Varia AKU Scale Review - How does it compare to the Acaia Lunar?

[@EarthbendR]

My Lunar is an absolute tank! I’ve run the faucet directly over it for deep cleaning a number of times and it still works flawlessly (face side up and level only of course). The varia seems like a fantastic second scale that I’ll be picking up for travel! Looking forward to getting one

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi oz, thanks for the comment! Marc

[@anthonym6078]

I’ll admit, when i got my Acaia Pearl i thought the app connectivity was a useless feature, but tracking my pour over and espresso brews has been much more useful than i expected. I rotate different beans very often, so it’s nice to be able to go back and look at previous shot info for those specific beans. I will say i really like this scale tho, lol I’m trying to find a reason to justify it (like maybe for travel or camping). Thanks for the great video, literally everything i wanted to know about this scale.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hey Anthony, You are welcome for the video and thank you for sharing your thoughts!!! Marc

[@zaq9339]

While this is really non-essential and I'm trying to do the opposite and talk myself out of buying a scale with these types of bells and whistles, I must admit I'm often lost going back and forth between different brewing styles, parameters or beans and I just don't have it in me to keep a journal with all the variables. If the data helps keep track of these things, it doesn't feel like a gimmick at all.

[@anotherguycalledsmith]

I totally see this price aspect - BUT, I like the look of the _Acaia Lunar_ so much that I tried hard to forget the money that I payed for it… I enjoy to look at it every day (!) for more than two years now. Emotionally, for me, its price is successfully written off by now. Yes, I agree that the one you are presenting here looks acceptable, but I still like my _Lunar_ better… I cannot believe how some people can even bear using cheap-looking plastic cr*p.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi agcs, Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The AKU and Lunar are a cut way above the cheap plastic scales! Marc

[@kitcraft9516]

Mark, if you get channeling in your shot and it happens to hit the timer button, will it stop the timer? This happens with my cheaper scale, and it drives me nuts. Not that I get a bunch of channeling shots, but it happens from time to time and with my luck it hits the shot time button. I've considered scales with physical buttons on the side to avoid this but at that point I'd rather just use my spouted portafilter, lol.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi kit, thanks for the question. Channeling happens :) We put a fair amount of water and espresso over the scale and across touch points with no glitching in the display. Probably a lot more than one is likely to get with a spurting bottomless shot. While I don't recommend dosing the scale with liquids it's very robust. Marc

[@kitcraft9516]

@Wholelattelovepage Thanks, Marc. Much appreciated!

[@chandra5103]

when Varia AKU Scale will be available? Looking forward to order scale and Varia VS3 Gen 2 Single Dose Grinder

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi chandra, original stock of the AKU Scale sold out quickly. We anticipate new stock in ~2 weeks. Marc

[@chandra5103]

Got it, thank you. Already ordered grinder, please send me a message when scale will be available.

[@ds_7]

My main question I’m trying to answer when buying a scale is whether the scale is sensitive enough to detect weight increments when adding individual beans into a dose. My existing cheap scale is having a nightmare with this and is jumping 0.2 grams after a number of beans are added.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi ds, yes it can. I use it all the time for weighing doses when I’m adding single beans or partials to be very precise when brewing or running tests on grinder retention etc. Marc

[@ds_7]

@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you so much! Super helpful 🙏 You absolute legend

[@freightdawg6762]

💯💯💯

[@janehonda4073]

8:19 "Here is a chart comparing key specifications..."

[@wild-radio7373]

🥰👍

[@mikerihm]

This is not correct. The AKU scale has an auto-tare and auto-time function that will wait to start timing until the first drop of espresso or liquid is detected. I have the AKU scale and use this every day

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi m, some early Bluetooth capable models shipped without the firmware update installed for 1st timing auto start. As mentioned in video this update is user installable with procedure available from Varia’s website. As of last week, all AKU scales we are shipping have the firmware update installed. Marc

[@mikerihm]

@@Wholelattelovepage thanks for clarifying for the users.

[@SilverstateHobbies]

ok well this changes the theory of timing from first drip...the acai scale lets you auto time from first drip....hmm still confused on the proper method becuase it changes the your shot alot which way you time it

[@EarthbendR]

Not sure if this is helpful, but I time my acaia manually now from first drip after years of letting the lunar auto start. The lunar seems to start counting once it reads 0.5g. This may be only my unit, but I do enjoy the shots better when I time from the very first drip. Maybe it’s all in my head too 😅

[@SilverstateHobbies]

@@EarthbendR hmm ya sometimes I think manual would be good mine works as it should but mist scales don't operate that way and is that's the case I think the Varia would be a great scale it looks good little bit bigger

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi SH, I'm a long time proponent of timing from 1st drip. Keep in mind is timing is the most basic way of appraising extractions. Really only meaningful as a reference shot to shot on your equipment and variables. I like first drip as it takes things like pump differences out of the equation. Marc

[@SilverstateHobbies]

@@Wholelattelovepage yes I always feel like it should be first drip that's why I wish all scales would start time when detetectinf first drip...the Vario scale looked great til it seemlike it doesn't time that way

[@SilverstateHobbies]

ok afte rlooking at the manual looks like it does Auto time as well....ok cool!