You will most likely want a scale that is battery powered for portability. However, if you’re an extremely heavy user (or environmentalist) you should consider a rechargeable model. It has a striking design, a bit similar to the Acaia scales, but it’s way more affordable and down-to-earth when it comes to functionality.

The Timemore Chestnut Nano Grinder is built to last and is a great travel companion due to its portability. Its maximum dose is 15g each time, which requires you to grind a second time if you are intending to make a bigger cup of coffee or pulling an espresso shot. This grinder is fully metallic with no plastic parts which make it feels premium. The detachable wooden knob at the end of the axle gives a nice natural finishing touch that is both stylish and functional. In the box, you get an anti-slip silicone mat that protects the scale from hot water splashes. Additionally, a USB-A to USB-C cable is provided for charging duties. Another thing I’m impressed by is the Nano’s build quality. I was fooled into thinking that the entire chassis was made of machined aluminum. Only the bottom is metal, while the top is a high-quality textured acrylic that does a decent job of hiding fingerprints. This compact manual coffee grinder offers a good grip with its non-slip design to prevent slipping while grinding.

Basic scales will do fine as long as they measure mass accurately and have a tare button, but some additional features will make brewing coffee more convenient. Knowing exactly how much coffee and water you are using will allow you to either remain completely consistent once you have a cup you know you enjoy or allow you to change different parameters accurately if you want to try something else.

You’ll need to weigh up what type of brewing method you’ll most need the hand grinder for. If it’s manual brewing like French press, pour-over, Moka pot, or AeroPress, the standard stainless steel burr set will be enough. Grind Settings the titanium burr is made for finer grinding that'll give you better results for Aeropress, moka pot,There are also two smart modes — one for pour over and another for espresso. When specific brewing cues are detected, both modes automatically reset the weight to zero and start the timer.