Acaia Lunar Review

The Acaia Lunar: Our Go-To Coffee Scale for Espresso

It's been a long time since our last coffee equipment review! So today, we and our friends from abcoffee decided to review the Acaia Lunar.

If you follow our Instagram you probably know that we are big fans of Acaia scales. Either the Acaia Pearl Model S and the Acaia Lunar are our first choices whenever we need to make a good cup of coffee.

Today we'll take a closer look at the Acaia Lunar which has been the darling of coffee feeds, blogs, and competitions. But is it all hype, or does it actually have use for baristas and coffee professionals? Let's find out in out Acaia Lunar Review.

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Acaia Pedigree

After having used the Acaia Pearl Model S for such a long time, our expectations about the Acaia Lunar were very high. On paper, it looks stunning: it’s highly water-resistant, capable of having espresso run all over it if the barista gets distracted, has an update rate apparently second to none, and even auto-tares (determines the weight of a container).

Fortunately for all coffee geeks around the world, the Acaia Lunar delivery exactly what it promises. Anodized aluminum construction, fortified by water-resistant spray, in combination with minimalist aesthetics and laboratory-grade parts makes for a compact and powerful technology that will only improve your brewing experience. A Bluetooth connection opens up further possibilities, giving you access to a suite of apps, firmware updates, and brewing aids.

Like the Acaia Pearl Model S, this unit has a fantastic 20ms response time and a sensitivity that can read as little as 0.1g. It also has a built-in timer that displays alongside weight measurements, auto-off programming, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a life of 20-30 hours per charge.

Just like the other Acaia scales, the Acaia Lunar requires some time before you get used to all its functionalities. If you only use Acaia in your coffee bar you'll have no problems, but if you use other brands you will need to get used to the Acaia ecosystem.

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6 Different Modes

Besides the excellent build quality of the Acaia Lunar, its several features are something that really stands out. The Lunar has various modes that allow for different levels of automation. Below we have detailed what each mode is capable of doing.

Weighing Only Mode

The default mode when turning the scale on for the first time is a simple scale.  It is set to grams and will tell you how many grams you are weighing.

Dual Display Mode

In the second mode, besides the weigh, you will have a timer on the left side of the display. For example, if you are using it to brew espresso you can tare your cup with the "T" button, and as soon as you start the espresso machine click the power button to manually start the timer.  

Timer Starts with Flow Mode (water droplet icon)

The third mode, which can be identified by the water droplet icon to the right side of the display, measures the same as the second mode except it starts the shot timer the second the first drop lands in your cup.

Auto-Tare Auto-Start Timer Mode (water droplet and square icon)

In the fourth mode, the Acaia Lunar looks for a steady weight, such as a cup to be placed on the scale. Place it on the scale and after about 1 second it will automatically tare the scale. Start brewing a shot, and the dynamic weight starts the shot timer as well as weighs the shot. At the end of the shot, the timer stops automatically.

Auto-Tare Mode (triangle and square icon)

As mentioned above, when placing a steady weight onto the scale, it will tare and start the shot timer automatically, even before the first drop. This mode is useful for timing the entire shot time. Hit the start button on your espresso machine and place a cup on the scale, and let the machine and scale do the rest.

Auto-Tare Timer Starts with Flow Mode (square icon)

Last but not least, the sixth mode of the Acaia Lunar does exactly what the description says. If you are choosing not to time your shots but would like to automatically tare the scale, it looks for a steady weight to be placed on the scale for approximately 1 second.  Any dynamic change in weight will display the weight without taring.

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Product Information

Technical Specification

Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.6 inches / 1.05 x 1.05 x 1.5 cm
Item Weight: 1.3 pounds / 606 g
Maximum Capacity: 70.55 oz / 2000 g
Minimum Weight: 0.1 g
Measuring Units: oz /g
Readability: 0.1 g
Power Supply: 5 V / 500 mA
Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable 3.7 V 1100 mAh
Battery Life: Up to 27 hours
Display: LED
Material: Aluminum, Acrylic
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0

Inside the Package

Acaia Lunar Coffee Scale x 1
Heat Resistant Pad x 1
Micro USB Charging Cable x 1
Acaia Calibration Weight 100 g x 1

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At the End of Acaia Lunar Review

For us, Acaia is a brand that has proven that it has what it takes to serve the needs of the specialty coffee community. Acaia’s scales have been a reference in the coffee industry and the Acaia Lunar only reinforces Acaia’s place of reference, as one of the best coffee scale brands in the world.

The high build quality and the performance of the Acaia Lunar make this scale one of the best models available on the market. It’s fast, accurate, adaptable to different service conditions, and highly durable. If you consider yourself a coffee enthusiast and you are looking for a new espresso scale, the Acaia Lunar might be what you are looking for.