Shortlist · Scales and weighing
Best espresso scales with a timer and 0.1 g readout
Two rechargeable espresso scales with timers and 0.1 g steps: which to order for your drip tray, and what listings do not prove.
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Any scale that reads in 0.1 g steps, has a timer and fits on your drip tray will do the job. MHW-3BOMBER's rechargeable 2 kg scale is the brand-store pick; the unbranded 3 kg scale is the one to choose if you also weigh larger brews. All specifications here are the sellers' claims, and we found no accuracy figure on either listing. If you would rather buy a named brand on Amazon, TIMEMORE's Black Mirror Basic 3.0 is an option, but we have not read a TIMEMORE spec for it, so check its figures before you rely on them.
Best brand-store scale for espresso
MHW‑3BOMBER rechargeable espresso scale (2 kg / 0.1 g)
Pick it if: Weighing dose and yield on most home espresso machines
- Why it's here
- Rechargeable, with a timer, 2 kg capacity and 0.1 g steps (the seller's figures). Sold by a store named MHW-3BOMBER Official Store; the brand also sells scales on its own site.
- Watch out
- We found no accuracy or repeatability figure on the listing, so treat 0.1 g as the display step. A smaller 3.0 mini pro is also sold; compare its dimensions with your drip tray.
- Basket size family (listed)
- 51 · 53-54 · 58
- Workflow step
- weighingSeller claim
- Measured basket fit diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size label
- Not stated
Values are from our research unless marked.
Best for espresso plus larger brews
Rechargeable coffee scale with timer (3 kg / 0.1 g)
Pick it if: Readers who also brew pour-over or weigh larger amounts
- Why it's here
- 3 kg capacity with 0.1 g steps, a timer and USB charging (the seller's figures), so one scale can cover espresso and pour-over.
- Watch out
- An unbranded scale from a general store; accuracy is unverified. Check its dimensions against your drip tray before ordering.
- Basket size family (listed)
- 51 · 53-54 · 58
- Workflow step
- weighingSeller claim
- Measured basket fit diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size label
- Not stated
Values are from our research unless marked.
Which model to order for your setup
A scale has no machine-specific fit, but it does have to fit your machine's drip tray, with a cup on top, under the portafilter. Measure the tray's width and depth and the gap from the tray to the bottom of the portafilter before you order.
| Your setup | Order | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso only, on a machine with a small drip tray | MHW-3BOMBER 3.0 mini pro | The smaller of MHW-3BOMBER's two models by name; compare its listed dimensions with your tray first |
| Espresso only, standard drip tray | MHW-3BOMBER 3.0 pro, black or white | 2 kg capacity and 0.1 g steps (the seller's figures), from a store named MHW-3BOMBER Official Store |
| Espresso and pour-over | 3 kg rechargeable scale | 3 kg capacity (the seller's figure), 1 kg more than MHW-3BOMBER's 2 kg |
| Bottomless portafilter, little clearance | Whichever is thinner on the listing | Every millimeter under the basket counts; measure with your cup in place |
How we chose
- 0.1 g steps. At the 18 g dose Breville gives for the Bambino, one step is about half a percent of the dose; at the Dual Boiler's 22 g dose it is less.[1][2]
- A built-in timer, so weight and time read together.
- Rechargeable, with no batteries to buy.
- A brand-store option. MHW-3BOMBER's scale comes from an AliExpress store named MHW-3BOMBER Official Store (the name alone does not show the brand runs it), and the brand sells scales on its own site too.[3] The 3 kg scale is unbranded and sold by a general store; we name the store on the pick so you know who you are buying from. The TIMEMORE is sold on Amazon, where other 'Basic 3' listings come from other sellers, so check that the seller is TIMEMORE or Amazon.com.
- Checked on 2026-10-06 with US shipping. Capacity, readability and features are the sellers' claims; we have not checked accuracy.
What the numbers on a listing mean
Readability is not accuracy. Acaia's manual for its Lunar scale lists readability (0.1 g), repeatability (0.1 g) and linearity (one 0.1 g step) as separate specifications.[4] Read the "0.1 g" on the two AliExpress listings as the display step. We found no repeatability or linearity figure on either, and a scale can read in 0.1 g steps and still drift.
That still makes them useful for espresso. What you need most is consistency from shot to shot on the same scale: weigh, note the number, and compare. In Socratic Coffee's tamping study, brew weight drove the differences in strength (TDS), so the weight in the cup is the number to track.[5] The ratio calculator turns your dose into a target yield.
Water
Espresso drips onto whatever sits under it. We found no water-resistance rating for any of these scales, and even Acaia's Lunar manual gives none and says to clean the scale with a soft cloth and warm water only.[4] Wipe spills promptly and keep the charging port dry.
Skip these if
- Your kitchen scale already reads in 0.1 g steps and fits on your drip tray.
- You need a published accuracy figure. We found none for any of these scales.
- Your drip tray is too small for the dimensions on the listing; measure first.
For more on readability, repeatability and accuracy, see espresso scale accuracy vs resolution and the scales overview.
Questions
Is 0.1 g resolution enough for espresso?
Yes for home use. At the 18 g dose Breville gives for the Bambino, one 0.1 g step is about half a percent. Remember that resolution is not accuracy: Acaia lists readability, repeatability and linearity separately.[1][4]
Why weigh the shot instead of timing it?
Because the amount of espresso in the cup changes its strength. In Socratic Coffee's tamping study, brew weight, not tamp force, drove the differences in TDS. Time is still worth noting alongside weight, which is why both picks have a timer.[5]
Are these espresso scales waterproof?
We found no water-resistance rating for any of them, so wipe spills promptly. Even Acaia's Lunar manual gives no rating and says to clean the scale with a soft cloth and warm water only.[4]
Will the scale fit under my portafilter?
Measure two things first: the drip tray's width and depth, and the gap from the tray to the bottom of the portafilter with a cup in place. Then compare them with the dimensions on the listing.