Acaia Pearl S – Smart Brewing Scale with Flow Rate and Brewguide
The kettle has just gone silent, the kitchen smells of freshly ground coffee, and the first step silently appears on the Pearl S display. You start to pour – and a fine bar moves with it, showing you in real-time how quickly the water flows into the coffee bed. No rushing, no guessing. Just you, the water, and a scale that thinks with you every tenth of a second.
It's that moment just before the first sip, where everything is decided – and the Pearl S is built to make it calm and traceable.
What makes the Acaia Pearl S special
The Pearl S is a brewing scale that thinks with you without being intrusive. It measures with 0.1 gram accuracy and reacts fast enough for you to follow the build-up of your shot or pour-over at the speed it actually happens. For us, good coffee starts with the ratio: We describe extraction by weight, an espresso, for example, at a 1:2 ratio – so about 18 grams of coffee becoming about 36 grams in the cup. Seconds are an orientation, weight is the truth.
The heart of it is the real-time flow rate display. It shows you in grams per second how fast the water is flowing through the coffee bed. This is more than a gimmick: how quickly you pour moves the coffee bed and influences how evenly the water extracts the soluble compounds – and thus, whether your cup will be round and sweet or edgy. You don't have to study the physics behind it to use it; the Pearl S simply makes it visible.
Using the Brewguide mode, you can load recipes onto the scale via the app. The display then guides you step-by-step through bloom, pours, and waiting times – without having to hold your phone. If you like, you can have weight and time announced as a sound or voice; if you want peace and quiet, you can mute everything. Acaia speaks of eight brewing modes, from simple weighing to espresso and pour-over to a countdown with over 30 melodies. In practice, this means: the scale adapts to your way, not the other way around.
And that's exactly our stance: there's no espresso police, no right or wrong. No shot is the same as yesterday's, because the bean, humidity, and you yourself change daily. This is not a limitation – it's the beauty of it. The Pearl S gives you data, not judgment. What you do with it is up to you.
A scale in this league is also a decision of feeling. A simple scale weighs just as reliably for most people – the Acaia says something different: about the display, the app, the way it stands on the counter. Nobody needs one or the other. You want it – or you don't. Both are perfectly legitimate, and this is just our opinion, one of many.
At a glance
| Model |
Acaia Pearl S (PS003 / PS004) |
| Resolution |
0.1 g |
| Maximum Capacity |
3000 g |
| Units of Measure |
g / oz |
| Dimensions (W × L × H) |
160 × 160 × 32 mm |
| Weight |
620 g (± 5 g) |
| Display |
Dot matrix LED, multiple brightness levels |
| Material |
Polycarbonate (PC) |
| Flow Rate Display |
Real-time, in g/s |
| Brewing Modes |
Eight, including Espresso, Pour-Over, Brewguide, Countdown |
| App |
Acaia Brewguide (iOS & Android) |
| Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Power Supply |
USB rechargeable (5 V / 500 mA), up to 40 hours |
| Scope of Delivery |
Pearl S, heat-resistant pad, USB charging cable |
| Colors |
Black, White |
Who the Pearl S is made for
The Pearl S is for everyone who likes to understand their coffee while brewing it – whether with a portafilter or a filter. It appeals to people who love pour-over and want to see the infusion, not just feel it, and also to those who meticulously build their espresso shot by the gram. Whether you're brewing your first conscious pour-over or have been refining your recipes for years: The scale accompanies every journey, without preconditions. We welcome every pace.
Pairs well with
A scale unfolds its value with the rest of your setup. Everything starts with the grinds – in our coffee grinders you'll find everything from handy to large that grinds evenly. For brewing, it's worth taking a look at our espresso machines, and those who use the Pearl S for pour-over are well served with the hand filters and kettles from our Hario Collection.
When it comes to scales themselves: Those who want compact, precise and affordable weighing will find reliable companions in the Normcore Collection. Those looking for app connectivity, flow rate and the full Brewguide experience are right in the Acaia Collection. Unsure what suits your setup? Our consultation tool can help.
Frequently asked questions about the Acaia Pearl S
How does the Pearl S differ from the Lunar and the Pearl 2021?
The Lunar is compact and fits under almost any portafilter machine – ideal for espresso. The Pearl 2021 is the larger, classic brew scale with flow rate display. The Pearl S goes a step further: interactive Brewguide mode, sound and voice prompts, and a capacity of 3000g. Which one suits you depends on whether you mostly make espresso, filter, or both – you'll find all three in our Acaia Collection.
Is the Pearl S suitable for both espresso and pour-over?
Yes. The Pearl S has dedicated modes for both – from portafilter mode for espresso machines to pour-over with automatic timer start and flow rate. A portafilter fits on the weighing surface, and for longer filter brews, the included heat-resistant pad protects the surface.
Do I need the app to use the Pearl S?
No. Weighing, timer, espresso and pour-over modes work without a phone. You only need the free Acaia Brewguide app (iOS and Android) if you want to load or share recipes onto the scale. Once transferred, the Brewguide will guide you through the preparation directly on the display.
Can I see the Acaia Pearl S before purchasing?
Yes, of course. As an importer of Acaia, we can show you the Pearl S live in our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b). Not every model is always available on site; please contact us briefly, and we will prepare it for you. Most of our customers buy the scale conveniently online.
How quickly can the Pearl S be delivered?
We deliver within 2 to 4 business days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Click & Collect is also available in Bern and Zurich.
Roaster's Tip
When we set up the Pearl S and pull a shot, we like to reach for beans with body and sweetness – our Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight beautifully demonstrate how consistent a brew becomes with precise weighing. For those who like it full-bodied and round without any acidity, Very Nutty is the way to go. And for curious days when we're looking for something fruity in the cup, Wild Peach goes into the grinder. This is our recommendation – one of many, and any bean you enjoy is the right one.
