What if your morning coffee did more than wake you up—what if it changed the course of your entire life? For Li Tao, a single sip did just that. From a decade-long career at Nokia to designing one of the most precise coffee scales on the market, his journey is a testament to curiosity, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of precision.
Li Tao and his scale Eclair
Li Tao’s coffee journey began in the most unexpected way. In 2016, after years of drinking coffee from large chains, he wandered into a specialty café in Hangzhou and ordered a pour-over. The moment the first sip touched his lips, he froze. The unmistakable aroma of jasmine filled his senses.
“I remember thinking, ‘Wait, this isn’t coffee. This is tea! How is this possible?’”
That single cup shattered everything he thought he knew about coffee. Until then, he had associated coffee with bold, nutty, and chocolatey flavors—but this was floral, delicate, and layered. That unexpected discovery pulled him into the world of specialty coffee. He started experimenting with brewing techniques, collecting gear, and, like many coffee enthusiasts, found himself owning multiple electronic scales—each promising accuracy but failing to deliver in different ways.
Born and raised in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, Li Tao always had a passion for technology. Inspired by the rise of Apple and Xiaomi, he pursued a degree in electronic information engineering at Hangzhou University of Electronic Science and Technology. Straight out of university, he joined Nokia, where he spent ten years working on communication technology, from 3G to 5G. The job was stable, and the career path was clear. But something inside him longed for more.
“I always knew I wanted to create something of my own. But I was afraid—what if I failed?”
The urge to build something never left him. Late at night, after work, he would tinker with coffee gear, experiment with espresso machines, and reverse-engineer coffee scales. By 2022, he knew it was time. After years of side projects and late-night experiments, he finally took the leap, leaving his corporate job to pursue his dream full-time: to design a coffee scale that solved the frustrations he had encountered as a home brewer.
One of Li Tao’s biggest frustrations with existing coffee scales was their inconsistency. Some were too slow, some couldn’t handle vibration, and others lacked the sensitivity needed for both pour-over and espresso brewing. Determined to create a solution, he designed, coded, and built his first prototype from scratch. But there was one major problem—it didn’t work. Balancing sensitivity, stability, and accuracy proved harder than expected. Scales that were too sensitive reacted to the slightest movement, making them useless on vibrating espresso machines. Scales that were too stable lacked the instant response needed for precision brewing.
“At one point, I was ready to give up. I spent months testing different calibrations, and nothing worked. I started questioning if this was even possible.”
Then, one night, by sheer accident, he adjusted a calibration setting—and suddenly, everything clicked. “It was like a lightbulb switched on. I finally found the balance I was looking for.” After countless iterations, the Eclair Coffee Scale was born, featuring 0.01g precision, adaptability for both pour-over and espresso, and resistance to environmental disturbances. When the first batch of pre-orders launched in early 2024, coffee enthusiasts took notice.
The transition from engineer to entrepreneur came with its own set of hurdles. Li Tao quickly realized that making a great product wasn’t enough—he had to navigate manufacturing, marketing, supply chains, and customer service.
“If I was just chasing money, I would have picked an easier industry. But seeing my product in the hands of passionate brewers makes all the struggles worth it.”
In China’s coffee gear market, success often attracts copycats, and imitation is an ongoing challenge. But Li Tao remains unfazed. “If my product inspires better coffee scales in the future, I see that as a win. It means I’ve contributed to the industry.” Instead of fearing imitation, he embraces continuous innovation.
Now, Li Tao is focused on expanding his reach beyond China. He believes that the international specialty coffee market will appreciate the precision and reliability of his work. Looking ahead, he dreams of creating more tools that enhance the brewing experience and make specialty coffee more accessible to home brewers worldwide. For now, though, he’s just happy to wake up every morning, brew a cup of his favorite Ethiopian Geisha, and know that his creation is helping others perfect their coffee rituals.
For those dreaming of turning their passion into reality, Li Tao has one piece of advice:
“Don’t be afraid to start. You’ll struggle, and you’ll want to give up—but persistence leads to breakthroughs. Sometimes, all it takes is one lucky discovery to change everything.”
Editor’s Note
Right now, Li Tao is working entirely on his own, designing, developing, and refining his product as an independent creator. In an industry where large companies dominate, his journey stands out as a story of passion, resilience, and self-driven innovation. We at I’M NOT A BARISTA want to give a huge shoutout to him and his dedication—because creators like him push the coffee industry forward. If you’re a coffee lover, keep an eye on his work on Red Note. He’s just getting started.
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