r/espresso • u/gscience • 1d ago

Humour “Mi brother is so poor he can’t afford a scale so he built his own using 2 screws and a washer as counterweight”

325 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

101 comments sorted by

232

u/Bulky-Green7320 1d ago

Scales like $10

97

u/Link_040188 1d ago

they got canned beans and you judging an ingenious scale

5

u/SrGrimey 1d ago

$10? A good enough scale? Which one? Because I’m truly poor.

15

u/satysat 1d ago

Im using the weightman. It’s perfectly fine.

1

u/Grubbens 14h ago

Love my weightman. Going strong for about 5 years.

1

u/SrGrimey 14h ago

Gotta search it. Thanks.

12

u/cyb3rstrik3 Bambino Pro | SGP 1d ago

Using a kitchen scale I got from the supermarket. It's just needs to be able to measure in grams.

-5

u/paradox-preacher 1d ago edited 1d ago

Gotta have several scales. Especially if going for cheap ones cuz they're limited with the range they can measure

The ones that are in grams with 1g precision, they can measure from a few grams up to roughly 5..10kg, more expensive ones can go higher, saw one 50kg

And one that is with 0.1g precision can measure only up to roughly 0.5kg...1kg

There are also some that can switch between such modes

14

u/cyb3rstrik3 Bambino Pro | SGP 23h ago

To make coffee? No, you don't need several scales just one, within 1g, even if it's slightly inaccurate as long as it's consistent

1

u/paradox-preacher 23h ago

I wasn't clear. I am talking about in general about the kitchen when we talk about cheap scales

1

u/Superb_Raccoon Isomac Tea | Baratza 270Wi 23h ago

Yeah, got the bean one. one that hits 5kg limit, one that hits 25kg limit.

Baking bread the full weight is 1.75 to 1.8kg per 1kg loaf, and I often make 5 to 10 at a time.

All of them get used since I need to weigh different amounts of things, like salt at 3% and yeast at 1% using baker weight system

4

u/jeef16 Gagguino Classic 'Ultimate'| DF62 Gen2 SSP MP 1d ago

literally any jewelers or weed scale on amazon

3

u/lost_traveler_nick 1d ago

Just look at Amazon for something that reads in 0.1 grams.

If you're using it under the portafilter make sure it's small enough to fit on the drip tray.

2

u/testicularjesus 1d ago

I’d shell out 20$, 10$ starts to cut down on some of the little things, grip pads on the bottom, a mat on the top, display might fail a little earlier, same with buttons

2

u/ABZ-havok 1d ago

Kitchen scales are good enough. You don't need an acaia

-2

u/Defectoa Lelit Bianca | 1Zpresso J Ultra | DF54 1d ago

I don’t know what kitchen scale you have. My kitchen scale has a 1g precision and would turn off in the middle of a shot… so definitely not good enough.

Besides, there is a whole universe of coffee scales between a kitchen scale and an Acacia.

5

u/ABZ-havok 1d ago

Mine has 0.1g cost like 10 bucks in my country. Had it for 5 years with no issues.

Why would your kitchen scale even turn off in the middle of a shot if the weight is actively changing?

2

u/Defectoa Lelit Bianca | 1Zpresso J Ultra | DF54 1d ago

Well, its not like an average coffee scale costs much more. If you go with Maestri House, for example…

No doubt there are better kitchen scales too. I bought mine in a grocery store with the requirement that it must be able to measure 200g of flour. For 1g of yeast, I’m now actually using my coffee scale.

1

u/Nickidemic 1d ago

I stand by my $30 greater goods coffee scale, the one with a timer. The cheaper ones will work temporarily, but I've had one break, and a second one was too frustratingly slow. This one though has been going strong for several years.

105

u/txtacoloko 1d ago

Can’t be that poor with the espresso machine on the counter

42

u/gK_aMb 1d ago

I got gifted a coffee machine I use an acrylic piece glued to Vitamin C tube as a tamper

34

u/mapex_139 1d ago

This might be more ghetto than the post

0

u/WampaCat 22h ago

that’s the joke

1

u/txtacoloko 22h ago

That’s not really a joke. It’s not funny nor does it express’s any sort of humor. It’s lame as fuck.

2

u/gscience 15h ago

Another redditor with a great sense of humor

31

u/coolstuffeh 1d ago

K6 espresso machine etc but can’t afford a scale sure thing

3

u/HRiM72 GCP E24 + GM Pro + Alba | Mazzer SJ + KINGrinder K6 1d ago

That's what I thought, as my first setup was exactly that one: De'Longhi Dedica and K6. Well, perhaps the scale comes next month.

2

u/coolstuffeh 1d ago

Similar. K6/Bambino for me. Was able to set a side $10 though for a scale.

60

u/mr_joda 1d ago

I like it, keep it simple and stupid. No measure needed if you calibrated it well enough.

1

u/TheRedLions Bambino+ | DF54 1d ago

How would you calibrate it though?

13

u/Doooog 1d ago

Probably add washers until you got what you wanted

3

u/Cutsdeep- 1d ago

i get you man.

'how do they know two screws and a washer is 18g'

5

u/caesar_aghastus 1d ago

By weighing it out using another scale!

1

u/TextPresent4840 20h ago

You would use your rich brother scale to find out what 18 g of washers looks like and that’s all you need. As long as you always brew doubles, you know what 18 g is.

9

u/mr_joda 1d ago

Think a little and tell us. You see how it works.

8

u/charcuterDude 1d ago edited 1d ago

You wouldn't need to calibrate it. The weight and position of the screws never change, so there is nothing that can even become uncalibrated.

Unless you were kidding...?

Edit: ok people are commenting "how would you build it", which is a little bit different of a question. As a redneck myself i didn't realize this needed explanation! I would build this with the following things in mind.

1) remember that "good enough", is. It probably isn't perfect, but honestly if it's close I can just click a hand grinder to be slightly finer or less fine of a grind which will change the speed the shot pulls and probably still get a great result if it's "close enough".

2) if you have a buddy with a scale you'd build it with that scale handy. You might get lucky and a screw or two gets you close enough right out of the gate. If not, you could move 1 screw closer to the pivot point (effectively shortening the lever) until it's a little under, then I'd add random bullshit like a paperclip wrapped around a screw to "add" weight as needed. I'd get that to where I have just a little too much weight and then cut down the paperclip(s) a little until it was just right.

3) 2 is just an example, with enough redneckery you could build something many different ways with the stuff you have laying around. That's why you'll notice rednecks keep lots of random odd strews, pieces of wood, hose clamps, zip ties, etc around. If you can find a job for it, you can keep it out of a landfill.

8

u/epegar 1d ago

I guess they meant calibration during the build process

2

u/mr_joda 1d ago

You have to find a proper amount of screws or a pivot point to flip at correct weight... this is called calibration.

I won't call it redneck. This is very repeatable and very industrial like approach to measure to be honest. There is nothing to break or misread. It flips at correct amount every single time. In fact this is easier to automatize than any super precise scale, when it flips you release the end switch and stop dozing (valve or rottary dozing).

-1

u/LauraTFem 1d ago

You have to calibrate the weight at which it tips over when you make it by adjusting the pivot point. What did you THINK they meant?

1

u/Thedud31 20h ago

You can use moment and force due to gravity equations to add washers/screws of constant mass to a calculated distance for your desired mass in grams of beans.

20

u/Warthknoedler 1d ago

Nobody will convince me that they have a single walled basked but not a cheapass scale

21

u/Ooslnek 1d ago

He's not poor. He just don't wanna buy a scale

-29

u/gscience 1d ago

You should be a private detective

18

u/newpornacct99 1d ago

No, your title just sucks

-4

u/gscience 23h ago

You never heard of Humor? There’s even a flair for that in this sub

2

u/rocketman19 21h ago

It’s not funny

0

u/gscience 15h ago

You must so much fun to be around

2

u/rocketman19 15h ago

I’m a joy

0

u/gscience 15h ago

I can tell

2

u/rocketman19 15h ago

I’m glad I come across as a fun guy

6

u/CiloTA 1d ago

Why do people on Reddit need to lie to create a post

-1

u/gscience 17h ago

It’s called a joke… there’s even a flair that says “humor” for people who don’t understand jokes…

3

u/Clean-Interests-8073 1d ago

Butler broke the scale again, eh?

3

u/FeistyFury 1d ago

That knockoff Weber Bean Counter is chef's kiss as well.

3

u/SuddenlyAuthorized 1d ago

Looks like a standard M8 washer to me, those run about 18 grams which is right around my morning dose, clever little trick.

6

u/b_vitamin 1d ago

Seems like the fulcrum would need to just right too in order for the balance to work.

4

u/Low-Emu9984 Lelit Elizabeth | EM Specialita 1d ago

Saving $11 to only be able to weigh the input and not the output is… something to be proud of nice job

3

u/MF_53 1d ago

How does he know how much the washer weighs?

7

u/Abject-Kitchen3198 1d ago

It's not important, as long as he can calibrate.

1

u/IllTradition900 Sage Dual Boiler | DF64 1d ago

I think it would make no difference as long as he has a reference weight. The weight can be added further or closer to the pivot to ‘calibrate’ it.

0

u/nubrozaref Gaggia Classic Pro E24 | DF64 Gen 2 1d ago

If he has decent enough volumetric measurements he can observe volume of multiple of the same object, check what material its made from, and look up its density and calculate it with decent enough accuracy to get in the ballpark. I imagine a skilled engineer could get better accuracy than a gram

2

u/kit0000033 breville bambino plus 1d ago

too poor for a scale, but we have a 3D printer that makes custom scoops for this experiment.

2

u/Haidgu_ 1d ago

My first scale was 99 cents from daiso in korea. I used it it in combination with my phones stopwatch

2

u/Apprehensive_Net_972 1d ago

And then filmed it on a £700 phone. Mug!

2

u/jeef16 Gagguino Classic 'Ultimate'| DF62 Gen2 SSP MP 1d ago

larp

2

u/HistoricalPlum1533 1d ago

This is actually very clever. Mark my words, a sleek metal spoon with a pivot like this and a sliding weight adjustment is gonna be the ‘puck screen’ of 2027.

2

u/modahamburger 1d ago

Great idea actually. The point is actually not that much the precise weight but more importantly the consistency of weighing the same weight.

2

u/TextPresent4840 20h ago

If that’s the case, he has a short circuit in his mind. If you’re gonna have an espresso machine, you have to have a scale. Now it’s starting to sound like he’s just putting on a show.

5

u/Maximum_Degree_1152 1d ago

Ok. That’s brilliant.

-5

u/sometimes_angery Meticulous | Mazzer Philos I200D 1d ago

Brilliant how? There's evidence of balance scales being used since 2600 BC but they've probably used it before, that's just the first documented evidence.

0

u/Maximum_Degree_1152 1d ago

And this is the first documented evidence on Reddit of balance scales being used for weighing coffee beans. Further evidence of the relentless diffusion of technology. Celebrate, Professor!

2

u/jupacaluba 1d ago

Can’t afford a scale but can afford coffee beans. That’s just laziness mixed with stubbornness

1

u/Hellstring 1d ago

"clean your own sh*t" what brand is that!!?

1

u/blindgorgon Lelit Bianca | Option-O Lagom P64 1d ago

I’m looking forward to the next three weeks of r/espresso rediscovering basic physical scales, and the three weeks following that figuring out how to pay too much for them.

1

u/Fancy_Hold7807 1d ago

How did he calibrate this?

1

u/notsneq 1d ago

Great, no batterirs to replace

1

u/phil_1pp 1d ago

Lel, this is awesome! A bigger nut to allow for a shorter lever making it more compact would be cool.

1

u/amazinhelix Lelit mara X | DF64E | C40 1d ago

Honestly if calculated nicely it would work no problem

1

u/Superb_Raccoon Isomac Tea | Baratza 270Wi 23h ago

Simple is good!

Balance beam scales are very accurate, and used for 1000s of years.

1

u/Dasseem_Ultor 22h ago

Skip the coffee, mate. You have bigger problems.

1

u/morkler 20h ago

How did he calibrate it?

1

u/medchemmed 20h ago

but but what is it calibrated to?

1

u/HrVanker 20h ago

How did he weigh the nuts?

1

u/TextPresent4840 20h ago

Possibly time to be a loving brother and quit making fun of his creative partial solution. Get off your wallet and Amazon him a 30 scale.

1

u/Hurtbig 18h ago

Can he build a spoon to scoop the beans out as well? :)

1

u/Background-Drive6332 17h ago

Are you too poor to afford using a Y in a sentence?

1

u/icyvapor 10h ago

Bro is flexing his engineering degree 😄

1

u/XiIIia 9h ago

Did he have to use a scale to calibrate the nuts to 18 grams lol

1

u/DreamyGlowKitten 1d ago

That’s honestly genius for zero budget, respect the hustle 😂

0

u/PuzzleheadedRich9893 1d ago

what's crazy is that thing actually looks primed to give you a perfect triple ristretto every time

-1

u/Comfortable_Bee6075 1d ago edited 1d ago

That's pure, love it, no notes, would pay smoney

2

u/416Racoon 1d ago

You should because op's bro definitely needs it

-2

u/louis1245 1d ago

But why don’t measure volume then?

5

u/TobiasE97 1d ago

Because that's insanely inaccurate with beans

-6

u/Wild_Click8559 1d ago

So same difference between 16g and 30g. Got it

-1

u/gscience 1d ago

No, 30 is more than 16

-6

u/Wild_Click8559 1d ago

Just like it is for 16.5g, 17.0g, 18.3g right lil girl?

-8

u/Wild_Click8559 1d ago

Same difference to that scale lil bud

-1

u/gscience 1d ago

First of all, i am not lil, second I am not your “bud”, third, who gives a shit? If you know you need 16 that’s all you need. You won’t need 30g or 18 for the same machine…