If you are in the market for a new coffee scale (or other coffee equipment), you might have come across Acaia coffee scales. There are two things that jump out right away with Acaia:
- Their products have a beautiful design
- Their products are expensive
In this post we’re going to help answer some questions you might have about the Acaia brand and whether or not it is right for you. We will focus on the Acaia coffee scales but check out more Acaia products at the link at the bottom of this post.
First, why should you listen to us? Well we have no ties to Acaia and as you can see throughout this site, we do have some experience reviewing scales. It’s kind of what we do. Through our testing and research we’ve learned a lot about the Acaia brand and think we can help make your buying decision more informed.
Table of Contents
What is Acaia?
Acaia is a company that specializes in coffee brewing equipment known for their design and technology. Their coffee scales work with apps on smartphones to provide unmatched control of your coffee brewing experience. Their scales, and other equipment, are also designed in a sleek and modern way that leans into a minimalist look. Many consider Acaia to be one of, if not THE, top coffee scale brand available.
Why are Acaia coffee scales so expensive?
Starting at $150 and going all the way up to $270, Acaia scales are not cheap. At one of the highest price points in the coffee scale market, why are they so expensive?
This might seem obvious, but these scales cost a lot to manufacture. And that is for a few reasons:
- The load cell: This is the part of the scale that measures weight and Acaia uses a very accurate load cell. This means it’s extremely sensitive to changes in weight and super responsive when measuring.
- Bluetooth/apps: Bluetooth compatibility and a selection of apps are not included in most coffee scales. The apps can be used to track stats, personalize brewing modes and include recipes. There are also 3rd party apps available that can be used with Acaia scales.
- Design/features: Acaia scales both look great and include a wide array of features. Rechargeable battery, timers, super responsive weight measures are all features that set these scales apart.
Is an Acaia coffee scale worth it?
Ah, now this is where the debate really starts. And the answer to this question is “it depends”.
Let’s take a look at five different personas and see if the Acaia scale is worth it for each persona. Hopefully you can find a persona that is representative of you and use this to help decide the answer for yourself.
At the end of the day, Acaia scales are not worth it for everyone. It depends on what you value and need for your specific situation and setup. If you value top-end products or know you will use some of the extra features an Acaia scale includes, it is a great piece of equipment. If you are just looking for something to accurately weigh coffee or espresso, there are more economical options out there that can meet your needs. Check out our list of best coffee scales that covers a range of scales and their features.
Can Acaia Pearl be used for espresso?
Yes it can. Acaia actually has a scale specifically designed for espresso, the Acaia Lunar. But the Acaia Pearl can fit on some espresso machines and can be used for weighing/timing espresso pulls.
It should be noted the Acaia website warns against placing the Acaia Pearl on wet surfaces, so the drip tray should be dried before placing the scale on it.
Which Acaia scale is best?
Well, here again we run into the answer “it depends”. The Acaia Pearl is designed for coffee and the Acaia Lunar is designed for espresso so this isn’t necessarily an “apples to apples” comparison. The table below captures pertinent information for each type of scale (newest models only) to help inform your buying decision.
Acaia Apps
As mentioned, Acaia scales are Bluetooth compatible and Acaia offers apps you can download to your smartphone to use with the scale. Here is a quick overview of the Acaia official apps, but there are also 3rd party apps available that can be used. From our research, most users prefer to use 3rd party apps.
Brewguide
This app lets users create their own coffee brewing recipes and find other recipes to upload to their Pearl S scale. Available for iOS and Android.
Available for Pearl Model S
Brewmaster
Saves your brewing information for you and logs your brews with visual graphs to track your brews. Available for iOS and Android.
Available for Pearl Model S, Pearl, Lunar and Pyxis
Brewbar
Allows users to create recipe brewing prints from previous brews to accurately replicate your favorite brew. Available for iOS and Android.
Available for Pearl Model S, Pearl (newest model), Lunar (newest model) and Pyxis
Acaia Coffee
Record and save multiple brewing prints and keep track of different coffee you’ve tried. Available for iOS and Android.
Available for all
Acaia Updater
Keeps the software updated. Available for iOS and Android.
Available for all
You can find all the latest information on Acaia, their products and updates at the Acaia website.