Best Coffee Scales Under $50
The best coffee scales under $50 depend on the brew method, the platform size and how many extras you want, such as a timer, flow rate or a ratio calculator. This page ranks every scale at that price on the same criteria, with a comparison of resolution, battery and rechargeable designs, and espresso-sized and pour over platforms.
How this list is ordered
Ranked by arithmetic, not opinion. Every score is worked out from the specifications each maker publishes, so you can open the working on any product page. Anything commercial is labelled and sits outside that order, and how we score explains what each criterion measures.
Coffee Scales Under $50, ranked by score
scored on what the maker publishesOpen a row for the score working1
ERAVSOWEspresso Coffee Scale with TimerFrom $19.999.1How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution9.5Build Quality & Water Resistanceweakest link7.5water resistance not publishedcarries 18 of the 67.4 points scoredTimer & Brewing Features9.0Ease of Use & Display9.1display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$19.99Score9.1Readability0.1gMax capacity2000gBuilt-in timerYesAuto-tareYesRead the ERAVSOW Espresso Coffee Scale with Timer review →2
Maestri HouseS3 Pour Over ScaleFrom $28.798.6How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution10.0Build Quality & Water Resistanceweakest link4.5water resistance not publishedcarries 18 of the 67.4 points scoredTimer & Brewing Features8.0Ease of Use & Display9.1display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$28.79Score8.6Readability0.1gMax capacity3000gBuilt-in timerYesRead the Maestri House S3 Pour Over Scale review →3
Greater GoodsGreater Goods Coffee Scale with TimerFrom $29.998.4How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution10.0Build Quality & Water Resistance9.2water resistance not publishedTimer & Brewing Features5.5Ease of Use & Displayweakest link5.0display, power onlycarries 12 of the 67.4 points scoredValue for Money10.0Price from$29.99Score8.4Readability0.1gMax capacity3000gBuilt-in timerYesRead the Greater Goods Coffee Scale with Timer review →4
BAGAILBAGAIL Coffee Scale with TimerFrom $19.998.3How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution10.0Build Quality & Water Resistanceweakest link5.0water resistance not publishedcarries 18 of the 67.4 points scoredTimer & Brewing Features6.0Ease of Use & Display9.1display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$19.99Score8.3Readability0.1gMax capacity3000gBuilt-in timerYesAuto-tareYesRead the BAGAIL Coffee Scale with Timer review →5
Maestri HouseS2 Espresso ScaleFrom $27.078.3How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution9.5Build Quality & Water Resistance7.0water resistance not publishedTimer & Brewing Featuresweakest link5.5carries 14 of the 67.4 points scoredEase of Use & Display9.1display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$27.07Score8.3Readability0.1gMax capacity2000gBuilt-in timerYesRead the Maestri House S2 Espresso Scale review →6
KitchenTourCoffee Scale EK6002From $19.998.1How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution10.0Build Quality & Water Resistanceweakest link5.0water resistance not publishedcarries 18 of the 67.4 points scoredTimer & Brewing Features6.0Ease of Use & Display7.3display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$19.99Score8.1Readability0.1gMax capacity3000gBuilt-in timerYesAuto-tareYesRead the KitchenTour Coffee Scale EK6002 review →7
Maestri HouseS1 Mini Espresso ScaleFrom $37.967.7How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution9.5Build Quality & Water Resistanceweakest link4.5water resistance not publishedcarries 18 of the 67.4 points scoredTimer & Brewing Features5.5Ease of Use & Display7.3display, power onlyValue for Money9.6Price from$37.96Score7.7Readability0.1gMax capacity2000gBuilt-in timerYesRead the Maestri House S1 Mini Espresso Scale review →8
NKOVENKOVE Coffee Scale with TimerFrom $16.997.7How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution10.0Build Quality & Water Resistance5.0water resistance not publishedTimer & Brewing Featuresweakest link4.0carries 14 of the 67.4 points scoredEase of Use & Display7.3display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$16.99Score7.7Readability0.1gMax capacity3000gBuilt-in timerYesAuto-tareYesRead the NKOVE Coffee Scale with Timer review →9
WISHSOMWISHSOM Coffee Scale with TimerFrom $9.997.7How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution10.0Build Quality & Water Resistance5.0water resistance not publishedTimer & Brewing Featuresweakest link4.0carries 14 of the 67.4 points scoredEase of Use & Display7.3display, power onlyValue for Money10.0Price from$9.99Score7.7Readability0.1gMax capacity3000gBuilt-in timerYesAuto-tareYesRead the WISHSOM Coffee Scale with Timer review →10
HarioV60 Drip ScaleFrom $47.147.3How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution9.5Build Quality & Water Resistanceweakest link4.5water resistance not publishedcarries 18 of the 67.4 points scoredTimer & Brewing Features5.5Ease of Use & Display6.8display, power onlyValue for Money7.7Price from$47.14Score7.3Readability0.1gMax capacity2000gBuilt-in timerYesRead the Hario V60 Drip Scale review →11
LAYBIRDMagAttach Air Coffee ScaleFrom $49.997.3How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution8.0Build Quality & Water Resistance6.7water resistance not publishedTimer & Brewing Features7.5Ease of Use & Displayweakest link5.0display, power onlycarries 12 of the 67.4 points scoredValue for Money7.3Price from$49.99Score7.3Readability0.1gBuilt-in timerYesAuto-tareYesRead the LAYBIRD MagAttach Air Coffee Scale review →12
SubminimalSubScale Digital Dosing CupFrom $49.955.1How it scored
Accuracy & Resolution5.0Build Quality & Water Resistance5.0water resistance not publishedTimer & Brewing Featuresweakest link3.5carries 14 of the 67.4 points scoredEase of Use & Display9.1display, power onlyValue for Money5.1
What to know about Coffee Scales Under $50
A coffee scale turns a recipe into something you can repeat. Weigh the beans, weigh the water, watch the clock, and the cup tastes the same on Tuesday as it did on Sunday. You do not need to spend much to do it: a working scale with a timer costs less than a bag of good beans. What you do need is the right one for how you brew. A pour over scale wants a big platform and a timer. An espresso scale has to fit on a drip tray. Twelve scales are ranked above, from about ten dollars to just under fifty, and the sections below sort them into a decision.
Big platform, timer
You need room for a server or a mug, a timer for the bloom and a capacity that covers the water you pour. Flow rate is a bonus.
Small, thin, fast
The scale sits under the cup on a drip tray, so size and height matter more than capacity. A quick response and a built-in timer help you reach the target weight.
Plain and cheap
For weighing beans and water for a press or a drip machine, a basic scale with tare and a timer is enough.
How to choose a coffee scale under $50
Match the platform to the brew method, then check the resolution, the timer and the power source. Past that, extras like flow rate and a ratio calculator are nice but rarely essential.
Decide what the scale sits under
A server or kettle needs a platform of about 130mm. A cup on an espresso machine needs a scale of around 100mm or less, and low enough to leave room under the spout. This one decision rules out most of the list.
Check the resolution
Almost every scale here reads to 0.1 g. That is the figure that matters for a dose and a shot. The next section explains why, and the coffee scale resolution guide goes deeper.
Look at the timer
A timer that starts when you add water is easier than one you start by hand. A timer that counts up and down covers bloom, extraction and shot timing. See our guide to brewing by weight for how the clock and the numbers work together.
Check capacity and power
3000g is the usual ceiling here, and 2000g is enough for a cup and a shot. A rechargeable battery saves buying cells. Disposable cells are fine if they are included.
Do you need a 0.1 g coffee scale?
For espresso, yes. For pour over, 0.1 g is nice and 1 g is workable. At this price you rarely have to choose, because nearly every scale here reads to 0.1 g.
An espresso dose of 18 g moves the shot noticeably if it is off by half a gram, so tenths of a gram are worth having. A pour over of 300 g of water is forgiving to a gram. The good news is that the ERAVSOW, BAGAIL, KitchenTour, NKOVE, WISHSOM, Maestri House S1, S2 and S3, Greater Goods and Hario V60 scales all resolve to 0.1 g. Several state the 0.1 g reading from a minimum weight, 0.3 g or 0.5 g, so tiny doses may not register. The exception is the Subminimal SubScale, which weighs grounds in a dosing cup and states no resolution. The LAYBIRD MagAttach Air states 0.1 g but no capacity. Always check the figure the maker leaves out.
Coffee scale timer, flow rate and brew modes
A timer is essential. Flow rate and brew modes are conveniences that help pour over beginners. Only three scales here show flow rate, and one of them costs under $20.
See your pour speed
The ERAVSOW, Maestri House S3 and LAYBIRD show flow rate in real time, so you can pour at a steady pace instead of guessing. The ERAVSOW has four modes and an automatic timer start. The S3 has three modes and automatic start in both automatic ones.
Let the scale do the math
The Maestri House S3 lets you set a ratio from 1:1 to 1:18 and works out the target water weight. The LAYBIRD shows the brew ratio. The ratio is easier to hit with a calculator in the scale, and our coffee to water ratio guide covers the numbers.
Auto start or manual
The NKOVE and WISHSOM have a timer you start by hand. That is fine once you are in a routine, and a nuisance in the middle of a pour. Auto start is on the ERAVSOW and S3.
Backlit or not
The Greater Goods and KitchenTour have backlit displays, which helps on a dim morning counter. Most of the rest use plain LED readouts. The Subminimal hides its display until you touch it.
Espresso scales: which coffee scale fits under an espresso machine?
The Maestri House S1 Mini and S2 are the two small scales built for a drip tray. The LAYBIRD changes size, and the rest are best kept for pour over.
Small enough for a drip tray
The Maestri House S1 Mini is 95mm across, 19mm thick and weighs 295g. The S2 is 105mm square, 20mm thick and 340g, on a borosilicate glass top. Both read to 0.1 g, recharge, and hold 2000g, which is plenty for a cup and a shot. The LAYBIRD MagAttach Air goes small for espresso and adds a magnetic aluminium platform for a full server.
Too big for most machines
The Greater Goods platform is 133mm and the WISHSOM 132mm, which suits a pour over server better than a drip tray. The others do not publish their dimensions. The ERAVSOW is sold as an espresso scale but states no size, so measure your drip tray before you order any of them.
Rechargeable or battery coffee scales
Rechargeable is neater, and battery is cheaper to start. If you pick battery, check that cells are included and how soon the scale shuts itself off.
The ERAVSOW, Maestri House S1, S2 and S3, BAGAIL and Subminimal are rechargeable. The ERAVSOW and S2 charge by USB-C, and the ERAVSOW gives 13 hours of continuous use. The KitchenTour, NKOVE and WISHSOM run on disposable batteries. The KitchenTour and WISHSOM include them, and the KitchenTour shuts itself off after 120 seconds, which is short if you weigh in stages. The Hario drip scale has an auto-off after five minutes that, Hario says, does not trigger while the timer runs. That is the failure mode that ruins a brew halfway through, and a good feature to have. For more weighing advice, our pour over guide shows where the scale fits.
Coffee scale problems and drawbacks to check
Scales at this price are good at the basics. The problems are missing specs, cheap surfaces and a hand-started timer.
ABS and silicone
The BAGAIL and S1 Mini have ABS platforms, the cheapest material here. The Greater Goods has a silicone cover that comes off for the dishwasher. The ERAVSOW and S2 use borosilicate glass, which wipes clean.
Figures the maker leaves out
The LAYBIRD states no capacity. The Subminimal states neither resolution nor capacity. For a scale those are the two figures that matter, so be careful.
Usually thin
Greater Goods gives five years, which is the longest here. Maestri House and Hario give one year. Many others publish no warranty term at all.
Small catches
The BAGAIL asks you to remove four plugs from under the platform before first use. The Hario weighs and times only, with no modes or ratio, and tops out at 2000g.
Coffee scales by budget: under $25 and under $50
Prices as checked when this page was written. The ranked list at the top of the page shows each one's current price.
| Budget | Scales | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25 | WISHSOM, NKOVE, ERAVSOW, BAGAIL, KitchenTour | 0.1 g resolution and a timer. The ERAVSOW adds glass, flow rate and four modes. The BAGAIL recharges. The KitchenTour has a backlit LCD. |
| About $25 to $50 | Maestri House S3, Greater Goods, Maestri House S2, Maestri House S1 Mini, Hario V60, LAYBIRD, Subminimal | A ratio calculator, a five-year warranty, espresso-sized platforms or a brand name. The Hario and Subminimal are the priciest for what they include. |
Where most people should stop
The WISHSOM, NKOVE, BAGAIL and KitchenTour all read to 0.1 g up to 3000g. The ERAVSOW goes further with glass, four modes and a flow rate readout. Spend here first, because the extras above this level are mostly convenience.
Pay for fit, not for more of the same
The S3 adds a ratio calculator and the Greater Goods adds a backlit display, a five-year warranty and a silicone cover. The S1 Mini and S2 add the espresso footprint. Compare scales under $100 if you want to see where the next level starts.
Which coffee scale should you buy?
Pick by how you brew. Every scale named below is in the ranked list above, which has current prices.
You pour over and want help with pace and ratio
The Maestri House S3 sets a ratio from 1:1 to 1:18, shows flow rate and starts the timer for you, at 3000g capacity and 0.1 g resolution. The ERAVSOW is the cheaper alternative with four modes and a glass top, though it holds 2000g.
You pull espresso on a small drip tray
The Maestri House S1 Mini is the smallest, and the S2 has a glass top at a lower price. The LAYBIRD suits someone who also pours over, since the extension platform turns it into a larger scale.
You want the cheapest scale that does the job
The WISHSOM and NKOVE read to 0.1 g up to 3000g with a manual timer. The KitchenTour adds a backlight, and the BAGAIL recharges, for the same money as the ERAVSOW.
You want a long warranty and a messy-counter cover
The Greater Goods gives five years, a backlit display, a count-up and count-down timer and a dishwasher-safe silicone cover. It has no flow rate or brew modes, which is the trade.
You brew on a V60 and want a scale made to match
The Hario drip scale is slim and its auto-off will not interrupt the timer, but you pay for the brand and it holds only 2000g.
Pair the scale with a good kettle. Our gooseneck kettles under $100 guide covers that, and the full coffee scales category lists every model we have reviewed.
Coffee Scales Under $50 FAQ
What is the best coffee scale for pour over?
Look for a platform wide enough for your server, a timer, and 0.1 g resolution. Flow rate and a ratio calculator help beginners hold a steady pour. Scales with a timer that starts when the water lands are easier to use than ones you start by hand.
Do you need a coffee scale with 0.1 g resolution?
For espresso, yes, because a half gram off a dose changes the shot. For pour over a 1 g scale works, but 0.1 g costs little more and nearly every scale at this price reads to it. Check the minimum weight, as some start reading at 0.3 g or 0.5 g.
Will a coffee scale fit under my espresso machine?
Only a small one will. Scales around 95 to 105mm across and about 20mm thick or less are made to sit on a drip tray. A pour over scale with a 130mm platform will not fit. Measure the space between your drip tray and the portafilter spout before you buy.
Are rechargeable coffee scales better than battery ones?
Rechargeable scales save you buying cells and usually charge over USB. Battery scales cost less and some include the batteries. The thing to check on either is the auto-off: a scale that shuts down in 120 seconds can lose your weight in the middle of a brew.
Do I need a coffee scale with a built-in timer?
Yes, if you pour over. The timer lets you track the bloom and the full brew without a phone. A timer that starts on its own once water touches the platform is easiest. Some timers only start by hand, which is fine once you are used to them.
What does flow rate mean on a coffee scale?
Flow rate is how many grams of water you add per second. It shows whether your pour is steady or rushed. It is mostly useful for pour over, and only a few scales in this price range display it.
Can a kitchen scale be used for coffee?
It can weigh beans and water, but most lack a timer, 0.1 g resolution and a fast response. A coffee scale adds a timer and tenths of a gram for roughly the same cost. For an occasional French press a kitchen scale is fine.
How much should a coffee scale cost?
A scale with 0.1 g resolution and a timer is available for under $25. Paying up to $50 gets you extras such as flow rate, a ratio calculator, a glass platform or a thin espresso design. Past that, you are mostly paying for the brand.