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Im a former barista, and Im perfectly happy with my current routine of yes-to-the-scale, no-to-the-bells-and-whistles.
So doyouneed a coffee scale?
Heres why using a coffee scale elevates your coffee game.
What are the benefits of a coffee scale?
venture to reign in your surprise the benefits of using a coffee scale are manifold.
Here, Ill run down the three most important.
Accuracy
Well, the first thing (and most important) is accuracy.
A lighter roast needs a finer grind, which will weigh more than a coarse grind in a scoop.
This rings true for Chemex coffeemakers, french presses, moka pots heck, even measuring for AeroPress use.
Consistency
Imagine you make the most delicious, transcendental, heavenly coffee of your life.
And you did it by eyeballing.
You would never be able to recreate the specific rations and timing that granted you that perfect drink.
But with a coffee scale, that heart-wrenching loss would be nothing more than a long-forgotten memory.
Youve lovingly prepared a perfect ratio of coffee to water.
But your drink tastes…off.Wrong.
Too bitter, and also watery?
Whatever could be the problem?
Heres where a coffee scale comes in.
The KitchenTour Coffee Scale is the one I recommend for most people.
It’s reasonably-priced and well suited to both espresso and drip coffee.
It also works for a range of units.
What makes a coffee scale a good coffee scale?
There are two mandatory features to look out for when perusing coffee scales.
There are a multitude of other functions, but Ill go into that later.
The most integral is high accuracy.
The standard accuracy on most coffee scales is 0.1g.
If you see anything at 0.2g or above, skip it.
Its not going to be good enough.
0.1 of a gram can actually massively change the flavor of espresso.
The second most important is a timer.
Youneeda timer if you want to ensure your coffee grind is correct.
Too slow, and your grind is too fine bitter and burnt.
Too fast, and your grind is too coarse weak and watery.
Once youve got those necessities down pat, youll want to start looking at extra features.
The$110 Felicita Arcscale has an IPX5 rating, meaning it can survive splashes and cleaning.
However, it is $110 and takes some serious brain-energy to master.
My favorite scales
Its unfair of me to tell you what coffee scale is right for you.
We all have different needs and different tastes.
I can, however, tell you what I think suits different styles.
If youre a solely expresso-focused drinker, youd be best off with the Mestri House Mini scale.
This scale is you guessed it mini, which means it can fit on espresso drip trays.
This scale looks good for the money and performs like a much pricier product.
My perfect V60 routine
