Weigh Your Coffee with Coins and a Bubble (Battery-Free)
Measuring coffee by volume is unreliable because beans expand and lose density during roasting, so a scoop of dark roast weighs less than the same scoop of light roast. I wanted my coffee to be exactly 16 grams every morning, without relying on batteries.
On some mornings, when I am trying to prep my brew, my scale says Battery Low. That forces me to eyeball a scoop of beans or go find the charger just to measure the only weight I ever use. Unacceptable.
I decided to make a simple balance that measures the weight of my daily coffee consistently. The video below shows exactly how it works, and you can make one yourself.
Why weighing matters
Consistency of weight is key for good coffee. Even a tiny change in the amount of coffee can impact extraction and flavour. Weighing coffee is the only way to get consistent shots every time.
How it works
Coins are used to set the target weight, and a bubble-level insert shows when the tray is perfectly balanced. Here’s the workflow:
Place coins in the coffee basket.
Adjust the balance with a screw until the spirit level shows it is perfectly level.
Remove the coins.
Add coffee. If the basket stays level, the coffee weighs exactly the same as the coins.
Weight Calculator
Enter your target weight and country. The table shows a combination of local coins that closely matches that weight.
Any target weight can be measured by selecting the appropriate combination of coins and adjusting the balance.
Once you know the coin combination, place the coins in the tray, adjust the balance, remove the coins, and add your coffee.
Print and share
The 3D files are here so you can print your own balance. You can experiment with other target weights, improve the design, and share your results. The money you save on scales can go straight into better coffee beans.
Download it, print it, and watch the video to see it in action.
