Comparison

Simple Espresso Timer 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

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.

Highlights
  • Automatic timer start via sound detection
  • Manual stop function
  • Simple, minimalist interface
  • Designed for proximity to espresso machine
Features
Read full description

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.

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

Simple Espresso Timer4 screens
Barista Espresso Timer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Simple Espresso Timer at Free against Barista Espresso Timer's $0.99. Simple Espresso Timer also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Barista Espresso Timer's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 6 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Simple Espresso Timer is free to download; Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Espresso Timer ships an update every 6 months, Barista Espresso Timer daily. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Simple Espresso Timer versus Barista Espresso Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Espresso TimerBarista Espresso Timer
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeter BodskovAlexander Zimmermann

Customer experience

Simple Espresso Timer

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Barista Espresso Timer

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

In-app purchases

None

Simple Espresso Timer

No in-app purchases

None

Barista Espresso Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple Espresso Timer free?
Simple Espresso Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Barista Espresso Timer free?
Barista Espresso Timer costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Simple Espresso Timer or Barista Espresso Timer have ads?
Neither Simple Espresso Timer nor Barista Espresso Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Espresso Timer or Barista Espresso Timer?
Simple Espresso Timer ships an update every 6 months, and Barista Espresso Timer daily. Most recently, Simple Espresso Timer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Barista Espresso Timer on October 31, 2026.

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