Comparison

VST CoffeeTools for iPhone vs Cupnote

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

Head to head
About

VST CoffeeTools for iPhone

This tool helps baristas and roasters calculate precise coffee and espresso brew formulas. It uses measurements from a coffee refractometer to achieve Gold Cup standards, allowing for detailed recipe sharing and analysis. Supports both coffee and espresso brewing modes, along with sugar analysis.

Highlights
  • Compute brew formulas for coffee and espresso
  • Measure extraction yield to Gold Cup standards
  • Share recipes and measurements via email
  • Supports metric, imperial, and mixed units
  • Analyze sugar content for beverages
  • Database sorting, import, and export
Features
Read full description

PROFESSIONAL COFFEE TOOLS for the BARISTA, SPECIALTY ROASTER and COFFEE BEVERAGE EQUIPMENT DESIGNER Best New Product SCAA EXPO 2010 VST CoffeeTools™ allows professional and home users to quickly compute proper brew formulas using any method of brewing coffee or espresso. Used with a coffee refractometer (not included) VST CoffeeTools will apply measurements of brew formula and coffee TDS to compute normalized extraction yield – a crucial metric for ensuring the sweetest coffee and espresso. COFFEE BREWED TO GOLD CUP STANDARDS •Use VST CoffeeTools™ with any VST coffee refractometer to compute brew recipes and measure results to meet internationally accepted Gold Cup standards as practiced by the Specialty Coffee Associations of America (SCAA) and Europe (SCAE), as well as the Norwegian Coffee Association (NCA) and European Coffee Brewing Center (ECBC). COMMUNICATE •Recipes & Measurements can be eMailed and shared with customers, clients and colleagues for quick, detailed communication of all brewing parameters. Full database sorting, import and export is supported. COFFEE MODE •VST CoffeeTools™ for Coffee offers professional baristas and specialty roasters the tools to design, measure, diagnose and refine any brew method to ensure excellence in coffee brewing. •Metric, English (U.S. Custom) or mixed units, and conversions of weights and volume is fully supported. •Compatible with all drip and immersion brewing methods and works with any VST Coffee refractometer displaying % TDS to 0.01% – temperature corrected for coffee. Accuracy recommended: +/- 0.05% or better. •Save, share, import measurements and details, including TDS, Ext Yield, Dose, Brew Formula, CO2, Moisture, Brew Time, Brew Method, Temperature, Pre-Infusion, Grinder/Setting, Roaster, Roast Style, Farm/Farmer, Barista Name/Notes and much more. COFFEE LITE MODE (discontinued) ESPRESSO MODE •VST CoffeeTools™ for Espresso offers professional baristas and specialty roasters the tools to design, measure, diagnose and refine espresso extraction. •Eliminate sour or bitter shot defects by making adjustments to quickly dial in measured Extraction Yield. •Presets for Single, Double or Triple shots as Normale, Lungo or Ristretto can be loaded and custom preset for personal preferences. •Works with any VST Coffee refractometer displaying % TDS to 0.01% or 0.1% – temperature corrected for coffee. Accuracy recommended: +/- 0.1 % TDS or better. •Save, share, import measurements and details, including TDS, Yield, Dose, Brew Formula, Shot Time, Temperature, Pressure, Pre-Infusion, Grinder/Setting, Roaster, Roast Style, Farm/Farmer, Barista Name/Notes and much more. SUGAR MODE • Sugar mode allows beverage industry professionals to measure Sucrose, Glucose, Fructose and Invert Sugars at any temperature from 15-40 Deg C for use in concentrates and related sugar-based beverages. •Simply enter Refractive Index and Temperature from any refractometer to compute and displays all values for Specific Gravity, Density, Total Weight, Mass Fraction and Dry Substance weight. •VST CoffeeTools™ for Sugars is accurate to +/- 0.00003 nD per ICUMSA Tables (1998 & 2000). Final accuracy depends on accuracy of instrument. CORN MODE •CORN mode allows beverage industry professionals to measure High Fructose Corn Syrups HFCS42 and HFCS55 at any temperature from 10-50 Deg C for use in concentrates and related HFCS-based beverages. •Simply enter the Refractive Index and TEMP from any refractometer to compute and displays all values for Specific Gravity, Density, Total Weight, Mass Fraction and Dry Substance weight. •VST CoffeeTools™ for CORN Syrups has been tested against the Corn Refiners Association tables for syrup composition, and is fit to be accurate to better than +/- 0.0001 nD and less than +/- 0.02 % Mass Fraction. Final accuracy depends on accuracy of instrument.

About

Cupnote

Features
Read full description

Introducing Cupnote, the ultimate app designed to transform your coffee cupping experience. Coffee cupping can be a delightful journey into the world of exquisite flavors, but it often comes with its set of challenges. Juggling between a spittoon cup, a cupping spoon, paper, and a clipboard for scoring, while trying to neatly document every aspect of the coffee, can detract from the joy of cupping. Have you ever struggled to recall a note or ponder over what aspects to focus on during tasting? Or worse, lost your painstakingly taken notes? Cupnote is here to alleviate those hassles. With Cupnote, you can: Ditch the clipboard and pen. Our app allows for one-handed input on your phone, making it easier to manage everything else you need to handle. Quickly access flavor notes and easily input your findings, even in the midst of a bustling cupping session. Customize evaluation criteria for public cuppings, ensuring that everyone can record what's important to them. Safely store and neatly organize your notes for easy retrieval and review. Features: Create and evaluate using custom cupping forms, ranging from simple checks to specialized SCA and CoE formats. Build your own sensory note groups and expand your notes as you wish. Perform analyses that were impossible on paper. Visualize and compare cupping results for insightful analysis. Utilize Cupnote in various settings - from tasting coffee in different locations to enhancing quality control in roasteries with custom QC forms. These can later integrate with Firescope, turning into valuable assets for roasteries. Cafes can use Cupnote as a communication tool with baristas or supplier roasteries to maintain consistency in coffee flavors. Coffee education and study groups can benefit from our app too. It’s designed to make sensory note association easy for everyone, allowing users to progressively refine cupping forms to suit their objectives. Cupnote is not just an app; it's a revolution in coffee cupping, making the entire process more efficient, enjoyable, and insightful. Whether you're a professional roaster, a barista, or simply a coffee enthusiast, Cupnote is your go-to companion for all things cupping. Say goodbye to the clutter and hello to streamlined, insightful coffee tasting with Cupnote.

Screenshots

VST CoffeeTools for iPhone4 screens
Cupnote3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cupnote at none against VST CoffeeTools for iPhone's 5. Cupnote also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). VST CoffeeTools for iPhone's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13.0). On price, ads 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. VST CoffeeTools for iPhone sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Cupnote asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VST CoffeeTools for iPhone ships an update every 3 months, Cupnote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
VST CoffeeTools for iPhone versus Cupnote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVST CoffeeTools for iPhoneCupnote
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS9.3 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVSTJin Tae Kyu

In-app purchases

5 purchases

VST CoffeeTools for iPhone

One-time5
  • Corn Mode$5.99
  • Sugar Mode$9.99
  • Coffee Mode Upgr$24.99
Show 2 more
  • Espresso Mode$29.99
  • Coffee Mode$29.99
None

Cupnote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VST CoffeeTools for iPhone free?
VST CoffeeTools for iPhone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cupnote free?
Cupnote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do VST CoffeeTools for iPhone or Cupnote have ads?
Neither VST CoffeeTools for iPhone nor Cupnote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VST CoffeeTools for iPhone or Cupnote?
VST CoffeeTools for iPhone ships an update every 3 months, and Cupnote fortnightly. Most recently, VST CoffeeTools for iPhone was updated on October 12, 2026 and Cupnote on September 30, 2026.

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