Brewista Smart Scale II Issues

[flashpixx]

Thanks for that. I found it more and more unreliable however I think it got wet once too many times.
I do miss the simplicity of the Brewista, the ability to auto-tare without having to auto start another function was very useful, say to auto-tare the bean container before grinding. I still sometimes forget, fortunately the a Tiamo ss cup weights 110.4g haha.
Now I’m used to the Lunar it is quicker than the Brewista, and the buttons work without a second thought. However as I weigh the grind output then the extraction, I’m taring manually for each.

[quester]

Great scales but a little fiddly

Hi Flashpixx - I'm generally happy with the Brewista, given the price point compared to the Acaia. My grinder has the Acaia built in so the grind is taken care of. I sit the Brewista forward of the group head discharge on my ECM Technika, so that a couple of CM hangs over the front edge. Don't have any problems. I use it to time the pre-infusion on Mode 5, then go on to run the espresso but use the PID on the ECM for timing. It all works well.

Like you, though, I find the Mode & Power buttons the wrong way round. They are really small and require a good strong fingernail to activate. The power button is behind the mode button. The mode I use is 5 so don't need to change that, whereas I do need to turn the machine on and off regularly. It is illogical to have these two buttons this way round. On the right hand side the Tare button is at the front and the Timing button at the back. That seems ok but the button size, when fingers aren't as nimble as they used to be, could be a little bigger.

As to reliability, they have been rock solid so far but that is only around 4 weeks. I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one here to be curious as to how you are finding the replacement scales ;-)

[robusto]

Or put the scale in a transparent lunch bag, ziplock bag or similar.

[Dimal]

Yes, your device came immediately to mind, very schmick indeed...
Several CSers own 3D printers so I imagine it would be something that could be accomplished.

Mal.

[Meggs8]

You could build something like this. My scales were getting wet ad messy and hard to fit under PF and didn't want to spend heaps on retail adaptor.

[gunda]

If you've already got a 3D printer, yes. If you've got to pay someone to print, depends on the cost. And on the quality of the print you receive.

As I mentioned in that recent Decent thread (not the long one), a number of people have designed a stand similar to this to work with the DE and the bluetooth Skale 2. I had such a stand printed for me. Wasn't overly cheap, and while it worked, it wasn't the greatest quality. I bought the ONA Stem. Sometimes it's just simpler and easier to pay for quality. If I had a 3D printer, or knew someone who did, I may have stuck with that approach, although it wouldn't have the adjustable height, which is a nice feature.

[Dimal]

I imagine you could knock-up something very similar using a 3D printer...

Mal.

[gunda]

One way to avoid any potential issues with a scale on the drip tray is to use an ONA Stem. Not cheap, but clever, well-made and works well. May not suit those small ebay scales such as the one pictured in post #16.

[flashpixx]

Exchanged for the Lunar... ouch!!

[flashpixx]

Sent a message to the vendor, they’ve asked for a video of it playing up.... which it hasn’t done since haha...

If I can Ill arrange an exchange

[LeroyC]

Possibly sounds worse than it is, steam from hot water in the drip tray is what I was referring to

Ah ok, so you’re not aiming the steam wand at it like I was picturing then. That’s good. LOL!

A little bit of steam coming off some hot water in the drip tray could still be bad for a set of scales, but I wouldn’t have thought it would kill them too quickly. Maybe it has, but maybe you’ve got a dodgy set of scales too. If they’re not very old you could probably exchange them.

Here’s the no frills set that I use. Hasn’t missed a beat:

[flashpixx]

What are you doing that sees the scales exposed to steam?!!!.

Possibly sounds worse than it is, steam from hot water in the drip tray is what I was referring to

[LeroyC]

Thanks. I’ve been meticulous with the Brewista but there is no way it can’t be exposed to heat and steam.

My preferred workflow is to weigh the output so as exe as they are perhaps a Lunar, or a Felicita Arc as suggested by roosterben, might be the way to go.

I had hoped the Brewista may have lasted a little longer. It’s only a month old!

What are you doing that sees the scales exposed to steam?!!! No scales will handle steam as it will bypass even the best seal. I’d suggest maybe either an adjustment of workflow is required or a downgrade in scales. I’ve got a set of cheap, no name 0.1g scales that I bought online that I use on the drip tray. They’ve had water and coffee accidentally spilled on them but I never intentionally expose them to steam. They’ve lasted at least a couple of years. I check them for calibration occasionally and they’ve extremely accurate, even after I applied some grip tape to the pad to stop the cup sliding around.

[flashpixx]

I have a Felicita Arc which is the same hardware as Acai Lunar used it daily on drip tray for 6 months but only 10 coffees per week. Going strong and no issues so far.

It looks good Ben, about $30 less than a Lunar

[flashpixx]

As you would expect, I used the scales on the drip tray today to make 4 espresso, no problem at all. I made sure the drip tray was empty and the machine expelled the water after the pull well away from the scales.
As was mentioned earlier I’m concerned the scales are on their way out.
I bought them from a site sponsor so yep thanks Ben, I’ve already been in touch with them.