Can anyone recommend an inexpensive scale for weighing coffee?

I've looked on Espresso Parts and on scales.com, and found them both difficult to search. Accuracy is often not spec'ed. Most of what I've found is either +/-2 gram or super accurate and expensive or just doesn't tell you. I'm looking for something that will be accurate to +/-0.1 gram and run in $25-60 range.

Thanks!

Searching eBay on 500+digital+scale will yield pages of choices costing less than $15, shipping included. I prefer the ones that use AAA batteries because the replacements are cheaper and easier to find. One minor caveat: Not all of the eBay ads state how long before the scale turns off automatically. If you're taring the cup for brew ratio comparisons, the scale may turn off before the extraction completes. Some scales have a 1-3 minute timeout, others have a 30 second timeout.

The 500g scale at Harbor Freight for ~$18 in store / ~$10 on line is accurate to ±0.1g
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/...f?Itemnumber=93543

It also has a counting mode for those who prefer to dose by bean count rather than weight.

I ordered a 1kg scale with stated 0.1g accuracy for $11.00 USD shipping included from http://www.dealextreme.com
I haven't received it yet - 2 weeks for delivery. Hoping its better than the Salter scale I have now - only 0.5 g accuracy.

doug

I enjoy using a Proscale with a touch screen. Click Here. It comes in both 250 and 500 gram capacities. Very easy to use.

Received the 1kg 0.1 gram accuracy scale yesterday. It is a small unit approx 3" wide x 4" long. It will accommodate a filter basket or other small container. It has a 3 min auto shut off and tare function and runs on 2 AA batteries.
I was reading the Basket Overdosing thread yesterday and Ken Fox mentions this scale.

I bought the same one direct from HK on eBay. Cheaper base price, but then I paid extra for shipping, so Ken's link is a better deal. The shipping from China was fast though.

Just used it for the first time this morning, works like a charm. With a bit of balancing (made easier by using the scale cover as a tray), I can put the whole empty portafilter on the scale and tare that, so no need to remove the basket for weighing.

HB wrote:Searching eBay on 500+digital+scale will yield pages of choices costing less than $15, shipping included. I prefer the ones that use AAA batteries because the replacements are cheaper and easier to find. One minor caveat: Not all of the eBay ads state how long before the scale turns off automatically. If you're taring the cup for brew ratio comparisons, the scale may turn off before the extraction completes. Some scales have a 1-3 minute timeout, others have a 30 second timeout.

Dan makes a good point. I bought a scale from Costco that has a timeout of less than 30 seconds and it is completely useless for coffee.

There are a lot of these things out there and the ones that I have bought have all been decent. All of this stuff is being made in China, and probably most of them will have similar components. You could even decide to buy two of them at a cheap price with the expectation that nothing electronic that costs $12 is going to last too long. These are disposable electronic devices, but if you can get a year out of it, then who cares?

ken

Here is the one I use, and there is the US market equivalent I guess.


EDIT: it's a little more expensive then $11, but comes with 2-year warranty.

EDIT2: look for my post on 6 december 2007 before you eventually buy it (oh no, don't buy it....)