Best Espresso Scale (2026): 6 Picks for Every Drip Tray and Budget

The best espresso scale is the one that fits under your cup, reads to 0.1g and times the shot without you juggling a phone. That sounds simple, but scales differ a lot in size, timer behaviour and water resistance, and those differences matter more on an espresso machine than on a kitchen counter.

This guide covers six espresso scales sold on Amazon US, from a basic dose scale to app-connected flow-rate scales, plus one premium option sold direct. We haven’t tested these scales ourselves. The picks are based on manufacturer and retailer specifications (linked at the end) and on what matters for home espresso: fit, timing and readability. If you’re still deciding whether you need one at all, start with do you need an espresso scale?.

Espresso scales compared

Scale	Size (listed)	Capacity	Timer	Water resistance	App
Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0	Check listing	Check listing	Yes, with auto mode	Not listed	No
Bookoo Themis Mini	80 × 80 × 15 mm	1,000 g	Yes, auto mode	IPX4	Yes
Bookoo Themis Ultra	127 × 112 × 18 mm	2,000 g	Yes, 4 modes	IP67	Yes
Maestri House S2	105 × 105 × 20 mm	Check listing	Yes, auto and manual	Not listed	No
Timemore Basic Mini	Compact (check listing)	Check listing	Yes, espresso and pour-over modes	Not listed	No
Greater Goods 750 g	5.7 × 3 × 0.7 in	750 g	No	Not listed	No
Acaia Lunar (direct)	105 × 105 × 15 mm	2,000 g	Yes, auto-start modes	Water-resistant aluminium	Bluetooth

All readings are 0.1 g as listed by each maker or seller. “Check listing” means we couldn’t confirm a figure from a manufacturer source.

What makes a good espresso scale

It fits under the cup

This is the one that catches most people out, especially on Breville machines with short drip trays. Measure from the drip tray to the bottom of the portafilter, subtract your cup height, and leave a little room to slide the cup in and out. Our low-profile espresso scales guide walks through the measurement step by step.

It reads to 0.1 g and responds quickly

Espresso doses are around 18 g and yields around 36 g, so a 1 g error is a big change. Every pick here reads to 0.1 g. Response speed matters too: a laggy scale makes you overshoot your target yield.

The timer starts with the shot

An auto timer that starts when liquid hits the cup saves you pressing two buttons with wet hands. It’s the single most useful feature after accuracy. See how to use an espresso scale for the full routine.

It survives drips

Espresso scales live under a hot, dripping group head. A water-resistance rating (IPX4 for splashes, IP67 for much more) is worth having if you’re clumsy or pull a lot of shots.

The best espresso scales

1. Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0

Best overall value

For most home baristas, this is the sweet spot: a proper coffee scale with a built-in timer and automatic mode, at a mid-range price. Complete Home Barista names the Black Mirror Basic as its best budget option for espresso timing.

Key specs (manufacturer and retailer figures)

• 0.1 g readability
• Built-in timer with automatic mode
• USB-C rechargeable

What’s good

• Timer and auto mode cover most espresso routines
• Rechargeable, no coin batteries
• A popular, well-documented scale

Watch out for

• Check the size against your drip tray before buying
• No app or flow-rate graph
• Not marketed as waterproof

2. Bookoo Themis Mini

Best smart scale for small drip trays

The Themis Mini packs app connectivity and flow-rate tracking into an 8 cm square body, which makes it one of the few smart scales that can fit on compact machines. Its auto mode tares when you place the cup, starts timing at the first drip, then shows brew time and average flow.

Key specs (manufacturer and retailer figures)

• 80 × 80 × 15 mm, 1,000 g capacity
• 0.1 g readability, 0.1 g/s flow rate
• IPX4 splash resistance
• Up to 24 hours per charge, USB-C
• Works with the Bookoo app, Beanconqueror and others

What’s good

• Small enough for many tight drip trays
• Real-time flow rate for dialling in
• Auto mode is genuinely hands-free

Watch out for

• Pricier than the non-app scales
• 1,000 g capacity is low for pour-over kettles
• IPX4 is splash-resistant, not waterproof

3. Bookoo Themis Ultra

Best waterproof smart scale

The Ultra trades the Mini’s small size for an IP67 rating, a 2,000 g capacity and a much longer battery. It’s a strong choice if your drip tray is large or you also brew pour-over.

Key specs (manufacturer and retailer figures)

• 127 × 112 × 18 mm, 2,000 g capacity
• IP67 water and dust protection
• Weight, Flow, Ratio and Auto modes
• Up to 72 hours per charge
• Works with or without an app

What’s good

• IP67 is the best water protection in this guide
• Big capacity also suits pour-over
• Long battery life

Watch out for

• Too wide for many compact drip trays, so measure first
• Larger than most espresso-only users need

4. Maestri House S2

Best budget scale with a timer

The S2 combines weighing and timing in a square, rechargeable body. It’s also covered in our low-profile scales guide.

Key specs (manufacturer and retailer figures)

• About 105 × 105 × 20 mm
• Automatic and manual timing
• Rechargeable battery

What’s good

• Low price for a scale with a timer
• Simple to use

Watch out for

• Square footprint may not fit very narrow trays
• No app or flow rate

5. Timemore Basic Mini

Best compact multi-mode scale

Timemore describes the Basic Mini as a compact scale with regular, espresso and pour-over modes, including automatic timing. Pick it if you’ll actually use those modes.

Key specs (manufacturer and retailer figures)

• Regular, espresso and pour-over modes
• Automatic timing features
• Compact footprint (check the listing for the exact size)

What’s good

• Smaller than the Basic 2.0
• Modes for both espresso and pour-over

Watch out for

• More modes to learn
• Confirm the exact version and size the seller offers

6. Greater Goods 750 g

Cheapest way to weigh your dose

If you mainly want to weigh beans or grounds and can time shots another way, this small scale does the job for very little money.

Key specs (manufacturer and retailer figures)

• 750 g capacity, 0.1 g increments
• 5.7 × 3 × 0.7 in
• Lid doubles as a weighing tray

What’s good

• Very low price
• Slim

Watch out for

• No timer
• Low capacity
• Not designed for use under a portafilter

Premium alternative: Acaia Lunar

The Acaia Lunar is the scale many cafés and enthusiasts use. Acaia lists it at 105 × 105 × 15 mm with a 2,000 g capacity, a water-resistant anodised aluminium body, auto-start timer modes, Bluetooth and 30 to 40 hours of battery, with a 2-year warranty that covers water damage. It’s sold direct by Acaia rather than on Amazon US, and costs far more than the picks above, so we’d only consider it if you want café-grade build quality.

Which should you buy?

• Most people: Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0.
• Small Breville drip tray and you want an app: Bookoo Themis Mini.
• You want it waterproof, or you also brew pour-over: Bookoo Themis Ultra.
• Tight budget, still want a timer: Maestri House S2.
• You only want to weigh your dose: Greater Goods 750 g.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best espresso scale for a Breville?

Measure first. Compact scales such as the Bookoo Themis Mini and the scales in our low-profile guide are the best bet for small Breville drip trays. Larger scales like the Themis Ultra may not fit.

Do I need a scale with a timer?

It helps a lot. Shot time is one of the three numbers you use to dial in, alongside dose and yield. A scale with an auto timer lets you track all three without extra hands.

Can I use a kitchen scale for espresso?

Only if it reads to 0.1 g and fits under your cup. Most kitchen scales read to 1 g and are too big, which makes them fine for weighing beans but poor for weighing the shot.

Is a waterproof espresso scale worth it?

If you pull several shots a day, yes. Drips and rinsing are constant around a group head. IPX4 handles splashes; IP67 handles much more.

Related guides

• Low-profile espresso scales
• How to use an espresso scale
• Do you need an espresso scale?
• Espresso brew ratios explained
• Why does my espresso taste sour?

Sources

• Kaffeemacher, Bookoo Themis Mini specifications
• Kaffeemacher, Bookoo Themis Ultra specifications
• Acaia, Acaia Lunar product page
• Complete Home Barista, Best scale for espresso timing
• Maestri House, Timemore and Greater Goods specifications as listed in our low-profile scales guide
• Amazon US listings checked October 2026