Greater Goods Digital Espresso and Coffee Scale

The easiest way is to use a known calibration weight — a nickel weighs exactly 5.0g, so that's a quick check. Most reviewers confirm the scale is accurate right out of the box, though one reviewer noted theirs was about 0.1g off initially. If you find it's slightly off, you can use calibration weights (sold separately) to verify. For espresso dosing, being within 0.1g is perfectly acceptable — you're working with 18-20g doses where a tenth of a gram won't change your shot. The real test is consistency: weigh the same object multiple times and make sure you get the same reading each time.

No, it's not waterproof, and a few reviewers flag this as something to be mindful of in an espresso environment where splashes and drips are common. That said, it's not a dealbreaker for most users — you just need to be careful about liquid contact, especially around the button area and display. Wiping it down after use and not leaving it sitting in pooled water on a drip tray is common sense maintenance. The protective cover can help shield it when it's not in use. If you're in a genuinely wet environment (like a commercial bar with constant splashing), a waterproof option like the Acaia Luna might justify its premium price.

Yes, it works well for pour-over, though with one caveat. The 0.1g precision is excellent for measuring your coffee dose, and the tare function lets you zero out your dripper and carafe weight easily. The real-time weight updates help you control your pour rate. The caveat is the small platform — a Chemex or large V60 server might hang over the edges, which can affect accuracy. The protective cover can double as an expansion tray to help with this. For smaller pour-over setups (single-cup V60, Kalita Wave), it's perfectly sized.

If your Greater Goods scale is giving inconsistent readings, check a few things: make sure it's on a completely flat, stable surface — even a slight wobble will throw off a 0.1g-precision scale. Make sure there's no draft or vibration nearby (espresso machines vibrate, so weigh beans before you start the pump). Also check that the item is centered on the platform. One reviewer mentioned occasional 'ERR' messages, which can happen if you exceed the 750g capacity or if the scale is on an uneven surface. If the issue persists, try removing and reinserting the batteries — spinning them slightly can improve terminal contact, which is actually a tip from multiple owners.

The 'ERR' message typically appears when the scale is overloaded (something exceeding 750g is on the platform) or when it's on an uneven surface. One reviewer reported seeing it randomly, but this isn't a widespread issue. Try these fixes: make sure the scale is on a completely flat, hard surface (not a mat or towel). Remove everything from the platform and restart it. Check that nothing is pressing against the underside. If you're seeing it with items well under 750g and on a flat surface, it could be a battery issue — try fresh batteries. The 'ERR' message is the scale's way of telling you it can't get a reliable reading, not necessarily that it's broken.

The Greater Goods scale maxes out at 750g (about 1.65 lbs), which is more than enough for espresso and single-cup coffee brewing. A typical double espresso dose is 18g in and 36g out, so you're well within range. Even a full mug of coffee at around 350g is fine. Where you'll hit the limit is if you try to weigh a bag of beans (a standard 12oz bag is 340g, but a 2lb bag at 907g would exceed capacity) or larger food portions. If you need to weigh heavier items regularly, you'll want a full-size kitchen scale alongside this one.

Yes — multiple reviewers highlight this as a clever design touch. The cover flips over and serves as a small expansion tray, which is handy when you need to weigh something slightly larger than the scale's compact platform. It's not a huge surface area gain, but it helps when weighing items that might otherwise overhang the edges. When you're not using the scale, the cover snaps back on to protect the weighing surface and display during storage or travel. It's one of those small details that shows this scale was designed with practical daily use in mind.

It's excellent for travel. The compact, pocket-sized design is one of the most frequently praised features — reviewers call it easy to toss in a bag alongside a hand grinder and AeroPress. The protective cover keeps it safe in transit, it's light enough that you won't notice the extra weight, and it comes with batteries so it's ready to go. Whether you're brewing in a hotel room, at the office, or camping, the 0.1g precision means you don't have to compromise on coffee quality just because you're away from home. Several reviewers specifically bought it as a dedicated travel scale.

Reviewers report good battery life overall, and the scale comes with batteries included so you can start using it right away. While nobody gives exact hour counts, multiple owners mention being surprised at how long the batteries last compared to what they expected from a compact scale. The scale uses standard small batteries that are inexpensive and easy to replace. A pro tip from a reviewer: if battery contact gets iffy over time, spinning the batteries slightly can improve the connection at the terminals and extend their useful life.

Absolutely — several reviewers specifically mention using it for food tracking at work or home. The 0.1g precision is actually better than most dedicated kitchen food scales, and the compact size means you can keep it in a desk drawer and pull it out at lunch without it being conspicuous. One reviewer specifically mentioned appreciating that it doesn't look like a 'diet scale' — it just looks like a small tech gadget. The 750g (about 1.65 lbs) max capacity handles most individual food portions, though you'd need a larger scale for meal prepping in bulk.

Definitely — reviewers have found a surprising range of uses for it. Beyond coffee and espresso, people use it for food portion tracking, green coffee roasting (calculating weight loss percentage during roasts), precision reloading tasks, and general small-item weighing. One reviewer even mentioned using it to calculate coffee roasting weight loss percentages. The 6 units of measurement (grams, ounces, troy ounces, pennyweight, carats, and grains) make it versatile for different applications. Its compact, discreet size means you can keep it at work for food tracking without drawing attention.

Here's the workflow most reviewers describe: (1) Turn on the scale — it auto-tares to zero. (2) Place your portafilter or cup on the scale. (3) Press tare to zero out the vessel weight. (4) Add coffee grounds until you hit your target dose (typically 18-20g for espresso). (5) For extraction, place your cup on the scale under the group head, tare again, start your shot, and watch the real-time weight climb to your target yield (usually 36-40g for a double). The 0.1g increments update quickly enough that you can stop your shot at the right moment. The physical buttons make step 3 particularly easy — no accidentally taring from steam or water splashes like capacitive buttons.

Grams is one of the 6 units available and the default unit most coffee users stick with. Just press the mode button until 'g' appears on the display if it's not already selected. The scale reads from 0.0g to 750.0g in 0.1g increments, which covers the full range of coffee brewing needs — from a single espresso dose (14-20g) to a full bag of beans. The clear, easy-to-read display makes it simple to see exact gram measurements. One minor gripe from a reviewer: cycling through all 6 units (g, oz, ozt, dwt, ct, gn) can be tedious if you accidentally pass grams, since you have to loop all the way back around.

Same basic process as coffee: turn it on, place your plate or container on the scale, hit tare to zero it out, then add your food. The scale shows the net weight of just the food. For calorie counting, you'd weigh each ingredient in grams and look up the nutritional value per gram. The protective cover on this Greater Goods scale actually doubles as a small tray, which is handy for weighing loose items like nuts or dried fruit without a separate container. Just keep in mind it tops out at 750g and the platform is small, so it's best for individual portions rather than big bowls of food.