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About the coffee ratio calculator
The coffee ratio is the weight of the water divided by the weight of the coffee. At 1 : 16, you use 1 g of ground coffee for every 16 g (16 ml) of water. A lower number makes stronger coffee.
Pick your brew method and a strength. Then say how much you want to make: a number of cups, an amount of water, or the coffee you have. The calculator gives you the coffee in grams and tablespoons, the water in ml and fl oz, the grind, the brew time and the water temperature.
Features
- 6 brew methods — pour-over, French press, drip coffee maker, AeroPress, cold brew and espresso
- Strong, medium or mild — three ratios for every method
- By cups, by water or by coffee — start from what you know
- 5 cup sizes — from a 5 fl oz coffee maker cup to a 16 fl oz travel mug
- Grams and tablespoons — and ml and fl oz for the water
- Grind, time and temperature — the basics for each method
- Compare methods — a table with the coffee for every method at the same amount of water
Coffee to water ratios
These are the ratios the calculator uses. Medium is a good place to start.
| Method | Strong | Medium | Mild | Grind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 1 : 15 | 1 : 16 | 1 : 17 | medium-fine |
| French press | 1 : 12 | 1 : 14 | 1 : 16 | coarse |
| Drip coffee maker | 1 : 15 | 1 : 17 | 1 : 18 | medium |
| AeroPress | 1 : 12 | 1 : 14 | 1 : 16 | fine to medium |
| Cold brew | 1 : 5 (concentrate) | 1 : 8 | 1 : 10 | extra coarse |
| Espresso (coffee : drink out) | 1 : 1.5 | 1 : 2 | 1 : 3 | fine |
For hot coffee, use water just off the boil: 195–205 °F (91–96 °C).
How much coffee per cup?
For pour-over at 1 : 16. A level tablespoon of ground coffee is about 5 g.
| Cup | Water | Coffee | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee maker cup | 5 fl oz (148 ml) | 9.2 g | 2 |
| Small cup | 6 fl oz (177 ml) | 11.1 g | 2 |
| Mug | 8 fl oz (237 ml) | 14.8 g | 3 |
| Large mug | 12 fl oz (355 ml) | 22.2 g | 4½ |
| Travel mug | 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 29.6 g | 6 |
Good to know: the "cups" on a drip coffee maker are often only 5 fl oz, not a full 8 fl oz mug. A 12-cup coffee maker makes about 60 fl oz (1.8 liters).
Worked example
The page opens on pour-over, medium, 2 mugs of 8 fl oz.
- Water: 2 × 236.6 ml = 473 ml (16 fl oz)
- Coffee: 473 ÷ 16 = 29.6 g — about 6 level tablespoons
- In the cup: the wet grounds keep about 2 g of water per gram of coffee, so you get about 473 − 59 = 414 ml (14 fl oz)
The same 473 ml of water with other methods (medium strength):
| Method | Ratio | Coffee | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 1 : 16 | 29.6 g | 6 |
| French press | 1 : 14 | 33.8 g | 7 |
| Drip coffee maker | 1 : 17 | 27.8 g | 5½ |
| AeroPress | 1 : 14 | 33.8 g | 7 |
| Cold brew | 1 : 8 | 59.1 g | 12 |
For a liter of water: 67 g of coffee at 1 : 15, 63 g at 1 : 16, 59 g at 1 : 17 and 56 g at 1 : 18.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
Many people like 1 : 15 to 1 : 17 for pour-over and drip coffee, and 1 : 12 to 1 : 16 for a French press. Start at medium and change one thing at a time.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
About 2 level tablespoons for a 6 fl oz cup, and 3 for an 8 fl oz mug, at 1 : 16. Tablespoons are not exact: a dark roast or a fine grind weighs a little more. A kitchen scale is best.
What is the ratio for cold brew?
Use 1 : 8 for cold brew you drink as it is. For a concentrate, use 1 : 4 or 1 : 5 and mix it 1 : 1 with water or milk. Steep it in the fridge for 12–24 hours.
How does the espresso ratio work?
For espresso, the ratio counts the drink that comes out, not the water. A double shot of 18 g of coffee at 1 : 2 gives 36 g of espresso in the cup. A ristretto (1 : 1.5) is shorter and stronger; a lungo (1 : 3) is longer and milder.
Why is my coffee bitter or sour?
Bitter coffee is often ground too fine or brewed too long. Sour or weak coffee is often ground too coarse or brewed too short. Change the grind first, then the ratio.
Related tools
- Recipe Scaler — make any recipe for more people
- Cups to Grams Converter — cups and spoons into grams
- Unit Converter — ml, fl oz, grams and ounces
- Timer — time your brew
- Party Food Calculator — drinks and snacks for a crowd
How to use it
- Pick your brew method: Pour-over, French press, Drip coffee maker, AeroPress, Cold brew or Espresso
- Choose a Strength: Strong, Medium or Mild
- Choose By cups, By water or By coffee
- Type the Number of cups and pick the Cup size — or type the Water or the Ground coffee you have. For espresso, type the Number of shots or the Espresso out
- Read the coffee in grams and tablespoons, the water, the grind and the brew time
- Look at the table to compare methods, and press Copy to keep the result
