How much coffee for how much water? Pick your brew method and strength, and this free calculator gives you the exact grams of coffee and water — for pour-over, French press, AeroPress, drip, or cold brew. Works in cups, US/UK fl oz, or ml.
Daily Brew · Free tool
Coffee Brew Ratio Calculator
Pick your method and strength, set how much you want to brew, and get the exact coffee and water — no more guessing scoops.
Ratio 1:16 · – oz · about – tbsp ground coffee
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A starting point — adjust to taste. Weigh with a kitchen scale for best results.
How to Use a Coffee-to-Water Ratio Calculator
Great coffee is mostly math: the right ratio of coffee to water for your brew method, dialed in with grind size and time. Enter your cups (or grams of water) above and the calculator gives you the coffee dose. Here’s how to pick the ratio and fine-tune from there.
Brew Ratios by Method
Ratios are written as coffee:water. A 1:16 ratio means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water.
- Pour-over / drip — 1:15 to 1:17. The everyday sweet spot. Start at 1:16 and adjust. See our pour-over routine, Chemex guide, or Kalita Wave method.
- French press — 1:12 to 1:15. Fuller body, coarse grind. Step-by-step here.
- AeroPress — ~1:14 to 1:16. Flexible and forgiving — quick daily cup.
- Cold brew — 1:8 (concentrate). Much stronger because you dilute it later. Overnight steep guide and cold brew vs iced.
- Espresso — ~1:2. A tight ratio for an intense shot; home espresso routine. Moka pot sits nearby — stovetop guide.
Beyond the Ratio: Grind, Water, Time
The ratio sets the strength; three other variables set the flavor. Grind size controls extraction speed (finer = stronger/faster). Water quality matters more than most people think. And brew time interacts with both — if your coffee tastes sour it’s under-extracted, if bitter it’s over-extracted. Our extraction guide explains how to read it, and fresh beans (stored right — see bean storage) make everything easier.
Brew Ratio FAQ
What’s the “best” coffee-to-water ratio?
1:16 for pour-over is the safest starting point. From there, go stronger (1:15) or lighter (1:17) to taste — there’s no single right answer, only your preference.
Should I weigh my coffee and water?
Yes — a $15 scale is the single biggest upgrade to consistency. Scoops vary wildly in grams; grams don’t.
My coffee tastes weak even at 1:15. Why?
Usually grind, not ratio. Too coarse a grind under-extracts and tastes weak/watery. Try a finer grind before adding more coffee.