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LANHAM, Md., Feb. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- edX, a global online learning platform from 2U, Inc (Nasdaq: TWOU), today announced an expanded relationship with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), to launch its first Professional Certificate program on edX. The Professional Certificate program in Cloud Solutions Architecture provides the knowledge and skills needed to start building a career in cloud architecture and helps prepare learners for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam. The program is now open for enrollment.

edX has worked with AWS since 2017 to provide over 300,000 learners with over 30 AWS courses on the edX platform. These courses, which span syllabus from DevOps on AWS to Building Modern Python Applications on AWS, give professionals around the world accessible opportunities to build upon or learn new professional skills for the cloud on AWS. Now, with the addition of the first AWS Professional Certificate program on edX, learners have the opportunity to build and enhance critical professional skills needed to succeed in the fast-growing field of cloud computing.

"Cloud computing is an enduring and critical skill set that tech professionals across industries can use to secure and build meaningful careers," said Andrew Hermalyn, president of partnerships at edX, a 2U company. "The new Professional Certificate program in Cloud Solutions Architecture on edX will give 48 million learners around the globe the opportunity to pursue a valuable, employer-recognized credential that can drive real career impact in an accessible and affordable format."

"The scarcity of individuals with cloud skills is a major concern for our AWS Partners and customers, and hiring the necessary talent continues to pose a real challenge to the industry," said Maureen Lonergan, vice president, AWS Training and Certification. "Through our cloud training and education programs, we are preparing diverse learners for in-demand cloud roles around the world. With edX, we are reinventing how talent is cultivated, trained, and retained, and building a pipeline of cloud talent for the future."

For more information on AWS courses available on edX, visit edx.org/school/aws.

About edX
edX is the global online learning platform that exists to help learners everywhere unlock their potential. edX was founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012 to make the world's best education available to everyone. Today, as a 2U, Inc. company (Nasdaq: TWOU), edX connects over 48 million ambitious learners with the skills, knowledge, and support to achieve their goals. Together with the world's leading universities and companies, edX offers thousands of free and open courses, professional certificates, boot camps, credit-bearing micro credentials, and undergraduate and graduate degrees. Discover purpose-built online programs in technology, business, healthcare, science, education, social work, sustainability, and more at edX.org.

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When Shelbee Eigenbrode asked an auditorium full of students at Arvada West High School whether they’d heard about ChatGPT, a surge of hands shot into the air accompanied by youthful tittering — and groans from their teachers.

The teens at Jeffco Public Schools’ annual student technology convention earlier this month were not as forthcoming when Eigenbrode — a machine-learning architect at Amazon Web Services and the event’s keynote speaker — asked what they’ve used the much-buzzed artificial intelligence program to do.

The main response: shifting eyes and shrugs, although 15-year-old André Smith said he heard about students using ChatGPT to complete their homework for them.

But he hasn’t done that himself, he added.

“One teacher told us that it writes like you’re in an honors class — you know, like it’s good — and not to use it because they’d be able to tell,” Smith said.

ChatGPT, a web-based chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to churn out unique and high-quality text responses to users’ questions and prompts, is so powerful that technology and education experts are describing its arrival as a watershed moment for the future of the written word.

The program looks similar to chatbots or search engines where users type in prompts or questions to be answered. Unlike chatbots that spit out standardized, pre-programmed answers or search engines that link to other sources, ChatGPT answers queries by scraping the internet and crafting a unique response of its own, making it largely imperceptible to plagiarism checkers.

English teacher Amber Wilson and her colleagues at Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School recently put the program to the test.

“We asked it what the major causes of World War I were, and it thought for a minute and wrote a beautiful five-paragraph essay in about 15 seconds about the causes of World War I, and it was pretty good,” Wilson said. “It’s a powerful tool.”

Educators at K-12 schools through the collegiate level are bracing for students to use ChatGPT to write their essays and do other homework as the latest advancements in AI technology have become more accessible in latest months and more user-friendly than ever before — it’s a free program anyone can try.

“We are at an inflection point right now,” said Casey Fiesler, a University of Colorado Boulder associate professor of information science. “This is going to be huge. This is going to dominate discussions of ethics and policy for quite a while. It’s going to change the way we evaluate learning.'”

Colorado universities, school districts and educators — like their peers across the nation and globe — are once again at the forefront of figuring out how schooling should adapt to a new technology. Like the advent of calculators or the proliferation of smartphones, ChatGPT is being heralded as a sign of the ever-changing times, and an opportunity to rethink writing.

Not stifling innovation

Jill Ibeck, the chief information officer at Jeffco Public Schools, said the district will continue to rely on its existing academic dishonesty policies when it comes to students using ChatGPT or other AIs, but that it’s important to recognize technological advances are par for the course.

“We have to make sure we aren’t stifling innovation,” Ibeck said.

So far, none of the school districts or universities The Denver Post reached out to plan on banning the use of the artificial intelligence program on their networks like New York City schools did last month.

Instead, educators are striking a balance between enforcing existing plagiarism consequences if a student misuses ChatGPT while understanding that the program can be utilized for the advancement of learning, too.

Denver Public Schools officials said the district is working to see how new cutting-edge technologies can be used to support students and what preventative measures can be put in place to curb their misuse in the classroom.

Representatives for the University of Colorado Boulder said the campus’s honor code already covers plagiarism-by-chatbot, but that the university recognizes artificial intelligence can be used in unique and appropriate ways in the classroom. CU Boulder is hosting workshops and panels for faculty on how to adapt their teaching methods for the age of artificial intelligence.

The University of Denver published a blog post explaining the pros and cons of the program and providing resources for faculty to learn more about it.

As ChatGPT has exploded in popularity since its debut in November, human writers have speculated whether the program marks the death of the college essay or the downfall of homework entirely.

Is ChatGPT the undoing of the English class as we know it?

Wilson doesn’t think so. She imagines a future where ChatGPT is used as a starting point — an opportunity for students to skip getting stuck in the weeds on outlining or essay structure and, instead, spend more time on developing critical thinking skills.

Maybe students will ask the program to write an essay on Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” Wilson said.

ChatGPT puts together a solid skeleton of an essay about the book, but Wilson said its creativity is lacking. (This reporter’s editor rejected her use of a ChatGPT-generated opening paragraph for this news article — intended as an example of its capabilities, and fully disclosed — on the grounds that what the program came up with was too boring.)

Wilson said the writing samples she’s seen produced by artificial intelligence lack depth, quotations and sourcing — and don’t offer much in terms of a writer’s voice.

“Why don’t we use that as a starting point?” Wilson said. “Put in those quotations. Is the thesis everything it needs to be? If we think about writing that same way and take away that one hurdle — the basic structure of essay writing — and have them think longer on critical thinking, is that not something that is worth trying?”

Academics at DU and Metropolitan State University of Denver said in these early days of getting a grasp on the technology, there should be a focus on learning and teaching the ethics of artificial intelligence, such as how to be transparent about its usage.

“I think we’ll see people leaning into discussions of academic honesty, academic integrity and also tying in professional ethics, so having this more philosophical discussion in addition to thinking about the ways it may play out in terms of assignments,” said Leslie Cramblet Alvarez, director of DU’s Office of Teaching and Learning.

While teachers have had to watch for students’ falsified writing since the dawn of homework, Cramblet Alvarez acknowledged that needing to ferret out assignments written by ChatGPT could feel like yet another responsibility added onto educators’ overflowing plates.

“This is coming on the heels of three years of really intense change for people, especially in education, so I think there is a little bit of exhaustion,” Cramblet Alvarez said. “Having to continue to learn and contend with one more thing can be frustrating.”

Wilson stopped assigning essays as homework long ago, she said, opting to test students’ writing abilities during class time because she was sick of grading cobbled-together Wikipedia entries written in a voice totally separate from the students’ in-class productions.

There are a few programs available that claim to detect whether text was written by an AI, but so far none seem to be 100% effective. Programs such as turnitin.com are already widely used by teachers to scan essays for plagiarism, but ChatGPT responses likely wouldn’t get flagged since they’re uniquely generated — a statistical prediction of what word should come next, CU Boulder’s Fiesler said.

“The students that want to take shortcuts will, and it shows up when they have to do something on their own,” Wilson said.

A whole new world

ChatGPT is not infallible.

When Fiesler asked the program to add eight plus five, it insisted the answer was 15 until she corrected it. When asked to make scholarly citations, ChatGPT cited real authors and real academic journals, but fabricated the titles of nonexistent articles, she said.

The potential for spreading misinformation is real, Fiesler said, but also an opportunity to teach media literacy.

“One way to think about teaching students how this might be used as a tool and its limitations is to show a response generated by ChatGPT and ask them to say whether it’s correct or incorrect and prove it,” Fiesler said. “Tell me whether this is a good argument or a bad argument. I think that’s a very interesting idea.”

Fiesler said to consider ChatGPT as if it were a tool like spellcheck. Would a teacher discourage a student from using a spellchecker? Probably not, Fiesler said — unless the student was taking a spelling test.

“We have to figure out what we would consider a spelling test in this case,” Fiesler said.

Headlines are flying about ChatGPT passing law, business and medical exams and the implications of its ability to accrue knowledge.

Though Fiesler doesn’t foresee robot doctors in the near future, she does think ChatGPT will enable human doctors to walk around with a new supercomputer in their pocket to consult.

“Some people are going to say we’re just making everyone stupider,” Fiesler said. “It’s not that. It’s that you’re learning other things and allowing people to succeed in the current world we’re in.”

Fiesler envisions a future when people will study the art of generating a stellar AI prompt that will produce the best-intended results.

“These are the kind of skills we need to succeed in the modern world as our world changes,” she said.

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Whether you’re an espresso aficionado or a beginner in all things coffee, the best espresso machines can help you create high-quality espresso drinks right in the comfort of your own home. Many models come with useful features like built-in automatic milk frothers (great for whipping up lattes and cappuccinos) and other barista-approved accessories that make brewing a breeze. Some models are lightweight and portable enough to easily move around the house or bring with you while traveling. If you’re on the hunt for a machine that will deliver coffee shop-worthy drinks, we spoke with coffee experts for their espresso machine buying tips. 

How to choose the best espresso machine

When choosing the best espresso machine, experts agree that you should consider space, budget, purpose, and any cool features you’d like to use.

“Definitely think about how much effort you’re willing to put in the morning,” Sebastian Ventura, director of education for New York-based Colombian coffee company, Devocion, tells SELF. Ventura says that if you want just to press a button and go, an automatic espresso machine may work best for you. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a more hands-on experience, a semi-automatic machine may be a better fit. “A semi-automatic machine allows you to manipulate all aspects of brewing and achieve a balanced espresso to your tastes,” adds Ventura. If you want a machine that can brew and steam simultaneously, go for a dual-boiler espresso machine.

Cary Wong, director of coffee at Partners Coffee, suggests looking for temperature control and stabilization when picking out an espresso machine. “In order to get the best out of the coffee, temperature consistency is one of the key factors in a great-tasting espresso,” says Wong. Overall, the best espresso machines are “user-friendly and not intimidating to operate at home,” he adds.

It’s not just about choosing the best espresso machine: Experts also stress that you shouldn’t forget to purchase a high-quality coffee grinder if your espresso maker does not already have a built-in grinder. A coffee grinder helps crush coffee beans into grounds that can then be brewed. “There is so much focus on the espresso machine when setting up a brew bar, but a great grinder is also essential,” Anita Tam, Specialty Coffee Association judge and CEO of Slow Pour Supply, tells SELF. “So including that into your budget is important too.” 

How to pick the right coffee for your espresso machine

When picking out coffee for your espresso maker, look for a slightly heavier roast profile, “either a medium or dark roast, depending on your flavor preference,” Lyndia McGauhey, head of training and development at Verve Coffee Roasters, tells SELF. She also says that you don’t need to look for the word ‘espresso’ on the bag. “That simply indicates that it fits the roast category,” she explains. When choosing, she typically likes to go for a blend of two to three coffees to help add more complexity and structure.

“That said, espresso offers a vast array of flavors, and it's okay to have fun and be playful!” McGauhey says. “Do remember that two different coffees will pull differently, so you may need to spend some time dialing in your parameters if you change coffees frequently.” 

The best espresso machines

To help you choose the best espresso machine for you, we tapped coffee experts for their picks, broken down by different price points. Below, you’ll find their top picks from high-quality brands like Breville, Nespresso, Cuisinart, De'Longhi, and La Marzocca, available at retailers including Amazon, Williams Sonoma, and Sur La Table.

Budget-Friendly Espresso Machines

Espresso machines don’t have to cost a ton of money. If you’re new to the world of espresso or are just looking for inexpensive options, here are some highly-rated picks that can help get the job done without breaking the bank. 

© Amazon Here's a barista-approved espresso and coffee maker from AeroPress that's handy for camping and any other travels where he doesn't want to drink watered-down mud. It makes up to three cups of coffee at a time, so there will be enough for you, too. $40, Amazon. Get it now!

$40.00, Amazon

With over 18,00 Amazon reviews, this budget-friendly option is a cult favorite because of its convenience and ease of use. Small but mighty, with this lightweight gadget, “you can brew just about any kind of coffee; strong Americano-style beverages or iced coffee or just a regular old filter brew,” Oodie Taliaferro, president of the Austin Coffee Collective, previously told SELF. It uses a rapid brewing process to make drinks in no time—simply add ground coffee, stir, and press. 

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$40.00, Amazon

From rich espressos and coffees to velvety-smooth macchiatos and lattes, this highly-rated model is loved for its handy features and affordable price tag. This lightweight pick is able to brew four servings of espresso at a time. It has light indicators (so you know exactly when your drink is ready to enjoy), a removable drip tray (to help catch any spills), and an easy-to-use milk frother for foamy drinks. 

© Williams Sonoma This iconic Italian model is “most likely the coffee maker your grandma had in the kitchen,” says Casey Wojtalewicz, founder of Canyon Coffee in L.A. It’s stuck around for a reason! A Moka pot is simple to use, comes in a range of sizes (to suit your work-from-home needs), and brews rich, aromatic coffee in minutes by passing boiling water through ground coffee. The key to not burning your batch—which the Moka pot is infamous for—is to stay close by. Once you hear the coffee percolating, Wojtalewicz recommends turning the heat to medium or low to let the process finish. Add more hot water for an Americano or steamed milk for a cappuccino. $35, Williams Sonoma. Get it now!

$40.00, Williams Sonoma

Affordable and easy to use, this Italian stovetop espresso maker has remained a popular pick for many, many years. In fact, it’s “most likely the coffee maker your grandma had in the kitchen,” Casey Wojtalewicz, founder of Canyon Coffee in LA, previously told SELF. This longtime favorite, which comes in three different sizes, can brew high-quality espresso in a matter of minutes and be used on glass and electric stovetops. Pro tip: To prevent burning, Wojtalewicz advises using the Moka pot with medium or low heat and keeping an eye on it during the brewing process.

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$75.00, Amazon

With over 1,600 highly rated Amazon reviews, this portable espresso machine does the job without the high price tag of similar models. Its extra-large portafilter allows you to whip up four shots of espresso at a time, and its stainless steel frothing pitcher makes frothing milk a piece of cake. The included coffee scoop and water cup, complete with measurement markings, means you have more precise brewing. 

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$169.00, Amazon

Simplicity and consistency are two factors to consider when deciding on an at-home espresso maker. Life can be hectic, “so your machine should easily be able to provide a quality shot of espresso each time,” Nick Newbill, head of marketing at 7 Brew Coffee and former barista, tells SELF. Keeping these important tips in mind, we recommend this user-friendly Nespresso machine, which heats up in 25 seconds, features an energy-saving automatic shutoff, and has a folding drip tray to catch any messes. Even better? Each espresso maker comes with complimentary Nespresso capsules.

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$180.00, Amazon

Mitalee Bharadwaj and Lisa Yala, co-founders of Transcendence Coffee, say that being a home barista is “definitely an undertaking,” but can be a lot of fun once you get the hang of it and start brewing coffee you love.  Their best advice is to consider your needs and interests when choosing how automatic or manual you want your machine to be. If you’d like a more hands-on brewing experience, we recommend this affordable all-in-one stainless steel option by Chefman. Featuring an extra large water reservoir, one-touch presets, a built-in automatic milk frother, and 15-bar pump pressure, this machine makes customized coffee shop-worthy beverages with little to no effort. Double shots of espresso coming right up! 

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$150.00, Williams Sonoma

Ander Lehto, general manager at The Wild, a full-service coffee and cocktail concept in Denver, uses the Cuisinart Premium Single Serve Coffee Maker. Both compact and portable, this programmable machine works well for all different experience levels. “It definitely works for those who have a busy lifestyle,” says Lehto. With this machine, you can use K-cup coffee capsules or its HomeBarista filter cup, which allows you to fill it up with ground coffee or tea of your choice. 

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$189.00, Amazon

Turn your kitchen into a French cafe with the L’Or Barista System. Ideal for people with busy schedules, this espresso machine uses pods that you can pop in quickly to create the perfect cup of coffee or espresso (topped with smooth crema) each time. Even better, it heats up in just 20 seconds and can brew six different sizes of drinks using its dual-capsule recognition technology. Whether you live alone or need a versatile machine for the whole family, this design-forward model has you covered. 

© Amazon This espresso machine makes for a nice gift for the budding barista; the Gevi makes creating your own delicious cappuccino or pulling a shot of espresso easy and fun. Nicely, this small appliance is space-saving enough for kitchens with limited counter space. $200, Amazon. Get it now!

$225.00, Amazon

A perfect match for smaller kitchens, this compact Gevi espresso machine comes with versatile features. We especially love its Thermoblock Fast Heating System and nifty pressure gauge, which allows you to make perfect drinks in less than a minute, and its hot water function that can be used for preparing tea and instant soups. Be sure to also take advantage of the adjustable steam wand, which comes in handy when you're in the mood for a latte or cappuccino. 

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$180.00, Williams Sonoma

No space, no problem. You can make high-quality espresso with this ultra-compact machine that can fit in even the smallest of kitchens. It uses a 19-bar pressure pump to create a rich, full-bodied taste and has an energy-saving function that kicks in after nine minutes of inactivity. Both portable and lightweight, this machine also works well for road trips and hotel stays. 

Espresso Machines Under $600

There are also plenty of higher-end espresso machines that sit below the $600 price point. Whether you’re ready to take your espresso-making to the next level or need something with a few more features, these options can help you achieve the perfect cup of espresso regardless of how much experience you may have. 

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$499.00, Amazon

Bharadwaj and Yala describe this pick as “a great espresso machine that's also very modular, so you can easily make upgrades and replacements.” The Gaggia Classic Pro, which has been popular for decades, uses a commercial-style portafilter, steam wand, and double-shot baskets to create espresso you (or your guests) won’t soon forget. It also heats up in roughly 30 seconds, which is especially helpful during sleepy mornings when you need to get caffeinated ASAP. 

© Williams Sonoma Seriously step up their morning cappuccino game with this barista-worthy Breville espresso machine, which brews and steams to their temperature and froth preferences. A welcome addition to any countertop, it comes in a range of trendy colors, like rich red velvet and deep damson blue. (And for a scaled-back version, shop the Breville Bambino.) $500, Williams Sonoma. Get it now!

$500.00, Williams Sonoma

Breville has become synonymous with high-quality kitchen appliances for a reason—its products are top-of-the-line. Jiyoon Han, Q grader, barista, and co-owner of Bean & Bean Coffee, is particularly a fan of the Breville Bambino Plus, which she says is “approachable for beginners” and is great “to make cafe-quality beverages at home.” Equipped with an automatic microfoam milk texturing system, it consistently churns out top-notch espresso shots and velvety-smooth froth for a foamy finish. It’s also small enough to fit in kitchens with limited storage or countertop space.

Demi Natoli, beverage director for Graduate Nashville, also highly recommends this brand. Natoli’s Breville espresso machine of choice is the Breville Infuser, which she says is “quick, quiet, and doesn’t take up too much counter space.” Natoli also points out that cleanup with this machine is “really easy,” making it great for everyday use. 

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$700.00, Amazon

According to Wong, the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte is a great approachable home espresso machine with excellent temperature control. “I love that it comes with tools that a barista would use in the cafe,” he says. Say, for instance, a commercial machine-style steam wand for latte art. This option checks off all boxes with a sleek stainless steel design, and detachable, dishwasher-safe parts. Make sure to use the included descaler (a cleaning solution specifically formulated for coffee and espresso machines to help get rid of buildup) to keep it in tip-top shape. 

Splurge-Worthy Espresso Machines

If you’re an espresso enthusiast wanting to invest in a top-of-the-line espresso maker or are looking for an espresso machine with all the bells and whistles, then these higher-price models may do the trick. Although expensive, these machines are often used in coffee shops around the world—so you know you’re getting a high-quality brew each time. 

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$850.00, Williams Sonoma

Josey Markiewicz, senior director of the café at La Colombe, likes the Breville Barista Pro because of its ease of use and relatively compact design. “It has an onboard grinder and detachable hopper, which is spectacular because, as we all know, the grinder is the most important tool in our coffee toolkit,” says Markiewicz. This model comes in six different colors and is also equipped with a swivel steam wand and frothing nozzle, perfect for those mornings when you feel like a latte or cappuccino. It also has an impressive three-second heat-up time. 

If you’re looking for a Breville model that offers even more, then Cortes, a barista and assistant manager at Cafe Grumpy's Coral Gables location, recommends the pricier Breville Dual Boiler BES920XL because it doesn’t require heavy maintenance for normal use and is easy to take apart and clean. It also comes with a ton of useful accessories including dual wall filter baskets, an integrated tamper, and a water filter. “My favorite thing about it is that you can schedule a timer on the machine, and the machine will be ready to brew by the time you need it,” says Cortes. This especially is helpful during weekends or busy mornings before heading off to work. 

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$1940.00, Amazon

If you want to step up your espresso game, this is the machine to buy. Ventura says that this espresso maker is a good fit for most levels of homebrewers because of its many built-in features, including auto back flushing, a shot timer, and a programmable auto-on function. “The Pro X also has a pre-infusion option, which helps the water to evenly saturate and extract coffee for optimum balance,” Ventura adds.

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$5900.00, La Marzocco

Although La Marzocco espresso machines are very costly, they are some of the most beloved and sought-after models on the market by experts and home brewers alike. “My dream home espresso machine is a Linea Mini,” says McGauhey. McGauhey particularly likes that this manual machine is made with commercial components that “stand the test of time.” 

Tam points out that La Marzocco is the “industry standard” and is used in a lot of high-volume commercial settings. This particular model has dual boilers, which is great to have for better espresso extraction and milk frothing capability. It also has a convertible portafilter, which lets you quickly switch between single-spout (great for single-cup brewing), double-spout (when you need to brew two cups at once), and bottomless portafilters (which allows you to see right into your filter basket) in just seconds. 

Suppose you're interested in a La Marzocco espresso machine, but need something slightly more affordable. In that case, there's also the Linea Micra ($3,900), which comes recommended by Caitlin Burke, the beverage director of Maman. "It's a super compact version from the same Linea family of machines we started using eight years ago at Maman," says Burke. "So, for me, it is very intuitive and easy to use and has more power than most at-home espresso machines I've tried.” This stylish, compact model features a dual-boiler system, PID control (this helps better regulate brewing variables, such as temperature and pressure), and a speedy heat-up time, so you know you’ll always be crafting cafe-quality coffee and espresso.  

Related:

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The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

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We recommend the Etekcity EK6015 Digital Kitchen Scale for its clear display, variety of measurement units, and affordable price point.

Some recipes are flexible enough to permit a dash of this, a pinch of that. But if you’re a baker who needs more precise measurements or a health-conscious home chef tracking macros and other nutritional data, a kitchen scale is your go-to gadget for meal and dessert prep.

“Kitchen scales are essential for any cook or baker,” says Stephen Chavez, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. He says that when recipes don’t come out as expected, much of the blame can be put on inaccurate ingredient measurement by volume. It’s far too easy to incorrectly measure a cup of flour, for example, depending on whether you scoop the flour, sift it, or pack the cup with it.

“However, if you had measured by weight using a scale, the amount will always be the same, and your final products will come out better and more consistent,” he says, noting the pros always weigh their ingredients.

We researched the best kitchen scales, evaluating them on their ease of use, weight capacity, units of measurement, and size. Our top pick is the Etekcity EK6015 Digital Kitchen Scale, which has a clear display and easily converts to a number of different measurements, including ounces, fluid ounces, pounds, grams, and milliliters.

It’s rather impressive for the price, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from Etekcity. In fact, a total of four Etekcity scales made our list because of their impressive weighing/measuring capabilities and other helpful features that make meal prep easier and more accurate.

Etekcity EK6015 Digital Kitchen Scale

Best Overall Kitchen Scale

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

Who it’s for: People who want an accurate, easy-to-use scale for everyday recipes.

Who it isn’t for: People who need a scale with a larger surface or higher weight capacity.

This scale is made from 304 food-grade stainless steel, so you can safely measure liquids, solid foods, and other small items. Convert to your preferred measuring unit—including ounces, fluid ounces, pounds, milliliters, or grams—so you can follow along with any recipe you choose. Using a bowl or plate to weigh food? Engage the tare function—which resets the scale to zero—so you can subtract the weight of the container for an accurate reading.

This sleek digital scale allows you to weigh up to 5 kilograms/11 pounds in 1-gram increments for accuracy. The backlit LCD digital display makes it easy to see the total of whatever food or ingredients you’re weighing. The displayed weight remains on for 30 seconds, so you won’t miss it if you’re checking on something in the oven while you’re weighing ingredients. Don’t worry–you’ll conserve the battery (powered by two AAA batteries, included) with the auto-off function that turns off the scale after two minutes of being idle. It comes in a stainless steel finish or choose from black, green, white, and pink.

Price at time of publish: $14

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 7.3 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches

• Weight Limit: 11 pounds

• Units: Ounces, pounds, fluid ounces, grams, milliliters

Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Digital Kitchen Scale

Best Budget Kitchen Scale

Buy at Amazon.com

Who it’s for: People who want a budget-friendly scale that’s accurate for most purposes.

Who it isn’t for: People who need a wider selection of measurement units.

If you’re new to kitchen scales or don’t require the use of one very often, you can’t go wrong with this budget-friendly Amazon Basics model. The stainless steel design likely matches at least some of your kitchen appliances, which is a nice plus. The screen is wide and clear, so there’s no squinting to see the total of the ingredients you’re weighing. It features advanced sensors to weigh ingredients quickly and accurately—perfect for precise recipes or meal planning.

It’s not complicated at all to get this up and running out of the box, especially since there’s two AAA batteries included, too. Just tap the power button, which also doubles as the tare function, so you can easily subtract the weight of any container you might be using. The other button converts the units of measurement to ounces, pounds, milliliters, or grams. The plastic parts are BPA-free and food safe, so you can feel confident cooking and baking with this simple Amazon Basics scale.

Price a time of publish: $11

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.7 x 7 x 1.2 inches

• Weight Limit: 11 pounds

• Units: Ounces, pounds, grams, fluid ounces, milliliters

Etekcity EK5250 Digital Kitchen Scale with Bowl

Best Kitchen Scale With Bowl

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Etekcity.com

Who it’s for: People who often measure wet ingredients in addition to dry.

Who it isn’t for: People with limited storage space who’d prefer to use an existing bowl in their cupboard.

Not all ingredients can easily be measured on the flat surface of a scale. For small batches of wet or dry ingredients, a bowl comes in handy. And while you can always grab one from your own cupboard, it’s nice when a kitchen scale comes with a coordinating bowl, like this one from Etekcity. The BPA-free plastic bowl is removable, making it easy not only for cleanup and storage but to make it more flexible for weighing food directly on the scale.

Two buttons make it easy to operate this scale—the power button also is the tare function, and the other button allows you to select your desired measurement units. This scale has dual increments that measure either within 0.1 grams for ingredients under 1,000 grams or within a gram for ingredients up to 5,000 grams in weight. The accuracy of the scale allows you to use it for any kitchen measurements, as well as hair color, postage, jewelry, and any other small weighing tasks that demand precision. A large backlit display makes it easy to see the total weight. It comes in five different colors—arctic silver, blue, chili red, dark black, and sky blue—so you can complement your existing kitchen decor.

Price at time of publish: $19

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.4 x 6.7 x 1.3 inches

• Weight Limit: 11 pounds

• Units: Ounces, pounds, fluid ounces, grams, milliliters

Maxus Digital Pocket Scale

Best Small Kitchen Scale

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

Who it’s for: People who want a scale that can accurately measure small ingredients, such as herbs and spices.

Who it isn’t for: People looking to measure portions larger than a half pound.

Some recipes call for a pinch of this or a dash of that. But when precision is the main ingredient, you need a scale that can measure small amounts with great accuracy. This Maxus scale is not only ideal for the precise measuring of minuscule ingredients like herbs and spices, but it’s also good for measuring coins and jewelry, too.

It’s highly precise and measures within a 1/100th of a gram or 1/1000th of an ounce. Despite its small size, it has a clear display, so you can easily see the total weight. And while it’s not difficult to use, there are instructions for weighing, taring, and calibration right inside the flip top lid which closes down when you’re finished for easy storage. The Maxus is powered by two AAA batteries and has an automatic turnoff function when it’s not in use.

Price at time of publish: $15

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 5 x 2.9 x 0.67 inches

• Weight Limit: 200 grams (0.44 pounds)

• Units: Grams, ounces, troy ounces, pennyweights, carats, grains

:The 9 Best Measuring Spoons of 2023

Etekcity EKS-L221-SUS Luminary Kitchen Scale

Best High-Capacity Kitchen Scale

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Etekcity.com

Who it’s for: People who want the ability to weigh a wide variety of food items.

Who it isn’t for: People who only need a kitchen scale on occasion.

Need a scale that can weigh salt as well as the whole chicken you’ll be seasoning it with? You can do it all with the Etekcity Luminary kitchen scale, which weighs portions and ingredients up to 22 pounds. It has a rechargeable battery (USB-C) cable so it’s easy to keep your scale powered up for whenever you need it. The water-resistant surface can stand up to spills, plus you can run it under the faucet for easy cleanup— just ensure that the charging port is covered first.

The Etekcity is good for prepping larger batches of ingredients for baking, cooking, and other meal-prep tasks. The larger capacity also allows you to weigh parcels to calculate postage so you can skip the line at the post office. The wide surface makes it easy to weigh larger items, too. But no matter what you put on the surface to be weighed, you’ll be able to see the numbers on the display clearly from any angle.

Price at time of publish: $30

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 9.1 x 6.7 x 1.1 inches

• Weight Limit: 22 pounds

• Units: Grams, ounces, fluid ounces, pounds, and milliliters

Williams-Sonoma Touchless Tare Waterproof Scale

Best Waterproof Kitchen Scale

Buy at Williams-sonoma.com

Who it’s for: People who don’t mind splurging for high-tech features, such as a touch-free tare button and a waterproof body.

Who it isn’t for: People who mostly want to use a scale for non-kitchen tasks, such as weighing parcels.

We love a kitchen gadget that is as useful as it is attractive. The sleek black surface of this kitchen scale from Williams Sonoma features a sharp, high-resolution LED display at the touch of a button. You won’t need to touch anything, though, to activate the tare function—you can zero out the scale with just a wave of your hand.

The glass surface makes it hygienic and the structure is waterproof, so cleanup is easy no matter what type of protein or ingredients you just weighed on it. It has a wide enough surface for you to weigh food directly on it, or you could place it in a bowl or other container. The 11-pound capacity should be plenty for most at-home chefs’ food prep needs, but if you need something heftier, opt for the 30-pound model that offers the same waterproof construction and touchless features.

Price at time of publish: From $55

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 7.25 x 8.75 x 0.75 inches and 8.75 x 10.75 x 0.75 inches

• Weight Limit: 11 and 30 pounds

• Units: Ounces, fluid ounces, grams, or milliliters
  

Etekcity ESN90 Smart Nutrition Scale

Best Smart Kitchen Scale

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Etekcity.com

Who it’s for: People who want a smart kitchen scale to help them reach their nutrition goals.

Who it isn’t for: People who aren’t interested in tracking calories or macros.

Smart technology has transformed the way we use many home appliances and devices, including kitchen scales. This one from Etekcity syncs to your phone or tablet via the VeSync app. It’s free, and you’ll want to obtain it right away to take advantage of all the app’s features, including nutrition facts, a food tracker, and a Nutrionix database that contains nearly one million food items. You can even sync calories with your fitness tracker.

Need it just for measuring? It can do that, too. The digital display features large numbers on a pleasant blue background, and it has a tare feature and measures in ounces and grams. If you’re serious about monitoring your food intake for health reasons, this is the tool to have. You’d think that this impressive scale would come with an impressive price tag, but it costs under $20, so it’s a no-brainer for your kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $19

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.1 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches

• Weight Limit: 11 pounds

• Units: Grams, ounces, fluid ounces, pounds, and milliliters

KitchenTour EK6002 Coffee Scale With Timer

Best Kitchen Scale for Coffee

Buy at Amazon.com

Who it’s for: People who like to brew coffee by the cup.

Who it isn’t for: People who need a kitchen scale with a large weight capacity.

There are coffee lovers, and then there are true coffee connoisseurs who grind premium coffee beans, measure out the grounds, and use pour-over coffee makers for a perfect cup. If you’re in the latter category, then you’ll need to add this KitchenTour scale to your daily coffee routine. It measures small capacities from 0.3 grams up to 3,000 grams so you can get the precise amount of coffee grounds for your morning cup of Joe or your afternoon pick-me-up. It also comes with a built-in timer for precise brewing and a tare function so you can subtract the container for your coffee or other ingredients.

The digital display is easy to read and the surface and frame are easy to keep clean between uses. The KitchenTour scale sits on a silicone non-slip pad, so it will stay put as you measure coffee and other small-batch ingredients like spices. The sleek black design of this scale is rather attractive, so you won’t mind keeping it out along with the rest of your coffee setup.

Price at time of publish: $50

Product Details:

• Dimensions (L x W x H) : 8.5 x 6.42 x 1.54 inches

• Weight Limit: 3,000 grams (6.61 pounds)

• Units: Grams, ounces, milliliters

:The 11 Best Coffee Makers for Every Household's Needs

Final Verdict

The Etekcity EK6015 Digital Kitchen Scale nabbed our pick for best overall kitchen scale because it’s easy to use for both beginner and advanced home chefs. Plus, it won’t break the bank, so it’s more than worth it to have on hand even if you don’t plan to use it for every single recipe.

How to Shop for Kitchen Scales Like a Pro

Ease of Use

A kitchen scale is meant to help, not hinder, while cooking or baking, so you don’t want a scale that’s too complicated to use. Luckily, all of the kitchen scales that made our list are easy to use right out of the box—and most even come with batteries, too. In fact, with the exception of the Etekcity ESN90 Smart Nutrition Scale, which has an app chock full of information and features to dive into, you should be up and running with a new kitchen scale with just the touch of a button.

Weight Limit

Some of the products on our best kitchen scales list can measure hefty portions of meat, fish, and other proteins, while others are better suited for measuring small amounts of ingredients, like spices. To figure out which one is the right kitchen scale for your needs, decide whether you’ll be weighing dry ingredients like flour or large cuts of meat like a bone-in ribeye, for example, and then choose a scale with the appropriate weight capacity.

Units

The best kitchen scales will allow you to select from the most common measurement units, such as ounces, grams, and pounds. Take a look at the ingredient list of a favorite recipe or two before purchasing a kitchen scale so you can see which units you’ll need to measure for precision in cooking and baking at home.

You’ll also want to make sure that you choose a scale with increments for further accuracy. “Most bakers measure in grams, so a scale accurate to a single gram is important,” says Chavez. “Some round up to the nearest five grams, and that’s not good for accurate baking, especially for bread.”

Size

“When shopping for a scale, look for one that has a large surface area in order to hold larger bowls or trays for the product as you are measuring,” says Chavez. Size also matters when it comes to your kitchen scale’s display. “Look for a scale that has easily readable numbers and will be clearly seen while measuring things in a large bowl or tray,” he recommends.

Questions You Might Ask

How accurate are kitchen scales?

Kitchen scales are manufactured to be fairly accurate, but Chavez suggests using butter to test it out. “In order to make sure your scale is accurate, you should weigh something that is a consistent and true size, such as a pound of butter,” he says. “By law, pounds of butter need to be accurate to that weight, so they are a great way to make sure that your scale is accurate.” Don’t have a full pound on hand? Grab a stick instead. A single stick of butter weighs four ounces, or 113 grams.

Is a kitchen scale necessary?

“In professional cooking, we always use weight rather than volume when we are measuring items for a recipe,” says Chavez. Using incorrectly measured ingredients can affect the outcome of a recipe, he says. This is especially true in baking. But inaccurate food measurements can also make a difference if you’re looking to portion your food for dietary purposes, so consider adding a scale to your cache of kitchen gadgets if you’re counting macros.

What’s the difference between weighing ingredients with a scale and using measuring cups/spoons?

Chavez affirms that weighing ingredients is a more accurate method than measuring by volume. “The only real advantage to measuring by volume is with small portions that would use a measuring spoon,” he says, noting that it’s more convenient to use measuring spoons for ingredients like cinnamon, baking soda, and vanilla extract, even if it means being slightly less accurate.

As for liquid ingredients, a liquid (not a dry) measuring cup will be just fine since most liquids can be measured either by weight or by volume. Note: Liquid measuring cups feature measurement lines, while dry measuring cups are meant to be filled to the brim and leveled off with a butter knife or other flat edge.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, New York. To compile this list of best kitchen scales, she researched products from top brands while considering their surface size, weight capacity, units of measurement, and overall ease of use. For expert advice on what consumers should know when purchasing kitchen scales, Barbara consulted Stephen Chavez, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.

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