Why should you use a scale to brew coffee? We’ve all eyeballed or heaped in a tablespoon of coffee and hoped for the best. We’ll let you in on a little secret: To enjoy sipping a consistently delicious cup of coffee, use a coffee scale to weigh your grounds and water.
Since the size and density of coffee beans vary, measuring by volume doesn’t ensure the same amount of coffee grounds per scoop—and we all know eyeballing just isn’t accurate. Different brew methods have ratios of ground coffee to water to achieve the desired cup. If you have more water than coffee, then your cup is too watery. If you have more coffee than water, then your cup is too strong. You could try different methods and be the Goldilocks of coffee or you could check out top three coffee scales: the Escali Pico Pocket Scale, Hario V60 Drip Scale and Acaia Lunar Scale.
First on our list is the teeny, tiny Escali Pico Pocket Scale. For its compact size, it’s accurate from one gram to 1/10th of an ounce and can measure up to 11 pounds! That’s the highest weight of all the scales on our list. Place a pour over coffee maker on the Escali, tare the scale and pour directly on the scale to measure the correct coffee to water ratio while you brew. It’s also the most affordable scale on our list and the easiest to store in the kitchen drawer. Or for adventurous coffee drinkers, slip it in your travel bag with your AeroPress for delicious coffee brewed on the go.
Weighing your beans isn’t the only important step to making great coffee, timing the pour matters too! Weigh and time your brew with the Hario V60 Drip Scale. Built into the scale is a timer with a simple on/off button to start the clock with your pre-infusion. The accuracy of the V60 Drip Scale ranges between 0.2 and 3 grams depending on the overall weight, and it holds a maximum weight of about 4 pounds. With all its features and affordable price point, the V60 Drip Scale is a great go-to scale for everyday coffee brewing.
Brew like the pros with the Acaia Lunar Interactive Scale—this scale takes weighing to a whole new level. Equipped with a timer, Bluetooth technology, integrated app and LED display, the Acaia is a coffee lover’s best tool for accuracy. Not only is it smart, but it’s built to last. Premium aluminum casing provides durability while a water-resistant design allows you to weigh espresso shots without fear of liquid damaging it! To top off the Acaia’s weighty features, it comes with a 100-gram calibration weight to ensure your scale is in tip-top shape.
Conclusion
Make coffee you love to drink every time with one of our top three coffee scales: the Escali Pico Pocket Scale, Hario V60 Drip Scale and Acaia Lunar Scale. Trust us, for the best tasting coffee, eyeballing the volume just won’t cut it. There are plenty of great scales out there, which one are you using? Share your favorite coffee scales in the comments below!