4 Solid Alternatives to the Acaia Lunar Digital Espresso Scale

If you are a home espresso maker, you need an accurate digital scale. A good scale lets you single dose your coffee beans and periodically check your grinder to confirm it is delivering the right dose. When pulling a shot you also want to make sure your final output of espresso falls within the correct ratio.

The top of the line of espresso scales is the Acaia Lunar. This scale is specially designed for espresso and includes an easy to read LED display with 1/10th or even 1/100th of a gram of accuracy. To be honest 1/100 of a gram is overkill for espresso but nice to have as an option. The scale is sized to sit directly on top of your drip tray and can be rinsed off in the sink.

The Acaia Lunar also includes a timing function that will automatically start once the first drop of espresso hits the cup. This is a nice convenience but not required. It is just as easy to use your phone or watch to time your shot, and you also have the added advantage of excluding the pre-infusion time.

The Acaia Lunar is clearly a well built and sturdy scale and uses a rechargeable battery which charges from a USB cable. It also comes in either silver, black, or white to match your coffee setup.

The only downside to this amazing scale is the price. At $250, this is a lot of money for a scale. So let's take a look at some more budget friendly but no less accurate alternatives.

Brewista Smart Scale II

The Brewista Smart Scale is about the same size as the Lunar. It measures 4.14” by 4.96” and .7” tall. It also comes with a removable waterproof silicone  tray.

The Brewista Smart Scale has the sleek and square look of the Lunar and offers high resolution accuracy to within 1/10 of a gram. The scale also features an auto time function which will start the timer when it detects the first drop of espresso. Unlike the Lunar, the Brewista does not offer app connectivity but does have six built-in modes of which five are for espresso and one for manual.

The Brewista Smart Scale has a built-in USB rechargeable battery and an MSRP of $89 which is a healthy savings over the Lunar.

Fuzion Coffee Scale with Timer

If you really want a scale with a built-in timer, then this scale gives you that feature. It has a nice silicon weigh surface which makes cleanup easy. Fast response and accurate to 1/10th of a gram gives you everything you need for weighing both beans and espresso shots. The built in timer does not automatically start. You need to manually start it by pressing a button on the front control face. But again this can be an advantage since you can decide when the shot actually starts.

The one downside to this scale is its size. It is 7.5" long (back to front) by 5.3" wide and 1.3" tall. This is a big scale so make sure your drip tray area is large enough for this to fit under. But at a price of $19, it's a great bargain.

Timemore Coffee Scale Smart Digital with Timer

If you really want the sleek looks of the Lunar but don't want to pay the price, take a look at this Chinese scale. It looks very similar to the Lunar and includes a timing function although it too must be manually started.

The scale is rechargeable and has an easy to clean silicon weigh area. It is also accurate to within 1/10 of a gram. It is larger than the Lunar at 6" deep by 5.1" wide (so not exactly square) and 1" tall. Make sure this scale will fit on the drip tray of your machine and will give enough clearance. But it is an elegant and modern looking scale.

The cost is $57 so you are seeing a significant savings versus the Lunar.

GreaterGoods Digital Pocket Scale

This is my personal espresso scale. It's cheap and effective. I've found it to be amazingly consistent and accurate to within 1/10 of a gram. I use it to weigh out beans as well as place under the portafilter to confirm my shot weight. While it is not waterproof, it wipes down very easily and even includes a protective cover which I put on before throwing it in the kitchen drawer.

The scale is very small and thin at just over .67" tall and should fit under nearly every brand and make of espresso machine. It's a very responsive scale that reacts instantly to changes in weight. It does not have a built in timer but I find that using my watch or phone is just as easy. It also lets me ignore the preinfusion time, which is typically not included in your total shot time.

Best of all, this scale is just $15. That leaves a lot of savings over the Lunar which means I have more money to buy coffee beans!

Conclusion

You can find some excellent espresso oriented digital scales that don't cost anywhere near the $250 Acaia Lunar. Just be sure to measure the space available on your espresso machine to make sure the scale you select will fit.

What do you think? Have some additional suggestions for a digital scale? Share your thoughts in the comments below.