How much coffee for how much water

The taste of drip or French press coffee depends mostly on the ratio of water to coffee. Too much coffee makes it bitter and heavy, too little makes it watery. This calculator starts from the water you use and the ratio you choose, and gives you the grams of ground coffee, how much ends up in the cup and how many cups you get.

How the calculation works

• Coffee: water divided by the ratio. With 500 ml at 1:16 you need 31.3 g.
• Coffee in the cup: water minus what the grounds hold back, on average about 2 g per gram of coffee.
• Cups: coffee in the cup divided by the cup size.

A millilitre of water weighs about a gram, so you can weigh the water on the scale along with the coffee. With cold brew the grounds hold back water just as in other methods; for espresso the ratio is measured on the drink coming out, not on the water going in, and this calculator is not meant for espresso.

Grams of coffee by water and ratio

Typical ratios by method

These are starting points: roast, grind size and personal taste shift the ideal ratio. The Specialty Coffee Association reference for filter coffee is about 55 g per litre, or roughly 1:18.

The reading bands

• Below 1:8: a concentrate, typical of cold brew to be diluted.
• 1:8 to 1:14: a strong brew, as in a French press.
• 1:14 to 1:17: the most common ratio for drip and pour-over.
• Above 1:17: a light ratio, close to the filter reference.

How to dial in your coffee

Change one thing at a time. If the coffee is bitter or astringent, raise the ratio slightly or grind coarser; if it is sour or watery, lower the ratio or grind finer. Use water just off the boil, around 92-96 °C, and freshly ground coffee when you can.

Frequently asked questions

How much coffee for 500 ml of water?

At a 1:16 ratio about 31 g; at 1:15 about 33 g.

What is the right ratio for drip coffee?

Usually between 1:15 and 1:17; the Specialty Coffee Association reference is about 1:18.

And for a French press?

Typically between 1:12 and 1:15, for a fuller-bodied cup.

Why is there less coffee in the cup than water used?

Because the grounds hold back water: about 2 g for every gram of coffee.

How much coffee per cup?

For a 200 ml cup at 1:16 about 14 g, allowing for the water held by the grounds.

Does it work for espresso?

No: for espresso the ratio is measured between coffee and the drink coming out, usually about 1:2.

How do I make cold brew?

Often as a concentrate between 1:4 and 1:8, steeped cold for many hours and then diluted.

Is it better to measure by spoons or grams?

By grams: the weight of a spoonful changes with grind size and how full it is.