Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
Tell us how many cups, how much water or how much coffee you have, pick a brew method, and get the matching dose in grams, ounces and tablespoons
Your Brew
Strength is fixed for this option
Any value from 1 to 40, for example 16 for 1:16.
The “cup” on a coffee maker is often smaller than a measuring cup. Enter the real volume you pour per cup.
Total water you pour in. For espresso, enter the liquid you want in the cup.
The weight of coffee you plan to use
Stronger than the SCA reference of 55 g/L (about 14% more coffee). A bolder cup; taste it and adjust.
How to use this tool
- Choose Metric or US units and the brew method: pour-over, drip machine, French press, AeroPress, espresso, cold brew or the SCA reference.
- Pick the strength, or choose a custom ratio from 1 to 40 parts water per part coffee.
- Start from Number of cups, Water I have or Coffee I have.
- Read the coffee dose in grams, ounces and tablespoons, the water volume and the strength in g/L.
Worked example
Two 8 fl oz cups is 16 fl oz, about 473 ml. At the balanced pour-over ratio of 1:16 that needs 473 ÷ 16 = 29.6 g (1.04 oz) of coffee, a strength of 62.5 g/L. The SCA reference for home filter brewers is 55 g per liter, about 1:18.2, so this cup uses roughly 14% more coffee and will taste bolder. The tool treats 1 ml of water as 1 g and calculates the water you pour, not the finished cup, since the grounds keep part of it. The method ranges are commonly published recipes, not a standard; grind size, temperature and the beans change the taste at the same ratio.
Methodology
A brew ratio compares the weight of water with the weight of coffee. A ratio of 1:16 means 16 g of water for every 1 g of coffee. The tool uses 1 ml of water = 1 g, so coffee (g) = water (ml) ÷ ratio and water (ml) = coffee (g) × ratio. The strength figure, in g/L, is coffee ÷ water × 1,000. As a yardstick it uses the Specialty Coffee Association standard for home electric filter brewers (SCA Standard 310-2021): 55 g of coffee per 1 kg of water, a brew strength of 1.15–1.55% dissolved solids and a slurry temperature of 90–96 °C. 55 g per liter is about 1:18.2. Worked example: 2 cups of 8 fl oz is 16 fl oz, or about 473 ml. At the Pour-over balanced ratio of 1:16 that needs 473 ÷ 16 = 29.6 g (1.04 oz) of coffee, which is 62.5 g/L, roughly 14% above the SCA figure, so a slightly bolder cup.
500 ml of water: how much coffee each method calls for
Grams of ground coffee for 500 ml of water at the three strength settings, with the ratio the tool uses in brackets.
| Method | Milder | Balanced | Stronger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 29.4 g (1:17) | 31.3 g (1:16) | 33.3 g (1:15) |
| Drip machine | 27.8 g (1:18) | 29.4 g (1:17) | 33.3 g (1:15) |
| French press | 31.3 g (1:16) | 33.3 g (1:15) | 38.5 g (1:13) |
| AeroPress | 31.3 g (1:16) | 35.7 g (1:14) | 41.7 g (1:12) |
How to read it: the same 500 ml needs anywhere from about 28 g (drip, milder) to about 42 g (AeroPress, stronger), which is why “one scoop per cup” is a poor rule across methods. Balanced pour-over works out to 62.5 g/L, a little above the SCA home-brewer reference of 55 g/L (about 27.5 g for 500 ml). The ranges are commonly published recipes, not a standard, and the tool counts the water you pour, not the cup you get, because the grounds keep some. Treat the table as a starting point, then adjust grind and time to taste.
Gear for Weighing, Grinding & Heating
Three tools that make a ratio easy to follow in practice
Maestri House S2 Espresso Coffee Scale with Timer, 0.1 g
A scale with 0.1 g resolution and a built-in timer lets you weigh the dose and the water instead of guessing with spoons. USB-C rechargeable, 2 kg capacity and a glass top, suited to espresso and pour-over.
CEVING Mini Manual Coffee Grinder, 40 Settings
A compact hand grinder with ceramic conical burrs and 40 adjustable settings, so you can grind right before brewing. Holds about 30 g of beans and is easy to carry for travel or camping.
Cosori Electric Glass Kettle, 1.7 L, Borosilicate
A 1.7 L electric kettle with a wide opening, auto shut-off and boil-dry protection for heating brewing water. It is not a gooseneck kettle, so fine pouring control is limited.
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Frequently asked questions
What coffee to water ratio should I use? ▼
For filter coffee, a ratio between 1:15 and 1:17 is a common starting point, and the SCA reference for home brewers works out to about 1:18 (55 g per liter). Start in the middle of the range for your method, taste the result, and move one step stronger or milder. Change only one thing at a time, ideally the dose, so you can tell what made the difference.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup? ▼
A level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs roughly 5 to 7 g depending on grind and roast, so a 6 fl oz cup at the SCA reference needs about 10 g, around 2 tablespoons. Spoons are only an estimate. A scale is far more consistent, which is why the tool shows grams first. Also enter your real cup size: coffee-maker “cups” are often smaller than a measuring cup.
Is the ratio by weight or by volume? ▼
By weight. The tool treats 1 ml of water as 1 g, which is accurate enough for home brewing. Ground coffee varies a lot in volume with grind and roast, so scooping by volume is less repeatable. Remember that the grounds absorb part of the water, so the drink you pour is less than the water you added.
How do I use the ratio for espresso or cold brew? ▼
Espresso ratios compare the dry dose with the liquid in the cup, often around 1:2 (18 g in, 36 g out). Cold brew concentrate is usually made at about 1:4 to 1:6 and diluted afterwards, while ready-to-drink cold brew sits near 1:8. These are typical home recipes rather than rules, so adjust to taste.