Home-Barista.com

IntrepidQ3 wrote:Since Rich mentioned AC power would be needed for reliability, would the acaia be able to provide this reliability?

The auto-off is customizable (defaults to 5 minutes) and it has a micro-usb charger that plugs into the wall. The battery lasts a long time, and when low you can plug it in and keep using it while it charges back up.

$129 is a bit pricy. I used to use dirt cheap AWS scales but they never lasted very long. I'm hoping for better longevity out of the Acaia, but I've had it less than a year.

erics wrote:Another nice scale is the Hario V60 available from several coffee outlets - the pic is courtesy of Sweet Maria's.
It is good to 0.1 grams and has a timer.

Yep, I have this scale too (digital scale addict?). This on is even smaller than the Acaia and feels a bit more fragile. I used it for brewing until I got the Acaia. Now I use the Acaia for every thing, roasting, brewing, espresso shot weighting/timing, chocolate making,..

Right, the free up app on iOS and Android always gives you the readings even if the internal display is covered, however, I rarely use it as I like the very logical manual controls a lot that. That way I am faster then if I would first pull out my phone and start that app.

An HB member posted news of a crazy good price on the Bonavita scale (IIRC around $32). I ordered two. The wait time for delivery was over a month. They're AC ready with an included transformer and easy to use. They have a timer, but it only counts up. It would be nice if you could set the time and have it count down. Other than that quibble, it's a handy scale that's easy to keep clean and accommodates everything from a basket to a portafilter. It's nice not to have to worry about auto-shutoffs or replacing batteries.

erics wrote:Another nice scale is the Hario V60 available from several coffee outlets - the pic is courtesy of Sweet Maria's.

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It is good to 0.1 grams and has a timer.

I switched to the Hario after several years of using a cheap .1g scale and purchasing other fails. It's, by far, the best money spent on a scale to date. I also can't imagine a need for any others since it can help with all coffee preps. It even sits well under the pf while pulling a shot. The great thing about this scale is that it's platform does not go out of balance when weighing. So, you can either center the PF on the scale or even have part of the handle hanging off of it. You'll get the same weight reading regardless of how you seat the item. This is not true for other scales I've used. Shot timer included? Yes, please. This scale is a win-win.

Yes, it runs on batteries only, but it doesn't auto-off. The short auto-off timers of the scales I've used forced me to work quickly if my prep flow was off. Resetting after an auto-off can be a PITA. An auto-off happening while pulling a shot is the most annoying. I don't have a problem with shutting it off when I'm done.

I have been using the Bonavita BV2000SC. for about 8 or 9 months. It is designed to be able to be used for pour-over. The mechanism is exceptional and when "between" .1 gram points that display will change back and forth like a balance scale will before settling (although in far less time), and the response time in general is very fast. It runs on batteries or AC (wall wart included). Capacity is 3kg. My review is HERE.

Now Dan and Randy have me thinking, as always. The hario looks like a nice scale but I
need to keep the fiancé happy and think about aesthetics. So the front runners are the Bonavita and Acaia.

I think it'll really will come down to if I feel I really want to go high tech. I will need to see what kinda power and additional information I can get from Acaia being linked to a tablet/phone. I will need to really look into this.

HB wrote:An HB member posted news of a crazy good price on the Bonavita scale (IIRC around $32). I ordered two. The wait time for delivery was over a month. They're AC ready with an included transformer and easy to use. They have a timer, but it only counts up. It would be nice if you could set the time and have it count down. Other than that quibble, it's a handy scale that's easy to keep clean and accommodates everything from a basket to a portafilter. It's nice not to have to worry about auto-shutoffs or replacing batteries.

I guess the $32 deal is out of stock today...was it in stock just yesterday? Hopefully it comes back as I've been looking to upgrade my pocket scale which always seems to have problems with battery contacts.

Sorry, no, it was months ago. Occasionally you'll see Amazon deals like this where the product is shipped directly from the manufacturer, hence the long lead times for delivery.

IntrepidQ3 wrote:Now Dan and Randy have me thinking, as always. The hario looks like a nice scale but I
need to keep the fiancé happy and think about aesthetics. So the front runners are the Bonavita and Acaia.

As long as you realize you're not buying the best tool for the job so much as accessorizing your coffee experience. Which is fine. Most of us do it, too. There's no need to blame your preference for a designer scale on your fiancé.

But for heaven's sake, listen to Dan (and me) and buy a scale that won't shutoff automatically. Get AC. It's not a question of reliability, but one of convenience and the recognition that not only does stuff happen, but that it happens at exactly the wrong time.

I think it'll really will come down to if I feel I really want to go high tech. I will need to see what kinda power and additional information I can get from Acaia being linked to a tablet/phone.

None. If you're going to spend more than $30 on a coffee scale, at least put the extra money where it will bring some benefit.

FWIW, La Marzocco uses a $20 AWS in its "Chef Steps with Scott Callendar" home barista training videos. I have two AWS scales. I bought the first one, a battery-only model five years ago and it's still going strong. The other, battery + AC, I've had for three years and it's the one I use everyday on my "bench" without issue.

If you want accuracy, reliability and ruggedness at a reasonable price, get a Jennings or a My Weigh.

Rich

I have one of the Bonavita scales, with the drip tray and stand, at work, and I really like using it for pour-overs.

I don't really have space for something like that on my coffee bar at home, so I stick with one of the American Weigh scales, which I find to be a great value for the money. Their longevity is not as good (in part because I occasionally spill liquids on them), but they are so cheap that I just buy a couple so that I always have a spare. Having a spare also means that I can keep one in the roasting room and not have to bother bringing it back and forth every time I roast.

The Acaia is pretty, but it is too big for my coffee bar, and I don't need all of its trickery just for roasting. If I didn't have the Bonavita already set up at work I might have picked one up to try.