Best Coffee Scales with Timer (2026)
Coffee scales with timers that America's Test Kitchen, Serious Eats and Bon Appétit recommend for pour-over and espresso.
Quick answer: my top pick is the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0 (best overall). America's Test Kitchen's winning coffee scale.
- Best for ratio brewing: Hario Polaris Coffee Scale
- Best no-frills: OXO Brew Precision Scale with Timer
- Best for espresso: Acaia Lunar
- Best premium pour-over: Fellow Tally Pro
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At a glance
| Product | Max capacity | Readability | Power | Auto-start timer | Price at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0Best overall | 2,000 g | 0.1 g | Rechargeable | Yes (auto mode) | Check price for Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0 |
| Hario Polaris Coffee ScaleBest for ratio brewing | 2,000 g | 0.1 g | 3× AA | Yes | Check price for Hario Polaris Coffee Scale |
| OXO Brew Precision Scale with TimerBest no-frills | ~6 lb (about 2.7 kg) | 0.1 g | 4× AAA | No | Check price for OXO Brew Precision Scale with Timer |
| Acaia LunarBest for espresso | 2,000 g | 0.1 g | USB-C rechargeable | Yes (flow-triggered) | Check price for Acaia Lunar |
| Fellow Tally ProBest premium pour-over | 2,500 g | 0.1 g | USB-C rechargeable | Yes (Brew Assist) | Check price for Fellow Tally Pro |
Prices aren't shown because they change often; “Check price” opens the current listing. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
The short answer
For most home brewers, the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0 is America’s Test Kitchen’s winner. It’s accurate, responsive and rechargeable, and its power switch won’t get bumped on by accident. If you like brewing by ratio, the Hario Polaris (Serious Eats’ top pick) works out your target water weight and shows your progress as a percentage. If you want weight and a timer with no extra modes, the no-frills OXO Brew Precision Scale does both well. For espresso, the compact Acaia Lunar fits on a drip tray. For a premium pour-over scale, Bon Appétit picks the Fellow Tally Pro.
How I picked
I did not test these scales myself. I compared published hands-on guides from America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, Bon Appétit and CNN Underscored, and kept one scale for everyday pour-over, one for ratio brewing, one no-frills option, one espresso drip-tray scale and one premium pour-over scale. I favored 0.1 g readability, a built-in timer and a footprint that matches the brew method.
Specs I compared (from this page)
| Pick | Max capacity | Readability | Power | Auto-start timer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0 | 2,000 g | 0.1 g | Rechargeable | Yes (auto mode) |
| Hario Polaris | 2,000 g | 0.1 g | 3× AA | Yes |
| OXO Brew Precision Scale | ~6 lb (about 2.7 kg) | 0.1 g | 4× AAA | No |
| Acaia Lunar | 2,000 g | 0.1 g | USB-C rechargeable | Yes (flow-triggered) |
| Fellow Tally Pro | 2,500 g | 0.1 g | USB-C rechargeable | Yes (Brew Assist) |
Figures above come from the product specs already listed on this page. If a detail is not published there, I mark it Not listed rather than guessing.
Which scale fits you
- Most home pour-over and drip: Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0, ATK’s winner.
- You brew by ratio and want a percentage-of-target display: Hario Polaris. Serious Eats also found it slim enough to sit under a portafilter.
- Just weight and a timer, nothing else: OXO Brew Precision Scale. The timer is manual, and Serious Eats noticed a one- to two-second lag.
- Espresso on a drip tray: Acaia Lunar. It is too small for most pour-over carafes.
- Premium pour-over, not espresso: Fellow Tally Pro. It will not fit on a drip tray.
What to look for
- 0.1 g readability. Essential for espresso doses and helpful for pour-over. Every pick here reads to 0.1 g.
- Response speed. A laggy readout leads to over-pouring. Serious Eats noticed a one- to two-second lag on the OXO.
- Auto-start timer. One less button to press mid-brew.
- Footprint. Check that it fits your setup: a carafe on top shouldn’t hide the screen, and an espresso scale has to fit the drip tray.
- Heat and spill protection. Silicone mats (Timemore, OXO) protect the electronics from hot carafes and drips.
Pair it with
Weighing matters most when your grind is consistent. See my burr grinders for pour-over under $100 and espresso grinders under $200, and pour precisely with a gooseneck kettle. Keep the beans you weigh fresh with one of my coffee canisters for storing beans.
A scale pairs well with one of my pour-over coffee drippers.
Pulling espresso shots at home? Compare my espresso machines for beginners.
My picks in detail
1. Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0
by Timemore
- Max capacity
- 2,000 g
- Readability
- 0.1 g
- Power
- Rechargeable
- Auto-start timer
- Yes (auto mode)
America's Test Kitchen's winning coffee scale. ATK found it sleek, responsive, accurate and sensitive enough for pour-over. It has a built-in timer and an auto mode, plus a side power switch so it doesn't switch on by accident. It has a rechargeable battery and comes with a silicone mat that protects it from heat.
- Accurate and responsive in ATK's testing
- 0.1 g readings up to 2 kg
- Rechargeable battery
- Side power switch prevents accidental power-on
- Extra features rely on button combinations (a cheat sheet is included)
- ATK tested the Basic 2.0; check which Black Mirror model the listing is for
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
2. Hario Polaris Coffee Scale
by Hario
- Max capacity
- 2,000 g
- Readability
- 0.1 g
- Power
- 3× AA
- Auto-start timer
- Yes
Serious Eats' best coffee scale overall. It's large enough for a pour-over and slim enough to fit under an espresso portafilter. Its ratio mode works out your target water weight and shows your progress as a percentage, and the timer can start automatically when you begin pouring. It runs on three AA batteries.
- Ratio mode with percentage-of-target display
- Auto-start timer
- Registered a single bean (0.1 g) in Serious Eats' test
- Fits both pour-over and espresso setups
- Digits are smaller than some rivals', so it's harder to read from a distance
- Uses AA batteries rather than a built-in rechargeable
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
3. OXO Brew Precision Scale with Timer
by OXO
- Max capacity
- ~6 lb (about 2.7 kg)
- Readability
- 0.1 g
- Power
- 4× AAA
- Auto-start timer
- No
The budget pick from both Serious Eats and CNN Underscored. You get weight and a timer, and that's it: on/off, tare and a one-press timer. Its higher capacity of about 6 lb means it can double as a kitchen scale. It comes with four AAA batteries and a dishwasher-safe silicone mat.
- Very simple to use out of the box
- Higher capacity (about 6 lb) than most coffee scales
- Full-coverage silicone mat that's easy to clean
- Batteries included
- Dim display in bright light
- Responds a second or two slower than premium scales
- Timer is manual only
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
4. Acaia Lunar
by Acaia
- Max capacity
- 2,000 g
- Readability
- 0.1 g
- Power
- USB-C rechargeable
- Auto-start timer
- Yes (flow-triggered)
Serious Eats' pick if you mainly pull espresso shots. It's compact enough to sit on a drip tray and thin enough for a 3.5-inch cup to fit under the portafilter. In its auto-tare mode the timer starts when espresso begins to flow and stops when the shot ends. It charges over USB-C.
- Small enough for an espresso drip tray
- Auto-tare plus flow-triggered timer for shots
- Large, bright screen
- USB-C rechargeable
- Expensive
- Too small for pour-over carafes, which can hide the display
- So sensitive that a wobbly counter can trigger auto-start
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
5. Fellow Tally Pro
by Fellow
- Max capacity
- 2,500 g
- Readability
- 0.1 g
- Power
- USB-C rechargeable
- Auto-start timer
- Yes (Brew Assist)
Bon Appétit's best pour-over scale, and a strong performer for Serious Eats too. It has a bright screen and three clear controls. In Brew Assist mode you set a ratio, and the timer starts when it senses water. It can weigh up to 2.5 kg and charges over USB-C.
- Brew Assist ratio mode with auto-start timer
- Bright, easy-to-read display
- 2.5 kg capacity
- USB-C rechargeable
- Costs about twice as much as the Hario Polaris
- Too large for an espresso drip tray
- Serious Eats measured about 13 hours per charge, shorter than Acaia's
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Price and stock can change. Availability and shipping vary by region; links go to US stores.
Frequently asked questions
Why use a coffee scale instead of scoops?
Scooping by volume is inconsistent. Serious Eats says weighing your coffee and water is the only reliable way to keep the same ratio from cup to cup. A coffee scale reads in 0.1 g steps and has a timer, which a kitchen scale usually doesn't.
What is an auto-start timer?
The scale starts timing as soon as it senses weight being added, so you can start pouring without pressing a button. The Hario Polaris, Timemore (in auto mode), Acaia Lunar and Fellow Tally Pro all offer it. The OXO's timer is manual.
Can one scale do pour-over and espresso?
Some can. Serious Eats found the Hario Polaris big enough for pour-over yet slim enough to sit under a portafilter. Dedicated espresso scales like the Acaia Lunar are too small for most pour-over carafes, and large pour-over scales like the Tally Pro won't fit on a drip tray.
Rechargeable or batteries?
It's a matter of preference. Rechargeable scales (Timemore, Acaia, Fellow) save on batteries but need charging. The Fellow ran about 13 hours per charge in Serious Eats' test. AA- and AAA-powered scales (Hario, OXO) just need a fresh set now and then.