For caffeine connoisseurs, the only thing trickier than finding the best coffee scales is finding the perfect coffee beans themselves. With both, you have a seemingly never-ending number of options to choose from, all of which can make picking just one out of many thousands feel like an enormous process.
Still, while that process may be fun when it comes to tasting a whole plethora of coffee flavors, picking out scales is a far less thrilling process. After all, who wouldn’t rather get the best scales as quickly as possible so that they could spend less time picking the perfect set and more time enjoying a delicious cup of the good stuff?
Not you, that’s for sure, which is why I’ve put together this complete guide to the top five best coffee scales currently for sale. Below you’ll find my in-depth reviews on each of my top picks, as well as an outline of what to look for when choosing a set of scales of your own.
What Are Coffee Scales?
As the name implies, coffee scales are devices that can help you to measure out exactly how much coffee you need so that you can ensure the perfect cup each and every morning.
As any true coffee aficionado knows, finding the perfect balance of water to ground coffee is essential for getting that cup just right, and since different varieties of beans can weigh different amounts, trying to do everything simply by eyeballing it rarely produces favorable results on a consistent basis.
Using a good set of coffee scales, you not only get things right the first time to a high degree of accuracy, but you can also continue to repeat the same coffee/water ratio day in, day out. While traditional food scales can help with this to a certain degree, they’re nowhere near as effective as those scales explicitly designed for coffee.
This is because not only do coffee scales measure within smaller increments (thus ensuring a higher degree of accuracy), but they also include certain features such as timers to help you optimize your coffee-making process.
Who Needs Coffee Scales?
If you like a good cup of coffee, but you’re not all that fanatical about it, there’s probably no need to buy a coffee scale. Weighing things up by sight alone should be more than sufficient and ensure you still end up with a cup that tastes pretty good.
However, if you’re the sort of person for whom “pretty good” just isn’t good enough, and especially if you’re the sort of person for whom having the best coffee gear is essential, then a good set of scales will prove invaluable. Whether you opt for one of our top five picks or any other set of scales on the market, you’ll find that owning a top quality set of coffee scales makes your life infinitely easier and ensures you get your coffee just the way you like it.
Coffee Scales Buyer’s Guide
The reason why so many people have such a hard time finding the best coffee scales is that there are so many options out there with so many variables to choose from, To help make your life a little easier, here’s a look at the most important factors you’ll need to consider when deciding which set of scales are right for you.
Weights and Measurements
Since coffee is incredibly light, you’ll need a set of scales that can measure in fairly small increments. Something that measures 0.1g is best, something which measures in 0.5g increments is OK, but anything less than that, and you may as well go back to doing things by hand.
By the same token, it’s a good idea to look for those scales that support a maximum weight capacity of around 1kg so that you’ve got plenty of capacity if you need to balance a heavy-duty coffee maker on top.
Tare Function
No matter how you brew, it’s vitally important that you choose a coffee scale that features a tare button. Since you’ll normally be placing your brewing apparatus directly on the scale to start with, you’ll need a tare button that will allow you to reset it to zero to get that accurate coffee/water measurement.
Size
Size is one factor that is often overlooked but nonetheless important. If you only ever brew espresso, for example, then a small scale will suffice in order to accommodate your drip tray and any other essentials, whereas if you’re a fan of pour-over coffee, then you’ll need something much larger to accommodate your favorite pour-over coffee kettle.
Power Source
Last but not least, it may be important to consider how your new scales are powered. If you only brew your own coffee occasionally, a simple model that runs on batteries may be fine. However, if you’re making a lot of coffee on a daily basis, a battery-operated model is likely to wear down pretty quickly, meaning you may be better suited with one that plugs into the mains or, at the very least, uses a rechargeable battery.
Selection Criteria
Each one of the products featured in this guide was hand-selected by me because I genuinely believe they’re the best coffee scales on the market right now.
Whisk and Mix is not paid by any brand to feature their products, nor are we in the business of selling coffee scales. As such, we’re able to review every product we feature honestly, which is why you’ll see me detail the bad points about each product as well as the good.
Here are some of the things I considered when making my selections:
Coffee-Specific Scales
Spend even the briefest amount of time shopping online for coffee scales, and you’ll find as many regular food scales are thrown into the mix. While these can be fine in some respects, most food scales offer nowhere near the same kind of to-the-milligram accuracy nor coffee-specific features that you’d get with a coffee scale.
That’s why even though there are some incredible food scales out there; I chose to omit them in favor of only choosing those scales that are purpose-made for coffee consumers.
Price
Coffee scales come at a wide variety of prices. For the sake of inclusion, I’ve included products that come in at all different points on the cost scale so that you can find the one that best suits your budget.
Consumer Reviews
In writing these reviews, there’s a risk that I could end up giving you the opinion of just one person, me. While I’m confident in my choices, I’m also aware that just because I think one scale is great, there may be countless other users out there who think it’s awful, and vice versa.
For this reason, I only went with scales that have accessible online feedback and considered the consumer reviews carefully when making my choices.
Top 5 Best Coffee Scales
1. Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale and Timer – Best All-Round Coffee Scale
That the Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scales top our list should come as no surprise to anyone who knows a thing or two about coffee. After all, it really does offer everything you’d need and then some. Like all of the best coffee makers, it measures in 0.1g increments so that you can be sure of the highest levels of precision possible, while the incorporated drip timer helps to ensure every cup pours flawlessly.
Boasting dimensions of 7.4″ x 4.7″ x 1.1″, it’s also the ideal size for gooseneck kettles and any other homebrewing equipment, while the impressive maximum weight capacity ensures it will more than hold its own when used with heavy-duty apparatus.
The go-to coffee scale for a large number of high-end coffee shops across the United States, this one is tough to beat.
Pros
- Effortless set-up and ease-of-use
- A silent model with no annoying beeping sounds
- A stylish design makes an attractive addition to any kitchen.
Cons
- It uses 2 x AA batteries which may be inconvenient if you brew coffee often.
- The automatic shut-down option, while handy, can be annoying if you’re trying to brew coffee while handling other tasks.
2. Cozy Blue Store Coffee Scale with Timer – Best Budget Pick
If there’s one thing I like best about the Cozy Blue Store Coffee Scale with Timer, it’s that it proves undoubtedly that you don’t need to spend huge amounts of money to get your hands on a top-quality coffee scale. Available for a fraction of the price of other models, our pick of the best budget coffee scale on the market still offers high-end features such as an easy-to-use tare button, an accurate timer, and 0.1g measurements.
Although it isn’t the cheapest scale on this list, the only model that comes in at a lower cost is an espresso-only scale, so we stand by our verdict that this is the best all-around scale for other types of brewing you’re going to get for the price.
Finally, we love that the LED display lights up nice and bright with a blue hue, making it easy to see what you’re doing when making coffee on those cold, dark winter mornings.
Pros
- It comes with five different measurement options, including Oz, Lbs, G, Ml, and G/Ml
- Features simple menu to allow you to choose predefined settings for espresso, pour-over, French press, and other brewing techniques
- Features heat-resistant silicone mat to prevent spills.
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Battery operated, which may be inconvenient for frequent users.
3. TIMEMORE 2020 Old Version Digital Espresso Coffee Scales
As you’ll have no doubt deduced from its name, the TIMEMORE 2020 Old Version Digital Espresso Coffee Scales isn’t exactly ideal if you’re a pour-over fan. However, if you’re only concerned with making the absolute best espresso you can possibly make, then you’ll find a lot to like about this one.
Large enough to accommodate drip trays of most sizes yet still compact enough that it’s not going to take up too much valuable real estate on your kitchen counters, the highlight of this one is the automatic timer that kicks into life the second the water is filled, meaning one less thing for you to do and a much easier espresso-making process.
Timer and tare buttons are present and correct here, as is the accuracy, with pin-point precision weighing down to 0.5g, all in all making it a quick and effective way to get your espresso on in no time.
Pros
- Features USB-rechargeable lithium battery with 10-hour battery life
- Features optional sounds to alert you when your espresso is ready
- Includes automatic turn-off to save battery life when not in use.
Cons
- Pressing buttons on the side can interfere with the weight measurement
- The power button isn’t very sensitive and can require a few presses to turn on.
4. Apexstone Coffee Scale with Timer
Another solid, budget-friendly model, the Apexstone Coffee Scale with Timer, is big enough for pour-over coffee, french presses, and espressos, yet are still small enough to give you plenty of counter space for a decent-sized kettle and other essentials.
Size aside, what I really like about the ApexStone model is that, much like the Cozy Blue Store model I looked at earlier, it will allow you to switch between ounces, grams, pounds, millimeters, or grams/milliliters at the flick of a switch, giving you greater freedom and control over how you measure your coffee.
The inclusion of a heat-proof, waterproof silicone mat is also especially handy, ensuring that not only are you well-protected against spillages if you accidentally knock your scales but that even if you do spill, rogue coffee won’t ruin your new scales.
Pros
- Blue blacklight makes it easy to read, even in the dark
- Features both auto-off and tare functions.
- Comes with a 100% Satisfaction Warranty covering refunds, returns, and exchanges.
Cons
- Some users report a lack of consistency in weight measurements
- A 1-second delay in measurements can make accuracy tricky.
5. MAXUS Espresso Scale with Timer
If you like the idea of an espresso scale but find the TIMEMORE model we looked at earlier just wasn’t right for you, the MAUS Espresso Scale with Timer may prove to be a suitable alternative. While the 0.1g increments, tare function, and pin-point precision are all exceptional features, the one thing that stands out to me about this one is its pocket-size design.
Not only does that mean it won’t take up much space while in use, but it also helps to make the MAUX model the best coffee scale for travel, thanks to its portable, compact design.
Pros
- Low cost
- It weighs in either ounces or grams, depending on your liking.
- A high-contrast backlit display makes it easy to read.
Cons
- The included timer is used independently and manually, making the process a little trickier.
- No option to reset the timer.
Which is the Best Coffee Scales Option for You?
If I’ve done my job properly, I’ve now armed you with all the information you need to make a truly informed purchasing decision when it comes time to buy your next set of coffee scales.
If you’re still on the fence about which one to spend your hard-earned money on, allow me to leave you with a few final recommendations.
If you’re an espresso lover and simply need the best espresso scale around, the TIMEMORE 2020 Old Version Digital Espresso Coffee Scales will offer everything you could need and then some.
If you prefer other types of coffee brewing, but you’re concerned about keeping your costs low, then the Cozy Blue Store Coffee Scale with Timer is the one I’d recommend for budget-conscious coffee lovers.
If, on the other hand, your main priority is to simply get the best coffee scale money can buy right now, then the pinpoint precision accuracy, attractive design, substantial size, and impeccable ease of use all combine to make the Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scales the hands-down winner.