Comparison

Bean to Cup vs Espresso Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bean to Cup

Features
Read full description

Bean to Cup is the easy way to pull the same great shot every day. It remembers your recipe, times your shot, and works with whatever gear you have. - Start from the right numbers - get time, dose and target yield suggestions for every shot, so you're not guessing at the machine. - Time every shot - a built-in timer, so you hit the same shot time every pull. - Nothing to memorise - your dose, ratio, grind and shot time are saved automatically with every brew. - Remember what made it great - add notes on flavour, aroma and crema, so a brilliant shot is easy to recreate. - Made for your setup - scales or no scales, grinder or no grinder; Bean to Cup fits how you brew today and grows with you as your kit does. The more you brew, the more Bean to Cup helps you improve. Look back over past shots, compare them side by side, and see how small changes shift the result - so you can spot the trends behind your best espresso. Download our app today and take your barista skills to the next level! Privacy Policy: https://bean-to-cup.snaprix.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms and Conditions: https://bean-to-cup.snaprix.com/terms-and-conditions.html

About

Espresso Journal

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
Read full description

Espresso Journal is a simple log for home espresso. Record each shot, see what you changed, and get to a better cup sooner. LOG A SHOT IN SECONDS New shots start from your last one, so you only change what you're dialing in. Start the timer, pull the shot, and the brew time is filled in for you. Add dose, yield, grind setting, grinder RPM, grind time, temperature, a rating and notes. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BEANS AND GEAR Save the roaster, origin, process and roast date for each coffee, with a link to the shop for when you need more. Add your machine, grinder, portafilters and baskets. ON IPHONE AND IPAD Your journal syncs through iCloud. Export your shots as a spreadsheet whenever you like. ESPRESSO JOURNAL PRO A one-time purchase, shared with your family: • Take a photo of a bag and the app reads the label for you • Recipes for the drinks you make often • Charts comparing grind, ratio and time with how you rated each shot • The shot timer on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, and a Pull a Shot button for Control Center and Siri • Bean stock, shot cards and flavor notes Questions or ideas? Use Send Feedback in Settings.

Screenshots

Bean to Cup4 screens
Espresso Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bean to Cup at every 3 weeks against Espresso Journal's every 5 months. Bean to Cup also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bean to Cup sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Espresso Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bean to Cup ships an update every 3 weeks, Espresso Journal every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Bean to Cup versus Espresso Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBean to CupEspresso Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB6 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperTimber Bytes LLPGruffydd Johnston

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bean to Cup

Subscriptions1
  • Bean to Cup Full Version$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Bean to Cup Full Version$29.99
1 purchases

Espresso Journal

One-time1
  • Espresso Journal Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Bean to Cup free?
Bean to Cup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Espresso Journal free?
Espresso Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Bean to Cup or Espresso Journal have ads?
Neither Bean to Cup nor Espresso Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bean to Cup or Espresso Journal?
Bean to Cup ships an update every 3 weeks, and Espresso Journal every 5 months. Most recently, Bean to Cup was updated on October 3, 2026 and Espresso Journal on October 25, 2026.

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