Timemore Black Mirror Coffee Scale Review: The New Basic 2.0

Timemore’s Black Mirror Basic 2 Coffee Scale is a worthy upgrade.

I called the Timemore Black Mirror Plus Coffee Scale one of the best pieces of coffee gear you could buy in 2022, both in terms of functionality and price. They’ve since made it even better, and as far as I can recall, the price hasn’t gone up.

So I’m pretty confident the new Black Mirror 2.0 is going to be every bit as recommendable as the original, but let’s give it a full test run just in case.

The Full Timemore Black Mirror Coffee Scale Review

First, let’s get some things straight about the name of this Timemore scale. The current version I’m reviewing today is called the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0 Coffee Scale. I’ve also seen it sold as the Black Mirror 2.0 and the Basic 2.0. Timemore makes another smaller Black Mirror scale, the Black Mirror Nano, which I won’t be covering here.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the review, starting with what’s new and improved in the 2.0 model.

How I Rated It

• Precision
• Size
• Style
• Special Features
• Value For Money

4.3

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What’s New In The Basic 2.0?

The Timemore Black Mirror 2.0 keeps many of the same specs as the original. It is a digital coffee scale with a detection range of 0.5 g to 2 kg and is precise to 0.1 g – crucial for brewing great coffee consistently (1). 

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend any coffee scale with precision worse than 0.1 g.

One of the most obvious changes in the new addition is that the 2.0 can measure in either grams or ounces. The original only operated in the metric system, a common complaint among our American readers.

One selling point of this model versus cheaper scales is that it has almost no latency. There is only a slight delay between when weight is added and when it is registered on the scale’s screen. Lag isn’t a big deal when weighing coffee beans, but response speed makes a difference when brewing coffee.

The Basic 2.0 takes advantage of this minimal delay to add a Flow Rate monitor. This flow rate function provides real time feedback on the water flow rate during coffee brewing – a fun new data point to optimize. 

That said, the slight lag you’ll notice on this scale distinguishes it from the ultra-expensive, even faster scales from the likes of Acaia. As with most coffee gear, how nerdy you want to get will dictate your budget.

The Li-ion Battery

This scale uses a built-in Li-ion rechargeable battery. This is much more convenient than coffee scales that require you to buy batteries, like the Hario coffee scale. Not to mention, it’s cheaper in the long run and better for the environment. It charges via USB-C, which I found took about 2 hours for a full charge (2). 

Timemore claims you’ll get ten hours of run time per charge, and I believe it. While testing, I used this scale for my daily brewing for a month and never ran out of battery life.

Not A Smart Scale

With so many smart products on the market these days, it’s starting to feel almost expected that every electronic you buy should connect to your smart phone. This is not the case with the Black Mirror scale. 

There is no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, no app full of recipes and data, and you can’t operate it with your phone. While this may be a downside for the tech-savvy coffee enthusiast, I wasn’t disappointed. The Black Mirror is more straightforward to use and far less expensive than smart scales.

Using The Auto Timer

The most impressive feature of the Timemore Black Mirror is the auto timer, which remains unchanged from earlier editions. It is simple to use by following these steps:

1. Press the timer button five consecutive times to enable the auto-timer mode, and you’ll see a small “A” displayed on the screen. 
2. Put your complete pour over set-up on the scale, including carafe or mug, dripper, filter, and ground coffee. 
3. Press the timer button once. It will do a 3-second countdown, then tare the scale and set the timer to zero. 
4. As soon as you pour water, the built-in timer will start counting up automatically. When you lift the dripper at the end of brewing, it will stop automatically.

The auto timer makes it easy to record the time and weight of your finished brew, vital information to brew great coffee reproducibly.

I like to lift and swirl my dripper during the brewing process, which I was worried would stop the timer prematurely, but Timemore has considered this to some degree. The timer won’t stop automatically if you lift the dripper within the first 40 seconds, giving you some time to bloom and swirl (3). It can still be an issue, however, depending on the nature of your recipe.

Versatile Sizing

This scale measures 6 inches deep by 5.1 inches wide by 1 inch tall. This middle-of-the-road size is suitable for espresso and pour-over brewing, which is nice for those of us who regularly enjoy both brewing methods. 

Many brands offer a larger scale for pour over and a smaller option for espresso, forcing you to buy two products if you enjoy both brewing styles. For example, the Black Mirror Basic 2.0 is larger than the Acaia Lunar and smaller than the Acaia Pearl.

This scale will fit on most drip trays, but you should still measure your espresso machine – both the drip tray dimensions and cup clearance – before purchase. For reference, I have the Breville Bambino Plus, a very compact espresso maker that comfortably fits the Timemore coffee scale, and I would expect the same from almost all prosumer espresso machines. On the other hand, it doesn’t fit in the smaller base oval of a Flair espresso maker.

What is the difference between Timemore Nano and Black Mirror?

If you’re worried the Basic won’t fit your espresso machine, or if you never make pour over brews, Timemore makes a smaller coffee scale specifically designed for espresso, the Nano version. It has the same detection specs and functionality as the Basic 2.0 but in a smaller 4.5 x 4 x 0.8 inch footprint.

Gorgeous, Sleek Design

The sleek and spare design of this scale is definitely in keeping with current coffee industry trends (4). It will look right at home next to your Fellow Ode grinder and pour-over kettles. It is a smooth, jet-black plastic square with a discreet on-off toggle switch on the side. 

It’s not waterproof – so don’t do anything crazy like toss it in the dishwasher – but there is nowhere on the upper weighing surface that water can seep into. Similarly, there are no cracks or crevices to trap bits of ground coffee. The flat surface makes cleaning a breeze; a quick wipe with a microfibre cloth does the trick.

There are two capacitive touch buttons on the top surface for accessing all the scale features, like timing and taring. They are very sensitive; some might say overly sensitive. You don’t even need to touch the scale to press a button. It’s enough to hover your finger in the right spot. While this responsiveness is nice, it is frustratingly easy to hit a button by accident, especially when you are still getting used to the scale.

Because the buttons don’t offer a tactile response, Timemore has added an audible beep to let you know when a button has been “pressed.” The beep is pleasant in tone and volume, but you can turn it off if you find it annoying.

There is also a white version of this scale, not called the White Mirror. Both options come with an attractive and color-matched removable silicone pad that you can drape over the scale for better grip.

Is The Timemore Black Mirror Coffee Scale Worth Its Price?

I think the value of this scale is incredible. It’s currently priced at $59.99, and because it’s found in many online marketplaces, sale pricing is not uncommon. It is a huge step up from the cheaper scales that hover around the $20 mark and, in my opinion, only a small step down from the more expensive models running $100+. 

If you’re trying to build out a specialty coffee bar on a budget, the Timemore Black Mirror Scale – and most other Timemore products, for that matter – is a great option. You can see how it stacks up against other scales in its category in this chart:

	Reviewed item
Manufacturer	Timemore	Hario	Acaia	Acaia	Bonavita
Model	Black Mirror Basic Plus	V60	Lunar	Pearl	Coffee scale
Product category	Coffee scale	Coffee scale	Coffee scale	Coffee scale	Coffee scale
Color options	Matte Black	Black, matte pink, matte turqouise, stainless steel, white	Black, silver, white	White	Black
Housing material	Plastic	Plastic	Aluminum, Acrylic	Plastic	Plastic
Surface	Silicone pad	Stainless steel	Anodized Aluminum Coating (Black / Silver) Hydrophobic Ceramic Coating (White)	Plastic	Stainless steel/nano-coating
User interface	LED screen	Screen and touchpad	LED screen	LED	Buttons and screen
Maximum weight	70.55 oz / 2 kg	70.55 oz / 2 kg	70.55 oz / 2 kg	70.55 oz / 2 kg	70.55 oz / 2 kg
Minimum weight	0.003 oz / 0.1 g	0.003 oz / 0.1 g	0.003 oz / 0.1 g	0.003 oz / 0.1 g	0.003 oz / 0.1 g
Weighing increments	0.1 g	0.1 g	0.1 g	0.1 g	0.1 g
Accuracy	0.1 g	0.1 - 0.01g	0.1 - 0.01g	0.1 - 0.01g	0.1 - 0.01g
Timer function	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Power supply	USB C port	2 AAA batteries	Micro USB	USB C port	2 A batteries/USB port (2021 model)
Extras	Anti-slip silicone pad, Auto-timer, Auto-off	n/a	Bluetooth 4.0, Heat Resistant Pad, Micro USB Charging Cable	Bluetooth 5.0, Auto Tare Mode, Auto Start Mode, Beverage Mode	n/a
Dimensions	5.1 x 5.9 x 1.02 inches	1.125 x 4.75 x 7.5 inches	4.1 x 4.1 x 0.59 inches	6.13 x 6.13 x 1.26 inches	7 x 5.5 x 1.25 inches
Warranty	1 year	30 days	2 years	2 years	1 year
Price	$65	$52.24	$250	$150	No products found.
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

Don’t Buy The Timemore Black Mirror Scale If…

• You want a smart scale: If you want to get nerdy about brewing coffee, a Bluetooth-enabled scale can be a valuable tool. Smart coffee scales provide a ton of data about each brew that you can use to optimize extraction and consistently make great coffee. The most popular option is the iconic Acaia Pearl, found on coffee bars worldwide, but it doesn’t come cheap (5).

• You only make espresso: If you don’t make drip coffee, it makes more sense to go with a specific espresso scale. These have smaller dimensions designed to fit more comfortably on the drip tray of an espresso maker and are shorter to compensate for small clearance under a portafilter. The tiny Acaia Lunar is a fantastic but expensive option. The Timemore Black Mirror Nano is far more affordable, though not quite as feature-packed.

• You’re on a tight budget: If you’re designing a budget coffee set-up and aren’t overly concerned about precision weighing and timing, there are many fine digital scales available on Amazon for $10 to $15. Check out the highly rated Coffee Gator Coffee Scale for a nice entry-level model from a reliable brand.

The Verdict

The Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2.0 is an excellent scale that I would recommend for most coffee lovers. It’s a stylish coffee scale with precise measurement capabilities, a fast response time, a versatile size, and an attractive price point. Unless you’re dead set on smart features or app connectivity, put it on your short list.

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