Simple Espresso Timer vs Third Samurai
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simple Espresso Timer
This app automatically starts a timer when it detects the sound of your espresso machine brewing. Simply press stop when your shot is complete. It's designed to be placed near your machine for easy use.
- Automatic timer start via sound detection
- Manual stop function
- Simple, minimalist interface
- Designed for proximity to espresso machine
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When you're ready to start brewing your shot, you just start the app and place your phone near your espresso machine. The app will detect sound from your microphone and the timer will start counting. Once your shot is done, you press stop and that's it.
Third Samurai
Discover new coffee brewing techniques and recipes with this app. It features a detailed timer with step-by-step guidance and hints to help you achieve the perfect cup.
- Recipe discovery
- Recipe experimentation
- Brewing timer
- Detailed brewing steps
- Brewing hints
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Third Samurai is an application for coffee lovers and baristas who want to discover new brewing techniques and recipes or experiment with their own recipes. Brewing coffee requires precision in time - the app offers the timer with detailed steps and hints for brewing.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Simple Espresso Timer at Free against Third Samurai's $1.99. Simple Espresso Timer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Third Samurai's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Simple Espresso Timer is free to download; Third Samurai costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Simple Espresso Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Simple Espresso Timer ships an update every 6 months, Third Samurai fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simple Espresso Timer | Third Samurai |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 4.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Bodskov | Ivan Dzyubenko |
Customer experience
Simple Espresso Timer
Third Samurai
In-app purchases
Simple Espresso Timer
No in-app purchases
Third Samurai
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simple Espresso Timer free?
Is Third Samurai free?
Which has better reviews, Simple Espresso Timer or Third Samurai?
Do Simple Espresso Timer or Third Samurai have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simple Espresso Timer or Third Samurai?
Other comparisons
