The Best Digital Coffee Scales for Measurement
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If you make coffee, you probably understand the importance of accurate measurement. When it comes to making a great cup of coffee, there is no room for guesswork or freestyling.
You have to use the right coffee proportion and follow a defined guide. This is why it is crucial to use the best digital coffee scales for measuring your coffee and water ratio.
Why Are Coffee Scales Important
Sometimes people choose to eyeball and estimate measurements that lead to results different from what was expected.
This is where the importance of using coffee scales for measurement while brewing coffee comes into play. Some noted ones include:
Accuracy
When brewing good coffee, you need to find the proper ratio of water to ground coffee. Use the wrong measurement and the taste of your coffee may be bad.
Coffee beans have different weights. Some are denser than others, which could make eyeballing and volumetric measurements far from being accurate.
Additionally, the freshness of your coffee beans and the degree of roasting can also impact the weight – making the need for a scale all the more useful.
Consistency and Repeatability
Using a scale to measure allows you to replicate your coffee recipes with consistent results every time!
Waste Reduction
A coffee scale prevents you from wasting coffee grounds caused by volumetric or eyeballing over-measurement. It also prevents you from pouring out nasty-tasting coffee caused by a measurement gone wrong.
Experimentation
A coffee scale allows you to create a more consistent and refined taste in your coffee. You can experiment to create a more flavorful brew once you know the water-coffee ratio (and brewing times).
The Best Digital Coffee Scales on the Market
Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale and Timer
The Hario V60 coffee scale is a minimalistic and precise scale that can measure up to 2000g. It has a 0.1g accuracy and an error margin of +/- 0.2g.
When it comes to brewing a tasty cup of drip coffee, timing is essential. This scale comes with a built-in timer and tare function to allow you to measure brew time and coffee weight simultaneously.
This function also allows you to repeat your coffee recipes accurately. The liquid crystal display (LCD) houses a measurement function on the right side and a timer on the left, making it easy to use and read.
The timer does not start automatically, so you need to press the start/stop button to use this function. However, the scale has an auto-off function that kicks in after 5 minutes of inactivity to save and prolong battery life.
However, the auto-off function doesn’t kick in if the timer is in use. Additionally, the scale is powered by two AAA batteries. It measures in grams, pounds, ounces, milliliters, and grams/milliliters.
Although the scale is not waterproof, it can stand a few drops of water without going haywire. However, the scale has a slow response time, and you have to add your coffee grounds in small bits to avoid overshooting your desired measurement.
What We Like
- Minimalist design
- Built-in timer
- Precise measurement
What We Don’t Like
- A little pricey
- Not waterproof
- Slow response time
Find the Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale and Timer at Amazon.
GDEALER Food Scale
Are you on a budget? The GDEALER Food Scale is an affordable scale that can also be used to measure coffee. This scale comes with several great features to serve you optimally.
This GDEALER scale includes a high-sensitivity gravity sensor that can accurately measure any weight from 3g to 500g. However, any weight below 3g might have some accuracy issues.
This virtually weightless scale is coated with a stainless steel plate covered in plastic frames. It has an accuracy of 0.03g and is powered by two AAA batteries. It is easy to clean and small enough to be easily stored.
Additionally, it is equipped with a blue backlight LCD that not only makes your scale easy to use during the day, but also at night. The scale is convenient to clean and use.
The GDEALER scale comes with two plastic cases that allow you to measure your dry coffee granules on one scale and your liquids on the other. It also has a counting feature that allows you to count your coffee beans while the precision tare button calculates the total weight of your ingredients.
What We Like
- Measures in different units
- Lightweight
- Backlit LCD
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Could be more durable
Find the GDEALER Food Scale at Amazon.
Apexstone Coffee Scale
The Apexstone Coffee Scale is another budget-friendly scale that is a win, especially if you brew espresso.
It comes with a built-in timer that reads up to 59 minutes, 59 seconds and measures up to 3000g with an accuracy of 0.1g. It measures five different units – ounce, grams, pounds, milliliter, and grams/milliliters.
If you are worried about spilled liquids, the scale comes with a silicone mat that not only protects it from water, but also protects it from heat. The silicone mat is easy to remove, clean, and replace between uses.
The digital scale also has a blue/green backlight that makes the scale easy to read in low-light settings. You can find the scale’s ON/OFF switch function, a low battery indicator, an auto-off function, a tare function, and a timer all on the display screen.
Two AAA batteries power the scale and need to be changed when the low battery indicator comes on. The unit also has a 100% satisfaction warranty for when you have to return the device for any reason.
The Apexstone Coffee Scale is especially useful for making espresso. The combination of a tare function, timer, and measurement scale makes it perfect for timed dosing, which is essential for making espresso shots.
What We Like
- Built-in timer
- Easy-to-read display
- Budget-friendly
- Measures in five different units
What We Don’t Like
- Delayed reading
Find the Apexstone Coffee Scale at Amazon.
KitchenTour Coffee Scale
The KitchenTour Coffee Scale allows you to have consistency and flexibility while perfecting your brew. Its high-precision G-sensor and tare function allows you to add or remove ingredients while weighing.
With this scale, you can enjoy refined and flavorful coffee because of the built-in timer that ensures your coffee recipe can be replicated and perfected. It also has an auto-off feature that kicks in after two minutes of inactivity.
It has a backlit LCD screen that allows you to easily read the scale, even in low-light settings. A battery life indicator on the panel also houses the LCD screen that warns you when your battery is low, so it doesn’t go off mid-brew.
Although it is not completely water-resistant, it includes a water-repellent silicone pad that protects the scale from water damage. The scale and silicone pad are effortless to clean and maintain.
What We Like
- Water-repellent silicone pad
- Noise-free
- Multiple weighing units
- Battery indicator
- Auto-off function
What We Don’t Like
- Short auto-off interval
Find the KitchenTour Coffee Scale at Amazon.
ERAVSOW Coffee Scale with Timer
The ERAVSOW scale has a very slim, circular design that makes it look sleek and high-end. But don’t be thrown off by the affordable price.
This scale is larger than some of the other pocket-sized designs, so coffee addicts who need to have a cup everywhere cannot carry it around. However, there are hanging holes for you to store the scale.
It comes equipped with a G-sensor that measures with an accuracy of 0.1g. The scale can measure up to 3000g in five different units, including pounds, ounces, fluid ounces, grams, and milliliters.
The ERAVSOW coffee scale has a built-in timer that makes it perfect for brewing pour-over coffee where every second counts, or to time your French press coffee. This feature is very convenient, as you don’t have to buy a timer separate from the scale.
When the scale sits idle for five minutes, the auto-off function kicks in and shuts off the scale to prolong the battery life. If you tend to be forgetful, you don’t have to worry about the two AAA batteries running out.
Five minutes is also long enough for you to measure your coffee beans, coffee grounds, water, or milk before the device shuts down. The unit is truly energy-efficient, and the batteries last longer.
It also has a backlit LCD screen that makes reading the scale convenient in low-light conditions. The LCD screen is cradled on both sides by the switch button, a low battery indicator, and an overload indicator that warns you when you add too much load that could break the scale.
What We Like
- Slim and sleek design
- Auto-off feature
- Built-in timer
- Affordable
- Load indicator
- Battery indicator
What We Don’t Like
- Could be more durable
Find the ERAVSOW Coffee Scale with Timer at Amazon.
Things You Need to Consider Before Buying Digital Coffee Scales
Tare Function
The tare function affords you the option to reset your scale mass to zero, which is beneficial for accurately measuring your brew. It also allows you to add more ingredients while measuring.
Battery Capacity
The battery life of your scale is determined by how frequently you use it and the volume of coffee you measure with it.
Large volume brewers should opt for scales with rechargeable or plug-in batteries, while occasional or daily coffee brewers can choose scales with replaceable batteries.
Some scales also have an auto-off function that ensures the batteries last longer. Consider all of these options when choosing a coffee scale for your needs.
Size
Your brewing method also determines the size of your scale. This helps you choose a scale that fits your brewing equipment or other measuring equipment perfectly.
Accuracy
The most important function of a scale is measuring accuracy, which is a major factor when choosing one. For coffee, look for a scale that can measure as low as 0.1g and in different units.
This is helpful when you have to weigh both solids and liquids, or if you decide to use your coffee scale for other food measurements.
Timer
Depending on your coffee needs or volume, timers can be extremely useful. They help you note your measurements through the entire brewing process.
Water Resistance
You will likely be using your scale next to a source of water. Always select a scale that is either completely water-resistant or can handle spillage at a high level.
Rapid Response Time
Make sure you purchase a scale with a quick start-up and response time. You don’t want to lose interest in your coffee because your scale takes too long to wake up. Also, your scale should be sensitive enough to detect weight increments or reductions as they happen.
Maintaining Your Coffee Scale
Here are some helpful maintenance tips for your coffee scale:
- Always reset the tare button back to zero before each usage.
- Make sure you keep your coffee scale clean at all times. In cases of spillage, clean your scale and the surface as required.
- For scales that come with detachable parts, make sure to detach those parts and wipe them clean.
- Always keep your scale away from heat.
- Make sure you pay attention to the indicators on your scale.
- Do not overload your scale.
Final Thoughts
There is a wide range of coffee scales on the market. However, the best coffee scales for you are those that meet every requirement. It all depends on your budget and what you want to brew.
Some of the conditions listed above will help you narrow down your options to only those that meet your requirements. If all else fails, you can never go wrong in choosing one of the scales mentioned in this article.
Loved this write-up? Check out other coffee-related articles on our site.