Coffee Ratio Calculator
Pick your brew method, enter how much water, coffee or how many cups you want, and get exact grams of coffee and water at the ratio and strength you like.
How to use the Coffee Ratio Calculator
- Choose a brew method: the preset fills in a typical ratio such as 1:16 for pour over or 1:2 for espresso.
- Pick what you know: the water amount, the coffee amount, or the number of cups you want to make.
- Enter the amount and choose the unit (ml, grams, fl oz, cups, ounces or tablespoons).
- Adjust the strength slider if you like your coffee milder or stronger, or type your own ratio.
- Press Calculate to see the coffee and water you need, then copy the recipe.
Coffee to water ratio chart by brew method
| Method | Typical ratio | Coffee for 250 ml | Coffee for 500 ml | Grind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip machine | 1:17 | 14.7 g | 29.4 g | Medium |
| Pour over (V60, Chemex) | 1:16 | 15.6 g | 31.3 g | Medium-fine |
| French press | 1:15 | 16.7 g | 33.3 g | Coarse |
| AeroPress | 1:14 | 17.9 g | 35.7 g | Medium-fine |
| Moka pot | 1:10 | 25 g | 50 g | Fine-medium |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:5 | 50 g | 100 g | Extra-coarse |
| Espresso (in : out) | 1:2 | 18 g in → 36 g out | Fine | |
How the coffee ratio formula works
A ratio of 1:R means one part coffee to R parts water, both by weight. Because 1 ml of water weighs 1 g, the formulas are simple:
- Coffee (g) = water (ml) ÷ R. Example: 600 ml at 1:16 needs 600 ÷ 16 = 37.5 g of coffee.
- Water (ml) = coffee (g) × R. Example: 20 g of coffee at 1:15 needs 20 × 15 = 300 ml of water.
- Brewed yield ≈ water − 2 × coffee, because wet grounds keep about twice their weight in water. 37.5 g of coffee holds back about 75 ml.
To end up with a set number of cups, the calculator works backwards: water = cups × cup size ÷ (1 − 2 ÷ R). For two 8 fl oz cups (473 ml) at 1:16 that is 473 ÷ 0.875 ≈ 541 ml of water and 33.8 g of coffee.
Tuning strength and taste
The strength slider changes the ratio in small steps of about 6%: mild multiplies the ratio by 1.12, strong by 0.88. A 1:16 pour over becomes about 1:17.9 on mild and 1:14.1 on strong. If the coffee tastes sour or thin, try a finer grind or a slightly stronger ratio. If it tastes bitter or harsh, try a coarser grind, a shorter brew time or a weaker ratio. Change one thing at a time so you know what made the difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
For filter coffee most people enjoy a ratio between 1:15 and 1:17, meaning 1 gram of coffee for every 15 to 17 grams of water. 1:16 is a good starting point. Immersion brewers like the French press often use 1:15, and espresso is usually around 1:2.
How much coffee do I need for 1 cup?
For an 8 fl oz (237 ml) cup at 1:16 you need about 15 g of ground coffee, which is roughly 3 level tablespoons. A 12 fl oz mug needs about 22 g.
How many grams of coffee for 500 ml of water?
At a 1:16 ratio, 500 ml of water needs 500 ÷ 16 = 31.25 g of coffee. At 1:15 it is about 33.3 g and at 1:17 about 29.4 g.
What does a 1:2 espresso ratio mean?
It compares the dry coffee in the basket to the weight of liquid espresso in the cup. 18 g of coffee in and 36 g of espresso out is a 1:2 ratio. The water you put into the machine is not what is measured.
Why is my brewed coffee less than the water I used?
Coffee grounds hold on to roughly twice their weight in water, so a pour over with 30 g of coffee keeps back about 60 ml. The calculator estimates this and can add extra water when you plan by number of cups.
Is 1 ml of water the same as 1 gram?
Yes, for brewing purposes 1 ml of water weighs 1 gram, so you can use a kitchen scale for both coffee and water.
How many grams are in a tablespoon of ground coffee?
A level tablespoon of medium-ground coffee is about 5 grams, but it varies with grind size and roast. Weighing is far more accurate than scooping.