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Find the perfect coffee to water ratio for pour over, drip, French press, cold brew and espresso. Choose a brewing method, then enter either your coffee grounds or your water and the calculator works both ways to show grams, tablespoons, milliliters and cups instantly.
Ratios are by weight. Water is measured 1 ml = 1 g and 1 US cup = 240 ml, and ground coffee is estimated at 1 tablespoon = 5 g. Adjust to taste once you have a starting point.
Coffee-to-water ratios by weight for each brewing method, with the coffee needed per 1 liter of water and the water needed per 10 g of coffee.
| Brewing Method | Ratio (coffee : water) | Coffee per 1 L water | Water per 10 g coffee | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour Over / Drip (Golden Ratio) | 1 : 16 | 62.5 g | 160 g | Mild to medium, clean and balanced. |
| French Press (Rich Ratio) | 1 : 14 | 71.4 g | 140 g | Full-bodied and rich, the classic press strength. |
| Cold Brew Concentrate | 1 : 4 | 250 g | 40 g | Very strong, dilute with water or milk before serving. |
| Cold Brew Ready-to-Drink | 1 : 8 | 125 g | 80 g | Smooth and strong, no dilution needed. |
| Espresso | 1 : 2 | 500 g | 20 g | Intense and concentrated, brewed under pressure. |
The golden ratio for coffee is 1:16, meaning 1 part coffee grounds to 16 parts water by weight. In practice that is about 60 grams of coffee per 1 liter (1000 ml) of water, or roughly 15 grams of coffee for a single 240 ml cup. It produces a balanced, medium-strength brew that suits pour over and drip machines.
At the golden 1:16 ratio, a standard 240 ml (8 oz) cup of water needs about 15 grams of ground coffee, which is roughly 3 tablespoons (1 tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 grams). For a milder cup use 2 tablespoons, and for a stronger cup use 4 tablespoons.
French press coffee tastes best at a rich 1:14 ratio (1 part coffee to 14 parts water by weight). That is about 71 grams of coffee per 1 liter of water, or roughly 18 grams for a 250 ml cup. The fuller ratio compensates for the metal filter, which lets more oils and fine particles through.
Always use weight (grams) when you can. Ground coffee density changes with the grind and how it is scooped, so a tablespoon can hold anywhere from 4 to 6 grams. A digital scale gives a repeatable ratio, and this calculator converts grams to tablespoons so you can still use spoons if that is all you have.
Cold brew concentrate is brewed at about 1:4 (250 grams of coffee per 1 liter of water) and then diluted with water or milk to taste. If you want a ready-to-drink cold brew that needs no dilution, use a 1:8 ratio, which is about 125 grams of coffee per 1 liter of water.
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