Overview of the Acaia Lunar
If you spend any amount of time reviewing espresso scales online, you will likely come across the Acaia Lunar coffee/espresso scale. In some ways, this is a polarizing scale. Proponents say it is worth the high price tag due to its features and quality. Opponents say it is ridiculous to spend so much on a scale when there are other options available for so much less.
We went ahead and purchased one ourselves so we could provide an in-depth Acaia Lunar review to help you decide if this scale is worth it. We purchased the 2021 version of the scale (there are older versions that might not have all the features and functionality we discuss here).
This review will consider both sides of this paradigm. And just to give a quick spoiler of where we land on this in the end, it really depends on how you intend to use the scale. So in this review we will look at what intentions make this scale a must-buy and what intentions make this scale a pass.
Jump to conclusion and recommendations
Acaia Background
If you’re not familiar with the Acaia brand in general check out our article covering all Acaia scales.
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.
For more information on Acaia and to checkout their full assortment of products, visit the Acaia website.
Espresso Scale Considerations
Before we review the Acaia Lunar in depth, we need to answer the question: What criteria make a good espresso scale? And then we can see how the Acaia Lunar stacks up against each criteria.
Accuracy & Precision
Although they might seem like synonyms, accuracy and precision actually have two different meanings. Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true or actual value. Precision refers to how close measurements of the same item are to each other.
An espresso scale needs to be accurate because the ratio of water to grounds is so important to the final product. Likewise, an espresso scale needs to be precise because you want a very consistent final product every single time you use a scale to make espresso.
Size
One of the best ways to accurately measure an espresso extraction is to put the scale directly on the drip tray of the espresso machine. Since most drip trays don’t have a lot of room to begin with, a scale must be small enough to fit onto it.
Please note – there is no universal size for espresso machine drip trays so there is no universal size for espresso scales. However, for the vast majority of espresso machines the Acaia Lunar will fit just fine. More on this below.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness refers to the time it takes for the coffee scale to register a change in weight. The faster (better) the response time, the more accurate the brew can be.
If a scale has a lag (or poor responsiveness), the espresso will continue to pour past the weight you want. This can quickly take a shot from a nice extraction to a bitter drink.
Waterproof/Temperature Resistance
Water resistance is typically achieved through either special padding on the weighing platform and consideration for parts of the scale that might be prone to water damage. Features such as a silicone cover for the power port help contribute to better water resistance.
Temperature can also impact a scale’s accuracy. For espresso scales, another consideration should be a temperature resistant pad that can prevent fluctuations in temperature impacting the accuracy of the measurement.
Extras
Many espresso scales also come with extra functions like auto-timers, auto-taring, different modes amongst other utilities. This is where some espresso scales can really stand out against the competition and as you’ll see below this is where the Acaia Lunar really shines.
Acaia Lunar Review
Now that we know what we are looking for in an espresso scale, we are ready to move on to our actual review of the Acaia Lunar. Here we will breakdown all the parts and functions of this scale, compare against the criteria listed above and ultimately provide our recommendation on whether we think this scale is worth it.
What’s Included with the Acaia Lunar
1 – The Box/Packaging
2 – The Scale
3 – The Power Cord
4 – The Calibration Weight
5 – Instructions/Stickers
6 – Heat Resistant Pad
7 – Non-Slip/Friction Reduction strips
Size and Design of the Acaia Lunar
At 4.13 x 4.13 x .16in (W/L/H) the Acaia is not a very big scale. This scale is specifically designed for espresso. So Acaia wisely chose to make the scale a size that fits on most espresso machines.
The Acaia brand is known for their slick and minimalist design and the Acaia Lunar is no exception. With minimal buttons, a clear display and sleek exterior, this is a scale your friends will admire. The display uses very easy to read numbers and indicators.
The scale is made out of anodized aluminum and is surprisingly sturdy. The durability of the Acaia Lunar paired with all the bells and whistles we’ll discuss below was a welcome surprise.
The one draw back we will call out is with only two buttons, they had to get creative with how to use those two buttons to operate the different functions. This means you have to learn and know the series of buttons to press to access the different modes, the timer, etc. It’s not a big deal once you learn it and there is always the option of using the app to control the scale (more on that below).
The scale is charged by a USB Type-C power cord. The charge seems to be really good too, we’ve been able to go a long time without charging again.
Accuracy and Precision of the Acaia Lunar
We have tested a lot of scales at bestfoodscale.com and the accuracy and precision of the Acaia Lunar is top-notch.
The scale can measure up to 2000g and the standard increment of measurement on the scale is 0.1g (it can also be changed to oz). A very cool feature of the Acaia Lunar is it can be programmed to actually measure to 0.01g as well. We don’t know why many people would need a coffee or espresso scale to go to the precision, but it’s definitely a feature that sets this scale apart.
As far as precision goes, this scale passed all tests we gave it with flying colors. It consistently weighed objects of light and heavy mass to the same measurement. It’s extremely sensitive to weight (more on that below with it’s responsiveness) making it ultra precise.
Responsiveness of the Acaia Lunar
Among the many great features of this scale, this criteria might be the one that sets it the most above the competition. This scale has a 20ms response time. To be honest, we don’t have the tools to test that ourselves so we do have to go off what they tell us with that number. But, we can confirm the response time feels instantaneous. Why is that important? The minute a drop hits this scale, it will register the weight which provides a more accurate measurement. When there is a delay in response time the liquid will continue dripping or pouring until the weight is registered on the scale.
Water and Temperature Resistance of the Acaia Lunar
The scale is made out of anodized aluminum and is billed as “water resistant”. This scale was clearly designed with espresso machines in mind and can handle the wet environment of being kept on the drip tray of an espresso machine. One little nitpick is the charging port does not have any sort of silicone cover. But the scale does have a 2 year warranty that includes water damage.
Since the scale comes with a heat resistant pad that sits nicely on top of the scale, there is not any concern for high temperatures impacting the measurements. The heat resistant pad also provides a nice friction-reduced surface to place items on.
Extras of the Acaia Lunar
We’ve look at all the basic criteria for espresso scales and we’re just scratching the surface of the Acaia Lunar. The extras category is pretty robust for 2 primary reasons: The included espresso modes and the Bluetooth connectivity and apps.
Let’s start with a recap of the espresso modes:
Mode 1: Weighing Mode
The basic mode of the Acaia Lunar lets you weigh items in grams. You can also enter the advanced settings menu to change the weighing unit to oz.
Mode 2: Dual Display Mode
This mode displays both the weight and a timer. In this mode, the timer is manually started and any taring needed is also manually done. This is a mode that could be used for many coffee brewing methods.
Mode 3: Timer Starts with Flow Mode
Time to take it up a notch for espresso enthusiasts. The next mode also displays both weight and the timer but in this mode the timer automatically starts when the scale detects the flow of espresso. The timer also automatically stops when the flow of espresso ends.
It should be noted that Acaia calls out this mode is designed for espresso and the trickle of an espresso shot as opposed to pouring water from a kettle like you would do for pour-over.
Mode 4: Auto-Tare Timer Starts with Flow Mode
Ignoring the excessive name of this mode, this mode will perform an auto-tare when a stable weight is detected and then auto-start the timer with the flow of espresso starts. The timer also automatically stops when the flow of espresso ends.
This mode is designed for baristas who are looking to measure the time of the shot starting from the first few drops of espresso.
Mode 5: Auto-Tare Auto-Start Timer Mode
This mode will start the timer and auto-tare when a stable weight is detected and continues the timer through the last drops of espresso when it will automatically end.
This mode is designed for baristas who are looking to measure the total time of shot including the pre-infusion time.
Mode 6: Auto-Tare Mode
In this mode, the scale will only perform the auto-tare without automatically starting the time. Once the cup is placed on the scale, the auto-tare will be performed.
Those are the modes that come standard on the Acaia Lunar. These modes provide a ton of value even if you don’t plan on using all of them.
Apps
Even with just the included espresso modes, the Acaia Lunar is an exceptional scale but Acaia takes it up one more notch by making their scales Bluetooth compatible. This means you can connect your scale to your phone and use apps (both from Acaia and third parties).
Why do you need an app for an espresso scale? Good question and the short answer is you probably don’t need an app. But let’s take a look at what these apps can do because while maybe not required, they do add a really cool element for espresso enthusiasts.
First – there are Acaia-created apps that can be downloaded for use with the Acaia Lunar. However, perhaps the biggest letdown of the Acaia brand is their own apps created for their scales. Most are not reliable or user friendly at all. The only one we will even mention in this Acaia Lunar review is the Brewmaster. We’ll take a look at a couple of 3rd party apps as well.
- Brewmaster: Allows you to create visualizations of your brewing using flow charts. Records brewing process, methods, notes, and coffee flavors. Our rating: 3/5
- Smart Espresso Profiler App: Also records and visualizes brews with the ability to automatically capture directly from the scale. Has a better user experience than the Brewmaster app. Our rating: 4/5
- BeanConqueror: Record and manage your brews and equipment. Track your beans, rate your brewing recipes and save all your preparation types. This is the best app we have found for coffee and espresso enthusiasts. Our rating: 5/5
Bestfoodscale.com Recommendation for Acaia Lunar
We hope we’ve provided enough relevant information for you to know whether the Acaia Lunar is right for you or not in our Acaia Lunar Review. At the end of the day, this scale is more than just a scale and is not for everyone. But it is a very impressive piece of equipment and for the right people can add a lot of value. We created the table below to capture our recommendations of who could benefit from this scale: