A Purchasing Guide to the Best Tea Scales

In our Beginner’s Guide to Loose Leaf Tea, we recommended investing in a good kitchen scale. With so many options out there, how do you decide on which one to purchase? We’re here to help! The recommendations below take into consideration build quality, timer function, measurement increments, sensitivity, spill resilience, and last but not least, aesthetics. 

Entry: Ozeri Pronto Food Scale ($14)

It’s not the most attractive scale on the market, but it gets the job done. The Ozeri pronto comes in an array of fun colors to make sure it fits in with the color scheme of your kitchen or brewing area. The buttons are large and easy to press, and it allows you to convert between grams and ounces, which can be helpful if you plan to use the scale in different ways. It’s far from perfect though. It lacks a built-in timer, and it only measures in 0.5 gram increments, making it difficult to use the right amount of tea leaves.

Pros:      –     Excellent value

• Plenty of colorful options
• Converts between grams and ounces easily
• Just requires 2 AAA batteries
• Automatically turns off

Cons:     –     No timer

• Only measures in 0.5 gram increments
• Difficult to read LCD screen in poor lighting
• May not survive spills
• Looks cheap
• Small weighing surface limits what you can put on it
• Automatically turns off too quickly
• Accuracy is questionable at different weights

Good: Hario Coffee Drip Scale / Timer ($45)

Hario is one of the most popular names in coffee shops, a Japanese glassware company famous for standardizing and perfecting everything needed to make a good cup of pourover coffee. Their scale is no different. This kitchen scale weighs your tea leaves in 0.1 gram increments, and if you choose to infuse your tea on the scale, it will hold up to most spills—as long as no liquid gets into the LCD area or into the sides of the base of the scale. It’s well-built and looks nice on your counter for its cost, but it does have its limitations as well.

Pros:      –      Measures in 0.1 gram increments

• Automatically turns off after 5 minutes (when timer is not in use)
• Just requires 2 AAA batteries

Cons:     –      Measurement does not begin until it detects 2.0 grams

• Difficult to read LCD screen in poor lighting
• Can take a second to detect changes in weight
• Only measures in 0.5 gram increments after 200 grams
• Becomes less accurate with more weight

Better: Brewista Smart Scale II ($90)

The Brewista scale is a nice step up from the Hario. It features an easy-to-read backlit LCD screen, which means whether its early in the morning or late in the evening, you’ll be able to read your measurements with ease. It also includes a silicon pad that can be placed over the scale to help protect it from spills, surface scratches, and heat. There’s also a function that will enable the scale to automatically tare when it detects an object has been placed on it. Similarly, when it detects a change in weight—such as adding water to your cup—it can automatically start a timer for you.

Pros:      –     More water-resistant than Hario (rubber seals and silicon pad)

• Rechargeable via USB cable
• Auto-timer and auto-scale functions
• Backlit screen for easy reading
• Accurate within 0.1 grams when measuring up to 2000 grams

Cons:     –     Too many modes can make it confusing to use

• Compact footprint (saves space, but limits what you can put on it)
• Backlight is bright orange
• Buttons can peel off over time
• Bring your own charging cable

Best: Acaia Pearl Scale ($150) or Acaia Lunar Scale ($220)          

The Acaia scales are the crème-de-la-crème of kitchen scales. To be clear, they are primarily designed to make espresso and coffee, even encouraging users to download an app that will assist them in making the best cup of joe possible. But don’t let this discourage you from using it for tea as well. These scales are gorgeous, insanely accurate, and highly resilient to liquid damage—especially the Lunar Scale, which features a 2 year spill damage warranty.

Pros:      –     Beautiful in every respect—display, scale, form

• Very sensitive to changes in weight, even due to water evaporation
• Resilient to water damage
• Rechargeable via USB cable
• Very easy and intuitive to use
• LED screen is easy to read
• Android and iPhone apps are available if you wish to use it for coffee
• App can adjust settings on the unit: grams or ounces, Celsius or Fahrenheit; auto-off timer

Cons:     –     The display can scratch easily (plastic screen protectors come with it)

• Compact footprint (saves space, but limits what you put on it)
• Double-tapping to turn off the scale can be annoying
• Android and iPhone apps can be overwhelming