Affiliate disclosure: GrindTally may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and specs are checked against manufacturer sources — see our methodology note at the bottom.
Every scale in our verified dataset reads to 0.1 g and weighs up to 2000 g — so accuracy is not what separates them. What separates the Acaia Lunar ($225–$250) from the Hario V60 Drip Scale ($55–$70) is format and features: the Lunar is a 105 × 105 × 15 mm water-resistant espresso scale with auto-tare, auto-timer espresso modes, and a flow-rate display, while the Hario is a full-size brew scale with a built-in timer for pour over. This page is launching with two fully documented scales rather than five half-documented ones — two popular budget models are named below but held out of the table until their manufacturer specs verify.
The verified shortlist
| Scale | Best for | Max capacity | Readability | Timer | Price band (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hario V60 Drip Scale | Pour over / brewed coffee | 2000 g | 0.1 g | Built-in | $55–$70 |
| Acaia Lunar | Espresso | 2000 g | 0.1 g (0.01 g high-resolution display mode) | Auto-timer espresso modes + flow-rate display | $225–$250 |
Price bands verified 2026-10-20 against manufacturer and retailer listings.
Held out, on purpose
Two scales shoppers will know — the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 ($55–$80 band) and the Weightman Espresso Scale ($13–$22 band) — are not ranked here yet. Their dataset rows are on hold: dimensions, battery, and warranty (Timemore) and the manufacturer’s own product page (Weightman, a marketplace-only brand) are unverified. Their headline capacity and readability figures circulate widely, but we don’t publish specs we haven’t verified at the source. When they clear, this page gains a real budget tier — we’d rather show you the gap than hide it.
What the extra $175 buys (our calculation)
Using band midpoints — Lunar $237.50, Hario $62.50 — the Lunar costs 3.8× the Hario, a $175 difference. Here is exactly what that buys, per manufacturer specs:
| Hario V60 Drip Scale | Acaia Lunar | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | Full-size brew platform (dimensions not published in verified sources) | 105 × 105 × 15 mm, 265 g — sized for a drip tray |
| Display modes | Weight + timer | Weight, auto-tare, auto-timer espresso modes, flow-rate display |
| Resolution | 0.1 g | 0.1 g, with a 0.01 g high-resolution display mode |
| Body | Not published in verified sources | Water-resistant anodized aluminum |
| Power | Not published in verified sources | Li-ion 1100 mAh, 30–40 hrs, USB-C |
| Connectivity | None published | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Warranty | Not published in verified sources | 2 years (US/EU), 1 year elsewhere |
The honest read: if you brew pour over on a counter, the Hario’s published specs already cover the job. The Lunar’s premium buys espresso-specific behaviour — drip-tray size, water resistance, auto-start timing, and flow-rate feedback.
The picks, by buyer
Best brew scale — Hario V60 Drip Scale ($55–$70). 2000 g capacity, 0.1 g readability, and a built-in timer: the complete published spec set for pour over and batch brewing. Battery, display, and dimension details were not published in the manufacturer material we pulled, so we don’t state them. Note that Hario’s scale lineup has newer models — confirm the exact model name on the listing before buying.
Best espresso scale — Acaia Lunar ($225–$250). The most complete spec record in our entire dataset, pulled from Acaia’s own product page: 105 × 105 × 15 mm, 265 g, water-resistant anodized aluminum, auto-tare and auto-timer espresso modes, flow-rate display, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging with 30–40 hours per charge, and a 2-year US/EU warranty.
How we chose
Scales are ranked on manufacturer-published capacity, readability, timer/mode set, footprint, and body — plus verified US price bands. Two models are publicly held out pending verification (above). We never rank a product on specs copied from marketplace listings alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee scale?
In our verified dataset: the Hario V60 Drip Scale ($55–$70) for brewed coffee and the Acaia Lunar ($225–$250) for espresso. Both read to 0.1 g with 2000 g capacity — the choice is format and modes, not accuracy.
Do I need a 0.1 g scale for coffee?
Every scale in our dataset reads to 0.1 g, including the $55–$70 Hario. At typical doses (15–60 g), 0.1 g resolution is the standard this category publishes — you don’t need to pay a premium just to get it.
Why does the Acaia Lunar cost so much more?
Per Acaia’s specs: a 105 × 105 × 15 mm water-resistant aluminum body that fits a drip tray, auto-tare and auto-timer espresso modes, a flow-rate display, a 0.01 g high-resolution display mode, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 2-year US/EU warranty. Our midpoint math puts it at 3.8× the Hario’s price.
What’s the difference between an espresso scale and a brew scale?
Footprint and modes. Espresso scales (Lunar) are small enough for a drip tray and add auto-timer and flow-rate modes; brew scales (Hario) are full-size platforms with a timer, sized for a dripper and carafe. Our espresso and pour over scale guides split the two jobs properly.
How much weight capacity do I need?
2000 g — the max capacity of both scales here — covers a full pour over setup (dripper + carafe + water) and any espresso dose. Capacity is rarely the limiting spec in this category.
What is flow-rate display on a scale?
A live readout of how fast liquid is landing (in the Lunar’s case, per Acaia’s spec sheet, alongside its auto-timer espresso modes). It’s feedback for pour speed in both espresso and pour over — a feature tier above a plain timer.
Is the Timemore Black Mirror a good budget pick?
We can’t rank it yet — honestly. Its dataset row is on hold because its dimensions, battery, and warranty aren’t verified from the manufacturer’s spec sheet. Its circulating headline figures (2000 g, 0.1 g) match this category, but we verify before we rank.
Do coffee scales need a timer?
For repeatable brews, a timer is the second number that matters after weight. Both scales here include one — built-in on the Hario, auto-starting espresso modes on the Lunar.
Are expensive scales more accurate?
Not on published specs: both scales here publish 0.1 g readability. The Lunar adds a 0.01 g high-resolution display mode. Price in this category buys build, size, water resistance, and modes — not a better headline readability figure.
Why does this page only list two scales?
Because only two rows in our dataset currently meet our verification standard, and two more are on hold (named above). We publish the list we can stand behind and expand it when the specs verify — not before.
Methodology
Specs come from manufacturer-published material cross-checked on 2026-10-20 — the Acaia Lunar’s record is pulled in full from acaia.co. Price bands are typical US retail ranges verified on the same date. The 3.8× comparison is our arithmetic on band midpoints. Models whose manufacturer specs we could not verify (Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2, Weightman Espresso Scale) are excluded from ranking and named openly. GrindTally does not claim hands-on testing it hasn’t done.