Coffee-to-Water Ratio Calculator
Good coffee starts with the right amount of grounds for the water. Enter how much water you are brewing with and the ratio you like, and the calculator gives the coffee to weigh out.
Type a number and the answer appears straight away.
Ground coffee31.3 g
- In tablespoons (about 5 g each)
- 6.3
- In ounces
- 1.1
- Water
- 500 mL
- Coffee in the cup, roughly
- 438 mL
One gram of water is one milliliter. The grounds soak up about twice their weight in water, so you pour slightly more than ends up in the cup. Tablespoon figures are approximate: weigh the coffee if you can.
| Ratio | Strength | Coffee for this much water |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | Strong | 33.3 g |
| 1:16 | Medium | 31.3 g |
| 1:17 | Medium-light | 29.4 g |
| 1:18 | Light | 27.8 g |
The math behind it: Coffee-to-Water Ratio
coffee (g) = water (g) / ratio; 1 mL of water weighs 1 g
A ratio of 1:16 means one gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. For 500 mL of water that is 31.3 g of coffee. Lower numbers such as 1:15 taste stronger, and higher numbers such as 1:18 taste lighter.
Common questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
Between 1:15 and 1:18 for drip and pour-over coffee. 1:16 is a good place to start: 62.5 g of coffee for a liter of water.
How much coffee do I need for 12 oz of water?
About 22 g at a 1:16 ratio, which is roughly four and a half level tablespoons.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
About two level tablespoons (10 g) for a 6 oz cup, which is close to a 1:18 ratio. Tablespoons are only a rough measure because grind and roast change the weight, so a kitchen scale is more reliable.
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