Im saying it now: the Acaia Pearl S is one of thebest coffee scalesIve used.
No spoilers here: theres a reason this scale is so revered.
If youre a pour-over fanatic, the Pearl S can teach you how to make your coffee, step-by-step.
you could create your own as well but maybe you have to be an expert for that one.
Find out my full thoughts in this Acaia Pearl S review.
While its ridiculously expensive and not waterproof, thats where the Pearl Ss flaws end.
And no, I wouldnt recommend this scale to someone who wants to drink coffee frugally.
The Pearl S does everything the$110 Felicita Arcdoesexceptbeing water resistant.
If youre super concerned about waterproofing, you should look into the IPX5-rated Felicita Arc instead.
Acaia Pearl S Coffee Scale review: Design & functions
Acaia knows its products are beautiful.
Thats partially what makes them so tear-inducingly expensive.
The Pearl S is no different, although its bulkier than you might expect.
This means its capable of being used with a Chemex, V60 Dripper, and even a french press.
However, the relatively large size doesnt mean the Pearl S is incompatible with espresso machines.
For color options, there are two.
Still, its easy to wipe away coffee spills with a cloth.
I got mine to read rise and shine every time it woke up.
What differentiates the Pearl S from the cheaper Acaia Pearl is theBrewguide appintegration and its range of modes.
Its somewhat annoying to have multiple different Acaia apps (why cant they all be the same one?
), which is a wider Acaia issue.
As Im a V60 user, I followed the Hario V60 Level I recipe for my initial tests.
Its straightforward to download the recipes to the Pearl S all you oughta do is follow the apps instructions.
The scale displays the recipes step-by-step on the LED screen, which I found really helpful.
This isnt the case with intermediate and expert modes, which automatically change.
To reflect this, I completed all my testing in grams.
I used the Acaia Pearl S with my V60 and DeLonghi La Specialista Opera.
This mode displays three digits: from left to right, youll see 0:00, 0.0, and 0.0.
These correspond to time, weight, and flow rate respectively.
You have to manually start the timer.
I set the Pearl S to espresso mode by long-pressing the power on button.
I weighed out 19 grams of Kenyan coffee.
I ground it espresso-fine and set my Opera to a double shot.
Now, onto the negatives.
First, the Pearl S doesnt come loaded with the seventh mode flowrate practice.
You have to download the Acaia Updater app and manually update the Pearl S to access flowrate practice.
After updating, you have to go back into your scales prefs to manually turn on flowrate practice mode.
Thankfully, Acaia has in-depth instructions for all of this customization on its website.
I found portafilter mode more of a hindrance than a help.
The mode automatically weighs and tares your portafilter, but remembers that weight for just 15 seconds before resetting.
Theres no way to adjust the auto-tare time to a more usable 20 seconds.
The onlymajorthing that negatively affected my experience was the lack of mode announcement.
With time, youll memorize these symbols, but they can be daunting for new users.
Even so, a rechargeable battery is always a plus.
The Pearl S is easy to clean; its plastic surface is wipe-clean.
The scale will be easy to store, given that its just 6 inches long and wide.
I can easily tuck it away inside my kitchen cupboard.
If youre in the U.S. or E.U., the Pearl S also comes with a 2 year warranty.
Sorry, U.K. users its just 1 year for you.
Acaia Pearl S Coffee Scale review: How does it compare?
Youll be sure to find a mode that suits your brewing needs with only alittlebrain power.
And for professionals, the range of modes and rapid reactivity means youll be serving perfect espresso and pour-overs.
