# Tasting Grounds vs Espresso Journal

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tasting Grounds at every 9 days against Espresso Journal's every 5 months. Tasting Grounds also leads on ratings volume (47 vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). Espresso Journal's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 84%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tasting Grounds sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Espresso Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Tasting Grounds holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tasting Grounds has 47 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Tasting Grounds's written reviews are positive against 100% of Espresso Journal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Tasting Grounds ships an update every 9 days, Espresso Journal every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tasting Grounds | Espresso Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tasting-grounds/id1526958511/reviews)** | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espresso-journal/id6743636008/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **47** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 84.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 62 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Tasting Grounds, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526958513) | [Gruffydd Johnston](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651486785) |

## What reviewers say

### Tasting Grounds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tasting-grounds/id1526958511)

This app helps specialty coffee enthusiasts brew better coffee by logging brew details, tasting notes, and ratings. Connect with friends and the wider coffee community to share experiences, discover new coffees and roasters, and learn about coffee origins and processing methods.

**Highlights:** Log brew details and tasting notes, Rate coffees like a professional, Share brews and methods with friends, Discover coffee origins and processing, Explore new roasters and brewing techniques, See community tasting notes and ratings

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tasting Grounds Pro - Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Tasting Grounds Pro - Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


### Espresso Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espresso-journal/id6743636008)

Log and analyze every aspect of your espresso brewing to understand what makes a great shot. Track details like timing, weight, bean origin, and tasting notes to refine your technique and achieve consistent results. Perfect for home baristas and coffee professionals seeking to improve their craft.

**Highlights:** Shot timing and yield tracking, Bean origin and roast details, Equipment and recipe logging, Tasting notes and ratings, Built-in shot timer, Recipe management, iCloud sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Espresso Journal Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tasting Grounds free?

Tasting Grounds is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Espresso Journal free?

Espresso Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tasting Grounds or Espresso Journal?

Tasting Grounds is rated higher. Tasting Grounds averages 4.9 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while Espresso Journal averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Tasting Grounds or Espresso Journal have ads?

Neither Tasting Grounds nor Espresso Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tasting Grounds or Espresso Journal?

Tasting Grounds ships an update every 9 days, and Espresso Journal every 5 months. Most recently, Tasting Grounds was updated on October 22, 2026 and Espresso Journal on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*