Acaia Pearl 2021 Coffee Scale

Acaia Pearl 2021 – pour-over scale with flow rate display and USB-C

Your V60 sits on the Pearl. The auto-tare sensor detects the weight, and the display drops to 0.0 g. As your pour starts and the water hits the filter, the auto-timer begins counting automatically, because the Pearl has registered the first drops. The flow rate indicator at the top of the LED display shows a calm arc of glowing dots: your pour speed sits in the ideal range. Dosing along this indicator with minor corrections keeps the brew in rhythm. Four minutes later, you have a cup you can reproduce – not because you got lucky, but because you saw on the scale what was happening.

The Pearl 2021 is the pour-over and filter coffee scale in the Acaia family. Larger than the Lunar – 160 × 160 mm platform, 32 mm height – and built for the brew bar rather than the drip tray. Completely reworked for the 2021 generation: a faster load cell, USB-C charging, a brighter LED display for outdoor use, a new flow rate indicator as a visible LED row. Coffee Coaching Club is the exclusive Swiss importer of selected Acaia products and carries the Pearl 2021 in black and white.

What the Pearl 2021 measures – and how

0.1 g resolution across the full range up to 2000 g. Stabilization time under one second. The load cell has been completely reworked compared to the first Pearl generation – with industrial-grade components that stabilize faster and react less to vibration. If you've ever poured with a standard kitchen scale and wondered why the reading keeps jumping around while you pour: that doesn't happen on the Pearl.

The flow rate indicator is the most noticeable update of the 2021 version. Instead of showing pour speed only as a number in g/s, it's visualized as an LED row at the top of the display – the center is the ideal range, and the farther out the LEDs light up, the faster the water is flowing. For pour-over, this is a learning tool: you see during the pour whether you're at the ideal pace, instead of guessing afterward based on total time. Extras like an Auto-Start Timer Mode (the timer starts on the first drop) and a Beverage Mode (a guided brew with stages like "set up filter," "dose coffee," "pour water") round out the feature set.

Bluetooth 4.0, Acaia App (Brewmaster, Brewbar). The Pearl logs every brew, and you can save, compare, and share recipes. If you want to reproduce what worked in your last great cup, the app has all the data for it.

Build and battery

The housing is made of PC polymer, noticeably larger than the Lunar (160 × 160 × 32 mm), with a 500 g self-weight. The Pearl sits stable on any brew bar, and the platform comfortably fits a Chemex, a V60 with server, a Kalita Wave, or an Aeropress. USB-C charging, lithium-ion battery with 30 to 40 hours of runtime – if you make one or two brews a day, you charge it about once a quarter. The Pearl isn't submersible, but it's water-resistant against splashes and condensation, because the internals are built practically "upside down."

At a glance

Who the Pearl 2021 is for

The Pearl is for anyone who regularly brews pour-over, V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave, Aeropress, or French press and wants to understand their brews. For anyone who wants to improve their pour speed in a controlled way with the flow rate indicator – a learning tool that brings visibly better results within a few weeks. For cafés and brew bars looking for a reliable, app-connected scale for the filter station.

If you mainly make espresso and need a scale for the drip tray, you're better served by the Acaia Lunar (15.5 mm slim, 105 × 105 mm). If you do both, you often end up with both scales – the Lunar on the machine, the Pearl on the brew bar. If you're looking for a more affordable pour-over scale, you'll find it among the Normcore scales (exclusive Swiss importer) – a version without app connectivity or a flow rate indicator, with the core functions of weighing and timing.

Order directly online

The Acaia Pearl 2021 can be ordered directly in the webshop in black or white. Delivery throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2 to 4 business days. Click and collect in Bern, Gerberngasse 44 and Zürich, Hagenholzstrasse 50b. There the Pearl is ready to try – the platform, display brightness, and flow rate indicator are easier to judge in real use than in photos.

For questions about the Acaia App, the Pearl vs. Lunar comparison, or choosing a brewing mode: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch or by phone during business hours.

What goes with it

The Pearl works with any manual brew method. Classic combinations: Hario V60 or Switch, Chemex, Aeropress, French press. For the right grinder for pour-over: Varia VS3 or VS6 with conical burrs (exclusive Swiss importer), Comandante C40 as a hand grinder, or Option-O Lagom 01 with Mizen Blind Burrs for light roasts.

For a kettle with precise temperature control: Varia AURA or Varia AURA FLUX. For precise coffee water: Apax Labs mineral concentrates (exclusive Swiss importer). For airtight bean storage: Airscape. Background on extraction, flow rate, and particle distribution in our sensory world.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Pearl 2021 and the Lunar?

The Pearl is larger (160 × 160 × 32 mm, 500 g) and designed for pour-over and filter coffee – more platform space, more brewing modes for manual brew methods. The Lunar is small (105 × 105 × 15.5 mm, 265 g) and optimized for espresso – it fits on any drip tray. If you do both, you combine both.

What's new about the Pearl 2021 compared to the original Pearl?

A completely reworked load cell (faster, more stable), USB-C instead of Micro-USB (noticeably faster charging), a brighter display (outdoor-ready), a new flow rate indicator as a visible LED row, a battery indicator, a new Beverage Mode with guided brewing stages. The housing shape and control concept stay the same.

What is Beverage Mode?

A guided brewing mode that walks you through the stages of a pour-over: set up the cup, insert the filter, dose the coffee, pour the water, remove the filter. The Pearl measures brew time, beverage weight, and brew ratio automatically. Especially helpful when you're learning a new method or want to recreate a recipe exactly.

How does the flow rate indicator work?

An LED row at the top of the display visualizes pour speed in real time. The center shows the ideal range, and the farther out the LEDs light up, the faster the water is flowing. For pour-over, it's a direct feedback tool – pour control improves measurably within a few weeks. The indicator is active in several modes (Dual Display, Pour-Over Auto-Start, Beverage) and can be turned off in the settings.

Does the Pearl 2021 also work for espresso?

Yes, a portafilter fits on the platform. In Portafilter mode with auto-tare, it also works for espresso – but: 32 mm of height is too tall for most drip trays. If you mainly make espresso, you need the Lunar. The Pearl is designed for the brew bar.

How long does the battery last?

30 to 40 hours with Bluetooth active. One or two brews a day means charging roughly every few months. USB-C charging – any standard cable and power adapter with 5 V / 1 A works. Higher voltages and charging too frequently can damage the battery (follow the instruction manual).

Can I see the Acaia Pearl 2021 before I buy?

Yes. In the showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zürich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), the Pearl is ready to try. The platform and the flow rate indicator come across best in real use.

How quickly is the Pearl 2021 delivered in Switzerland?

2 to 4 business days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Click and collect in Bern and Zürich.

Where can I buy the Acaia Pearl 2021 in Switzerland?

At Coffee Coaching Club. We carry the Pearl in black and white as well as the complementary Lunar. Order via coffeecoachingclub.ch, by phone during business hours, or in the showrooms in Bern and Zürich.