Why use a coffee scale

Is every espresso a surprise? One time perfect, the next a sour shot? This blog is here to help!

When I (Jasper) first started as a home barista, I never thought I’d use a coffee scale for every espresso. But soon enough, I ran into issues; each espresso tasted different. So, how do you get consistently great coffee at home?

Thanks to Hugo, I discovered the power of a coffee scale.

In this blog, I’ll share why weighing coffee matters, how to do it for consistently delicious espresso, and what to look for when choosing a coffee scale.

Ready? Let’s go!

What is a coffee scale used for?

The answer is simple: to dial in your grinder. Without weighing and timing your espresso, it’s impossible to know if your extraction is spot on. This is why it is key to great tasting coffee at home!

Factors like humidity, temperature, the freshness of your beans, or switching between single and double shots affect the grind settings requered. Even if you grind for the exact same amount of time, the grind will be different. These things impact the taste of your espresso!

The only way to get consistency and control over the taste of your espresso is to weigh your coffee. This helps you to adjust your grinder. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult!

There are just three key variables you need to know before we start.

The three variables of espresso

A basic espresso recipe has three variables:

  • Ground coffee
  • Shot time
  • Espresso yield

Every time you pull an espresso, use your coffee scale to measure how much coffee you’ve ground. Then, time how long it takes to extract the desired amount of espresso.

With this info, you’ll brew consistently delicious espresso. If one of these variables changes, adjust your grinder’s grind size.

How? Keep reading!

Using a coffee scale

Now that you know what to look for, using your scale is simple. We recommend always pulling a double shot because it’s easier to get a good extraction. Plus, switching between single and double often wastes coffee, as you’ll need to readjust your grinder each time.

The basic recipe we recommend for the three variables is:

  • 18 grams of ground coffee
  • Shot time between 25 and 30 seconds
  • 36 grams of espresso in your coffee cup within that time

What does this brewing process look like in practice? We’ll break it down into three steps:

1. Weighing your ground coffee

Barista coffee scale timer basic
  1. Turn on your coffee scale.
  2. Place your portafilter on the scale.
  3. Use the tare function to reset the weight to zero.
  4. Grind your coffee and weigh until you reach the desired amount (Use a dosing ring to avoid any mess!).

Distribute the coffee evenly with a WDT tool and/or a coffee distributor, then tamp it firmly.

2. Measuring shot time and yield

Barista coffee scale timer basic
  1. Place your portafilter in the espresso machine.
  2. Set the scale with your espresso or cappuccino cup under the portafilter.
  3. Use the tare function to reset the weight to zero.
  4. Start your espresso machine and the timer on the scale.
  5. Let your espresso flow until you reach the desired weight in your cup, then stop the timer.

3. Analyzing and adjusting your grinder

Barista holding a Coffee Dosing Tray from barista-Essentials using it to pour coffee beans into a Niche coffee grinder

Follow the basic recipe and adjust your grind size.

Did you get 36 grams of espresso in more than 30 seconds? Coarsen the grind.

Did you get 36 grams in under 25 seconds? Finer grind needed.

Once you’ve got this down, you’ll have a great foundation to start experimenting with different ratios and finding your perfect recipe based on taste!

Must-have features for a coffee scale

A coffee scale has four unique features compared to a standard kitchen scale. These features make it easy to measure everything you need when making espresso.

A coffee scale:

  • Measures with 0.1 gram precision
  • Has a built-in timer
  • Comes with a tare function
  • Is splash-proof

If you’re looking to buy a coffee scale, make sure it meets these basic requirements! There are also mini scales and scales with automatic timers available, but a basic scale will cover almost everything.

Tools used in this blog:

Check out our shop for all the tools you need to get started! 💪☕

Got questions? Feel free to reach out! And still looking for a coffee scale? Check out our collection and start improving your espresso skills today!

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