Kitchen scale vs. espresso scale
For filter coffee, a kitchen scale is genuinely enough. For espresso, four specific differences make it frustrating.
| Aspect | Digital scale | Espresso scale |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Typically 1 g — ample for a 500 g brew | 0.1 g, which matters on an 18 g dose |
| Response time | Often lags a second or more | Fast enough to stop a shot at a target weight |
| Fits under a portafilter | Frequently not | Designed to |
| Survives being dripped on | Depends entirely on the model | Usually sealed or coated |
| Enough for filter brewing | Yes, completely | Yes, and the extra precision does nothing there |
Which should you choose?
Do not buy an espresso scale to brew filter coffee — 0.1 g on a 500 g brew is theatre. Do buy one if you are dialling in espresso and your kitchen scale lags, does not fit, or has already been ruined by a spill.