Read the smallest useful step on a scale
A decimal on the display is useful only if the scale can reliably measure the small quantity you are putting on it.
Look beyond the decimal
A kitchen scale that moves in whole grams is convenient for flour, but a single gram is a large step when your tea portion weighs only a few grams. A display in tenths can make small changes easier to follow. That does not mean every inexpensive scale showing 0.1 g is accurate to that amount. Resolution describes the display steps; accuracy concerns how close the reading is to the actual weight. Look for the manufacturer's specifications for both, along with the minimum load. Some scales change their display increments as the total load increases, so a heavy vessel can affect how the instrument behaves.
Give the scale a fair start
Set it on a firm, level surface, away from the kettle's steam and anything touching the weighing platform. Place a small, dry dish in the centre and use tare to return the display to zero. Add leaves steadily, then pause before reading the number. A tray that catches long leaves is more convenient than balancing them on a tiny platform. Check the stated capacity before putting a filled pot on a pocket scale. The vessel still contributes to the physical load even after you have tared its displayed weight away. For dry tea, there is usually no reason to bring a hot pot onto the scale at all.
Use the number to repeat a good cup
A sensible first check is repeatability: remove the same filled dish and place it back several times. If the reading wanders noticeably, check the surface, battery and instructions before changing your recipe. This is not a calibration test; proper calibration uses the method and reference weight specified for that model. Once the scale behaves consistently, record a useful tea amount rather than chasing the final flicker of the display. You might find that a slightly smaller portion makes a favourite blend taste better. The scale's job is to let you return to that choice tomorrow. It need not turn an ordinary cup into a laboratory exercise, and extra decimal places cannot decide what tastes right to you.
