Coffee scales with timers and 0.1 g precision for pour-over and espresso, plus an all-purpose kitchen scale for baking and big batches.
| Best for | Our pick | Why we like it | Amazon link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overallMost home brewers | Timemore Black Mirror Basic Scale | Accurate 0.1g readings | Check price on Amazon for Timemore Black Mirror Basic Scale (opens Amazon) |
| Best budgetTrying out weighing for the first time | Greater Goods Pour Over Coffee Scale | Very affordable | Check price on Amazon for Greater Goods Pour Over Coffee Scale (opens Amazon) |
| Easiest to useSimple mornings and V60 owners | Hario V60 Drip Scale | Large, easy-to-read display | Check price on Amazon for Hario V60 Drip Scale (opens Amazon) |
| Best splurgeEspresso and coffee hobbyists | Acaia Pearl Coffee Scale | Very fast, very precise readings | Check price on Amazon for Acaia Pearl Coffee Scale (opens Amazon) |
| Best all-purpose kitchen scaleBaking, cooking and big cold brew batches | OXO Good Grips 11 lb Food Scale with Pull-Out Display | Handles large bowls and batches | Check price on Amazon for OXO Good Grips 11 lb Food Scale with Pull-Out Display (opens Amazon) |
Tap a product name for our full take, including what to keep in mind.
A scale is the cheapest upgrade in coffee. Scoops are guesswork because beans vary in size and density; weighing your coffee and water means the cup you loved yesterday is the cup you get today.
Coffee scales add two things a basic kitchen scale lacks: readings in tenths of a gram and a built-in timer. Here are the ones worth buying at every budget.
Best for: Most home brewers
Weighing your coffee and water is the cheapest upgrade in coffee. This scale reads to 0.1g and has a built-in timer.
Best for: Trying out weighing for the first time
The low-cost way to start weighing your coffee. It reads in small increments and has a timer, which is all most people need.
Best for: Simple mornings and V60 owners
A no-fuss scale from the maker of the V60. Big buttons, a clear display and a timer make it easy to use first thing in the morning.
Best for: Espresso and coffee hobbyists
The scale you see in specialty cafés. It responds almost instantly, has brewing modes with an auto-start timer, and connects to an app to log brews.
Best for: Baking, cooking and big cold brew batches
One scale for the whole kitchen. The pull-out display stays readable under big bowls, so it works as well for baking as for weighing a batch of cold brew.
Our picks are based on research, not sponsorships. We compare manufacturer specifications, read long-term owner feedback, and weigh what experienced home baristas and coffee professionals consistently recommend. We favor gear that's easy to use, built to last and repairable. No brand pays to be included, and we update this guide as products change.
For pour-over and espresso, look for 0.1 g readings. For cold brew batches and baking, whole grams are fine.
Most recipes depend on time as well as weight. A timer on the scale keeps everything in one place.
Make sure the platform fits under your dripper and carafe, or on your espresso machine's drip tray if you plan to weigh shots.
Rechargeable scales save on batteries; battery models are cheaper and never need a cable near the water.
Yes, especially for French press, drip and cold brew. Coffee scales help most with pour-over and espresso, where small differences matter.
Start at 1 gram of coffee to 16 grams of water for pour-over and drip. Our coffee ratio calculator works out the numbers for every method.
It's not essential, but it makes pour-over and espresso far easier to repeat.
Answer three quick questions and we'll point you to the right gear.