Comparison

Espresso Notes 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

Espresso Notes

Features
Read full description

SIMPLE, BEAUTIFUL COFFEE TRACKING - Save tasting notes with brand, origin, process, roast, and more - Rate acidity, sweetness, body, and overall enjoyment - Add photos of beans, brews, gear, and latte art - Sketch latte art or diagrams right in the app FIND YOUR PERFECT CUP - See trends and insights across entries - Track brewing methods, ratios, and results - Search and filter to quickly find past favorites - Calendar and dashboard views of your coffee history THOUGHTFUL BY DESIGN - Fast, privacy-first, and on-device - Works great offline; your data stays yours - Dark mode and dynamic type support - Beautiful SwiftUI interface PREMIUM (ONE-TIME, LIFETIME) - Unlimited entries, photos, and sketches - Advanced analytics and insights - Powerful export options - One-time purchase: $4.99 (lifetime) FREE TIER - Up to 3 entries - Up to 3 photos and 3 sketches PRIVACY & TERMS - Privacy Policy: https://www.osmala.design/espressonotesprivacy - Terms (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Made with care for the coffee community.

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

Espresso Notes4 screens
Espresso Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Espresso Notes at every 5 weeks against Espresso Journal's every 5 months. 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. Espresso Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Espresso Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Espresso Notes ships an update every 5 weeks, Espresso Journal every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Espresso Notes versus Espresso Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEspresso NotesEspresso Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB6 MB
Age rating+4+4
DeveloperWaldemar OsmalaGruffydd Johnston

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Espresso Notes

One-time1
  • Unlock Premium$4.99
1 purchases

Espresso Journal

One-time1
  • Espresso Journal Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Espresso Notes free?
Espresso Notes 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 Espresso Notes or Espresso Journal have ads?
Neither Espresso Notes nor Espresso Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Espresso Notes or Espresso Journal?
Espresso Notes ships an update every 5 weeks, and Espresso Journal every 5 months. Most recently, Espresso Notes was updated on November 7, 2026 and Espresso Journal on November 5, 2026.

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