HomeBarista vs Beanconqueror
Both apps log every variable that matters for specialty coffee. They are built for very different users. This is the honest version of which one fits your setup — written by HomeBarista, with credit where Beanconqueror earns it.
Pick Beanconqueror if…
- You're on Android or want true cross-platform
- You own a Bluetooth scale or pressure sensor
- You value open source code and offline-first data
- You want everything free, forever, no tier
Pick HomeBarista if…
- You're on iOS
- You want AI bag scanning instead of manual entry
- You want a guided espresso dial-in workflow
- You want visual inventory rings and low-stock alerts
- You want a polished, native UI over feature breadth
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | HomeBarista | Beanconqueror |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS native | iOS, Android, web (PWA) |
| Price | Free + PRO ($2.99/mo or $19.99/yr) | Free, open source |
| Brew parameters per log | 25+ | 30+ |
| Brewing devices | 30+ (V60, Chemex, AeroPress, espresso, Moka, Vietnamese, Origami…) | 30+ (all major methods) |
| Espresso dial-in tool | ✅ Structured workflow + smart suggestions | ❌ Manual logging only |
| Extraction calculator | ✅ Built-in, visual zones | Partial (TDS field, no visual range) |
| AI bag label scanning | ✅ Camera → auto-fills bag data | ❌ |
| Visual inventory rings | ✅ Per-bag, with low-stock alerts | ❌ Numeric only |
| Bluetooth scale support | ❌ | ✅ Acaia, Decent, Felicita, more |
| Pressure sensor support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Water recipe calculator | ✅ 5 presets (Pavlis, RAO, SCA, BH4, Melbourne) | Water profile field, no calculator |
| Equipment maintenance tracker | ✅ Schedules with overdue alerts | ❌ |
| Cost per cup calculator | ✅ | Partial (cost tracked, no calculator) |
| Insights / charts | Frequency, method breakdown, score trends, origin map | Statistics on usage, spending, consumption |
| Cloud sync | Apple, Google, email (Firebase) | Manual export / self-hosted |
| Languages | 6 (EN, DE, ES, FR, NL, PT) | 10+ (community translated) |
| Open source | ❌ | ✅ GitHub, GDPR, German-hosted |
Where Beanconqueror genuinely wins
Beanconqueror is the most feature-complete open-source brew tracker on either platform. If your workflow already includes a Bluetooth scale streaming flow rate into a graph, or a pressure transducer on an espresso machine, Beanconqueror is the obvious fit — it natively ingests that hardware. The cross-platform reach (Android, iOS, web PWA) makes it the default answer for anyone outside the Apple ecosystem. It's free forever, open source on GitHub, GDPR-compliant, and the developer behind it is responsive and community-driven.
Where HomeBarista pulls ahead on iOS
HomeBarista is built for the 80 % of home baristas who don't have a Bluetooth scale but do have an iPhone in their hand at every brew. The product trades hardware breadth for workflow polish:
- AI bag scanning. Point your camera at a coffee bag and HomeBarista auto-fills name, roaster, origin, process, variety, roast date, and tasting notes. The difference between "add a new bag" being a 4-second action versus a 2-minute typing session.
- Inventory rings. Every bag has a visual ring showing remaining grams. Brewing deducts the dose automatically. The ring turns red at 40 g — a glance tells you it's time to reorder. Beanconqueror tracks weight numerically but doesn't surface it as a visual you can scan at a glance.
- Guided espresso dial-in. A structured workflow that knows what a dial-in session is. Pick a starting recipe, log shots with taste tags, get grind adjustment recommendations, and mark the dialled-in shot as the reference for future bags. More on dial-in →
- Pro tools. Water recipe calculator with five presets, equipment maintenance tracker with overdue alerts, cost per cup including milk costs, and a stand-alone extraction calculator.
- Native iOS polish. Smooth, animated, hits 120 Hz on ProMotion devices, Apple Sign-In, designed around the iPhone's gesture model rather than a cross-platform web shell.
Pricing in plain language
Beanconqueror is free and will stay free. HomeBarista has a free tier (limited brews and coffees) plus PRO at $2.99/month or $19.99/year. PRO unlocks unlimited brews, unlimited coffees, full insights with charts and trends, and data export. All PRO plans start with a 3-day free trial.
Verdict
There is no objectively "best" brew tracker — there is one that fits your platform, hardware, and how much you'll actually log. If you're on Android, want open-source, or own Bluetooth brewing hardware, Beanconqueror is the answer. If you're on iOS and want an app that turns brew tracking into a 10-second action — with AI scanning, visual inventory, a real dial-in workflow, and pro tools — HomeBarista is built for that.
Try HomeBarista on iOS — free.
3-day PRO trial included. No card to start the free tier.
Frequently asked questions
Is HomeBarista a good alternative to Beanconqueror?
On iOS, yes — particularly for users who want polished UX, AI bag scanning, visual inventory, and a guided espresso dial-in workflow. On Android, Beanconqueror is the better answer because HomeBarista is iOS-only.
Is Beanconqueror free?
Yes. Beanconqueror is fully open source, ad-free, and has no paid tier. Funded by donations and community contributions.
Does HomeBarista work on Android?
No. HomeBarista is iOS-only. Android users should consider Beanconqueror.
Which app has better espresso dial-in tools?
HomeBarista has a dedicated dial-in assistant with structured sessions, taste tags, and grind suggestions. Beanconqueror allows detailed shot logging and Bluetooth scale live graphs but does not include a guided dial-in flow.
Which app has Bluetooth scale support?
Beanconqueror has broad Bluetooth integration — scales, pressure sensors, and some refractometers. HomeBarista does not currently integrate Bluetooth hardware.
Which app has better coffee bag inventory tracking?
HomeBarista — visual inventory rings, automatic dose deduction, low-stock alerts, and AI bag label scanning to auto-fill bag details. Beanconqueror tracks bag data numerically but without the same visual feedback or AI input.