Coffee ratio calculator
Choose a brewing method, then enter the water you want to use or the coffee you have. The ratios are typical starting points, and you can type your own to tune the strength to your taste.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Pick the brew method. Choose “Your own ratio” to type any number of grams of water per gram of coffee.
- Choose whether you know the water or the coffee, and type the amount.
- Read the other amount and weigh it out.
How it works
A ratio of 1:16 means 16 g of water for every 1 g of coffee. If you know the water, coffee = water ÷ ratio. If you know the coffee, water = coffee × ratio.
| Method |
Ratio (coffee : water) |
| Drip |
1:18 |
| Pour over |
1:16 |
| French press |
1:15 |
| AeroPress |
1:15 |
| Espresso |
1:2 |
| Cold brew concentrate |
1:8 |
Worked example
You are making 500 mL of drip coffee. 500 ÷ 18 = 27.8 g of coffee. With 18 g of ground coffee for an espresso at 1:2, the drink weighs 18 × 2 = 36 g.
Tips
- Change one thing at a time (ratio, grind or time) so you can tell what improved the cup.
- Brewing loses some water to the grounds, so the cup holds a little less than the water you poured in.
- Measuring the dose in grams is far more repeatable than scoops. See the ingredient converter for kitchen volume to weight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the right coffee to water ratio?
There is no single correct ratio: it is a matter of taste, the coffee and the brew method. The ratios here are typical starting points. For drip coffee it uses 1:18, which is close to the 55 grams of coffee per litre of water in the Specialty Coffee Association "golden cup" standard (1:18.18).
What ratio does each method use here?
Drip 1:18, pour over 1:16, French press 1:15, AeroPress 1:15, espresso 1:2 and cold brew concentrate 1:8, each written as coffee to water by weight. Espresso is the weight of the drink in the cup, not the water going through the machine. Adjust up or down by taste.
Why grams of water and not millilitres?
Water at room temperature weighs about 1 g per mL, so the tool treats millilitres and grams of water as equal. A scale is more accurate than a measuring jug, particularly for small brews.
How do I make a weaker or stronger cup?
Choose your own ratio and use more water per gram of coffee for a weaker cup, or less for a stronger one. Changing the grind size and brew time also changes the strength.
What is cold brew concentrate?
A strong brew, here 1 part coffee to 8 parts water, that is usually diluted with water or milk before drinking. The ratio is a common starting point. Many recipes use different ratios, and some brew ready to drink at a weaker ratio.