Recently, my Timemore scale, which I had been using until now, broke down (it seems that many people complain that the Timemore breaks down right after a year of use. Suspicious, don’t you think?)
In any case, looking for a more compact replacement to fit better in a narrow tray like that of my Bambino Plus, I found the Wacaco Exagram Pro and decided to give it a try.
WACACO Exagram Pro
 | disponible | $49,90 in Amazon |
Wacaco is the brand responsible for some well-known barista gadgets, like the Nanopresso or the Picopresso, and also other accessories focused on mobility and being able to prepare espresso when you’re traveling. But their Exagram Pro coffee scale seemed like a very good option to use as a coffee scale at home, given that it’s made of good materials (a mix of ABS plastic, aluminum, and stainless steel), it’s stylish, very compact, and has very good reviews.
The Wacaco Exagram Pro comes with a non-slip mat, which also serves to protect the surface from splashes, although Wacaco claims that this surface already has splash protection. It also comes with a practical carrying case, which not only allows you to transport the scale safely but can also be used as a lifting platform for the scale in cases where the distance between the portafilter and the cup is very high.
It has three modes of use: Normal, Pour Over, and Espresso. In normal mode, the scale simply weighs like any kitchen scale would, while in Pour Over mode, the Wacaco scale facilitates preparation by automatically calculating the coffee/water ratio. The scale memorizes the weight of the ground coffee and, when you start pouring, shows the ratio in real-time. For the first stage (blooming), it suggests a ratio of 3 and activates a countdown to indicate when to resume pouring until reaching the final recommended ratio (between 15 and 19). The box includes a card with step-by-step instructions, guiding the process in five successive pours.
As for the espresso mode, the Wacaco Exagram Pro performs the normal weighing function but also adds a timer. The tare function is activated automatically, and by pressing the time button, automatic detection is activated to start the timer from 0.03 grams of pouring. This timer stops automatically when the coffee pouring stops. The scale then shows the total weight and extraction time, which serves as an indispensable guide for grinder calibration.
The operation is no different from other coffee scales, but the Exagram Pro is precise, beautiful, and has the advantage of its compact size. As you can see, the drip tray of the Breville Bambino Plus – also applies to its smaller sibling, the Breville Bambino – is very narrow, and scales like the Timemore or similar are too large. The Wacaco Exagram Pro fits perfectly in a narrow tray like those of these coffee machines.
Another very good thing is the layout of the screen indicators, very clear, with good definition, showing the weight on the right side, the battery in the center, the timer on the left, and at both ends the two touch buttons; on the right the tare button, on the left the timer button.
Its battery is also superior to other scales I’ve tried, lasting almost a month on a single charge. It has a USB-C port for charging, on the back of the scale. I only have the doubt of what will happen if one day there’s an accident and some liquid gets into the port; in this regard, I would have wished the port was covered.
On the right side, next to the mode selector, is the power switch, which has two positions to turn off or activate the scale’s sound indicators.
This is, broadly speaking, what the Wacaco Exagram Pro offers, a compact, elegant, and not very expensive scale, which is an ideal coffee scale for compact coffee machines, like the two Breville Bambino or the De’Longhi Dedica, which also have a small drip tray (even smaller than the Bambino). Some similar alternatives are the -very recent- MiiCoffee Minipress or the mini Maestri House scale, but if you decide to give the Wacaco Exagram Pro a chance, you won’t regret it.
