The present invention relates to a device for measuring a contact force exerted by an object on a probe comprising a lever and said probe for contacting the object. The lever is pivotably coupled to a body by coupling means. The device comprising a fixed frame coupled to the body. The body is designed to be moved with respect to the object to put the probe in contact with the object to create a force pivoting said lever with respect to the body around a pivot axis, for instance a torque rotating said lever. The device comprising a sensor for measuring the displacement of the lever with respect to the body upon pivoting. The coupling means comprise control stiffness means, for instance an elastic element, so that when the probe contacts the object, the displacement of the lever is proportional to the force exerted by the probe on the object. Such control stiffness means are tunable so that the accuracy and sensitivity of the measured force is controlled. The invention further relates to a method for using the device according to the invention.