# The Espresso vs Barista Espresso Timer

The clearest difference is price: The Espresso at Free against Barista Espresso Timer's $0.99. The Espresso also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Barista Espresso Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (daily vs weekly). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

The Espresso is free to download; Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99 up front. The Espresso sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Barista Espresso Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Espresso ships an update weekly, Barista Espresso Timer daily. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Espresso | Barista Espresso Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 58 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gianluca Zgur](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877226675) | [Alexander Zimmermann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850545602) |

## What reviewers say

### The Espresso

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-espresso/id6761066207)

Master latte art and espresso extraction with guided lessons and a shot analyzer. Track your progress, understand coffee fundamentals, and refine your home barista skills. Elevate your daily coffee ritual into a measurable craft.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step latte art lessons, Espresso shot analysis and logging, Progress tracking and statistics, Specialty coffee knowledge base, Milk steaming guidance, Intuitive and beautiful design

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Espresso Pro - Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| The Espresso Pro - Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| The Espresso Pro Lifetime | $149.00 | one-time |


### Barista Espresso Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barista-espresso-timer/id6792551264)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Espresso free?

The Espresso 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 The Espresso or Barista Espresso Timer have ads?

Neither The Espresso nor Barista Espresso Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Espresso or Barista Espresso Timer?

The Espresso ships an update weekly, and Barista Espresso Timer daily. Most recently, The Espresso was updated on October 31, 2026 and Barista Espresso Timer on October 31, 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.*