Best Espresso Scales UK 2026: Budget to Premium Picks

Not sure which setup is right for you?

If there's one accessory that transforms espresso from guessing to science, it's a scale. Not an expensive one. Not a fancy one. Just a scale with 0.1g precision that lets you weigh your coffee in and your espresso out.

Without a scale, you're trying to dial in espresso by feel. "About 18 grams" varies by 2-3 grams depending on who's scooping. That variation completely changes your shot. With a scale, you know exactly what you're working with. When something goes wrong, you can troubleshoot systematically rather than randomly changing variables.

We've tested dozens of coffee scales at different price points. Here are the three we recommend, from budget to premium.

The ultra-budget pick: Bemece Digital Coffee Scale - £20

The Bemece Digital Coffee Scale proves you don't need to spend serious money to get serious functionality. At under £20, this scale offers everything most home baristas need: 0.1g precision, built-in timer, and surprisingly good build quality.

What makes the Bemece special at this price is the IPX6 waterproof rating. Coffee scales live on drip trays and under portafilters, getting splashed constantly. Cheaper scales die from water ingress within months. The Bemece shrugs it off.

The rechargeable battery charges via USB-C, which means one less set of AAAs to worry about. Response time is adequate for pour-over and good enough for espresso, though not as instant as premium scales. The display is clear and the buttons are responsive.

Where it falls short: the auto-off timer can interrupt longer brewing methods, and the weighing surface is slightly smaller than some alternatives. Neither is a dealbreaker at this price.

Who should buy it: Beginners who aren't sure if they'll stick with espresso, budget-conscious buyers who need a capable scale without premium pricing, and anyone who's killed a cheap scale with water damage.

The value champion: Timemore Black Mirror - £45

The Timemore Black Mirror hits the sweet spot between budget and premium. This is the scale recommended most often in home barista communities, and for good reason: it does everything well without charging for features you don't need.

Response time is noticeably faster than budget scales. When you're watching grams tick up during extraction, that responsiveness matters. You can actually stop the shot when you hit your target rather than overshooting because the display is lagging.

Build quality feels substantial. The rubberised coating survives spills and the rechargeable battery lasts weeks of daily use. The timer integration works seamlessly, starting automatically when weight is added. The display is bright and readable from coffee-making distance.

Timemore also makes the Black Mirror Basic (around £30) and the Black Mirror Nano (around £65) for those who want even more compact sizing or faster response. The standard Black Mirror represents the best balance for most users.

Where it falls short: no Bluetooth connectivity, which matters if you want to log shots to an app. The auto-off function can occasionally annoy during longer processes.

Who should buy it: The majority of home espresso enthusiasts. It's the scale we recommend most often because it performs excellently without unnecessary premium pricing.

The premium choice: Fellow Tally Pro - £220

The Fellow Tally Pro is for people who want the absolute best and are willing to pay for it. This is the scale you'll see on specialty coffee YouTube channels and in high-end home setups.

Response time is exceptional. The display updates genuinely in real-time, making precision pours and exact stopping points achievable. When competitions are won by grams, this matters. For most home use, it's a luxury rather than a necessity.

The design is pure Fellow: minimal, beautiful, and thoughtfully engineered. The heat-resistant silicone pad protects the weighing surface from hot cups and portafilters. The rechargeable battery and USB-C charging are standard at this price.

The Tally (without "Pro") offers similar precision at around £85 if you don't need the faster response time. Both are excellent; the Pro just pushes performance further.

Where it falls short: the price. The Timemore at £45 captures 90% of the Tally Pro's functionality at 20% of the price. You're paying premium for that final 10% of performance and the Fellow design aesthetic.

Who should buy it: Enthusiasts who want the best regardless of price, those who appreciate Fellow's design language, and anyone chasing competition-level precision. If you have to ask whether you need this level of performance, you probably don't.

What actually matters in a coffee scale

Precision: 0.1g is the standard and what you need for espresso. Don't pay extra for 0.01g precision, as the variance in your own technique is larger than that measurement. Kitchen scales with 1g precision are inadequate for espresso dosing.

Response time: How quickly the display updates as weight changes. Budget scales lag noticeably; premium scales feel instantaneous. This matters most when stopping a shot at exactly 36g rather than 38g because the display was behind.

Timer: Built-in timers save reaching for your phone. Most coffee scales include them. Auto-start (timer begins when weight is added) is convenient but not essential.

Size: The scale needs to fit on your drip tray under the portafilter. Most coffee scales are designed with this in mind. Kitchen scales often aren't.

Water resistance: Scales near espresso machines get wet. Basic resistance to splashes extends lifespan considerably. IPX ratings indicate actual waterproofing.

Power: Rechargeable batteries beat disposables for convenience and environmental reasons. USB-C is the modern standard.

What about the Acaia Lunar?

The Acaia Lunar (around £200-250) deserves mention because it's the scale you'll see in specialty cafes worldwide. It's excellent: fast, precise, beautiful, with app connectivity and automatic shot timing.

However, for home use, we can't recommend it over the Fellow Tally Pro or even the Timemore Black Mirror. The Lunar's cafe workflow features don't translate to home environments, and the price premium over the Tally Pro isn't justified by better performance. The Acaia Pearl (around £150) offers similar precision without the Lunar's compact footprint.

If you want Acaia specifically for the aesthetic or brand, that's valid. But for pure performance-to-price, the scales above serve home baristas better.

Our recommendation

For most people: the Timemore Black Mirror at £45. It does everything well, lasts for years, and leaves budget for better coffee beans.

For tight budgets: the Bemece Digital Coffee Scale at £20. Remarkably capable for the price, with genuine waterproofing that budget scales rarely offer.

For those wanting the best: the Fellow Tally Pro at £220. Exceptional response time and build quality in Fellow's signature design aesthetic.

How to use a scale for espresso

If you're new to weighing espresso, here's the basic workflow:

1. Place your portafilter (with basket) on the scale and tare to zero 2. Grind your coffee into the portafilter until you hit your target dose (typically 18g for a double shot) 3. Distribute, tamp, and lock into the machine 4. Place your cup on the scale and tare to zero 5. Start your shot and timer simultaneously 6. Stop the shot when you reach your target yield (typically 36g for a 1:2 ratio) 7. Record the time (aim for 25-30 seconds)

If shots are too fast (under 20 seconds), grind finer. If too slow (over 35 seconds), grind coarser. The scale provides the data that makes dialling in possible rather than guesswork.

Common questions about espresso scales

Do I really need a scale for espresso?

Yes. A scale is the single most important accessory for home espresso. Eyeballing doses produces inconsistent shots. Weighing your dose in (18g) and yield out (36g) removes all guesswork and lets you troubleshoot systematically.

What precision do I need for espresso?

0.1g precision is standard and sufficient. Some premium scales offer 0.01g but this level of precision isn't necessary for espresso: your own technique variance is larger than the measurement difference.

Can I use a kitchen scale for espresso?

Most kitchen scales lack the precision (they show whole grams only) and response time needed for espresso. A £20 dedicated coffee scale beats a £50 kitchen scale for this purpose.

Do I need a built-in timer?

Helpful but not essential. Most espresso scales include timers, which saves reaching for your phone. If your machine has a shot timer, any scale works fine.

How long do coffee scales last?

With reasonable care, 3-5+ years. Water damage is the main killer of budget scales. Rechargeable batteries typically outlast the scale itself.

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