I purchased this scale largely based on this review and have had a terrible customer experience with Varia. I highly recommend looking at alternatives. I hope this saves some people the headaches I am currently going through
How do you turn the annoying beeping off? You've mentioned it is possible but I cannot find it in the manual (bought it yesterday, so just getting acquainted). Thank you.
Just ordered mine. I've had to buy over 4 sets of cheap $20 Amazon scales because they kept breaking due to water spills or stopped charging. Should have just purchased something like this to begin with.
Hi great video thanks! This may sound like randoms questions but hope you can help… 1) Does it remember the last used mode when it’s been powered off? 2) When in the auto tare and timing mode, can you just press a button to reset it so it starts again when weight/pouring is detected? Reason I ask is I’d weigh my beans first which would start the auto timer I’d assume then take them off and place down the V60 etc with the grounds in. So I’d then want the auto timing and weighing to kick in again when I start pouring. I hope that makes sense. Thanks!
Thanks so much ! 1. Yes 👌 2. yes - you can reset it at any moment. Ignoring the timer when adding beans etc - and when ready to begin pouring you can easily tare and reset timer to begin again 👍
Yes they can. You can either use a plate like the Acaia have (link below) or just make one yourself 👌 otherwise - you can jsut about fit the forks on one edge and the handle on the cutty-corner and it balances okay alternativebrewing.com.au/products/acaia-lunar-weighing-plate
It's a compact scale, but I have a few things to criticise: FIrst, the beeps are annoying, and I don't know how to turn them off, since it's not mentioned in the manual Second, it only goes up by 0.3 grams. So, let's say youy're weighting your coffee. You go for 18 grams, but actually get 18.5. So, you take two beans off the scale and nothing happens. Then you take another one and it goes down by 0.3 grams. So even if the scale is precise, it works poorly with the coffee beans, something it should work well with. Kind of glad that I bought it with 50% off discount. So, do you know how to turn the beeps off?
page 10 in the manual. When you turn the scale on and it is flashing through 1-9 - hold the T button until two short beeps are emitted. Then release the button and the sound will have been turned off. To turn it back on again - repeat the process.
@Alternative Brewing, can you clarify the point about 0.3g? Does it just start at 0.3 but then revert to 0.1 when it gets above a certain level? As DumahTheSeeker states it seems quite a drawback when either weighing beans or during espresso extraction.
@@johnwatson8192 it is quite a drawback. I’ve made a research and it seems that I have an older model, since I cannot turn the beeps off. Maybe I should contact Varia. You know, I kind of regret buying this scale. Should have went for Felicita Arc or Timemore Nano.
@@DumahTheSeeker Felictia Arc is on my list when the price is on offer. I tried the Timemore Black Mirror but sent it back as the readings were inconsistent, not something you want when making espresso but especially considering the price.
I’m looking for some advice for buying a coffee scale. I have some very specific criteria. I’m nearly blind so I need a scale that is usable for me without help. It just needs to be a pretty good standard coffee scale with accuracy two 0,1 of a gram The only thing I’m specifically looking for is some sort of feature to allow me to know when I’ve reached my desired weight, and or time. I was thinking that may be some scale that lets you program at target and then emits a noise. It would also be fine if it could be hooked up to a lightbulb that turns on or changes color or something It just has to be obvious There’s the possibility that there is a scale with a big enough display. It would have to be pretty contrast full. So no old-school calculater screens here I’m afraid my estimate would be that it would need to be the size of a quarter of a standard sized phone screen or something like that if anybody has any thoughts, ideas or recommendations, I welcome them with open arms
Thanks for watching! This is tricky. There are some reasonably large screens out there - but I honestly believe this not to be the best solution here. I don't have much in the way of one I'm sorry - just racking my brain thinking of something that ticks the boxes. There a the Acaia Lunar Scales that can be connected up to an App on your phone. In this way, you'll be able to view the real-time weighting of the beans from your phone's screen - and manipulate that for you to view the readout more precisely. There are otherwise, Talking Kitchen Scales available on the net, though these are not very orientated to coffee brewing specifically
@@AlternativeBrewing after looking a bit into it myself I have a couple more questions I hope you can help with. First up you mentioned that there is a bunch of scales with big screens. Can you give me some specific names? I believe that you’re right that the best option would be something audio based or integrated with an app but I just wanna look at the options. I also downloaded the lunar app to see if it works with the phone screenreader It seems that it does. However, since I don’t have the scales, I’m not able to test the reading function of the wait In addition, I checked the settings to see how much customizeability there is. It seems there is a voice function, But again I couldn’t test it myself maybe you know more about it If you want to, you can also turn on the VoiceOver screenreader function in accessibility settings on any ios device to test the accessibility I have also looked at scales with audio built into them. Most of them are specifically made for blind people. Unfortunately they are very clumsy kind of outdated and I haven’t been able to find anyone accurate two point one of a gram
Yes, I was hesitant to recommend these scales for blind people as they are definitely the quality of scale I would avoid. The Ohaus Scales were the large screen I was thinking of - however these are very large and quite expensive. Looking over all the scales - Acaia look to have the best option. Even the Acaia Pearl range of sclaes - uses the same APP firmware as the Lunar, and has a bigger screen again - so heading in the right direction here. You really can't get a better set of scales than the Acaia for coffee brewing. Apologies though, I do not have a lot of experience with the voice activation in the scales - other than knowing you can command it to tare and start the timer.
@@AlternativeBrewing thank you I actually had a chance to try out the lunar scales today by coincidence I happen to be near a shop that had them. And the employees were very helpful. I’m happy to inform you that the screen is big enough for me to read if I get close enough. And the screen reader function and voice commands works excellent on the iPhone with accessibility functions. I don’t know if this is useful information to you at all but now you know Thank you so much for your time and help
Best decision ever. Smart scales are soooo pointless. Even the Acacia. Nobody really uses these features IMO. James Hoffman also has a big video on smart scales
Can't agree. Sorry. Adds unnecessary cost for a feature that doesn't work very well. I use Acaia and have their Lunar and Pearl. The scale is fantastic. The bluetooth is terrible.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I purchased this scale largely based on this review and have had a terrible customer experience with Varia. I highly recommend looking at alternatives. I hope this saves some people the headaches I am currently going through
What is so bad?
Sorry to hear that
6:37 "life's too short to drink bad coffee"
that's what Lucia Solis said!
Meanwhile my £10 amazon scales are 3 years old, still calibrated and weigh to .01g sure they dont have a timer but my espresso machine does lol
How do you turn the annoying beeping off? You've mentioned it is possible but I cannot find it in the manual (bought it yesterday, so just getting acquainted). Thank you.
Just ordered mine. I've had to buy over 4 sets of cheap $20 Amazon scales because they kept breaking due to water spills or stopped charging. Should have just purchased something like this to begin with.
How is the compatibility with the Flair 58? Thx for your response!
Apparently it fits - found one article on reddit and people are using that exact one with Flair58
I've just placed my order at AB :) so let's see
It fits 🙌 - checked last night - remove the rubber drip and you have plenty of room for them under the grouphead.
Hi great video thanks! This may sound like randoms questions but hope you can help…
1) Does it remember the last used mode when it’s been powered off?
2) When in the auto tare and timing mode, can you just press a button to reset it so it starts again when weight/pouring is detected? Reason I ask is I’d weigh my beans first which would start the auto timer I’d assume then take them off and place down the V60 etc with the grounds in. So I’d then want the auto timing and weighing to kick in again when I start pouring. I hope that makes sense. Thanks!
Thanks so much !
1. Yes 👌
2. yes - you can reset it at any moment. Ignoring the timer when adding beans etc - and when ready to begin pouring you can easily tare and reset timer to begin again 👍
Thanks for the review. They look a bit too small to weigh a portafilter - just wondering if you tested that?
Yes they can. You can either use a plate like the Acaia have (link below) or just make one yourself 👌 otherwise - you can jsut about fit the forks on one edge and the handle on the cutty-corner and it balances okay
alternativebrewing.com.au/products/acaia-lunar-weighing-plate
Thank you@@AlternativeBrewing - just ordered the Acaia plate & the AKU from from AB 🙂
The website has the size listed as
Dimensions: 120x110x19mm
Which is quite a bit different to what youve said?
Thank you! fixed (D)125mm x (W)135mm x (H)19mm 🫶
You should also fix it on the website!
It's a compact scale, but I have a few things to criticise:
FIrst, the beeps are annoying, and I don't know how to turn them off, since it's not mentioned in the manual
Second, it only goes up by 0.3 grams. So, let's say youy're weighting your coffee. You go for 18 grams, but actually get 18.5. So, you take two beans off the scale and nothing happens. Then you take another one and it goes down by 0.3 grams. So even if the scale is precise, it works poorly with the coffee beans, something it should work well with. Kind of glad that I bought it with 50% off discount.
So, do you know how to turn the beeps off?
page 10 in the manual.
When you turn the scale on and it is flashing through 1-9 - hold the T button until two short beeps are emitted. Then release the button and the sound will have been turned off. To turn it back on again - repeat the process.
@@AlternativeBrewing It doesn't work. My manual also doesn't mention it.
I assume that I've got a previous version of the scale.
@Alternative Brewing, can you clarify the point about 0.3g? Does it just start at 0.3 but then revert to 0.1 when it gets above a certain level? As DumahTheSeeker states it seems quite a drawback when either weighing beans or during espresso extraction.
@@johnwatson8192 it is quite a drawback. I’ve made a research and it seems that I have an older model, since I cannot turn the beeps off. Maybe I should contact Varia.
You know, I kind of regret buying this scale. Should have went for Felicita Arc or Timemore Nano.
@@DumahTheSeeker Felictia Arc is on my list when the price is on offer. I tried the Timemore Black Mirror but sent it back as the readings were inconsistent, not something you want when making espresso but especially considering the price.
Well done josh and yeah life is short we neee good coffee ❤❤❤❤
thanks so much ! 🫶
I Also bought these scales on this recommendation and i find them fantastic.
Thank You 🙏
Glad you like them!
@@AlternativeBrewing Thank You 🙏
I’m looking for some advice for buying a coffee scale.
I have some very specific criteria.
I’m nearly blind so I need a scale that is usable for me without help.
It just needs to be a pretty good standard coffee scale with accuracy two 0,1 of a gram
The only thing I’m specifically looking for is some sort of feature to allow me to know when I’ve reached my desired weight, and or time.
I was thinking that may be some scale that lets you program at target and then emits a noise.
It would also be fine if it could be hooked up to a lightbulb that turns on or changes color or something
It just has to be obvious
There’s the possibility that there is a scale with a big enough display.
It would have to be pretty contrast full.
So no old-school calculater screens here I’m afraid
my estimate would be that it would need to be the size of a quarter of a standard sized phone screen or something like that
if anybody has any thoughts, ideas or recommendations, I welcome them with open arms
Thanks for watching! This is tricky. There are some reasonably large screens out there - but I honestly believe this not to be the best solution here. I don't have much in the way of one I'm sorry - just racking my brain thinking of something that ticks the boxes. There a the Acaia Lunar Scales that can be connected up to an App on your phone. In this way, you'll be able to view the real-time weighting of the beans from your phone's screen - and manipulate that for you to view the readout more precisely. There are otherwise, Talking Kitchen Scales available on the net, though these are not very orientated to coffee brewing specifically
@@AlternativeBrewing awesome
Thanks for the input. I’ll look into the lunar scales.
@@AlternativeBrewing after looking a bit into it myself I have a couple more questions I hope you can help with.
First up you mentioned that there is a bunch of scales with big screens.
Can you give me some specific names?
I believe that you’re right that the best option would be something audio based or integrated with an app but I just wanna look at the options.
I also downloaded the lunar app to see if it works with the phone screenreader
It seems that it does.
However, since I don’t have the scales, I’m not able to test the reading function of the wait
In addition, I checked the settings to see how much customizeability there is.
It seems there is a voice function,
But again
I couldn’t test it myself maybe you know more about it
If you want to, you can also turn on the VoiceOver screenreader function in accessibility settings on any ios device to test the accessibility
I have also looked at scales with audio built into them.
Most of them are specifically made for blind people.
Unfortunately they are very clumsy kind of outdated and I haven’t been able to find anyone accurate two point one of a gram
Yes, I was hesitant to recommend these scales for blind people as they are definitely the quality of scale I would avoid.
The Ohaus Scales were the large screen I was thinking of - however these are very large and quite expensive.
Looking over all the scales - Acaia look to have the best option. Even the Acaia Pearl range of sclaes - uses the same APP firmware as the Lunar, and has a bigger screen again - so heading in the right direction here. You really can't get a better set of scales than the Acaia for coffee brewing. Apologies though, I do not have a lot of experience with the voice activation in the scales - other than knowing you can command it to tare and start the timer.
@@AlternativeBrewing thank you
I actually had a chance to try out the lunar scales today by coincidence
I happen to be near a shop that had them.
And the employees were very helpful.
I’m happy to inform you that the screen is big enough for me to read if I get close enough.
And the screen reader function and voice commands works excellent on the iPhone with accessibility functions.
I don’t know if this is useful information to you at all but now you know
Thank you so much for your time and help
Great vid again! So bad they didn’t add Bluetooth for flow / shot tracking, that would have made it a definitive winner against Acaia Lunar.
would've also made it more expensive though, no? it's already seemingly a great scale without the hefty price tag.
Best decision ever. Smart scales are soooo pointless. Even the Acacia. Nobody really uses these features IMO. James Hoffman also has a big video on smart scales
@@MS-bw7yt😂 turns out smart scales aren't very smart
Can't agree. Sorry. Adds unnecessary cost for a feature that doesn't work very well. I use Acaia and have their Lunar and Pearl. The scale is fantastic. The bluetooth is terrible.
How can a review of any scale not even mention the current defacto standard - the Acaia Lunar and at least compare the basics?
Saving that for the updated ultimate scale comparison 👌
@@AlternativeBrewing thanks for the reply - looking forward to seeing it!
@@AlternativeBrewingany clue when this would be?
Definitely the acaia killer
The timemore nano was already there.
@@asmith2886 nano I remember is not water resistant