# Espresso Journal vs BeanBench

Espresso Journal and BeanBench are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Espresso Journal ships an update every 4 months, BeanBench every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on July 23, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Espresso Journal | BeanBench |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espresso-journal/id6743636008/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gruffydd Johnston](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651486785) | [John Hodge](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871387434) |

## What reviewers say

### 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

**In-app purchases:** none


### BeanBench

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beanbench/id6758197929)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Espresso Journal free?

Espresso Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BeanBench free?

BeanBench is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Espresso Journal or BeanBench have ads?

Neither Espresso Journal nor BeanBench shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Espresso Journal or BeanBench?

Espresso Journal ships an update every 4 months, and BeanBench every 3 months. Most recently, Espresso Journal was updated on July 23, 2026 and BeanBench on September 6, 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.*