Accessory · Updated 2026-08-17
Accurate to 0.1g, fast to respond and built for brew tasks. We tested five coffee scales for precision, latency and battery life — the winner costs under £60.
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| Award | Model | Rating | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 | 4.6/5 | £54.99 | Home baristas who want Acaia-level workflow for under £60. |
| Best Pro | Acaia Lunar | 4.5/5 | £245 | Serious espresso dial-in and shop-grade workflow. |
Best Overall
Timemore Black Mirror Basic 20.1g precision and USB-C charging for a fraction of premium rivals.
0.1g precision with fast auto-tare and a huge LCD display. The best budget coffee scale — responsive, USB-C rechargeable and accurate to 0.1g for a fraction of premium rivals.
Why it's great
Flaws, but not dealbreakers
0.1 g precision with brew-time and flow-rate readouts in the palm of your hand. The espresso scale that set the standard — 0.1g precision, real-time flow-rate, and the benchmark every cheaper scale is measured against.
Why it's great
Flaws, but not dealbreakers
For espresso you want 0.1g resolution and a fast tare — dosing a half-gram wrong is the difference between a great shot and a sour one. Filter brewers only need 1g.
Acaia adds Bluetooth, brew apps and a snappier sensor, but a Timemore Black Mirror is 90% as good for dialling in at home. Upgrade only for competitions or serious flow profiling.
Cheap scales run on AAA batteries that die mid-shot. USB-C rechargeable models (Black Mirror) are the practical choice for daily brewing.
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