Coffee to Water Ratio Converter
Convert coffee and water amounts for pour over, drip coffee, French press, cold brew, AeroPress, and batch brewing. Enter either coffee or water, choose a ratio, and get practical kitchen measurements.
Convert coffee and water
Use grams for repeatable brewing, or switch to cups, fluid ounces, tablespoons, and scoops when you need a quick kitchen estimate.
A 1:16 ratio is a friendly starting point for balanced drip and pour-over coffee. Adjust stronger or lighter to taste.
Quick answer: coffee to water ratio
A common coffee brewing ratio is 1:16: 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. For example, 30 grams of coffee uses about 480 grams of water, which is close to 480 ml, 16.2 fluid ounces, or 2 cups.
For stronger coffee, try 1:15. For a lighter cup, try 1:17 or 1:18. Cold brew concentrate often starts around 1:8 before dilution.
Coffee ratio chart
| Coffee | 1:15 water | 1:16 water | 1:17 water |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 g | 225 g / ml | 240 g / ml | 255 g / ml |
| 20 g | 300 g / ml | 320 g / ml | 340 g / ml |
| 30 g | 450 g / ml | 480 g / ml | 510 g / ml |
| 45 g | 675 g / ml | 720 g / ml | 765 g / ml |
| 60 g | 900 g / ml | 960 g / ml | 1,020 g / ml |
How to use the converter
If you know your coffee dose, choose “coffee amount,” enter grams, tablespoons, scoops, or ounces, then pick the brew ratio. If you know your water amount first, choose “water amount” and the converter will calculate how much coffee to use.
Water grams and milliliters are treated as equal for everyday brewing. Coffee tablespoon estimates use about 5 grams per level tablespoon and 10 grams per typical two-tablespoon scoop.
Coffee ratio FAQ
How much coffee for 500 ml of water?
At a 1:16 ratio, 500 ml of water uses about 31.3 grams of coffee. That is roughly 6.3 level tablespoons or about 3.1 standard coffee scoops.
How much water for 20 grams of coffee?
At 1:16, 20 grams of coffee uses about 320 grams or milliliters of water. At 1:15 it uses 300 grams, and at 1:17 it uses 340 grams.
Is a coffee scoop always 10 grams?
No. Many coffee scoops are two tablespoons, which is often estimated at about 10 grams of ground coffee, but grind, roast, and scoop shape can change the real weight.
What ratio should I use for French press?
French press usually works well between 1:12 and 1:16 depending on taste and steep time. Start around 1:15, then adjust stronger or lighter after one brew.