The Jennings CJ-4000 is a popular scale that is basically the benchmark for quality in the digital coffee scale/kitchn scale world. Consistently priced around $25 the scale is afford, plus it’s reliable and accurate. It’s utilitarian in design and light on functions, but it has everything you need to do the job. It does not have a timer.

Key features of the CJ-4000 are that it has 0.5g precision (it’s number one drawback), it runs on three AAA batteries (included) but includes an AC adapter, has a metal surface so it’s OK with hot objects, and it’s water-resistant but not waterproof. It has a long battery life, it’s durable enough to last for years, and it can take a drop. The 4 kilogram (4000 gram) capacity means it’s great even for large kitchen tasks. All told, this is a great all-round scale and it’s a perfect buy-it-for-life purchase if you are focused on making coffee (as oppoed to espresso).

By the way, if the 0.5g precision of the CJ-4000 is a dealbreaker for you, then you want the CJ600, the 0.1 gram precision variety of the Jennings scale. The downsides are the the price jumps a bit and the capacity goes from 4000 to 600 grams