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Acaia Pearl S — Espresso scale
- 0.1 g resolution for precise espresso ratios
- Low profile fits under most drip trays
- Auto-start timer triggers on first drip
- Bluetooth app logs shot data and curves
- Bottega-tested through hundreds of daily pulls
- 0.1 g resolution·
- Bluetooth·
- Bottega-tested
The scale we put under every espresso machine we install. Ratio dialled in by the gram.
Price185 €
1
In stock · Ships in 48h after roast
02 — The Story
The Pearl S sits under the drip tray in our Rome espresso bar and under every machine we install for clients. Not because it looks the part—though the low profile and matte finish help—but because 0.1-gram resolution means you catch drift before the customer does. When you're dialling 18.5 grams in and expecting 42 grams out in 27 seconds, a tenth of a gram is the difference between balanced espresso and a sour shot someone sends back.
Acaia built this for the counter, not the pour-over station. The footprint is compact enough to slide under a La Marzocco group without crowding the knock box, and the water-resistant surface handles spills without the melodrama of error messages. Bluetooth syncs to the Acaia app if you want to log ratios and track extraction curves over the day, which matters more than it sounds when you're trying to figure out why the afternoon shift pulls different shots than the morning. We don't use the app often—muscle memory and taste trump data—but it's there when you need to troubleshoot or train someone new.
The auto-start timer triggers the moment espresso hits the cup, so you're not fumbling with buttons mid-pull. The response time is fast enough to catch the first drips, and the screen stays readable even when backlit by an undercounter LED strip. Battery lasts through a full service without needing the charging pad, though we keep one behind the bar because a dead scale at 9 a.m. is a bad start to anyone's day. The Pearl S doesn't do pour-over modes or density calculations—this is a tool built for one thing, and it does that thing without fuss.
If you're pulling espresso on a machine without volumetric programming, or if you program by weight instead of time, this scale becomes non-negotiable. It's also the right choice for anyone moving from home setup to commercial reliability. We've run ours through eight months of daily use—hundreds of shots, plenty of spills, one accidentally knocked portafilter—and it reads the same as the day we unboxed it. That kind of consistency is what you're paying for, and why we spec it for every install.
This is for the barista who weighs output, the café owner who needs staff to hit ratios without thinking, and the home user who wants commercial accuracy without counter clutter. If you're still eyeing your espresso and guessing when to stop the pump, you're guessing wrong half the time. The Pearl S turns guesswork into arithmetic, and arithmetic into repeatable espresso.
04 — FAQ
Questions, answered.
Does this fit under a standard espresso machine drip tray?+
Yes. The Pearl S measures 160 × 160 × 32 mm, designed specifically to slide under most commercial and prosumer machine drip trays. We use it under La Marzocco, Dalla Corte, and Sanremo groups without clearance issues. Measure your drip tray height to confirm—you need at least 35 mm of clearance to account for the scale plus a low-profile cup.
How accurate is 0.1 g resolution for espresso output?+
Accurate enough to catch a one-gram swing in yield, which is often the line between balanced and overextracted espresso. We dial recipes to 0.5-gram precision—18.5 in, 42 out—and the Pearl S tracks it reliably. For home use or dialling in new beans, this level of feedback is what separates repeatable results from guesswork.
Do I need the Bluetooth app to use this scale?+
No. The scale functions perfectly without the app—timer, weight, tare all work standalone. The app is useful if you want to log shot data over time, track extraction curves, or compare morning versus afternoon consistency. We rarely open it, but it's helpful for training new staff or troubleshooting grinder drift.
What's the battery life under daily café use?+
Roughly 20-30 hours of active use, which translates to several full service days depending on volume. We charge ours every three days in the café. The USB-C charging is fast, and the scale warns you when battery drops below 20 percent, so you won't get caught mid-service.
Is this water-resistant enough for café spills?+
Yes, with caveats. The Pearl S handles splashes and minor spills—we've doused ours plenty—but it's not submersible. Wipe it down promptly and don't let liquid pool on the surface. For a busy bar, this level of resistance is adequate. For a high-chaos environment, keep a towel nearby.
