Acaia Pearl vs Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2

As an Amazon Associate, Barista Life earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 unless you specifically want the Acaia app. The two scales share the numbers that matter most for brewing: both cap at 2,000g and both read to 0.1g. The gap is price and ecosystem. The Timemore sells for about $65 at Prima Coffee and puts a flow rate readout right on the scale. The Acaia Pearl runs $150 direct from Acaia and earns that premium mostly through Bluetooth 5.0 and the Acaia app, where you get brew graphs, logging, and firmware updates. If you weigh dose and yield and time your pour, the Timemore does that for less than half the money. If you want the connected-scale experience and a decade of app support, the Pearl is still the reference.

Where the money actually goes

Start with what is identical, because it is a lot. Both scales measure from 0.1g up to 2,000g, which covers everything from a 0.1g dose tweak to a full pour over batch with the carafe on top. Both charge over USB-C. Both auto-start a timer when they detect weight, and both let you time a shot or a pour without touching a second button. For the core job of a coffee scale, dose in, yield out, seconds counting, they do the same thing.

The Acaia Pearl spends its extra $85 on the parts you do not see on the display. Bluetooth 5.0 links it to the Acaia app, so you can log every brew, watch a real-time flow graph, and pull firmware updates that add features after purchase. Acaia quotes a 3.7V 1,100mAh battery good for 30 to 40 hours of continuous use, plus auto-zero tracking and creeping compensation that keep the reading stable while water drips. It measures 160mm square, stands 32mm tall, and weighs 500g. That square footprint fits most drip trays and holds a 58mm portafilter or a dripper without hanging off an edge.

The Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 answers the one feature baristas notice first. It shows flow rate, grams per second, directly on the scale, no phone required. Acaia keeps flow graphs inside the app, so on the bare Pearl display you see weight and time only. The Timemore is smaller at 152 by 130mm and 26mm tall, and lighter at about 420g with its silicone pad. It ships with that removable splash cover, which is the right call for a scale that lives under a steaming portafilter. What it does not have is the app. There is no logging, no firmware pipeline, no ecosystem, just a fast, accurate scale that costs $65.

Spec comparison

Spec	Acaia Pearl	Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2
Price	$150 (acaia.co)	About $65 (prima-coffee.com)
Capacity	2,000g	2,000g (2kg)
Readability	0.1g	0.1g
Flow rate on scale	In the Acaia app only	Yes, on-scale grams per second
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0, Acaia app	None
Auto timer	Yes	Yes
Charging	USB-C	USB-C
Battery	3.7V 1,100mAh, 30 to 40 hours	Rechargeable, splash-resistant surface
Dimensions	160 x 160 x 32mm	152 x 130 x 26mm
Weight	500g	About 420g with pad
Where to buy	Amazon listings for the Acaia Pearl	Amazon listings for the Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2

One thing the table flattens: the Pearl's square 160mm platform is genuinely more useful for pour over. A V60 or Chemex plus carafe sits centered without overhang, and the wider deck is steadier under a top-heavy dripper. The Timemore's 130mm width is fine for espresso, where a cup and portafilter are small, but a big brewer setup crowds it. Match the footprint to your main brew method before you match the price.

Related reads

Once the scale is sorted, the grinder is usually the next upgrade. Our 1Zpresso K-Ultra review covers the hand grinder a lot of Timemore owners pair with this scale, and the DF64 Gen 2 vs Niche Zero comparison handles the electric single-doser question if you are building a full espresso setup. For the rest of the kit, our coffee gear guides hub pulls together grinders, machines, and accessories in one place.

FAQ

Is the Acaia Pearl worth twice the price of the Timemore? Only if you want the app. Both read to 0.1g at a 2,000g capacity, so the brewing accuracy is a wash. The Pearl's $150 buys Bluetooth 5.0, brew logging, flow graphs, and firmware updates. If you never open the app, the $65 Timemore gives you the same weight and timer performance.

Which scale shows flow rate? The Timemore Black Mirror Basic 2 shows grams per second on the scale itself. The Acaia Pearl calculates flow too, but you view the graph in the Acaia app, not on the bare display. For an at-a-glance flow number without a phone, the Timemore wins.

Are both scales good for espresso? Yes. Both fit under a portafilter, read to 0.1g, and auto-start the timer when the shot begins. The Timemore's smaller 152 by 130mm footprint sits easily on a machine drip tray, while the Pearl's larger 160mm square platform is the better pick if you also brew pour over.