MHW-3Bomber Updates the Mini Dice Scale

Within the CoffeeGeek lab house, we now have entry to over 30 totally different scales to be used in our analysis of espresso and espresso. These vary from $12 Amazon specials, to $250 Acaia Lunars, to a $750 Adam Luna Precision 2.6kg scale. Regardless of that selection, two scales see probably the most use: the Bookoo Themis ($130) and the MHW-3Bomber Mini Dice 2.0 ($35).

The Mini Dice doesn’t outperform the Bookoo Themis or Acaia Lunar in accuracy, options, construct high quality or readout velocity. Nonetheless, one key function units it aside and makes it the popular scale sitting subsequent to our take a look at espresso machines. It has an auto-on operate that prompts and tares itself every time an object weighing 100g or extra is positioned on it.

This function makes it particularly helpful in our fast-paced take a look at setting, the place responsiveness and hands-free operation matter.

The Mini Dice has its quirks. Our full evaluation covers them intimately, however probably the most uncommon design alternative on the unique mannequin concerned the tare and timer capabilities. Most scales assign the right-side “T” or “tare” button to zero out the size; MHW-3Bomber did the other. The suitable button, marked “T,” controls the timer, whereas the left button, with an influence image, handles taring. This setup felt unintuitive.

Prior to now 4 months, MHW-3Bomber redesigned the size to repair this difficulty. Additionally they made different modifications, however not all for the higher. In a technique, they really made the size worse. Let’s have a look at that.

The Modified Design of the Mini Dice Scale

As talked about, 3Bomber modified the button format and capabilities on this scale, however are nonetheless married to the letter “T” indicating a timer operate. They merely moved the T from the appropriate aspect, to the left aspect, and moved the ability indicator swap over to the appropriate. 

Which means that the appropriate aspect energy button nonetheless controls zeroing out the size (just a few milliseconds’ press will do it), and lengthy urgent it’s going to energy off the size. The T button, moved to the left, begins and pauses the timer. A protracted press (round 1-2 seconds) will zero the timer out. 

One welcome improve is the LED show, which is noticeably brighter than the unique. Our new white unit, positioned subsequent to an older black mannequin, is considerably brighter, making it simpler to learn in numerous lighting circumstances.

Then comes probably the most puzzling change: the auto-off operate. Once I purchased a brand new white Mini Dice 2.0 for our lab final month, I seen it might not flip off by itself. I might use it, go away for 15 or 20 minutes, and return to seek out it nonetheless powered on. Initially, I believed the unit was faulty or that there was a hidden setting to allow auto shut-off.

However nope; that is merely how MHW-3Bomber redesigned the size.

The newest Mini Dice 2.0 now stays on for half-hour after its final use, and an unbelievable 40 minutes if the timer is working. Worse but, there is no such thing as a strategy to disable or regulate this setting. The result’s a vibrant show draining the battery lengthy after use. Since most espresso scales shut off routinely, customers will typically overlook to show this one off, resulting in a battery that lasts days as a substitute of weeks.

Once I reached out to MHW-3Bomber, they defined that this prolonged auto-off time was intentional and designed for industrial café environments. They argued that, whereas half-hour could seem extreme, they imagine the longer auto-off time prevents disruptions in busy cafés by conserving the size prepared to be used.

The issue with this reasoning is that it doesn’t actually make sense. In a very busy café, the size wouldn’t sit unused for 25+ minutes at a time. If something, baristas would use it each jiffy, making such an extended shut-off interval pointless. A 5-minute auto-off setting is extra affordable (maybe even stretching it to 10 minutes taking their reasoning under consideration), however half-hour appears extreme and needlessly drains battery life.

Including to the frustration, the size’s USB-C charging system is painfully sluggish. It may well take as much as 4+ hours to totally recharge, which makes even much less sense in a heavy-traffic café setting. If MHW-3Bomber actually designed this scale for industrial use, forcing baristas to attend this lengthy for a full cost is counterproductive to the design ethos.

To their credit score, they acknowledged that they’re listening to suggestions and acknowledge the impression on battery efficiency. Future updates could handle this difficulty. Ideally, customers ought to be capable of customise the auto-off time, but when that isn’t doable, 5 minutes needs to be the usual, with a most of 10 to fifteen minutes if the timer is energetic.

Regardless of this difficulty, we nonetheless suppose the Mini Dice 2.0 is a unbelievable little scale, and like that they did transfer the zero-out operate to the extra typical proper aspect of the size. That’s the reason we’re discussing it in such element; most scale updates don’t even get a point out on CoffeeGeek. We needed to focus on this alteration as a PSA for anybody contemplating the Mini Dice. It usually lists for $45 however incessantly sells for $35 or much less, making it among the best values in espresso equipment. Nonetheless, should you plan to purchase one, prepare your self to show it off manually with a two-second press of the ability button, or be ready to do a 3-4 hour cost at the very least as soon as every week.