Coffee to water ratio calculator

Coffee to water ratios

Grams of coffee per grams of water:

• Strong: 1 to 15, about 33 g coffee per 500 g water
• Medium-strong: 1 to 16, about 31 g per 500 g
• Balanced: 1 to 17, about 29 g per 500 g
• Light: 1 to 18, about 28 g per 500 g
• 1 US cup of water is about 237 grams
• 1 level tablespoon of ground coffee is about 5 grams
• The widely cited golden ratio is 1 to 16 or 1 to 17

How the ratio works

Coffee strength is the ratio of coffee mass to water mass, written like 1:16. That means 1 gram of ground coffee for every 16 grams of water. Water weighs almost exactly 1 gram per milliliter, so 16 grams of water is also 16 milliliters.

The tool takes your water amount, divides it by the ratio you pick, and gives the coffee weight. It also shows an approximate tablespoon count, but a scale is more accurate, because the weight of a tablespoon of grounds changes with the grind and the bean.

Why weighing beats scooping

A tablespoon of ground coffee can weigh anywhere from 4 to 7 grams depending on how fine the grind is and how the grounds settle. Scooping is the biggest source of an inconsistent cup. A 15-dollar scale fixes it.

The ratio gets you a balanced extraction, but taste is personal. If your coffee is bitter, use less coffee or a coarser grind. If it is sour or weak, use more coffee or a finer grind. Adjust one thing at a time.

Grind size, water temperature, and brew time all matter too, but the ratio is the foundation. Fix the ratio first, then fine-tune the rest.

Ratios across brewing methods

Most brewing methods land near the same ratio. Drip and pour-over work well around 1 to 16 or 1 to 17. French press is similar. Cold brew is much stronger, often 1 to 8 by weight, because it is brewed as a concentrate and diluted later. Espresso is a separate calculation and is not what this tool covers.

Common coffee ratio mistakes

• Measuring coffee by scoop instead of weight. A scoop of grounds varies by several grams; a scale does not.
• Measuring water by the mug. Mugs vary in size. Weigh or measure the water so the ratio is real.
• Blaming the beans for a bitter cup. Bitter usually means too much coffee or too fine a grind, not bad beans.
• Changing several things at once. Adjust the ratio, the grind, or the time one at a time, or you will not know what helped.

FAQ

What is the best coffee to water ratio?

For a balanced cup, about 1 gram of coffee per 16 to 17 grams of water. Use 1 to 15 for stronger coffee and 1 to 18 for lighter. This is often called the golden ratio.

How much coffee for 2 cups of water?

Two US cups of water is about 473 grams. At a balanced 1 to 17 ratio, that is about 28 grams of coffee, roughly 5 to 6 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?

Roughly 1.5 to 2 level tablespoons of ground coffee per 1 cup, about 237 grams, of water. Weighing is more accurate, because a tablespoon of grounds varies.

Is 1 to 16 strong or weak?

1 to 16 is in the balanced range, slightly on the stronger side of it. 1 to 15 is stronger; 1 to 18 is lighter.

Does this work for cold brew?

No. Cold brew uses a much stronger ratio, often 1 to 8 by weight, because it is brewed as a concentrate and diluted with water or milk before drinking.

Related tools and guides

• Cups to grams
• Cups to milliliters
• Grams to ounces
• All calculators

Where the golden ratio comes from

The 1 to 16 through 1 to 18 range, often called the golden ratio, traces to brewing standards from the Specialty Coffee Association. It is the band where most tasters find coffee balanced, neither weak and sour nor heavy and bitter.