Acaia Pearl vs Timemore Black Mirror
The reference standard vs the value champion. Both weigh to 0.1g with a built-in timer, so on raw accuracy they're closer than the price gap suggests — the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 costs roughly a third of the Acaia Pearl and matches it for espresso dosing and pour-over. What the extra money buys on the Pearl is the fastest, most consistent auto-tare and refresh, the Bluetooth app with real-time flow-rate logging, and a build that shrugs off years of daily brewing. If you want to log and dial in your pours like a competition barista — or you just want the scale everything else is measured against — the Pearl earns it. If you want 95% of the performance to nail your ratio every morning and would rather put the savings toward better beans or a grinder, the Black Mirror is the smarter buy.
Get it for flow-rate & data logging, fastest, most consistent response, build & longevity.
Get it for best value, espresso dosing on a budget.
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Approximate — verify the latest price
BrewSift earns a commission on some purchases. It never changes our scores. Why you can trust us
Which one wins — for you
0.1g resolution, a built-in timer, and espresso + pour-over auto modes for about a third of the Pearl's price.
The Bluetooth app records real-time flow rate and brew curves — the Timemore has no app or logging at all.
Quicker auto-tare and a steadier refresh under a pouring stream, which matters most when you're timing espresso shots.
The same 0.1g precision and a dedicated espresso mode with auto-timer — enough to dial in shots without the premium.
A more refined, splash-resistant body that's held up as the specialty-cafe workhorse for years of daily use.
Score by dimension
BrewSift sub-scores for scales. The longer bar wins each row.
Specs side by side
The bottom line
The right pick depends on how you brew — match the machine to your actual use case using the “which one wins” cards above. If you just want the stronger all-rounder, the Acaia Pearl edges it on our overall score (8.9 vs 8.6).
Common questions
Is the Acaia Pearl worth 3x the price of the Timemore?
Only if you'll actually use what it adds. Both scales are 0.1g accurate with a timer, so for simply hitting your coffee-to-water ratio the Timemore Black Mirror gives you the same result for far less. The Pearl is worth the premium if you want to log flow rate and brew curves in the app, want the fastest response for timing espresso, or want the durability and resale of the category's reference scale. For most home brewers, the Timemore is the better value.
Do either of these scales fit under an espresso machine drip tray?
Both have a low profile that fits under most portafilters on the drip tray, but clearance varies by machine — measure the gap under your group head first. The Timemore's flat top and the Pearl's slim body both work on the majority of home espresso machines; very compact machines with a low drip tray can be tight for either one.
Does the Timemore Black Mirror need an app like the Acaia?
No — and that's part of its appeal. Everything runs on the scale itself: weight, timer, and the espresso and pour-over auto modes are all on-device with physical buttons. The Acaia Pearl works standalone too, but its extra value (flow-rate logging, brew curves) only shows up through the Acaia app. If you don't want to brew with your phone out, the Timemore loses nothing.