Greater Goods Digital Coffee Scale with Timer

With the Greater Goods scale specifically, this is almost always an environmental issue rather than a defect. Reviewers identify two main culprits: vibrations from the floor or countertop (especially on uneven surfaces), and interference from nearby electronics. The scale is quite sensitive to both. Make sure you're using it on a solid, stable surface — not a wobbly table or near a running dishwasher. Keep phones and other electronics a reasonable distance away. Some users also report minor weight drift of less than 1g over time, which is normal for scales at this price point. If you're seeing large fluctuations, try fresh batteries — the scale has no low battery indicator, so dying batteries can cause erratic readings before it shuts off entirely.

Users report good battery life overall, getting several months of regular home use from a set of batteries. The main complaint isn't battery life itself — it's that there's no low battery indicator. The scale just dies unexpectedly, sometimes mid-brew, with no warning. Multiple reviewers flag this as the most frustrating aspect of the scale. The practical workaround is keeping spare batteries on hand. Some users wish it were rechargeable via USB-C instead of battery-powered, but at this price point, the battery approach keeps costs down.

It's designed to be waterproof and spillproof, and it comes with a removable silicone cover that protects the electronics from water and coffee splashes — which is inevitable during pour-over brewing. Reviewers confirm that spills are easy to clean up and the cover does its job. One note: while the silicone cover protects well, some users mention it can be difficult to clean thoroughly and tends to show stains over time, especially from coffee. It's not 'submerge it in water' waterproof, but it handles the everyday splashes and drips of coffee brewing without any issues.

Yes, with realistic expectations. The 0.1g precision is sufficient for dialing in recipes across all home brewing methods. The fast response time supports controlled pours. Physical buttons are what enthusiasts actually prefer over touch controls. And the timer integration supports proper brewing protocols. Where it falls short of premium scales: the refresh rate has a slight lag (experienced pour-over brewers learn to anticipate), there's no Bluetooth for logging recipes, and you can't calibrate it. But multiple enthusiast reviewers make the same point — this scale delivers 90% of what scales costing 4–10x more offer. Unless you're competing or need sub-0.1g accuracy, it's genuinely hard to justify the premium.

This comes up constantly in reviews of the Greater Goods scale — users specifically call out the physical tactile buttons as a major advantage. The reason is practical: when you're mid-brew with wet hands, steam rising, and water dripping, touch-sensitive controls on competing scales often misfire, don't register, or trigger from water droplets landing on the surface. Physical buttons work every time regardless of moisture. Twelve reviewers specifically praised this feature. It's one of those design choices that sounds minor on paper but makes a real difference when you're using the scale daily.

Yes, with a caveat. The 0.1g precision is sufficient for espresso dosing — measuring your 18g dose into a portafilter works reliably. Reviewers confirm using it for espresso without issues. However, for ultra-precise espresso work where you need sub-0.1g accuracy or a very fast refresh rate to track shot flow in real time, you'd want a dedicated espresso scale. The slight lag in readout that some users mention is fine for dosing but could be frustrating if you're trying to hit exact yield targets during extraction. For home espresso where you're dosing grounds and occasionally weighing output, it does the job well at a fraction of the cost of dedicated espresso scales.

The scale has a built-in timer with both count-up and count-down functionality. For pour-over, most people use the count-up mode — start the timer when you begin pouring and track total brew time alongside water weight on the same display. The two-tone LED display shows both simultaneously so you don't need to look at a separate device. A couple of reviewers note that switching between timer modes can feel slightly cumbersome, but once you settle into your preferred mode, it becomes second nature. The timer integration is one of the scale's strongest features — it eliminates the need for a separate phone timer or standalone timer, which simplifies your whole brewing setup.

This is a common concern with coffee scales, and the Greater Goods handles it well. It has a generous auto-shutoff delay that's long enough to get through a full brew without interruption. Reviewers specifically praise this, noting they haven't experienced the scale turning off mid-pour — a frustrating issue with many cheaper scales. The auto-shutoff still activates eventually to save battery life, but it gives you plenty of time to complete even a slow, methodical pour-over.

Yes — reviewers specifically mention compatibility with large brewers including the 10-cup Chemex. The flat, stable base handles the weight without wobbling, and the display remains visible even with a larger vessel sitting on top. The compact footprint works in the scale's favor here since it fits under most brewers without the edges hanging over. The timer is especially useful for pour-over since you can track both bloom time and total brew time while monitoring water weight, all without needing a separate device.

For coffee brewing, you want three essentials: 0.1g precision (critical for consistent ratios), a built-in timer (so you're not juggling a separate device), and a design that handles spills. The Greater Goods scale checks all three boxes at a fraction of the cost of premium options like Acaia or Fellow. Beyond that, consider whether you prefer physical buttons or touch controls — this scale uses tactile buttons, which reviewers strongly prefer because they actually work when your hands are wet. If you're brewing pour-over or French press at home, this scale has everything you need. If you're competing in barista competitions or need sub-0.1g accuracy for ultra-precise espresso work, you'd want to step up to a lab-grade scale.

Absolutely. While it's marketed primarily for coffee, reviewers specifically mention using it for matcha preparation, and it works great for any tea brewing that benefits from precise measurements. For matcha, you typically need 1–2g of powder — the 0.1g precision lets you nail that consistently. For loose-leaf tea, measuring by weight rather than volume gives you much more consistent results cup to cup, since different teas have very different densities. The built-in timer is equally useful for tea steeping as it is for coffee bloom timing. It's really a versatile brewing scale, not just a coffee scale.

Here's the process with the Greater Goods scale: (1) Place the scale on a flat, stable surface and turn it on — it auto-zeros. (2) Set your brewer on the scale and press tare to zero it out. (3) Add your ground coffee and note the weight — for pour-over, a common starting ratio is 1:16 coffee to water. (4) Tare again with the coffee in the brewer. (5) Start the built-in timer and begin pouring your water, watching both the weight and time on the two-tone display. (6) Pour to your target weight. Pro tip from users: anticipate the slight lag in readings by stopping your pour about 2–3g short of your target. The scale's physical buttons make taring and timer control easy even with wet hands.

The must-haves are 0.1g resolution (anything less and you can't dial in recipes), a built-in timer, a tare function, and some kind of spill protection. Nice-to-haves include a clear display you can read from above, a generous auto-shutoff delay so it doesn't turn off mid-brew, and easy cleanup. The Greater Goods scale nails the essentials — its bright two-tone LED display is easy to read, the removable silicone cover makes cleanup simple after spills, and the auto-shutoff is long enough that users report no mid-brew interruptions. What it doesn't have: Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable battery, or calibration capability. For most home brewers, those aren't dealbreakers.

Yes, it has a keyhole hanger on the back specifically for wall mounting. It's a small but thoughtful design touch — the scale is compact and light enough to hang on a hook or nail near your brewing station, keeping your counter clear. Multiple reviewers mention this as an unexpected bonus, especially in smaller kitchens where counter space is at a premium.