Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator for Every Brewing Method

25 October 2026

What is the right coffee to water ratio? For filter coffee, start at about 1:16: 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams (ml) of water, or about 62 g of coffee per litre. French press is often a little stronger at 1:15, espresso uses about 1:2, and Arabic coffee about 30 g per 500 ml. Choose your method and cups below to get exact grams.

Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator

Brewing method

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Arabic coffee guide

These ratios are common starting points used by baristas, not fixed rules. Coffee, grind and taste differ, so adjust the strength until you like the cup. Tablespoon weights vary with the grind.

How the coffee ratio calculator works

A brew ratio compares the weight of ground coffee with the weight of water. Because 1 ml of water weighs about 1 g, a 1:16 ratio means 16 ml of water for each gram of coffee. Choose a method, tell the calculator how many cups you want or how much coffee you have, and it works out the rest. The strength option makes the ratio about 12% stronger or milder. The Specialty Coffee Association's classic brewing chart is built around about 55 g of coffee per litre of water¹, so treat these numbers as a starting point and adjust to your taste.

Coffee to water ratio chart

Method	Ratio	Typical cup	Coffee per cup	Coffee per litre
Pour-over / V60	1:16	250 ml	15.6 g	62 g
Drip machine	1:17	250 ml	14.7 g	59 g
French press	1:15	250 ml	16.7 g	67 g
Turkish coffee	1:10	70 ml	7 g	100 g
Arabic coffee	1:16.7	100 ml	6 g	60 g

Espresso (1:2 dose to drink) and cold brew concentrate (1:8) are calculated differently in the tool above.

Tips for a better cup

Weigh, do not guess: a small kitchen scale is the easiest way to get the same cup every day.
Match the grind to the method: coarse for French press and cold brew, medium for drip, fine for espresso and extra fine for Turkish coffee.
Change one thing at a time: if the coffee is too strong, add a little water rather than changing the grind and the ratio together.
Arabic coffee is its own style: lightly roasted beans with cardamom, brewed and served in small cups. See our Arabic coffee guide and the Arabic coffee for guests calculator.

No time to brew? Instant and freeze-dried coffee only need hot water; read what instant coffee is. Counting caffeine? Try our caffeine calculator, and see all our free drink calculators.

Coffee to water ratio: frequently asked questions

What is the best coffee to water ratio?

For filter coffee, most baristas start between 1:15 and 1:17, meaning 15 to 17 grams of water for every gram of coffee. The Specialty Coffee Association's classic brewing chart is built around about 55 g of coffee per litre of water, close to 1:18. Adjust to taste.

How much coffee for 1 litre of water?

At 1:16, use about 62 g of ground coffee for 1 litre of water. For a milder cup at 1:17, about 59 g; for a stronger cup at 1:15, about 67 g.

How much coffee for one cup?

For a 250 ml mug at 1:16, use about 16 g of ground coffee, roughly 3 level tablespoons.

What ratio is used for espresso?

A common starting point is 1:2: for example 18 g of ground coffee to make about 36 g of espresso in the cup.

How much coffee for Arabic coffee?

Our Arabic coffee guide uses about 30 g of ground coffee for 500 ml of water, which makes 5 to 6 small cups. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cardamom.

Sources

Lingle, T. R. The Coffee Brewing Handbook. Specialty Coffee Association of America, 1995; summarised in Coffee extraction. wikipedia.org