Tea Scale: Weighing Loose-Leaf for Brewing, Blending and Selling
A tea scale has to read fine enough to portion loose-leaf by the gram, and our first pick is the A&D EK-600i: 600 g × 0.1 g, NTEP Class III legal for trade, on sale for $259.00 (regular $665.00) and in stock.
Short answer: pick the tea scale by the job. For portioning and selling loose-leaf tea by the gram, the A&D EK-600i is our pick at $259.00: 600 g × 0.1 g, NTEP Class III legal for trade (CC 04-019A4), with a 133 × 170 mm stainless steel pan that holds a tin or bag. To sell by the pound at a counter, the NTEP Torrey LPC-40L price computing scale (40 lb × 0.01 lb) is $191.00: it shows weight, price per pound and total on both sides of the counter and stores 100 PLUs for your blends. For brewing and portioning in grams, the A&D SJ-1000HS (1,000 g × 0.5 g) is $199.00. For blending recipes to the hundredth of a gram, the A&D EK-610i (600 g × 0.01 g) is $489.00; it is non-NTEP. Here is an NTEP alternative: the A&D FX-1200iN, 1,220 g × 0.01 g, NTEP Class II under Certificate of Conformance 08-045A6, $628.00, in stock. We are an authorized dealer for every brand we sell.
On sale: $259.00 (regular $665.00) on the A&D EK-600i (#631), in stock. Contact us or call (832) 290-3120 with questions.
Tea, retail and food scale guides from MNM Scales
- Tea scale: weighing loose-leaf for brewing, blending and selling (you are here)
- Produce scale guide
- Torrey scales we stock
- Commercial food scale guide
- Best scale for farmers markets
- What NTEP and legal for trade mean
Loose-leaf tea is light and bulky, so a spoonful of one tea can weigh twice as much as a spoonful of another. That is why tea shops, blenders and serious home brewers weigh instead of scooping. This guide covers the three jobs a tea scale does, brewing, blending and selling, and which scale fits each.
Tea scales in stock at live prices
| Tea scale | Capacity × readability | What stands out | Price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&D EK-600i | 600 g × 0.1 g | NTEP Class III (CC 04-019A4), 133 × 170 mm stainless steel pan, percent and counting modes, AC adapter included, 5-year A&D warranty | $259.00 (reg. $665.00) | Portioning and selling loose-leaf tea by the gram |
| Torrey LPC-40L | 40 lb × 0.01 lb | NTEP Class III (CC 06-046A3), price computing, 100 PLUs, ½ and ¼ price keys, displays on both sides, rechargeable battery | $191.00 (reg. $302.00) | Counter price computing for selling by the pound |
| A&D SJ-1000HS | 1,000 g × 0.5 g | Low-profile SJ series digital scale | $199.00 (reg. $345.00) | Portioning and brewing in grams |
| A&D EK-610i | 600 g × 0.01 g | non-NTEP; ±0.02 g linearity, percent mode, backlit LCD, AC adapter included | $489.00 (reg. $985.00) | Blending by percent and recipe development |
| A&D FX-1200iN | 1,220 g × 0.01 g | NTEP Class II (CC 08-045A6), about 1 s readings | $628.00 (reg. $1,510.00) | Selling premium teas by the gram |
Brewing: grams per cup
Tea suppliers usually list a dose in grams per cup or per pot, and that number is the one to follow. Weighing the dose keeps a large, open-leaf tea and a tightly rolled oolong consistent even though they fill a spoon very differently. Tare your cup, pot or infuser, add the leaf to the supplier’s dose, and write down what you liked.
Tare the tin, not just the cup
- Set the empty tin, bag or jar on the scale and press tare (zero).
- Fill to the weight you want; the display shows only the tea.
- For a row of bags, tare once per bag so the packaging is never part of the sale.
- Clear the plate between teas so dust from one blend does not end up in the next.
Blending by percent
Write each blend as percentages so it scales from a 50 g test to a 5 kg batch. For example, a blend that is 60% black tea, 25% dried fruit and 15% flowers needs 30 g, 12.5 g and 7.5 g in a 50 g test, and 3,000 g, 1,250 g and 750 g in a 5 kg batch. For small tests, a 0.01 g balance like the A&D EK-610i keeps every line accurate; its percent mode shows each addition as a share of a reference weight.
Selling by weight: labels and price per ounce
If you sell tea by weight, the scale must be NTEP legal for trade. The Torrey LPC-40L takes a price per pound; to price by the ounce, enter the ounce price times 16 (a tea at $3.00 per oz is $48.00 per lb). Save each tea as a PLU so staff recall it with one key, and use the ½ and ¼ price keys for half- and quarter-pound pricing. For more on price computing scales at a counter, see our produce scale guide; for every Torrey model we stock, see Torrey scales.
Keep a blend log
- Blend name and version
- Each ingredient, supplier and lot
- Percent and grams for every line
- Batch size and date
- Brewing dose and notes on taste
Calibration, repair and rentals
The Torrey LPC-40L (40 lb, about 18 kg) is in the 6.2–35 kg calibration tier: $250.00 in-house with a certificate or $595.00 NIST-traceable. The EK-600i, SJ-1000HS, EK-610i and FX-1200iN are under 2.2 kg: $95.00 in-house or $395.00 NIST. Mail-in calibration is available nationwide by mail, for in-house and NIST certificates, and usually takes 1–3 business days after we receive the scale. On-site calibration across Houston and its suburbs is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip. See scale calibration in Houston. We repair all brands and types of scales through our Houston scale repair service, and we rent scales in the Houston area; call or get a quote.
Notes from our Cypress, TX shop
- Selling and blending are two scales. An NTEP price computing scale at the counter, a 0.01 g balance in the back for recipes.
- Set up PLUs on day one. One key per tea keeps prices right when the shop is busy.
- Calibrate a trade scale before it goes into service. In Texas, a commercial scale is placed in service by a registered technician; ask us when you order.
- Coffee and spices too? The same setup works; see our commercial food scale guide.
Ready to order? The A&D EK-600i is our usual tea scale for portioning and selling by the gram, on sale at $259.00 (regular $665.00), in stock. To sell by the pound at the counter, the Torrey LPC-40L is $191.00; for brewing, the A&D SJ-1000HS is $199.00; for blending, the A&D EK-610i is $489.00. Questions? Call (832) 290-3120 or get a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tea scale for a tea shop?
For portioning and selling by the gram, the NTEP A&D EK-600i (600 g × 0.1 g, Class III) at $259.00. To sell by the pound at a counter, an NTEP price computing scale like the Torrey LPC-40L (40 lb × 0.01 lb) at $191.00 shows weight, unit price and total and stores 100 PLUs.
Do I need an NTEP scale to sell tea by weight?
Yes. Any scale used to sell by weight must be NTEP legal for trade. The Torrey LPC-40L is NTEP Class III; for selling by the gram, the A&D FX-1200iN is NTEP Class II.
How many grams of tea per cup?
Follow the dose your tea supplier lists in grams per cup or pot. Weighing the dose keeps different leaf styles consistent, since a spoonful of each weighs differently.
What readability do I need for blending tea?
For small test batches, 0.01 g, such as the A&D EK-610i at $489.00. For full batches in grams, 0.5 g is usually enough, such as the A&D SJ-1000HS at $199.00.
Can I price tea by the ounce on a price computing scale?
Yes. Enter the ounce price times 16 as the price per pound. A tea at $3.00 per oz is $48.00 per lb. Save it as a PLU on the LPC-40L for one-key recall.
How much does it cost to calibrate a tea scale?
The 40 lb LPC-40L is $250.00 in-house or $595.00 NIST. Scales and balances under 2.2 kg are $95.00 or $395.00. On-site in Houston is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip.