Coffee Brew Ratio Calculator
Scale a pour-over or drip brew to any cup size — get the grams of coffee and water for your chosen strength ratio.
How it works
Coffee (g) = water (g) ÷ ratio · e.g. 1:16 means 1 g coffee per 16 g water
Brew ratio is the weight of water divided by the weight of coffee, so a 1:16 ratio means 16 grams of water for every gram of grounds. Lower ratios (1:14) brew stronger, higher ratios (1:18) brew lighter, and because water density is close to 1 g/mL you can read the water figure as millilitres. Weighing beats scooping — grind and roast change the volume of a tablespoon, but the weight ratio stays honest.
Worked example
For 500 g of water at a balanced 1:16 ratio, use 500 ÷ 16 = 31.3 g of coffee — roughly 6 tablespoons of grounds — yielding a little over two 240 mL mugs.
Frequently asked questions
What ratio makes the best coffee?
The specialty standard is around 1:16 to 1:17 for pour-over and drip. Go lower (1:14–1:15) for a stronger, bolder cup and higher (1:18) for a lighter brew — it is a matter of taste, so experiment from 1:16.
Do I really need a scale?
A gram scale gives far more consistency than scoops, because the weight of a tablespoon of grounds varies with the bean and grind. If you must scoop, about 5.3 g fits in a level tablespoon.
Does this work for espresso?
No — espresso uses much tighter ratios around 1:2, measured as dose to shot yield. This tool is tuned for drip, pour-over and French press in the 1:14 to 1:18 range.
Related calculators
This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.