Timemore Coffee Scale Review: Does One Belong on Your Counter?

If you’ve come across TIMEMORE before, it’s probably because their coffee scales are growing in popularity among enthusiasts for being both affordable and richly featured. I tested two TIMEMORE Black Mirro scales, and I’ll point you to a third I didn’t.

Reviewing three scales at once is a bit strange, granted. But they (and other TIMEMORE scales) share a strong family resemblance, so they make a lot of sense talked about together.

Bottom line up front: TIMEMORE scales are solidly built and offer very good value-for-money. They add a few whiz-bang features at a price comparable to many other less-fancy scales. Between the three I’m considering, I think the Basic 3 is the one most people should buy. The Mini earns its keep in a specific, smaller (😜) lane. We’ll get into why, but first some general background about TIMEMORE.

Overview of TIMEMORE coffee scales

What is TIMEMORE?

Started in China back in 2012 by a group of coffee-obsessed friends (relatable), TIMEMORE spent years building a reputation before the specialty coffee world caught on. Now they make everything — scales, hand grinders, kettles, drippers — but their Black Mirror scale line is probably their best-known product.

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And their coffee scales are great! When they’re criticized, it’s mostly for how they look. And the visual criticism isn’t that they’re ugly. Instead, people claim the looks are a classic knock-off. Most commonly you’ll hear that the design language is VERY similar to the prized and pricey Acaia Pearl. But they’re in very different tiers price-wise.

» Learn more: The best coffee scales we’ve found

What’s in the box

A USB-C charging cable, the scale itself, and a black silicone pad.

Basic TIMEMORE coffee scale features

• 0.1g resolution — This is basically table stakes at this point, but it’s here
• Up to 2kg capacity
• USB-C charging, 10–15 hours of battery life depending on the model
• Auto power-off after a few minutes of no activity (in addition to a master-power switch on the side, for travel)

Nothing revolutionary here, but you’re getting a nice rechargeable coffee scale for a great price. And there’s more…

Cool features that might change how you brew

What sets a TIMEMORE scale apart from the general coffee scale pack include:

• Auto-start timer. Set your dripper down, start pouring, and the timer just… starts. No fumbling for a button with wet hands while your bloom is happening. This alone may be worth the upgrade if you’re coming from a more basic scale.
• Flow rate tracking. Watch your grams-per-second in real time. If you’re a pour-over head who obsesses over your pour technique, this is fun to play with.
• Live ratio display on the Basic 3. I tested the 2 (like an idiot!) but their newer scale does the ratio math for you as you pour. Very similar to the feature I praised in the Fellow Tally Pro review, but live-calculating your ratio instead of locking-in your ratio and warning you at the weight limit.
• Espresso Mode on the Basic 3 and the Mini is a real showstopper if you brew espresso at home (assuming it fits on your drip tray — more on that below). Place your cup, it auto-tares, starts timing the second it sees flow, and stops when you lift the cup off. Button-mashing-free, start to finish.

The stuff nobody tells you

A few things worth flagging:

• TIMEMORE’s naming situation and availability are MESSY. Basic, Basic Plus, Basic 2, Basic 3, Pro, Nano, Mini — good luck keeping them straight. Know exactly which model you’re buying before you purchase.
• Minimum detection weight sits around 0.5g on most models. Not important for most of us, but the real scale-heads might care.
• As you might expect, the display is basically invisible until the scale comes on. This makes it it looks cleaner sitting on your counter.

How it stacks up

• Acaia vs. Timemore: Acaia‘s got the app ecosystem and the premium feel, but you’re paying nearly triple for it. For most home brewers, that gap is hard to justify.
• Hario vs. Timemore: Hario’s basic scale is my old reliable — but it feels dated next to TIMEMORE features like auto-mode and flow tracking.
• Timemore vs. OXO: The OXO coffee scale is functional and I’m sure reliable. But it’s also kinda ugly (which is kinda true for most OXO products, though we still love OXO). TIMEMORE wins on looks and has a lot more features.

The Basic (2): A reliable WINNER

With an MSRP of $59, the Basic 2 sits right in that sweet spot where you’re getting real upgrades over an entry-level scale without paying premium prices. It’s USB-C rechargeable (bye-bye, AAA batteries), and has a proper side power switch so it doesn’t accidentally turn itself on while it’s rattling around in a bag. And it has a built-in flow-rate tracking feature which, full disclosure, I don’t think I really need.

If you’re mostly making pour-over, as I am, watching grams-per-second while you pour sounds pretty esoteric. In practice? I’ve caught myself glancing at it more than I expected to, sometimes finding it useful to understand my pour-over technique. Am I a changed man because of it? No. But it’s a fun toy to have in your back pocket. (And much more useful if you’re making espresso, and it fits your machine.)

Take the rubber pad off and this thing is pretty handsome sitting on a counter — clean lines, no fuss. Probably put the pad back on when you actually want to brew on it, obviously. It also comes in a white color if that’s more your jam.

Best for: anyone who spots one at a good price. It’s a scale that just works, looks good doing it, and saves you thinking about where and if you have AAA batteries ever again.

All these things said, if I were buying today, I’d get TIMEMORE’s updated Basic 3.0.

It keeps all the perks of the Basic 2 I tested, and adds live brew ratios, Espresso Mode, a slightly smaller footprint. And (not so important to me) more sensitive detection. And it’s about the same price.

The Mini: Small, mighty, a little squinty

At around $69, the Mini actually costs a little more than the Basic 3. It’s proof that shrinking a scale down doesn’t have to mean gutting the feature set. You get the same flow-rate tracking, same USB-C charging, same general usefulness — just crammed into a smaller footprint. We’re talking a scale that’s genuinely pocketable for making coffee while traveling or even camping, which matters when you’re packing for a trip where every cubic inch counts.

Here’s the one catch: the display is harder to read under something like a large Chemex. It’s the expected outcome of being smaller, but worth a little consideration.

Where the Mini actually pulls ahead is espresso. Its size means it’s the one most likely to fit on your drip tray under your portafilter. Obviously, espresso machines differ a lot. But the Basic is less likely to fit on smaller trays and machines. And the Mini has the same Espresso Mode as the Basic 3 (auto-tare, auto-start timer, auto-stop when you lift the cup), so you’re not giving up anything to get the smaller size.

Best for: frequent travelers, and anyone trying to dial in espresso shots with a scale that actually fits on their drip tray.

Which Timemore Mirror Coffee and Espresso Scale should you buy?

Depends on what you’re optimizing for:

• Brewing mostly pour-over at home, want the best all-around experience → Basic 3. Bigger, easier to read, still has all the smart features.
• Traveling a lot, or trying to fit a scale under an espresso machine → Mini. You’re trading a bit of readability for footprint, and for that use case, it’s worth it.
• Want both because you’re a no-budget gearhead? → Do it! No judgment. (Just use our affiliate links above 😉)

And a quick reality check while we’re here: neither of these scales is going to make your coffee taste better. What they do is remove the guesswork for those moving on from scoops. And add polish for those looking to upgrade from older or less polished scales. Any solid, accurate scale gets you 95% of the way there, full stop. The Basic and Mini both clear that bar easily, but add a great deal more. That’s the true value of TIMEMORE scales.

If you want more scale options outside the TIMEMORE lineup — Hario, OXO, Fellow, the works — head over to the full roundup.