Capacity
As with most products you buy, size does unfortunately matter, and with a measuring scoop you naturally want to be able to dole yourself out a suitable portion of coffee grounds or beans.
In general, coffee scoops range from around 6 g portions all the way up to 30 g – which equates to around 2 tablespoons.
If you like your coffee very weak we would obviously suggest going for a smaller size, and if you’re actually a bit of a caffeine junkie, perhaps going for a larger size.
Measurement Increments
Everyone likes to be able to measure out their coffee grounds just right as we all have our own opinion on how much or little grounds are needed to create the perfect cup of joe.
Frustratingly though, so many larger capacity scoops don’t come with measuring increments for when you don’t plan on filling the entire scoop. So you know exactly how much you’re dishing out each time, try to choose an option with clear measuring guidelines.
Handle Length
We hate to remind you of this, but coffee grounds can be really messy, and will get all over your hands and worktops if you let them!
When a bag of grounds is starting to reach the bottom, a long handle helps you get in there and fish out the last of the good stuff without cramming your hands into the pack and getting them all stained with coffee.
Material
The most common types of coffee scoop are made out of either plastic or stainless steel.
Plastic options tend to be cheaper, lightweight and dishwasher safe, however this often comes at the price of durability and odour/coffee stain absorption.
Stainless steel are conversely more expensive, heavier and are often only suitable for handwashing, but they will last a lot longer.
You can also buy wooden, which are strong and look great, but it is best not to wash them frequently as they will become damp and pick up the flavour of coffee easier – bad if you go from flavour to flavour.
Clip Accessory
If you serve your coffee straight from the bag rather than from within a container, clip accessories attached to the handle of the spoon can make for a great 2 in 1 device.
Clips help seal off air exposure to your ground coffee bag, sealing in flavour for longer.
Tamping Accessory
If tamping is a big part of your own personal coffee brewing procedure, several coffee scoops feature wide flat bases for tamping your beans or grounds down to help promote that crucial extraction process.
Ease of Cleaning
As previously stated coffee grounds can get messy and so choosing a dishwasher safe scoop can make a world of difference!
Stainless steel options will also likely clean easier than plastic ones when it comes to hand washing as it is a less porous material and so will absorb less colour.