Coffee Ratio Calculator: Grams, Cups and French Press
This free coffee ratio calculator tells you exactly how much coffee to use for any amount of water, or how much water for the coffee you have. Pick a brew method, enter your water in milliliters, ounces or cups, and it gives you grams of coffee plus rough tablespoon and scoop equivalents. It works for French press, pour-over, drip, AeroPress, cold brew and espresso.
Coffee Ratio Calculator
Roughly 6.3 level tablespoons or 3.1 scoops. Ratio used: 1:16.
Tablespoons and scoops are rough: a level tablespoon of ground coffee is about 5 g and a standard 2-tablespoon scoop about 10 g, but it varies with grind and roast. A scale is the only accurate measure.
How to Use the Coffee Ratio Calculator
- Pick your brew method. Each method loads a common starting ratio. You can type your own ratio at any time; the method switches to “Custom”.
- Enter what you know. Most people know their water (a mug, a carafe, a French press size). If you only have a set amount of coffee left, switch “I know my” to coffee and enter grams.
- Adjust strength. Each step of the strength slider changes the ratio by about 7 %, which is a noticeable but not dramatic change in the cup.
- Brew, taste, then adjust one thing at a time. If the coffee tastes weak but not sour, use more coffee. If it tastes sour or thin, grind finer; if bitter or harsh, grind coarser.
The ratio is written as 1:X: one part coffee to X parts water, by weight. Because 1 ml of water weighs 1 g, a 1:16 ratio means 16 ml of water for every gram of coffee. A 500 ml pour-over at 1:16 therefore needs about 31 g of coffee.
Coffee-to-Water Ratio Chart by Brew Method
| Method | Starting ratio | Usual range | Coffee for 12 fl oz (355 ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over, V60, Chemex | 1:16 | 1:15 – 1:17 | 22 g |
| Drip coffee maker | 1:17 | 1:16 – 1:18 | 21 g |
| French press | 1:15 | 1:12 – 1:16 | 24 g |
| AeroPress | 1:14 | 1:11 – 1:16 | 25 g |
| Moka pot | 1:7 | 1:6 – 1:8 | fill the basket level |
| Cold brew (ready to drink) | 1:8 | 1:6 – 1:10 | 44 g |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:5 | 1:4 – 1:5 | 71 g (dilute 1:1) |
| Espresso (dose : yield) | 1:2 | 1:1.5 – 1:3 | 18 g in, 36 g out |
The Specialty Coffee Association’s long-standing “golden cup” guideline is about 55 g of coffee per liter of water, which works out close to 1:18. Most home brewers like it a little stronger, which is why the calculator starts pour-over at 1:16.
French Press Coffee Ratio
A French press is forgiving, and people brew it anywhere from 1:12 (strong) to 1:16 (light). Start at 1:15. The common press sizes work out like this:
- 3-cup / 12 oz (350 ml) press: about 23 g of coffee
- 4-cup / 17 oz (500 ml) press: about 33 g
- 8-cup / 34 oz (1 liter) press: about 67 g
Use a coarse grind, steep about four minutes, then press slowly. An insulated press such as the Secura 34 oz stainless French press holds heat through the steep. Press “cup” sizes are usually 4 oz European cups, so an “8-cup” press makes about four mugs.
How Many Tablespoons of Coffee per Cup?
For a US 8 oz cup at 1:16, you need about 15 g of coffee, which is roughly three level tablespoons of medium-ground coffee. The often-quoted “two tablespoons per 6 oz” rule lands near 1:18, the golden-cup ratio. Spoon measures vary with grind size and roast: dark roasts are less dense, so a spoonful weighs less. That is why the calculator gives grams first.
Watch out for “cups” on a drip machine. Many coffee makers count a cup as 5 or 6 oz, not 8 oz, so a “12-cup” carafe holds about 60 oz. Choose “machine cups (5 oz)” in the calculator if you are filling to the carafe markings.
Why Weigh Your Coffee?
A scale removes the biggest source of inconsistency in home brewing. A 0.1 g scale such as the Maestri House S2 weighs the coffee and times the brew, and it works for pour-over, French press and espresso alike. Pair it with a burr grinder like the OXO Brew conical burr grinder and a temperature-control kettle such as the Cosori gooseneck, and every variable in the ratio is under your control.
AeroPress, Cold Brew and Espresso Ratios
AeroPress: the AeroPress Original is flexible. A standard cup is about 15 g of coffee to 220 ml of water (roughly 1:15). For a concentrate you dilute afterwards, go as strong as 1:6.
Cold brew: steep coarse coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. Brew a 1:5 concentrate and dilute it 1:1, or brew 1:8 to drink straight. A 64 oz mason-jar style maker like the County Line Kitchen makes a full batch of concentrate at once.
Espresso: the ratio compares the dry dose with the liquid espresso in the cup, both in grams. 18 g in and 36 g out (1:2) in about 25 to 30 seconds is the usual starting point. Our best espresso machine under $500 guide covers the machines, and the best espresso tamper and espresso accessories roundups cover the tools that make the dose repeatable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
For most brew methods, 1:15 to 1:17 by weight is a good starting range. The SCA golden-cup guideline of about 55 g per liter is close to 1:18. Adjust to taste.
How much coffee for 12 cups?
On a drip machine, 12 “cups” usually means about 60 oz (1.8 liters). At 1:17 that is roughly 105 g of coffee, about 21 level tablespoons or 10 to 11 scoops.
How much coffee for a French press?
Start at 1:15: about 33 g for a 17 oz (500 ml) press and about 67 g for a 34 oz (1 liter) press.
How many grams of coffee in a tablespoon?
About 5 g for a level tablespoon of medium-ground coffee, but anywhere from roughly 4 to 7 g depending on grind and roast.
What ratio is cold brew concentrate?
Around 1:4 to 1:5. Dilute it about 1:1 with water or milk before drinking.
Does the ratio change with the roast?
The ratio is by weight, so it stays the same, but light roasts often taste better slightly stronger (1:15) and dark roasts slightly weaker (1:17).
About This Calculator
The starting ratios are common brewing guidelines, not rules, and the tablespoon and scoop figures are approximate conversions. Nothing is stored: the calculation runs in your browser. If you are shopping for a coffee lover, our gifts for coffee lovers guide pairs well with this page. SoftPickr is reader-supported; as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on our review pages.