using a Coffee Scale for Pour Over Brewing
Your beans can be weighed before or after grinding, but weighing before grinding can help reduce waste, but be aware your final ground weight can be slightly under from when you originally weighed out the beans.
If you are weighing out after grinding, then you will need to pre-wet your filter (if necessary) for the dripper and place the dripper on to the carafe or cup. Before you place your carafe and dripper on the scale, zero it then add the carafe and dripper. You will now need to ‘tare’ the scale to bring the display to zero with the carafe and dripper on it. Add your grounds (between 20 grams and 30 grams, depending on your brewing ratio) and start the timer function on the scale.
Tare the scale again and start to pour twice the amount of water to your ground coffee weight (e.g. between 40 grams and 60 grams) slowly in a spiral shape from the outer edge of the dripper towards the center. This should take around 15 seconds to do, and as you start pouring, the coffee will begin to bloom.
Blooming is what happens when hot water first comes into contact with the grounds. This action causes the release of carbon dioxide and makes the grounds rise up. Stop pouring once you have poured the correct quantity of water over the grounds. If however, some of the grounds have not been saturated at this point, then add a little more of the hot water until they are all saturated.
Now leave the coffee to drip for 30 seconds and then begin pouring the remainder of your hot water over the grounds in a spiral pattern once more. Make sure you pour all the way out to the edge of the filter to stop grounds from getting trapped in the folds of the filter.
Some coffee drinkers may also split this second pour into two separate pours with a time delay in between to help the water extract the grounds more evenly.
Conclusion
Using a coffee scale is essential for ensuring that you end up with a perfect cup of coffee every time you brew. The coffee scale can also allow you to experiment with mixing beans and of course, it will also allow you to adjust the all-important coffee to water ratio!
If you are new to coffee scales, we hope you have found this review informative and now feel more confident about selecting a scale. If however, you always measure out for your brew, but need a new coffee scale, then we also hope that our reviews of the best coffee scales have been helpful in your quest for a new scale.
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