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Tea Scale Recommendations

by Running for Tea » Mar 10th, '13, 11:20

After reading the grams/teaspoon thread and with the gyokuro OTTI upcoming, I think it is about time that I consider investing in a tea scale. I've always gone by the teaspoon is ~2 grams rule, but I'd hate to be missing a tea's full potential or wasting excess leaf due to inaccuracies. Any shared recommendations/experiences would be much appreciated!

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Mar 10th, '13, 11:40
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Tea Scale Recommendations

by debunix » Mar 10th, '13, 11:40

Inexpensive but very useful digital scales are easy to find online. Look for one with 0.1g accuracy, and size and weight capacity to hold your favorite tea-weighing vessel (Cha he or a small bowl). Jewelry scales are usually just right. IME specific brand is less important than tare capacity & fit in your tea drawer/cabinet/shelf. I haven't paid over $12.

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Mar 10th, '13, 11:48
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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Stentor » Mar 10th, '13, 11:48

Also some detect and display changes in weight quicker than others. Some react in real time, some take half a second or so. You'll want the real time one.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by futurebird » Mar 10th, '13, 11:54

If you don't care about the slow up-dating, there are nice digital scales for about $8 shipped on ebay. Just check that batteries are included...

I don't know much about "nicer" scales.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by BioHorn » Mar 10th, '13, 12:15


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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Bob_McBob » Mar 10th, '13, 12:57

Stentor wrote:Also some detect and display changes in weight quicker than others. Some react in real time, some take half a second or so. You'll want the real time one.
This is something very few people consider when buying and recommending cheap digital scales. After trying a fairly large selection of eBay specials, I can't emphasize enough how much of a difference it makes to use a scale that responds and updates quickly, giving an accurate and certain final reading with no lag.

The My Weigh Triton T2 costs just over $15 and is by far the nicest inexpensive digital pocket scale I've ever used.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by edkrueger » Mar 10th, '13, 13:01


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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Chip » Mar 10th, '13, 13:20

Bob_McBob wrote:
Stentor wrote:Also some detect and display changes in weight quicker than others. Some react in real time, some take half a second or so. You'll want the real time one.
This is something very few people consider when buying and recommending cheap digital scales. After trying a fairly large selection of eBay specials, I can't emphasize enough how much of a difference it makes to use a scale that responds and updates quickly, giving an accurate and certain final reading with no lag.

The My Weigh Triton T2 costs just over $15 and is by far the nicest inexpensive digital pocket scale I've ever used.
I never considered this factor. Weigh ... errr way back when when I finally saw a digital scale, I just bought it w/o hesitation since I had wanted one for tea for quite some time (plus I like measure gadgets :) ). I guess I lucked out as it is still perfect and must be real time since I never had any lag. But now, they are everywhere and uber cheap.

But then again, I never noticed "real time" being in specs for scales. I look periodically since the one I have is quite old now and is used everyday and often hard use (OTTI/NOTTI).

But yeah, lag times would really suck with a scale ... same with digital thermometers, although they all seem to have some lag ... but some are realllly slow.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by debunix » Mar 10th, '13, 13:24

I just checked and to my surprise, the same model I'm using now is still available on Amazon for $6.29. It has little to no lag.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Running for Tea » Mar 10th, '13, 13:35

Thanks for the replies! I'm glad I asked because the response time was something that hadn't crossed my mind.
Bob_McBob wrote:The My Weigh Triton T2 costs just over $15 and is by far the nicest inexpensive digital pocket scale I've ever used.
I'm leaning toward this scale.
debunix wrote:I just checked and to my surprise, the same model I'm using now is still available on Amazon for $6.29. It has little to no lag.
This has complicated my decision. That's $10 that could be going to tea!

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Running for Tea » Mar 10th, '13, 14:05

Also, will I need a calibration weight as well?

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Chip » Mar 10th, '13, 14:08

Running for Tea wrote:Also, will I need a calibration weight as well?
In 8 years, I have never had to recalibrate. I place a new dime on the scale to test every so often.

I did not buy a calibration weight.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by Stentor » Mar 10th, '13, 14:09

Running for Tea wrote:Also, will I need a calibration weight as well?
Some scales ship with one.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by victoria3 » Apr 4th, '13, 16:17

I recently got a new scale and thermometer on amazon and can recommend them both. They respond quickly and are accurate.

AWS-1KG Digital Scale 1000x 0.1g
Taylor Digital Thermometer -40 to 446F /-40 to 230C
AWS-1KG-Digital-Scale-&-Taylor-Digital-thermometer.jpg
AWS-1KG-Digital-Scale-&-Taylor-Digital-thermometer.jpg (24.76 KiB) Viewed 3035 times
I thought I'd add that prior to getting these devises my temperature guesstimates were 20 degrees lower than actual (so I was steeping cooler) and I've experienced that no two teas weight the same per teaspoon. I now consider these a basic investment, especially if posting reviews and or purchasing higher priced teas.

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Re: Tea Scale Recommendations

by 5am » Apr 4th, '13, 17:14

AWS is a good company for an affordable scale I own two and the both work perfectly for tea. I prefer mine with the .01g accuracy (my $.02)

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