Comparison

HomeGrind vs Barista Espresso Timer

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

Head to head
About

HomeGrind

Transform your phone into a professional ordering system for any gathering. Easily create digital menus, let guests customize their orders, and manage incoming requests efficiently. Focus on enjoying your event while this app handles the details.

Highlights
  • Build custom digital menus
  • Guest order customization
  • Organized order queue
  • Shareable links and QR codes
  • Mark orders as complete
  • Professional hosting tool
Features
Read full description

The easiest way to host... well, anything. Tired of scrap paper, forgotten orders, and "how did you want your martini again?" HomeGrind turns your phone into a professional ordering hub for your home, office, or local hangout. Whether you’re serving craft cocktails, being an at-home barista, or hosting a neighborhood bake sale, HomeGrind handles the details so you can handle the fun. If you can make a menu, you can run it on HomeGrind. HOW IT WORKS: 1. Build Your Menu: Name your shop and add your items. Customize everything—add options for milk types, steak temps, or extra spice. 2. Guests Order Their Way: Share your unique link or QR code. Guests browse your digital menu and customize their order to their exact mood. 3. Master the Queue: Every order lands in one clean, organized list. Tap to mark it done, then get right back to the conversation. Why it works for you: - City Living: Perfect for apartment hangs where space is tight and the music is loud. - Zero Pressure: Guests browse the menu and customize at their own pace. - Pro Vibes: Give your home-brew or home-cook game a polished, digital edge. Stop scribbling. Start hosting. Download HomeGrind today.

About

Barista Espresso Timer

This app automatically times your espresso shots by listening to your grinder and espresso machine. It precisely measures the actual brewing time, ignoring brief noises, and allows you to set target times with visual and audio alerts. It also features auto-calibration for your kitchen environment.

Highlights
  • Automatic shot timing via sound detection
  • Separate timers for grinding and brewing
  • Precise 1/100th second measurement
  • Adjustable sensitivity and target times
  • Auto-calibration for kitchen environment
  • Apple Watch app for standalone use
Features
Read full description

Espresso Timer listens to your machines and times them for you. Tap LISTEN, then make coffee. The clock starts the second your grinder or pump kicks in, stops when it goes quiet, and shows the real running time down to a hundredth of a second. Your hands stay on the machine. I built this because my espresso kept drifting. Same beans, same setting, different cup. I'd been timing by feel. Once grind time and shot time are actually measured, every morning tastes like the good one. WHAT IT DOES Two clocks · One for grinding, one for the shot. Each with its own target time and its own sensitivity · Classic watch-inspired analog dial, plus a digital readout to 1/100 of a second · Opens on last used clock Detection that holds up · The clock winds back to where the noise really began and trims the tail. You see your machine's time, not the app's reaction time · Clatter doesn't count: portafilter down, cups, spoons. Only sustained noise starts the clock, Reset anytime · Short pauses while dosing don't end anything. The clock just waits · Tip: Works best with the iPhone sitting close to your machines Target time · Your target sits on the ring as a colored segment · Tap the target button, then turn the outer ring like a click wheel. The hand jumps to your target and follows your finger. It locks again after two seconds or tap so nothing shifts by accident · Or save a good run as your new target · When you hit the desired target time the whole dial flashes and a tone sounds. The clock keeps running in case you realize that you need more Calibration · Run your grinder and your machine once. The app measures your room and both devices, then sets the trigger levels for your kitchen · Repeat it whenever you like. You can also set both sensitivities by hand, with a live level meter Small things that matter · Tap the dial to start or stop by hand · Autostart and autostop listening options · The display stays awake while the app is open. Nothing goes dark mid-shot · Haptics on every control, modern iOS 26 look, English and German – more to come APPLE WATCH · A real app on your wrist. It runs without the iPhone · Same dial, same detection. Grind and shot are two pages you swipe between, with the bean and portafilter as small marks on the face · Tap the window at three o'clock, then turn the crown. It locks again after two seconds or tap · A firm double tap on your wrist when the time is up · Target times stay synced on both devices, Device to device, no account, no internet. Switch it off in Settings if you'd rather not · Tip: set the watch's Wake Duration (Watch settings > Display & Brightness) to 70 seconds and the display stays on for the whole shot PRIVACY The microphone signal never leaves your device. Sound is reduced to a single loudness value in memory. Nothing is recorded, stored or uploaded. No account, no ads, no tracking, no network access. Found a bug or have an idea? Write to espresso@alex-zimmermann.com, ideally with your device and iOS version. I read everything. Privacy Policy: http://espresso.alex-zimmermann.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

HomeGrind4 screens
Barista Espresso Timer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HomeGrind at Free against Barista Espresso Timer's $0.99. HomeGrind also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). Barista Espresso Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (daily vs weekly). On 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

HomeGrind is free to download; Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99 up front. HomeGrind sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Barista Espresso Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HomeGrind ships an update weekly, Barista Espresso Timer daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
HomeGrind versus Barista Espresso Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHomeGrindBarista Espresso Timer
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.8 (18 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael ColmanAlexander Zimmermann

Customer experience

HomeGrind

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Barista Espresso Timer

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

HomeGrind

Subscriptions2
  • Barista Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Barista Pro Annual$19.991 Year
None

Barista Espresso Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HomeGrind free?
HomeGrind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Barista Espresso Timer free?
Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do HomeGrind or Barista Espresso Timer have ads?
Neither HomeGrind nor Barista Espresso Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HomeGrind or Barista Espresso Timer?
HomeGrind ships an update weekly, and Barista Espresso Timer daily. Most recently, HomeGrind was updated on October 24, 2026 and Barista Espresso Timer on October 31, 2026.

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