Timemore Black Mirror Basic 3 - Espresso & Pour-over Coffee Scale (2026)
Tech Specs
Tech Specs
In The Box
In The Box
Warranty
Warranty
Meet the most refined Black Mirror yet. The Basic 3 is a complete redesign of Timemore's bestselling coffee scale: slimmer, sharper, and packed with genuinely useful upgrades for both espresso and filter brewers.
At just 20mm thin and around 300g, it's built to fit comfortably under espresso machines and slip into any brew kit without a second thought. The footprint is roughly 10% smaller than the Basic 2, and the height has been reduced by around 35%, giving you far more clearance for portafilters, cups and drippers.
What sets the Basic 3 apart is its three dedicated brewing modes, switched via a single dial:
- Espresso Mode: place your cup, and the scale auto-tares, auto-starts the timer when flow is detected, and stops the moment you lift the cup. Hands-free from first drip to final weight.
- Pour-over Mode: the same automation, plus a live coffee-to-water ratio readout so you can track your brew in real time without doing the maths.
- Standard Mode: manual timer control with ratio and flow rate always available, for full creative freedom.
Precision has taken a real step forward too. The Basic 3 now reads accurately down to 0.2g (versus 0.5g on the Basic 2), making it genuinely useful for measuring single shots and small doses. A new advanced electromagnetic shield is built into the chassis, protecting readings from magnetic catch cups and machine interference, a meaningful upgrade if you brew espresso.
Power lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge thanks to a 1600mAh battery, with USB-C charging and an IPX3 water-resistant build for everyday peace of mind.
Whether you're dialling in a new espresso recipe, refining your V60, or just want one scale that does everything well, the Basic 3 is the new benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Timemore Black Mirror Basic 3 is a precision coffee scale designed for both espresso and pour-over brewing. It features 0.1g accuracy with a minimum readable weight of 0.2g, three dedicated brewing modes (Espresso, Pour-over and Standard), live flow rate and coffee-to-water ratio displays, and an ultra-slim 20mm profile. Released in 2026 as the latest generation of Timemore's bestselling Black Mirror series, it is one of the most compact and accurate coffee scales in its class.
The Basic 3 is a complete redesign with several meaningful upgrades over the Basic 2. The footprint is around 10% smaller and the height has been reduced by approximately 35%, giving more clearance under espresso machines. Accuracy extends down to 0.2g (versus 0.5g on the Basic 2), making it genuinely useful for small doses. A new advanced electromagnetic shield protects readings from magnetic catch cups and machine interference, and battery life has been improved by around 10%.
The Basic 3 features a dedicated mode switch to toggle between three brewing modes. Espresso Mode auto-tares when you place your cup, auto-starts the timer when flow is detected, and stops when you remove the cup, making it fully hands-free. Pour-over Mode adds a live coffee-to-water ratio readout alongside the same automation. Standard Mode gives manual timer control with ratio and flow rate always available, for full creative freedom.
Yes, the Basic 3 is well-suited for espresso. It reads accurately down to 0.2g with 0.1g resolution, which is precise enough for dialling in single shots and small dose adjustments. The new advanced electromagnetic shield built into the chassis prevents readings from being affected by magnetic catch cups and the electrical interference produced by espresso machines, addressing a common pain point on competing scales.
At just 20mm thin and with a footprint of 140 × 120mm, the Basic 3 is one of the most compact scales in its class and is designed to fit under the drip tray of most espresso machines. The height has been reduced by around 35% compared to the Basic 2, making it suitable for a much wider range of espresso machines and cup heights, including popular models from Breville, Sage, Gaggia, Rancilio and La Marzocco.
The Basic 3 has a 1600mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 24 hours of continuous screen-on use from a single charge. It charges via USB-C using the supplied cable, so there are no proprietary chargers to worry about, and battery life is around 10% better than the previous Basic 2.
The Basic 3 is rated IPX3 water-resistant, which protects it against splashes and minor spills during everyday brewing. The included silicone heat-resistant pad sits on top of the scale, providing additional protection from hot cups and drips. It is not fully waterproof and should not be submerged or rinsed under running water.
The box includes the Black Mirror Basic 3 scale, a silicone heat-resistant pad, a USB-C charging cable and a user manual. The silicone pad doubles as a non-slip surface and protects the scale from heat when placed under hot cups or drippers.
Yes, the Basic 3 is equally at home with filter brewing. Pour-over Mode auto-tares your vessel, auto-starts the timer when water is added, and displays a live coffee-to-water ratio readout in real time. This means you can track your brew ratio as you pour without doing any mental arithmetic, making it ideal for V60, Chemex, AeroPress and other manual brewing methods.
The Timemore Black Mirror Basic 3 is designed and manufactured in China by Timemore, a specialist coffee equipment brand known for the Chestnut hand grinder series and the original Black Mirror scale. Timemore has built a strong reputation among home baristas and specialty coffee professionals for delivering well-engineered, design-led brewing equipment at competitive price points.
