Barista Espresso Timer
A shot stopwatch that listens
$0.99 · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
The clock starts when your grinder spins up and stops when the shot ends. No buttons, no guessing. iPhone and Apple Watch.
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/
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
Here's what's in it:
· A standalone Apple Watch app: the full dial on your wrist, crown for the target, no iPhone needed
· Two noise-triggered clocks, one for grinding and one for the shot. They start and stop with your machines
· Detection that winds back to the true start, stops the moment the noise does, and ignores clatter
· Target editing that stays locked until you tap it open, then follows your finger around the ring
· One-time calibration for your grinder and your machine
· Target times stay in sync between iPhone and Watch
· A Lock Screen control button that opens the app already listening
· A glowing display edge while listening, and the whole dial flashes when you hit your time
· The display stays awake while the app is open, and the app reopens on the clock you used last
· smaller bugfixes and improvements
Enjoy better shots.
The developer, Alexander Zimmermann, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Alexander Zimmermann
- Size
- 3.6 MB
- Category
- Food & Drink
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 26.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 26.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 26.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 26.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Watch
Requires watchOS 26.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English and German
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2026 Alexander Zimmermann
