Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
How much coffee to use for the amount of water, for any brewing method.
Good to know. The coffee scoop is the least precise instrument in most kitchens. A scale fixes a bitter or weak cup overnight.
How it works
In plain words
Divide the water, in grams or millilitres, by the ratio for your method: 16 for drip coffee means 1 g of coffee for every 16 g of water. For espresso, the ratio is to the drink in the cup rather than the water used.
The formula
coffee (g) = water (ml) ÷ ratio stronger: ratio ÷ (1 + %)
Worked example
For 500 ml of drip coffee at 1:16, use 500 ÷ 16 = 31.3 g of coffee, about 6 level tablespoons.
Sources
- Specialty Coffee Association, Golden Cup Standard About 55 g of coffee per litre of water for brewed coffee.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. 3 automated tests check its answers on every change.
About the coffee to water ratio calculator
The ratio of coffee to water decides how strong a cup tastes more than anything else. Most brewing guides give it by weight: 1:16 means 1 gram of coffee to 16 grams of water. Since a millilitre of water weighs a gram, you can measure the water in either.
Filter and drip coffee are usually made at about 1:15 to 1:17; the Specialty Coffee Association’s “golden cup” is about 55 g per litre, roughly 1:18. French press is often a little stronger, around 1:14, and AeroPress stronger still. Cold brew is made as a concentrate at about 1:8 and diluted to taste. Espresso is measured differently: 18 g of coffee giving about 36 g of espresso in the cup is a classic 1:2.
If the coffee tastes weak, use more coffee rather than a longer brew; if it is harsh or bitter, try a little less, or a coarser grind. Change one thing at a time. The strength setting here nudges the ratio up or down by a percentage.
A scoop or tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 to 7 grams depending on the grind and how full it is, which is why a small kitchen scale makes the biggest difference to a consistent cup.
Questions people ask
How many grams of coffee per cup?
About 15 to 16 g for a 250 ml mug of drip or pour-over coffee, at a ratio of 1:16.
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
Most people like 1:15 to 1:17 for filter coffee. Start at 1:16 and adjust to taste.
How much coffee for a French press?
About 1:14: 36 g of coarse coffee for 500 ml of water, steeped for 4 minutes.