How-to · Coffee
Coffee to Water Ratio Chart: How Much Coffee Per Cup
Short answer: Use about 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams (16 ml) of water. For one 8 oz (240 ml) mug, that is 15 g of coffee, or 2 level tablespoons. Go to 1:15 for stronger, 1:17 or 1:18 for lighter. The ratio is almost the same for every brewer except espresso and cold brew, which are concentrates.
Weighing is the only way to get the same cup twice, because a tablespoon of coffee can weigh anywhere from 5 to 8 grams depending on the grind and roast. A cheap scale fixes it; our kitchen scale guide covers what to buy.
The chart by brew method
| Brew method | Ratio (coffee : water) | For one mug (240 ml) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip machine | 1 : 16 | 15 g, about 2 tbsp | Most “cups” on the machine are 5 to 6 oz |
| Pour-over | 1 : 16 | 15 g | Many use 1 : 15 for a fuller cup |
| French press | 1 : 15 | 16 g | Coarse grind; our French press guide |
| AeroPress | 1 : 12 to 1 : 16 | 15 to 20 g | Stronger ratios are common; dilute to taste |
| Moka pot | Fill the basket | 15 to 20 g in a 3-cup pot | The basket sets the dose; do not tamp |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1 : 4 to 1 : 5 | — | Dilute 1 : 1 to drink |
| Cold brew, ready to drink | 1 : 8 | 30 g per 240 ml | No dilution |
| Espresso | 1 : 2 | 18 g in, 36 g out | A “double shot” |
| Turkish | 1 : 10 | 7 g per small cup | Very fine grind, simmered |
Grams to spoons
| Grams | Level tablespoons | Standard coffee scoops |
|---|---|---|
| 7 to 8 g | 1 | ½ |
| 15 g | 2 | 1 |
| 30 g | 4 | 2 |
| 60 g | 8 | 4 |
| 110 g | 14 | 7 |
A standard coffee scoop holds about 2 tablespoons, or 14 to 16 g of medium-ground coffee. Coarse grounds weigh a little less per spoon; fine grounds a little more.
Common pot sizes
| Container | Water | Coffee at 1 : 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mug (8 oz / 240 ml) | 240 g | 15 g (2 tbsp) |
| Large mug (12 oz / 350 ml) | 350 g | 22 g (3 tbsp) |
| 4-cup drip machine (20 oz / 600 ml) | 600 g | 38 g (5 tbsp) |
| 8-cup drip machine (40 oz / 1.2 L) | 1,200 g | 75 g (10 tbsp) |
| 12-cup drip machine (60 oz / 1.8 L) | 1,800 g | 110 g (14 tbsp) |
| 34 oz (1 L) French press | 900 g | 60 g (8 tbsp) |
Note that a drip machine’s “cup” is 5 to 6 oz, not 8. That is why a “12-cup” pot fills about seven mugs.
Adjusting strength
“Strong” means two different things, and the fix is different for each:
- Too weak or watery (thin, not enough flavor): use more coffee. Move from 1:16 to 1:15 or 1:14.
- Too harsh or bitter: that is usually not the ratio; it is over-extraction. Grind coarser or brew shorter. Our grind size chart explains how to tell the difference.
- Sour and thin together: under-extracted. Grind finer or brew longer, before you add more coffee.
Change one thing at a time. Ratio sets how much coffee flavor is in the cup; grind and time set which flavors.
Why water weight equals volume
One milliliter of water weighs one gram, so “16 g of water” and “16 ml of water” are the same. That is why coffee ratios are given by weight: you can put the mug on the scale, press tare, and pour to the number, no measuring jug needed.
If you only remember one number
Two level tablespoons per mug. It is not exact, but it is close enough that the cup tastes right, and you can adjust from there.
FAQ
How much coffee per cup?
About 15 g (2 level tablespoons) of ground coffee for an 8 oz (240 ml) mug. Use a little more for a stronger cup. A ‘cup’ on a drip machine is usually only 5 or 6 oz, so a 12-cup machine is 60 to 72 oz of water and needs about 110 to 135 g of coffee.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
Two level tablespoons per 8 oz mug is the standard. Tablespoons are imprecise because grind size changes how much fits in a spoon; a scale gives the same cup every time.
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
Around 1:16 to 1:18 by weight, which is what the Specialty Coffee Association recommends. 1:16 is a full-bodied cup; 1:18 is lighter. Most people land somewhere in that range.
How much coffee for a 12-cup coffee maker?
A ‘12-cup’ carafe holds about 60 oz (1.8 liters). At 1:16, that is about 110 g of coffee, roughly 14 level tablespoons or 7 standard coffee scoops. For a full pot you can go a little lighter without it tasting weak.
Does the ratio change with roast?
Slightly. Dark roasts are less dense, so a tablespoon of dark roast weighs less than a tablespoon of light roast. If you measure by weight the ratio stays the same; if you measure by spoons, use a slightly heaped spoon for dark roast.