Choosing your first coffee scale can be a daunting experience for any coffee enthusiast, especially given the vast array of options readily available online.
TimeMore’s origins can be traced back to 2012, when the company was founded by a group of coffee lovers in China, according to the company’s website.
Only in the last few years has TimeMore, with its modest range of coffee equipment, found a foothold in the Western world.
TimeMore now manufactures high-quality manual coffee grinders, pour-over kettles, coffee scales, brewing cones, and other coffee brewing paraphernalia.
If you’re looking for a low-cost coffee scale that can compete with Acaia and Hario and perform equally well, look no further than the TimeMore Black Mirror – you won’t be disappointed.
It has all of the “necessary” features that anyone would require when brewing and weighing coffee. If you ask me, the scale’s size is just right, and it works for all types of manual brewing, as well as most drip trays and espresso machines.
Keep reading to know more.
TimeMore Black Mirror Specifications
Below is a chart of all the specifications of TimeMore Black Mirror, take a good look at it so you know what you’re buying for yourself and how can it accommodate you:
| Dimensions | 130 mm x 152 mm x 26mm (W x L x H) |
| Weight | 420g/0.92lbs w/ silicone pad |
| Weighing Resolution | 0.1 g |
| Weighing Max | 2 kg |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Charging Port | USB-C |
| Warranty | 1 year with Prima |
With all these specifications it’s quite difficult to land on one option since there are plenty of other options in the market.
To clear your mind a little more, I have some more details on TimeMore designs and features for you, so keep reading.
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Design
The TimeMore scale’s simple design represents a lifeless black square, nothing spectacular until you press the power button. The lifeless, drab black plastic cube comes to life, illuminating its sharp, bright white LED backlight display screen.
The illuminated screen displays all of the important information, such as battery level, power button, timer, and, of course, the all-important weight display; everything you need at the touch of a button.
I must say, I’m impressed when compared to other coffee scales at this price point.
The TimeMore scale in this is jet black with a matt surface with just enough texture to allow for a firm grip, and the TimeMore just feels nice in the hand with the subtle rounded corners. The jet-black design makes correctly orienting the scale difficult – but it’s something you’ll get used to.
The plastic chassis fits snugly over the base, like a square shell on a tortoise, shielding the sensitive electronics from spills. The TimeMore also includes a removable silicone pad that drapes over the matt-black surface of the scale.
As attractive as the rubber is, it serves a purpose, assisting in grip and preventing scalding damage from hot beakers placed directly on the TimeMore surface.
Let’s look into the features that come with TimeMore:
- Lightning Fast Response Time
- Built-in Timer
- LED Back Light
- Great For Travel
- Minimalist Design
- Auto-Off Function
- USB-C Charging Cable Included
The TimeMore Mirror remains highly responsive, and the scale maintains accurate measurements with a steady pour. I discovered that placing objects directly in the center makes the scale more responsive.
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Features
The TimeMore Black Mirror has many features such as:
Reliable Data
TimeMore promises reliable data and they’re not messing around. Building an accurate scale isn’t rocket science, but I tested it and compared the results to other kitchen scales. It’s dependable, and there’s no reason to doubt the weight data it provides.
Auto Start
Furthermore, the TimeMore Black mirror basic coffee scale detects weight and automatically starts the timer when pouring begins.
That’s more than enough for pour-over brewing methods. When used to weigh espresso on an espresso machine, it can start timing automatically when the espresso begins to flow, but it does not auto-stop. That means you’ll still have to manually stop it when the shot is finished to get the time and yields. And it will not save the data until the time exceeds 40 seconds, which is longer than a standard espresso shot.
Built-in Timer
Black Mirror has all of the features of a scale, plus a timer. That is extremely useful for making coffee. You no longer need to take out your phone and launch the timer app.
Auto-Off
TimeMore also has an auto-off function, When the timer is turned off, it will shut down after 3 minutes. When the timer is set but there is no change in weight, it will automatically turn off in 15 minutes.
Fast Response Time
With this scale, that’s almost no latency. After pressing the power button, it boots up immediately. When weighing, there are only a few milliseconds of lag time, which can be ignored.
It’s not an intelligent coffee scale. Because this is the basic version, you can’t connect to the App via Bluetooth to collect data. TimeMore also has a ‘Smart’ version with additional smart features.
How Do I Use TimeMore Black Mirror?
Here is how you can use a TimeMore Black Mirror step-by-step:
- First, turn on the power by pressing the power switch
- Now, press the scale button to bring the scale to zero for accuracy
- Then, press the timer button to help start or pause the timer
- You can press and hold the timer button for 2 seconds to reset the time
- Now as soon as the weight has been detected the machine will start its auto-timer function
Here is a more accurate depiction of how it can work:
How Do You Calibrate A TimeMore Black Mirror?
It will not be necessary to calibrate your TimeMore as it is already calibrated and ready to use when it leaves the factory.
However, your scale may be slightly off in some cases. This could be due to a problem with your scale shipping, or it could simply be one that “slipped through” quality control checks.
To calibrate your TimeMore Black Mirror, press and hold the timing button on the display screen’s left side. While holding down the time button, repeatedly press the power button on the right side.
When the screen begins to behave “awfully,” release the timing button and finish with a single click on the power button.
As crazy as it sounds, this frantic button pressing puts the TimeMore into calibration mode. After that, the screen will prompt you to place 1 kg and 2 kg weights on the scale surface.
Is TimeMore Black Mirror Waterproof?
When it comes to spills, it’s important to note that the TimeMore Mirror scale is not waterproof. It’s, however, more water-resistant than many other coffee scales due to its shell-like design.
This means because the “surface” is waterproof, spilling water on it will not be a problem. However, don’t allow water to enter the charging port.
How Long Does It Take To Charge TimeMore Scale?
It takes less than 2 hours to fully charge the TimeMore scale battery
A 1600mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery powers Black Mirror. It charges using a USB-C to USB-C cable, which is faster than a Micro-USB cable. Nowadays, USB-C cable chargers are more common.
When the battery indicator bar is empty, you’ll know it’s time to recharge the scale. It takes less than 2 hours to fully charge the battery, which provides 7 hours of on-time. Each pour-over process takes about 2-4 minutes, which means the battery can last for several weeks.
Worth The Price?
This depends on one’s preference.
It’s not as inexpensive as a standard scale, and you can get the same results with a kitchen scale and a free timer app on your phone. The extra money is for convenience and aesthetic design.
However, when compared to other options, such as coffee scales from Felicita, Acaia, and Brewista, Black Mirror offers the best value. At the same price point, the Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale does a good job with the pour-over but looks less elegant and modern.
Here are the pros and cons of the TimeMore Black Mirror:
| Pros | Cons |
| Rechargeable Lithium Battery | Uses only Meric system |
| Budget-friendly with features | Lags with the Tare button |
| Generally responsive and reliable | Difficult to Calibrate |
Final Thoughts
- If you’re looking for a budget-friendly scale with all of the above easy-to-use features, go for TimeMore Black Mirror
- It has a minimalist design and comes in very handy if you’re planning for a hike
- TimeMore has quite in common with Acaia but its features include, an auto-on and off timer, LED light, built-in timer, fast response, and quite reliable data
- Its sensitivity is perfect in my opinion, though with a very slight delay. Furthermore, it’s a fraction of the cost of Acaia-tier options.
- Overall, I believe Black Mirror is the best value on the market right now for an entry-level coffee scale.
Other Articles
- Nespresso VS Keurig (In-depth Comparison)
- Lido 3 Coffee Grinder (Review)
- Nespresso Machines (The Best Picks!)
- Best Espresso Machines Under $100 (Great Picks!)
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