Coffee scales for pour-over and espresso, tested in our workshop.
Acaia, Timemore, MHW, Hario, and Fellow: chosen for response speed and accuracy.
A coffee scale measures coffee and water by weight to 0.1g, with a built-in timer. Espresso scales fit under the drip tray; brew bar scales hold a server.
Pour over is a conversation between you and the water. A coffee scale with timer is how you keep that conversation honest, tracking dose, pour weight, and brew time in one place. The scales we stock here are chosen for the brew bar: fast tare, 0.1g accuracy, and timer modes that match how filter coffee actually works.
What separates a great coffee scale from a kitchen scale is response speed. A baking scale settles in two or three seconds. By the time it catches up, your shot has poured another five grams or your pour-over has overshot the bloom. A proper coffee scale reads in real time, with 0.1g resolution and refresh rates fast enough to keep pace with a 1:2 espresso pour or a filter brew that finishes in under three minutes.
The brands on this page span the full spectrum. Acaia Lunar is the competition drip-tray reference; the broader Acaia range is what 2021 World Brewers Cup Champion Matt Winton used through his championship preparation. Timemore's Black Mirror range is the most credible mid-tier scale endorsement in coffee media, with auto-timer modes for pour-over and espresso. MHW-3Bomber's Cube and Hario's Polaris cover the entry-to-mid space, and Fellow's Tally Pro Studio brings precision-instrument design to the brew bar. Coffee Parts is the exclusive Australian distributor for Timemore and MHW-3Bomber, both World Coffee Championship sponsors, and we have tested every scale on this page in our own brew bar.
Choosing the right coffee scale comes down to four questions: what you brew, how often, where the scale lives, and how much workflow detail you want.
Accuracy and resolution. For both espresso and filter, you need 0.1g readability. Espresso runs are short (around 30 seconds) and small (18 to 40 grams), so a 1g scale rounds away the difference between a great shot and a sour one. Filter brews are larger in volume but the same logic applies: water dose, bloom weight, and yield all sit inside resolution that a kitchen scale cannot see.
Response time. This is where coffee scales separate themselves from kitchen scales. Acaia and Timemore Black Mirror update at hundreds of milliseconds, fast enough to read a live pour. Slower scales chase the number after the pour has stopped.
Form factor. Espresso scales (Acaia Lunar, Timemore Black Mirror Mini, Muvna Zero-G Mini) sit under the drip tray. They run small, low-profile, and waterproof or splash-resistant. Brew bar scales (Acaia Pearl, Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2, Hario Polaris, Fellow Tally Pro Studio) are larger, with a platform big enough to hold a V60 server or a Chemex.
Timer integration. Auto-start timers are non-optional for filter coffee. The moment water hits the bed, the timer triggers and weight tracking begins together. Timemore, Acaia, and Muvna all offer dedicated timer-plus-weight modes that switch between pour-over and espresso workflows.
Connectivity. Bluetooth and app integration matter if you want shot logging (Acaia, Timemore WiWo, Muvna Smart) or recipe sharing through a brew guide. They do not matter if you just want to weigh and brew.
Battery. USB Type-C rechargeable is standard now. The zeroHero E-Smart claims fifteen hours of continuous use on a 1200mAh cell. The Acaia Pearl Model S runs sixteen to forty hours per charge.
Build. Aluminium alloy bodies (Muvna Metal, zeroHero E-Smart, Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2) survive busy brew bars better than plastic. The Acaia Lunar's heat-resistant coaster and water-resistant body are designed for under-machine duty cycles.
If you are building a complete brew station, pair your scale with an electric gooseneck kettle and the right paper filters.
Three scale brands on this page hold current World Coffee Championship credentials. Timemore was Top Sponsor of the 2025 World Brewers Cup in Jakarta, and Coffee Parts is Timemore's exclusive Australian distributor. MHW-3Bomber was a Gold Sponsor of the 2025 World Barista Championship, and we are the exclusive Australian distributor here as well. Acaia is the scale 2021 World Brewers Cup Champion Matt Winton used throughout his championship preparation.
A scale is one part of the brew bar. To get the full benefit of weighing every gram, you need the rest of the chain tuned to the same precision. A burr coffee grinder gives you a consistent dose and grind size to weigh. An electric gooseneck kettle controls water temperature and pour rate. A refractometer confirms what your scale and timer are telling you: extraction yield and TDS, measured in the cup. A proper pour-over dripper completes the kit. We bundle several of these in our coffee scale kits.
I'll be honest: for years I thought a scale was the boring part of the kit. Then I watched Anthony Douglas win the 2022 World Barista Championship and saw how every shot was weighed to 0.1g, in and out. That changed how I think about the brew bar at home. We've been selling Acaia since the brand existed in Australia, and we've watched Timemore go from hand-grinder maker to Top Sponsor of the World Brewers Cup. Coffee Parts has stocked scales since 1999. The scale is not the boring part. It is the truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a coffee scale and a kitchen scale? +
Three things: resolution, response speed, and timer integration. Coffee scales read to 0.1g (kitchen scales typically 1g), refresh fast enough to track a live pour, and pair weight with a brew timer so you can see dose, time, and yield together. A kitchen scale catches up to your shot after it's already over-extracted.
Do I need a coffee scale with timer? +
For filter coffee, yes. The bloom-to-drawdown ratio is a timing call, and an integrated auto-timer that triggers when water hits the bed is the cleanest way to track it. For espresso, the shot timer on most modern machines is enough, but a built-in scale timer lets you weigh shots on older machines or portable espresso setups.
What accuracy do I need: 0.1g or 0.01g? +
0.1g is the working standard for espresso and pour-over. 0.01g is used for refractometer-grade tare and lab-style brew analysis, and most home brewers do not need it. Every scale on this page reads to at least 0.1g, which is the precision Acaia, Timemore Black Mirror, MHW, and Hario all build to.
Acaia vs Timemore: which scale should I buy? +
If you want the competition-spec reference and the deepest app ecosystem, Acaia Pearl or Lunar. If you want strong engineering at a lower price point with credible independent endorsements, Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 or Mini. Both are honest answers, and we sell plenty of each. Coffee Parts is Timemore's exclusive Australian distributor.
Are espresso scales waterproof? +
Most are water-resistant rather than fully waterproof. The Acaia Lunar uses a sealed body and a heat-resistant coaster for under-machine duty. The zeroHero E-Smart uses a Teflon-coated aluminium surface that resists coffee splash. Wipe spills as they happen and the scale will outlast the machine it sits under.
Can I use one scale for both espresso and pour-over? +
Yes, if you choose a scale with a flat platform small enough to fit under a portafilter and large enough to support a server. The Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 works in both roles. Dedicated espresso scales (Lunar, Black Mirror Mini, Muvna Zero-G Mini) are smaller and faster but will not fit a Chemex on top.