Grind by weight solves a problem that hopper grinders have had for years: inconsistent dose output. With timer-based grinders, the amount of coffee dispensed depends on grind setting, bean variety, and even ambient humidity. Change the grind and the dose shifts – requiring a new timer calibration. Grind by weight makes that unnecessary: an integrated scale tares the portafilter and grinds until the target weight is reached.
That sounds like the perfect fix. For many people, it is. But not for everyone. We tested seven espresso grinders with built-in scales – and learned where GbW genuinely delivers and where it hits its limits.
How Does Grind by Weight Work?
You place the portafilter on the grinder, the display shows the weight. You press start, the grinder tares automatically, begins grinding, and stops at the target weight – say, 18.0 g. Most current models achieve an accuracy of ±0.1 g.
The advantage over a timer grinder: if you dial finer, a timer grinder will produce less coffee in the same amount of time. You suddenly get 16 g instead of 18 g in the portafilter. A GbW grinder compensates automatically – it simply grinds a little longer until the 18 g target is met.
The concept has been around for several years, but it wasn't until 2023/2024 that enough manufacturers offered viable models to make a real comparison possible. Prices range from €499 (Baratza Sette 270 Wi) to over €1,100 (Zuriga G2, Ligre Siji).
What GbW Can – and Can't – Do
The dose problem is solved
The biggest weakness of hopper grinders with timers was inconsistent output. GbW eliminates that problem. Grind after grind, the same amount lands in the portafilter. That makes the workflow simpler and the espresso more repeatable.
Freshness remains an issue
You gain convenience, not freshness – that's the central point about GbW. The beans sit in the hopper, and the retention stays. Ground coffee left in the grinder since the last dose oxidizes and loses aroma. That's what separates GbW from single dosing: with a single-dose grinder, every portion is completely fresh because you load only the exact amount needed and the grinder clears completely.
With GbW grinders, between 1.5 and 7 g of ground coffee from the previous dose remains in the grinder, depending on the model. Your first espresso of the morning contains a portion of stale coffee. With daily use and consistent throughput, that impact is manageable. If you only pull a shot every other day, you'll taste the difference.
Retention: the most important number in GbW
Retention matters more in GbW grinders than in any other grinder category. With a single-dose grinder, you bypass retention by grinding out completely. With a GbW grinder, you can't – there's always coffee sitting in the grinder.
The differences between models are significant. The Zuriga G2 has just 1.5 g of total retention, of which 1.2 g is temporary and 0.3 g permanent – barely noticeable with daily use. The Fiorenzato Allground Sense Plus comes in at 7.1 g total, with 6.6 g temporary. That's nearly half a dose you're carrying over with every grind.
With any GbW grinder, program a "purge dose" – for example 6 g – that you grind into the bin each morning. This flushes stale coffee from the retention before your first shot.
Speed: not automatically faster
Intuitively it sounds simple: put the portafilter on, press a button, done. In practice, the workflow isn't always faster than single dosing. The grinder has to tare first, then often grinds in a controlled, measured way to avoid overshooting the target weight.
The Eureka Libra 65 grinds at around 1 g per second – 18 g takes 18 seconds plus tare time. The Zuriga G2 needs 16 seconds for 18 g. Noticeably faster are the Mahlkönig E64 WS (7.5 seconds), the Fiorenzato Allground Sense Plus (8 seconds), and the Ligre Siji (8 seconds).
Price: GbW is a premium category
Below €500, only one model exists – the Baratza Sette 270 Wi – and it doesn't impress in the cup. Usable GbW grinders with good particle distribution start at around €600. At that price point, though, you can also find very good single-dose grinders that handle the freshness issue better.
The Tested GbW Grinders at a Glance
We have tested seven grinders with built-in scales to date. Five followed our current test protocol with particle distribution analysis at ZHAW; two older tests (Baratza Sette 270 Wi and Eureka Mignon Libra 55mm) used less extensive measurement data. The Mazzer Mini G is currently under review.
Mahlkönig E64 WS €999
The most feature-rich grinder in the test. Electronic grind adjustment in micron steps, algorithm-guided dial-in, and portafilter recognition – nothing else here offers that. 64mm flat burrs, 27.3 g/10 sec grind speed, 7.5 seconds per dose. The GbW function operates with a standard deviation of 0.067 g.
The weakness: the software wasn't fully mature at the time of testing. Boot time around 30 seconds, occasional ignored settings, and software limits (minimum 40 g brew weight) restrict use cases. Retention of 4.1 g (3.8 g temporary, 0.3 g permanent) is mid-range. Grind temperature stays well controlled at 32.5 °C.
In the cup: solid results across different roast levels, good sweetness and body. The particle distribution (x50: 289.8 µm, fines 32.2%) suits medium to dark roasts well.
Full test report →
Eureka Mignon Libra 65 All Purpose €699
The only GbW grinder in the test explicitly designed for filter coffee as well. The 65mm all-purpose burrs produce a narrow main peak (142 µm) with low fines (27–28%) – suitable for both espresso and filter. The large grind adjustment dial with rotation indicator allows very precise adjustments.
Retention at 2.1 g total (1.5 g temporary, 0.6 g permanent) is excellent for a hopper grinder. The GbW function is precise after calibration (±0.1 g), but occasionally throws up "FH" error messages. The magnetic dosing ring is a welcome accessory. The burrs can optionally be swapped for coated Black Diamond burrs.
The biggest weakness: it's slow. Around 1 g per second means nearly 18 seconds for an espresso dose. Switching between espresso and filter is also impractical in daily use – grind setting, purge dose, and tare all need reconfiguring each time.
In the cup: light roasts showed remarkable complexity in our blind tastings; dark roasts produced strong sweetness with full body.
Full test report →
Fiorenzato Allground Sense Plus ca. €849
The most consistent GbW dosing in the test: the same amount grind after grind, standard deviation 0.067 g. Cleaning is exemplary – no tools needed, the burr chamber opens in seconds. 64mm flat burrs, 23.8 g/10 sec, 8 seconds for 18 g. Grind temperature stays stable at 29.6–32 °C.
The problem: 7.1 g of retention. 6.6 g of that is temporary – with every dose, a good third of your coffee comes from the previous grind. Anyone not pulling multiple shots daily has a freshness problem. The grind adjustment is too coarse: two click-stops apart means 3–6 seconds of shot time difference. No number markings make it hard to return to a previous setting. The manufacturer hasn't addressed these issues in years.
In the cup: plenty of sweetness, soft texture, good body with a long, cocoa-like finish. Fines at 31.8% suit medium and darker roasts well.
Full test report →
Zuriga G2 GbW ca. €1,150
Swiss Made, quiet (79 dB), just 1.5 g total retention (1.2 g temporary, 0.3 g permanent). No other GbW grinder in the test comes close. The weighing function works reliably at ±0.1 g accuracy. The grind adjustment ramp offers finer steps in the espresso range than in the coarse range.
The particle distribution (x50: 286 µm, fines 23.7%, main peak 212 µm) shows low fines – resulting in a clear, defined cup that works well with light and medium roasts.
The problem: heat. After two consecutive doses, grind temperature climbs to an average of 40.2 °C. That's a contradiction for the light roasts the particle profile is otherwise well suited to – volatile aromatics escape before extraction even begins.
On top of that: 11.1 g in 10 seconds means around 16 seconds per dose. Fine for a one-person household. For households with guests or flatmates, it gets tight.
Full test report →
Ligre Siji ca. €1,180
The Siji is based on the Eureka Mignon Specialità with 55mm burrs, paired with Ligre's own proprietary scale technology. Dosing accuracy is strong: ±0.1 g, reliable even under vibration. 78 dB operating noise – the quietest grinder in the field. 22.9 g/10 sec, 8 seconds for 18 g.
Weaknesses in detail: the small grind adjustment dial is fiddly. Cleaning requires screwwork – not designed for regular opening. The display sits on top of the grinder, inconvenient in daily use. For €1,180 you're essentially getting a 55mm Eureka with a scale attached – a high price for that foundation. Retention at 2.7 g total (1.6 g temporary, 1.1 g permanent) and temperature at 35 °C are both within acceptable range.
In the cup, the Siji shows the typical Eureka character: soft espresso with sweetness, medium body, cocoa and almond notes. The particle distribution (x50: 249.6 µm, fines 28.6%, main peak 211 µm) suits medium roasts.
Full test report →Eureka Mignon Libra (55mm) ca. €550 Older test
The predecessor to the Libra 65, tested under an older protocol. The GbW function works reliably, but without a dosing ring the grinds don't land cleanly in the portafilter – a typical Eureka Mignon issue. With a dosing ring, a good espresso grinder for full-bodied, medium to dark roasts. 20.2 g/10 sec, 79.8 dB. Retention 2.4 g. Particle distribution (x50: 289 µm, fines 24.2%, main peak 231 µm) sits in the typical Eureka range.
The grind temperature of 36.1 °C runs noticeably warm – a disadvantage for light roasts. The model is being superseded by the newer Libra 65 but is still available online.
Test report →Baratza Sette 270 Wi ca. €499 Older test
The cheapest GbW grinder. The scale works accurately and the grinder is fast (29.3 g/10 sec). But: 89 dB of noise, predominantly plastic construction, and a wide particle distribution (x50: 316 µm, fines only 20.6%) produce an espresso that tastes ragged and unbalanced.
Well-documented long-term reliability issues: failures after 6 to 24 months are frequently reported. Good parts availability suggests the manufacturer has accepted this as normal. A retest would be warranted.
Test report →GbW, Single Dosing, or Timer – Which Is Right for You?
Grind by weight is not automatically better than single dosing or a timer. It depends on how you drink coffee.
… pull multiple espressos every day, don't constantly switch beans, and don't want to weigh manually. Consistent throughput minimizes the retention problem, and the scale ensures repeatable doses – without needing a separate scale.
… switch between bean varieties often (single dosing is more flexible), only pull a shot every few days (the coffee in retention will be stale), or have a budget under €600.
Anyone wanting to combine the freshness of single dosing with the convenience of GbW currently has no ideal solution. The Acaia Orbit attempted it – and demonstrated that GbW and single dosing don't pair well when retention skews the weighing result.
Verdict
Grind by weight solves the dose consistency problem of hopper grinders – but only that. If you drink a lot of coffee, stick to one bean, and want a convenient workflow, a GbW grinder is a good fit. If you want flexibility and maximum freshness, a single-dose grinder is still the better choice.
Choosing the right espresso grinder with grind by weight isn't just about the scale – it's about everything around it: retention, grind temperature, particle distribution, adjustability. Our tests show that no single perfect GbW grinder exists yet. Every model has strengths and compromises.
The Mahlkönig E64 WS offers the most features but struggles with software that isn't fully sorted. The Fiorenzato delivers the most consistent dosing but carries too much retention. The Zuriga has the best retention figures but runs too hot. The Eureka Libra 65 handles filter too but is slow. The Ligre Siji weighs accurately but is expensive for what the underlying platform offers.
Which grinder fits you depends on what bothers you most – and what you can live with.
Technical Specs at a Glance
| Grinder | Price | Burrs | dB | 18g in | Temp. | Retention | Consistency | x50 | Fines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahlkönig E64 WS | €999 | 64mm Flat | 85.1 | 7.5 s | 32.5 °C | 4.1 g | 0.067 g | 289.8 µm | 32.2 % |
| Eureka Libra 65 AP | €699 | 65mm Flat | 84.2 | ~18 s | ~34 °C | 2.1 g | ~0.1 g | 142 µm | 27.5 % |
| Fiorenzato Allground Sense+ | ca. €849 | 64mm Flat | 84.1 | 8 s | 32 °C | 7.1 g | 0.067 g | 262.3 µm | 31.8 % |
| Zuriga G2 GbW | ca. €1,150 | 64mm Flat | 79 | ~16 s | 40.2 °C | 1.5 g | — | 286 µm | 23.7 % |
| Ligre Siji | ca. €1,180 | 55mm Flat | 78 | 8 s | 35 °C | 2.7 g | 0.067 g | 249.6 µm | 28.6 % |
| Eureka Libra 55mm ⚠️ | ca. €550 | 55mm Flat | 79.8 | — | 36.1 °C | 2.4 g | — | 289 µm | 24.2 % |
| Baratza Sette 270 Wi ⚠️ | ca. €499 | 40mm Conical | 89 | — | — | 2.7 g | — | 316 µm | 20.6 % |
⚠️ Older test – not all values measured under current protocol. Retention = total retention.
