Coffee-to-water ratio calculator
Pick your brew method, set the ratio, and get the exact grams of coffee and water. The fastest way to a consistent, better-tasting cup.
Brew method
You need
31.3g coffee
for 500g water at 1:16 · about 5.9 level tbsp if you don't have a scale
A digital scale beats spoons every time — coffee's density varies by roast and grind, so volume measures drift. Weigh both your coffee and your water for repeatable cups.
Dial it in
Ratios only matter if your grind and weight are consistent. The two tools that make the biggest difference:
Common questions
What is the best coffee-to-water ratio?
The SCA golden-cup range is about 1:15 to 1:18 (one gram of coffee per 15–18 grams of water). Pour-over sits around 1:16, drip 1:17, French press 1:15. Go lower for a stronger cup, higher for a lighter one.
How much coffee for one cup?
An 8 oz (240 ml) cup at 1:16 needs about 15 g of coffee. Most mugs are 10–12 oz, so 18–22 g is a more realistic single-mug dose.
Do I really need a scale?
Yes — it is the single cheapest upgrade to your coffee. Ground coffee's density changes with roast and grind, so a 'tablespoon' can swing 20% in weight. Weighing coffee and water makes every cup repeatable.
Is espresso ratio the same?
No. Espresso uses a brew ratio of dose in to shot out, typically 1:2 (e.g. 18 g in → ~36 g out) over 25–30 seconds. That's a concentration ratio, not a filter dilution ratio.