Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
How many grams of coffee to use for your brew water at mild, balanced or strong ratios.
How it works
coffee (g) = water (ml) ÷ ratio — water in milliliters weighs the same in grams
Brew ratios compare coffee to water by weight, and water conveniently weighs 1 g per ml. The specialty-coffee sweet spot clusters around 1:15 to 1:17 for drip and pour-over: 1:15 tastes rich and heavy, 1:17 lighter and more delicate. A level tablespoon of medium-ground coffee weighs about 5 g, but a $15 scale is the real upgrade to consistency.
Worked example
Brewing 480 ml (two mugs) at the balanced 1:16 ratio: 480 ÷ 16 = 30 g of coffee, about 6 level tablespoons — 15 g per 240 ml cup.
Frequently asked questions
My coffee is bitter — should I change the ratio?
Bitterness is usually over-extraction: grind too fine or water too hot. Coarsen the grind first, keep water just off the boil (195–205°F), and only then fine-tune the ratio to taste.
Does this apply to espresso or French press?
French press works fine around 1:15. Espresso is a different system — it’s dosed against liquid out (about 1:2, e.g. 18 g in, 36 g out), not against brew water in.
Why measure by weight instead of scoops?
A "scoop" of coffee varies 4–7 g with grind size and how it mounds, a ±40% swing that shows up straight in the cup. Weighing takes five seconds and makes every brew repeatable.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.