Ive had this one from Amazon since April. it has a built-in timer, and measures to the nearest 0.1g. It's consistent and responsive. I was skeptical due to the low price, but I don't regret it at all.
I got this one and it’s been rock solid.
KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer 3kg/0.1g High Precision Pour Over Drip Espresso Scale with Back-Lit LCD Display (Batteries Included) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_41WJ39GGG7H42JGG1KHT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This one is $17 and has the same specs as the more expensive name brand ones I considered. It's worked perfectly fine for me.
I bought this $24 model from Amazon and am happy with it. So long as I start the timer I've never seen it time out but I haven't left it more than 10 or 15 minutes so I can't swear that it never happens. (the weight will stop being displayed but will redisplay if you touch a button).
This works for me
KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer 3kg/0.1g High Precision Pour Over Drip Espresso Scale with Back-Lit LCD Display (Batteries Included) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_T7FP98E8RV9TYCRMQ6QY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Does that scale have PHYSICAL buttons? You know, the kind that you PUSH DOWN?
I bought KitchenTour and while it works fine, I have difficulty with it registering my finger touch. Dunno if I have too high resistance skin or what but I would prefer something that *reliably* acts like a button.
pretty quick. I had a cheap amazon scale I was using prior to this, and it feel instant in comparison.
I don’t think it’s really worth a video. I spent too long looking for a scale before realising it really doesn’t matter that much, especially for filter
Just go an Amazon and pick something that measures 0.1g and has decent reviews.
I’ve got this and am pretty happy with it
https://www.amazon.co.uk/KitchenTour-Precision-Espresso-Back-Lit-Batteries/dp/B083PX1VHG/
>I also already got a 3d printed incline kit and single dose hopper so definitely agree with you there.
Oh? Which one did you go for?
Regarding volumetric vs weight (ie. looking for 60ml or 46g of output liquid). My preference is to work only with weight. However, my KitchenTour scale was being naughty (jumping around a bit) when I started dialing in so I simplified it to just look for 60ml of liquid.
My espresso machine doesn't have a shot timer so I'm using my phone, thus I have to keep darting my eyes between the machine-and-shot and the phone (off to the side). There is a timer on the scale but I'm finding that the stupid capacitive buttons on it can take a few presses to trigger - plus the weight would jump from 0.0 to 2.4 to 10.5 to 14.1 ... and you need to anticipate anywhere from 8 to 10grams ahead. That is, if you use 18g in and you want 36g out then you need to stop the shot at about 28g readout on the scale - the machine will still drip another 8g into your cup.
I found all of this too complicated with my first day with the new setup. I took a glass cup (wide enough to catch the coffee from the double portafilter) and I drew a sharpee line where I had measured 60ml. That was "good enough" to start with. Then pulling a shot was i) setup timer on phone; ii) lift lever to pull shot; iii) watch for 60mls in ~25 seconds; then redial grinder to hone in on proper grind and try again.
Dunno how much I like this scale or if another is less jumpy and easier to use. I'd love to get a scale where its timer automatically starts with the first drop of liquid.
Purchased the KitchenTour coffee scale from Amazon three months ago. There's an integrated timer, that you have to start whenever you want to use it. So far, I've changed the batteries once, and used the scale daily. Yes the Acai scale is great but I wasn't ready to pay that premium. I believe this one was around 30$ CAD. It's not particularly tiny but doing the job as far as weighting beans, placing the portafilter onto it and weighting shots. Good luck in your search!
I recommend DEFINITELY getting a scale! 😉 0.1g accuracy is plenty sufficient. Timer is a plus.
This is the one I bought originally (although now I have a Brewista Smart Scale II). It fit fine under my Infuser (sitting sideways), although it was definitely tight with the stock portafilter and definitely didn't work with anything bigger than a 3oz cup.
I have 2 coffee scales, a Hario and a cheap scale off Aliexpress.
The scale off Ali express is sold under different names, but here it is off Amazon: link
The Hario scale isn't good in comparison imo, despite being more expensive and from a well known brand.
The display is harder to read - actually to a point where it's annoying, and it updates very slowly too.
The cheap scale is faster (not fast, just faster) and the display is with very big lit letters so it's very easy to read. It seems quite accurate too. Only downside is the buttons, they dont have any sort of feedback to your touch, which is a bit annoying when using the timer.
The acaia is supposedly excellent, and i have heard good things about the Timemore too. Personally i wouldn't recommend the Hario.
Many reviews on amazon. Different brand but the same product. Looks good, I'll have one.
As others have said, get a scale. The r/coffee wiki has tons of recs, but I love this Kitchentour scale. . Cheap and very accurate & responsive, moreso than the Hario scale. You'll be flabbergasted how much it changes your brewing.
Ask yourself timer or no timer. No timer any .1 gram budget scale. With timer I like this one. KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer 3kg/0.1g High Precision Pour Over Drip Espresso Scale with Back-Lit LCD Display (Batteries Included) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_XKUxFb3FVEX42 if you want rechargeable go with Timemore Black mirror.
I had been using the same old brewing scale for about 5 years and last week the load cell finally stopped responding. I had repaired it a few times (resoldering loose wires, replacing rusty screws, getting gunk out from the inside) but 5 years of rough service for a sub-$20 scale is pretty good. It's obviously no longer sold. I did have some gripes. Mainly that the buttons we're not very responsive and sometimes I would hit the timer start/stop and nothing would happen.
So I bought this and used it for three days now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_l5anFbGVFCHBJ
So far it's more than adequate. The scale itself is responsive and where I previously had about a 3+ gram delay on a pull, I can stop much closer depending on flow rate. I am not a fan of touch buttons as there is no tactile feed back and no beeps so that first second I get anxiety over whether or not the timer has actually started. The scale function is good, matches up to my acaia pearl within .2-.3 grams (I haven't put my calibrated increment on there because I can't find it), the display has a slight tilt and is very easy to read. Fits pretty much all of my cups under a double spout with some tilting on the taller cups. Overall not bad for $26 dollars.
Bought this recently and love it, kitchentour coffee scale. I tried the one that's in the OP, but the beeps (at least on the version I had) drove me insane after 2 days, and I couldn't read the digits, black on green/blue were a bit too skinny.
I love this scale, unlike the Hario I borrowed from a friend, it actually measures .1 grams responsively, even seeing a change from adding a single whole bean. Cheap too.
I've been using this one from Amazon for several months and it has worked really well for me. I have a 20g calibration weight that I just tested it with, and it read 20.0g exactly the five or so times that I placed it on the scale.
It has a built-in timer that works well, and also a removable silicone mat on top. My favorite part is the LED screen. It looks really sharp and much nicer than the screens that I've seen on other scales at this price point.
The only downside for me is that, like many scales, the weight reading has a slight delay, but it hasn't been a real issue and I can almost always get my pours to within a gram. For $25 I think it's a no-brainer.
I love thisKitchentour scale. . Easy to read display, very accurate, dirt cheap. When I first ordered it, I had posted the 8th review on Amazon. Looks like everyone else who's since ordered it is still happy.
I use the Timemore Black Mirror for timing and weighing my shots. It just barely fits under the portafilter on my La Spaziale. For weighing beans before/after grind, I just use an inexpensive scale/timer I found on Amazon (KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer) and I can't believe how well it works. I've put both scales up against the Acaias and they're all within 0.1g of each other.
Scale, I also use it to make pour-over coffee every Saturday or so. It's pretty decent can't complain and it is a must for pour-over coffee ofc.
> But I’d be happy to try some other set out - any recommendations?
There's a line of chinese scales that get sold under various names (e.g. KitchenTour, FEESPEC) that are more reactive than the Harios at a much lower price. If you wanna splurge a bit the Timemore Blackmirror is a fancier looking option.
On AliExpress, there are these ones, but cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/KitchenTour-Precision-Espresso-Back-Lit-Batteries/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=coffee+scale&qid=1621940917&sprefix=coffee+scale&sr=8-6
Cool to hear you have the same setup. This is it
Random Amazon scale. It was $15 when I bought it. It measures my coffee. That's all I need it to do, it is 't nice, but it works https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
It really comes down to how much effort you are willing to put in.
Everyone needs a scale, and I recommend this one from Amazon as a starter. It's really all you need, and it's only $20.
Next, you need to determine if you want to grind your own coffee. I don't really recommend you get a hand grinder unless you're burning for money. It's tedious, but it's cheaper. However, an electric grinder is loud and is more expensive. If you take care of it, you'll only need to buy it once until you decide you want an even better grinder. I recommend the Baratza Encore. It's about $150-170 depending on where you look. It's ok if you decide you just want to buy pre-ground coffee. Don't let other people decide what's best for you. Pre-ground means less fresh and less tasty coffee, but convenience is just too big to ignore for some people.
Lastly, you need a way to make your coffee. I recommend looking into French presses as a beginner to coffee. They're easy to use, but they're a little annoying to clean because you have to take apart the filter to clean it every time. However, it's a great start to see if you really want to get into coffee. These could be anywhere from $25-40. You do need a kettle to boil water, and I recommend you start with a gooseneck kettle. The long spout will help you control the water output and placement. This will run you around $40 for a stove top kettle (non-electric).
I highly recommend you start down this path to see if you really are interested in coffee. This is the most economical and flexible way to elevate your coffee in the morning without committing too much time or money. You just have to figure out the best thing for you. Since you don't know much, we can only give you very general suggestions, but once you know, we can give you better suggestions.
But this is where I would start. All together, it's about $200-300 for a starting kit using the above suggestions, but you do need to find a coffee source. I recommend you look up coffee roasters near you and just order very small amounts from them to figure out what kind of coffee you're into. I would order .25 lbs (if they offer that quantity), or ask for samples. This will ensure that you're getting the freshest coffee. Buying coffee from grocery stores is a crapshoot. You have old beans, beans that are covered in oils that will gunk up your machine, and just worse quality beans in general. Order from a coffee roaster! It's the same price, and it is more fresh.
tl;dr Buy a scale, French press/ any method to make coffee, and a gooseneck kettle. Figure out if you want to grind your own beans before buying a grinder. Find a source of fresh coffee, and sample sample sample before committing to buying expensive beans.
Let me know if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer any.
KitchenTour Coffee Scale with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
its a cheap one i got off amazon. it does the trick as far as weight but its not thinner than your average cheap scale.
Hello! Getting the first good shots is pretty tough, you’ll need to pull a bunch of shots likely before you find the right ball park and you may have to adjust the internal grind setting if you’re way off. It’s sort of like sighting in a rifle - you have to get it shooting on the paper before you can really start to dial it in. First of all, I find it much easier to use the double basket. Yes it wastes more but the single basket can be tricky because if the grinds don’t fill it up enough your ramp just pushes the top corner of the basket, or too full and it can choke the machine quickly. Do you have a scale? Do yourself a favor and buy a $20 scale with a timer! Preferably one that doesn’t have a fast auto off timer and is sensitive. Something like this. Next don’t load all your beans in the grind hopper but rather empty it and only load the beans for your one pull Aka single doseing. Weight beans in / weight beans out. You can go straight into the portafilter but dosing cups can make this much easier. I found a whiskey glass that’s the right size and use that. One of the big big problems with the grinder on this machine is the retention- especially dark roasts and decaf. I’ve regularly had 1-1.5 grams sitting in the burrs and the next morning your first shot is terrible and channels like crazy. A bellows is good for this or you can do Hoon’s idea and flap the lid toward the end of the grind running. Actually if you want help watch all of Hoon’s videos! He’s the man and has gone to great lengths to explain well and not always rely on buying something (even though he got a Niche Zero).
Hopefully this isn’t overwhelming, just take it a bit and a time. All the little steps can add up to really great coffee and if you don’t mind tinkering a bit you’ll be pulling great shots regularly soon. Or you’ll end up diving in head first and be roasting your own too! That’s where the fun begins. Hope this helps!
Interesting, those are clearly the exact same scales as mine, but with a different brand name on them
Wow, that start up kit is a great choice, and great price (at least compared to what I can get). I don't understand the scale lid though. Does the lid flip around to sit underneath so you can weigh your shot as you pour?
I have 5 inches under my bottomless portafilter when in the brewhead. My scale eats one inch of that. Most of my cups are about 3" tall so it's okay - but it would be easier if the scale was less thick. This is my KitchenTour Coffee Scale.
While I didn't end up with an Elizabeth, it is an alternate favourite choice of mine. I think the sw programming of the pre-infusion is really smart. IMO it's all you really need to do 90% of anything you can attain through pressure/flow profiling. I say this because, while emulating the long slow decline of pressure/flow towards the end of the shot of a lever machine is popular, I haven't found that it changes the taste much. The pre-infusion side, however, is where the game is at. Pre-infusion can be fun&interesting for really-fresh or light-roast coffee, but it's not recommended for the classic dark roast of the Italian espresso style IMHO. It seems to make dark roasts turn out very bitter.
I have the Mignon's little brother (Silenzio) and I am very impressed with how easy it is to take apart and clean (plus the weight of the motor!). I've messed up and choked it twice, so I was forced to take it apart to clean it (watched a youtube vid) and I was impressed with how easy it is to do and how well made it is. At the top of the chute there is some metal wiring hanging down like a drapery (is used to eliminate static electricity and prevent clumping?) and I plugged this up with the turkish grind I dialed in. Oops.
You might also want to get a dosing cup or funnel (I'm using a funnel). Make sure, if you get a funnel, that the portafilter + funnel height will fit under the chute (while activating the on switch) with the portafiliter sitting on the prongs - if you wish to fill it that way. I was not so lucky. I'm still single dosing and I have removed the prongs and hold the portafilter + funnel under the chute.
Enjoy! Beautiful setup.
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KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer 3kg/0.1g High… | $20.98 | $20.98 | 4.5/5.0 |
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Kyle Rowsell likes this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_1TZFA33FBYYNN4C2X6Y5
Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
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KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer 3kg/0.1g High… | $19.98 | $19.98 | 4.5/5.0 |
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Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
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KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer 3kg/0.1g High… | $19.98 | $19.98 | 4.5/5.0 |
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So I had this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PX1VHG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1, which looks like the same size as yours, when I had the GCP. It was too big and hung off the edge unless I put it in sideways which made messing with the controls a little cumbersome.
Normally I could just hang it off the edge, but what I found with this one was if it was *not* on a stable surface the weighing wasn't accurate, if I put the cup on it and hung the end off the side it would constantly go up and down.
Maybe your model is better?
I also had this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9DNNGF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which worked fantastically and was small enough to fit on smaller devices but had no timer.
Ultimately I ended up with the Timemore scale, which is working great too.
Yeah, I asked again today and got no answer again So I've bought this one after seeing it mentioned a couple of times in other posts https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B083PX1VHG
Has anyone used this scale? Its $25 with 0.1 gram scale and timer. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_14a3Fb5T15AY9
Sure it's worth it, but you don't need to..
This is the one I got and it works just fine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KXhMFbD3XWC4Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Oh yeah and don't get the Hario scale.
It's slow and way over priced. Really awful value imo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_6lEDFbPZ6PTE0
Something like this is Cheaper and faster.
Don't get the Hario
It's more expensive and slower than generic Chinese scales such as this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_bh6zFbY8BV3JN
Going to disagree with some posters here, but i recently got a V60 Coffeesock and now I use it way more than the paper filters, I absolutely love it. I was turned onto it because I was using only an Aeropress before, and wanted a bit more clarity without sacrificing body, and it definitely delivers.
I was super inspired by Hoffmann's video on it, and had been skeptical until hearing about his storage technique. Honestly, I have no idea why people think it's a "pain in the ass" to clean. Just use it, drink your coffee while it cools down, dump the grounds into a trash, then rinse off the rest. Then instead of trying to dry it out, just throw it a small reusable container like a mason jar or deli cup immersed in water, and throw it in the fridge.
FWIW, it's nice to have a pack of the paper filters around so you can experiment, but if sustainability is important, by all means know that you're not going to be disappointed.
Re: electric kettles, I'd say make sure you have decent scale first, especially one that has .1g increments. Having a timer on it too seems like a luxury, but really helps keep you organized so you don't have you use your phone to time it. Also when you first get started, if you're like me you might be consulting various recipes and reading off your phone, so makes life easier. I have this one and love it.
After that, an electric kettle is great, especially for nailing those 1-2g little drops to get precise. If you do already have an electric kettle, wait until you can afford an gooseneck one that has variable temperature, as well as a hold temp feature. If you can find either the Brim Precision, OXO Variable on discount, those are great, but you should be fine for a while on your current electric kettle.
Thanks! That is a cheap scale from Amazon. TBH I got it because it had .1g resolution and was black. Mostly because it’s black hahahaha
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PX1VHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_23aFFb7HFKA7B
This Kitchentour via Amazon is a fantastic value. Better than the Hario, very responsive, super cheap, easy to read.
Found this, looks fairly new to Amazon: KitchenTour Scale
Only 5 reviews tho, not sure if that's enough to convince me...