Coffee Ratio LabCoffee Ratio Calculator: Grams, Cups and Tablespoons for Any Brewer
The most common coffee-to-water ratio is 1:16 — 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams (ml) of water. For a 12 oz mug that's about 22 g of coffee, roughly 4 level tablespoons. Use about 1:15 for French press, 1:16 for pour over and drip, 1:12 for AeroPress and about 1:10 for moka pot. Enter your water or cup size below to get exact amounts.
Tablespoons assume ≈5.5 g of ground coffee per level tablespoon; real weight varies with grind and roast. For espresso the ratio is coffee to liquid espresso, not water. Weighing gives the most consistent results.
Coffee to water ratio chart by brew method
| Method | Ratio | Example | Grind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee maker | 1:15 – 1:17 | 60 g : 1,000 ml | Medium |
| Pour over | 1:15 – 1:17 | 15 g : 250 ml | Medium |
| French press | 1:12 – 1:16 | 30 g : 450 ml | Coarse |
| AeroPress | 1:6 – 1:16 | 15 g : 220 ml | Medium-fine |
| Moka pot | 1:8 – 1:10 | 15 g : 150 ml (3-cup) | Fine–medium-fine |
| Espresso | 1:1.5 – 1:3 (coffee : liquid) | 18 g in → 36 g out | Fine |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:4 – 1:5 | 100 g : 500 ml | Extra coarse |
How to use this coffee ratio calculator
- Choose your brew method. The strength slider jumps to a sensible starting ratio.
- Pick how you want to calculate: by the water you'll use, the number of cups you want, or the coffee you have left in the bag.
- Adjust strength. A smaller second number (1:14) is stronger; a bigger one (1:17) is lighter.
- Brew and taste, then tweak the grind using our coffee grind size chart.
Detailed ratio guides by method
- Drip coffee maker ratio for 4–12 cups
- French press ratio for 1, 2 and 4 cups
- How much coffee for a moka pot (grams by size)
- Cold brew ratio: concentrate vs ready-to-drink
- Iced coffee ratio (the ice-math method)
- Grams of coffee per tablespoon
Why weigh coffee instead of using scoops?
A "scoop" or tablespoon of coffee can weigh anywhere from about 4 to 8 grams depending on grind size, roast level and how heaped it is. Dark roasts are less dense than light roasts, so a scoop of dark roast contains less coffee. A cheap kitchen scale removes all of that guesswork and makes your good cups repeatable.
What is a "cup" of coffee?
There's no single standard. Many drip coffee makers count a cup as around 125–180 ml, while most mugs hold 250–350 ml. That's why "12-cup" coffee makers rarely fill twelve mugs. Use the cup-size option above to match what you actually drink from.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams of coffee per cup?
For a 250 ml mug at 1:16, use about 15–16 g of coffee — roughly 3 level tablespoons.
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
The ratio most often called "golden" is around 1:15 to 1:18 for filter coffee, with 1:16 a popular middle point.
How many tablespoons of coffee for 12 cups?
For a 12-cup drip machine (about 1.8 liters using 150 ml cups) at 1:16, you need roughly 110 g of coffee — around 20 level tablespoons. Many people use less for a lighter brew.
Does the ratio change for dark roast?
Dark roasts extract more easily and taste stronger, so many people use a slightly weaker ratio, such as 1:17, and slightly cooler water.
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