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How to use coffee scales: tare, timer and ratios for better coffee

How to use coffee scales, from the tare and timer buttons to a step-by-step espresso and pour-over routine, plus a ratio cheat sheet based on makers' own recipes.

By Hoppin Hopper editorial teamUpdated Prices checked 6 min read

Learning how to use coffee scales comes down to two buttons: tare, which resets the display to zero, and the timer. Once you can use those, you can weigh your coffee, weigh the water or espresso coming out, and time the brew, so a good cup is easy to repeat. Hario UK says that a scoop is “a lot less accurate” than weighing. We haven’t tested this in person. This guide is based on Hario’s V60 Drip Scale manual and brewing guides, Sage’s espresso recipe and other makers’ published recipes, all read on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.

How to use coffee scales: the basics

Tare (zero)

Tare subtracts the weight of whatever’s already on the scale. Hario’s V60 Drip Scale manual sets out the routine:

  1. Turn the scale on with nothing on it, and wait for it to show 0.0g.
  2. Put your cup, dripper or portafilter in the centre of the platform.
  3. Press tare. The display goes back to 0.0g.
  4. Add coffee or water, and you’ll see the weight of just that.

If you lift the container off, the display shows a minus figure. That’s normal. Put it back, or switch off and start again.

You can tare as often as you like. Many routines tare twice, once for the empty container and once after adding the coffee, so the next number you watch is the water.

The timer

On Hario’s scale, you press start/stop to start counting, press it again to pause, and hold it for about 1.5 seconds to reset to zero. Other scales with timers work in a similar way, but check your own manual.

Accuracy and limits

Hario’s V60 Drip Scale weighs up to 2,000g. It reads in 0.1g steps up to 200g, 0.5g steps from 200g to 500g, and 1g steps above that. Precision matters most for small amounts like an espresso dose, where half a gram makes a noticeable difference.

Who it isn’t for: anyone happy with their coffee as it is. A scale is about repeating a result, and if a scoop already gives you what you like, you don’t need one.

How to use coffee scales for espresso

Espresso is where scales help most, because the amounts are small and a gram or two changes the taste. You’re tracking three things: the dose in, the yield out and the time.

Sage’s starting point for a double shot is a 19g dose that gives 38g of liquid espresso in 20 to 30 seconds. That’s a ratio of 1:2. Sage’s recipe page says to grind 18 to 22g into the portafilter and to use a scale to be more precise.

Step by step

  1. Weigh the dose. Put the empty portafilter (or a small cup) on the scale and tare it. Grind into it until you reach your dose, for example 19g.
  2. Prepare the shot. Level and tamp the coffee, then lock the portafilter in.
  3. Put the cup on the scale. Place the scale on the drip tray, put your cup on top, and tare.
  4. Start the shot and the timer together.
  5. Stop at your target yield. For a 19g dose at 1:2, stop at about 38g. Note the time.
  6. Adjust. Sage’s tip is that grinding finer slows the flow and grinding coarser speeds it up. If the shot is well outside 20 to 30 seconds, change the grind, one step at a time.

Check the scale fits on your drip tray and under the spouts before you buy one. Our guide to the best coffee scales for espresso compares sizes.

Who it isn’t for: owners of bean-to-cup and pod machines. These machines dose and stop the shot for you, so a scale adds little.

How to use coffee scales for pour-over

Pour-over is the other method where scales earn their place, because you’re pouring the water by hand. Hario UK’s guide suggests 16 to 18g of coffee for a cup of about 220ml.

Step by step

Hario’s scale manual gives this order for a V60:

  1. Set up. Put the server or mug, the dripper and a rinsed paper filter on the scale. Tare.
  2. Add the coffee. Weigh in your dose, then tare again.
  3. Bloom. Start the timer and pour a little hot water slowly to wet the grounds. Hario says to let it drip for about 30 seconds.
  4. Pour the rest. Tare again if you want to track each pour, or just keep watching the total. Hario UK says to stop just before the scale reads your target, about 220g for one cup, because the coffee still dripping through will make up the rest.
  5. Finish. The manual suggests brewing for about 3 minutes, however many cups you’re making.

Our guide on how to use a V60 covers the pouring technique in more detail.

Who it isn’t for: anyone using a filter machine. It measures the water for you, so you only need to weigh the coffee, and a kitchen scale will do.

Ratio cheat sheet

These are makers’ own starting recipes, not rules. Adjust to taste.

Method Starting recipe Source
Espresso (double) 19g in, 38g out, 20–30 seconds Sage
V60 pour-over 16–18g coffee to about 220g water Hario UK
AeroPress 18g coffee to 270g water Baratza’s AeroPress guide
Cafetière cold brew 22g coffee to 180ml water, 12 hours Starbucks at Home UK
Cold brew concentrate 340g coffee to 1.9 litres water Toddy
Hario Mizudashi cold brew 80g coffee to about 1,150ml water Hario

Water weighs about 1g per millilitre, so you can read millilitres straight off the scale.

For grams per cup across every brew method, see our guide to how much coffee per cup.

Tips that make scales easier

  • Use a flat, stable surface. Hario says this in its manual, and it matters for accurate readings.
  • Place things in the centre of the platform.
  • Don’t switch on with something on the scale. Hario’s manual says to keep the platform clear when you power on.
  • Keep it dry. Coffee scales live near water. Wipe up drips, and check whether yours is water-resistant before using it on a drip tray.
  • Write down what worked. Dose, yield or water, and time. That’s the whole point of weighing.

Choosing a scale

A basic scale needs to read in 0.1g steps and have a timer. For espresso, size matters too, so it fits on your drip tray. Hario’s V60 Drip Coffee Scale in black was £69.99 at Hario UK (checked 3 Oct 2026). John Lewis also lists coffee scales. Our espresso scales buying guide compares more options at different prices.

Where to go next

Grind matters as much as weight, so see grind size for espresso and grind size for an AeroPress. For a full espresso routine, see how to make espresso at home.

FAQ

What does tare mean on coffee scales? It resets the display to zero with a container on the scale, so you only see the weight of what you add.

Do I need coffee scales with a timer? For espresso and pour-over, it helps, because time is part of the recipe. For a cafetière, a phone timer works fine.

Can I use kitchen scales for coffee? For weighing beans, yes. For espresso, you’ll want 0.1g precision and a timer, which many kitchen scales don’t have.

What ratio should I use? Start with your maker’s recipe, such as Sage’s 1:2 for espresso, then adjust to taste.

Sources

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