Coffee-to-water ratios by method
| Method | Default here | Typical range | For 500 g water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over (V60, Chemex, Kalita) | 1:16 | 1:15–1:17 | 31 g coffee | link |
| Drip coffee maker | 1:17 | 1:16–1:18 (SCA Golden Cup ≈ 1:18) | 29 g coffee | link |
| French press | 1:12 | 1:11–1:15 | 42 g coffee | link |
| AeroPress | 1:12 | 1:6 (concentrate) – 1:16 | 42 g coffee | link |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:5.5 | Toddy: about 1:5.6, then dilute 1:2 | 91 g coffee | link |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 1:1.5–1:2.5 (out:in by weight) | — | link |
The Specialty Coffee Association’s Golden Cup standard is 55 g of coffee per litre of water ±10% (about 1:18), brewed at 93 °C ± 3 (SCA). Most pour-over recipes run a little stronger: Blue Bottle uses 20–27 g of coffee to 350 g of water. Espresso is measured differently — the weight of the drink against the dry dose, about 1:2 for a standard shot.
How much coffee for a pot?
A coffee-maker “cup” is not a mug. Most drip machines mark cups of about 5 fl oz (148 ml); some use 6 fl oz. At 1:17:
| Cups | Water (5-oz cups) | Coffee at 1:17 | Coffee at 1:16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 cups | 591 ml (20 fl oz) | 35 g | 37 g |
| 6 cups | 887 ml (30 fl oz) | 52 g | 55 g |
| 8 cups | 1183 ml (40 fl oz) | 70 g | 74 g |
| 10 cups | 1479 ml (50 fl oz) | 87 g | 92 g |
| 12 cups | 1774 ml (60 fl oz) | 104 g | 111 g |
Why you get less coffee than the water you poured
Coffee grounds hold on to water — roughly twice their own weight (Barista Hustle). Brew 500 g of water through 30 g of coffee and about 440 g ends up in the cup. The calculator shows the expected yield, so you can brew enough for the number of cups you want.
Cold brew
Toddy’s instructions use 340 g (12 oz) of coffee to about 1.9 litres of water — about 1:5.6 — steeped for 8–24 hours, then the concentrate is diluted 1 part to 2 parts water or milk (Toddy). The calculator’s cold-brew yield is the concentrate before dilution.
Weigh, then taste. Ratios are a starting point. If the coffee tastes weak, use a little more coffee (a lower second number); if harsh or bitter, try a coarser grind or slightly less coffee.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04 · Disclaimer