Coffee to water ratio by brew method
Ratios are by weight: 1:18 means 1 gram of coffee for every 18 grams of water, and 1 mL of water weighs about 1 gram. The middle column is the coffee for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) mug of water.
| Method | Ratio | Coffee for 12 fl oz | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee maker | 1:18 | 19.5 g (4 tbsp) | SCA standard: 55 g of coffee per liter of water (about 1:18). Moccamaster gives the same 55 g per liter, ±5 g. |
| Pour over | 1:16 | 22 g (4.5 tbsp) | The NCA gives 1:13 to 1:16 and Starbucks uses about 1:18. The 1:16 default is our pick. |
| Chemex | 1:16 | 22 g (4.5 tbsp) | Starbucks' Chemex recipe: 45 g per 720 mL (1:16). Chemex counts cups as 5 oz. |
| French press | 1:15 | 24 g (4.5 tbsp) | The NCA gives 1:10 to 1:16 and Starbucks uses about 1:18. The 1:15 default is our pick. |
| AeroPress | 1:17.5 | 20 g (4 tbsp) | AeroPress: 16–18 g (one heaping scoop) for one cup of up to 10 oz, about 1:16 to 1:18. |
| Cold brew | 1:8.2 | 43 g (8.5 tbsp) | Starbucks' Mason-jar recipe: 22 g per 180 mL (about 1:8), steeped 12 hours, then mixed 1:1 with water. |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:4.2 | 84 g (17 tbsp) | OXO's recipe: 284 g per 1,200 mL (about 1:4.2). The NCA gives 1:4 to 1:5. |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 18 g for 36 g of espresso | NCA: 1 g of ground coffee to 2 g of espresso in the cup (1:2), in 20–30 seconds. |
| Moka pot | Set by the pot | Fill the basket level | The pot sets the dose: fill the basket level without pressing, and fill water to just below the valve (Bialetti). |
Only drip coffee has a standards-body figure, from the SCA. For the other methods the numbers come from the NCA and the brewer makers, and they often disagree; where the calculator's starting point is our own pick, the table says so.
How much ground coffee per cup?
At the SCA's standard of 55 grams of coffee per liter of water (about 1:18), you need about 8.1 grams of ground coffee for a 5 oz coffee-maker cup and 13 grams for an 8 oz cup. That suits drip and pour over. For French press at 1:15, use a little more.
| Cup of water | Drip (1:18) | Level tbsp | 2-tbsp scoops | French press (1:15) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 fl oz 118 mL | 6.5 g | 1.5 | 0.5 | 7.9 g |
| 5 fl oz 148 mL | 8.1 g | 1.5 | 1 | 9.9 g |
| 6 fl oz 177 mL | 9.8 g | 2 | 1 | 11.8 g |
| 8 fl oz 237 mL | 13 g | 2.5 | 1.5 | 15.8 g |
| 10 fl oz 296 mL | 16.3 g | 3.5 | 1.5 | 19.7 g |
| 12 fl oz 355 mL | 19.5 g | 4 | 2 | 24 g |
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
About 1½ level tablespoons per 5 oz coffee-maker cup, or 2 level tablespoons per 6 oz, for coffee at the SCA's strength. Published tablespoon advice varies more than you might expect:
- National Coffee Association: 1 to 2 tablespoons per 6 oz of water, which it calls the "Golden Ratio".
- Starbucks: 2 tablespoons (10 g) per 6 fl oz (180 mL) for drip, pour over and French press.
- Chemex: one rounded tablespoon per 5 oz cup, more if you like it stronger.
- Ninja (CE251 manual): 1 level tablespoon per 5 oz cup.
- Mr. Coffee (12-cup manual): 9 level tablespoons for 12 cups, which is ¾ tablespoon per 5 oz cup.
How much a tablespoon holds is the catch. Mr. Coffee's manual puts a level tablespoon of ground coffee at 5 grams, and Starbucks lists 2 tablespoons as 10 grams; this page uses 5 grams too. A spoon measures volume, though, so the weight shifts with grind, roast and how full the spoon is. Starbucks' own cold brew guide lists 4 tablespoons of coarse coffee as 22 grams in one place and 20 grams in another. A kitchen scale removes the guesswork.
How many scoops of coffee per cup?
With a 2-tablespoon scoop, use 1 scoop per 6 oz of water, or about ¾ scoop per 5 oz coffee-maker cup. Check your scoop first, because "one scoop" is not a fixed size:
- Moccamaster supplies a 2-tablespoon scoop and recommends 7 level scoops (69 g) for a full 40 oz pot.
- Ninja's built-in scoop holds 1 tablespoon, and Ninja recommends one per cup.
- An AeroPress scoop holds 12 to 13 grams level and 16 to 18 grams heaping.
- Bodum's French press instructions call for one Bodum scoop per 4 oz cup.
How much coffee for 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 cups
For a drip coffee maker with 5 oz cups, as Mr. Coffee and Ninja use. A 12-cup pot is 60 fl oz of water, so you need about 98 grams of ground coffee, roughly 19.5 level tablespoons or 10 two-tablespoon scoops. For 4 cups, about 33 grams.
| Cups | Water | Coffee (SCA) | Level tbsp | 2-tbsp scoops | Mr. Coffee chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 cups | 20 fl oz591 mL | 33 g | 6.5 | 3.5 | 3 tbsp |
| 6 cups | 30 fl oz887 mL | 49 g | 10 | 5 | 4.5 tbsp |
| 8 cups | 40 fl oz1,183 mL | 65 g | 13 | 6.5 | 6.5 tbsp |
| 10 cups | 50 fl oz1,479 mL | 81 g | 16.5 | 8 | 7.5 tbsp |
| 12 cups | 60 fl oz1,774 mL | 98 g | 19.5 | 10 | 9 tbsp |
Mr. Coffee's own chart is much lighter: about 25 grams per liter, less than half the SCA's 55. Ninja's one tablespoon per cup works out to about 34 grams per liter. If your machine counts 4 oz cups, like a Moccamaster, set the cup size in the calculator.
How big is a "cup" on a coffee maker?
Smaller than a mug, and it depends on the brand. Starbucks notes that a coffee maker's "cup" can be anything from 4 to 6 fl oz (118 to 180 mL).
| Brand | One "cup" | Where it says so |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Coffee | 5 fl oz (148 mL) | 12-cup = 60 fl oz in the manual and product page |
| Ninja | 5 fl oz | 12-cup line = 60 fl oz in the CE251 manual |
| Chemex | 5 fl oz | Chemex FAQ |
| Moccamaster | 4 fl oz (125 mL) | KBGV: 1.25 L / 40 oz / 10 cups |
| Bodum French press | About 4 fl oz | Bodum: "1 Cup = about 4oz" |
| NCA and Starbucks recipes | 6 fl oz (180 mL) | Their per-cup brewing ratios |
A US measuring cup is 8 fl oz, so a "12-cup" coffee maker that holds 60 fl oz fills five 12 oz mugs.
Drip coffee ratio and the golden ratio
The Specialty Coffee Association's standard for home brewers uses 55 grams of coffee per kilogram of water, about 1:18, and a brewer that meets it must recommend that ratio in its manual. The same standard sets the target brew strength at 1.15 to 1.55% dissolved coffee solids and keeps the coffee and water in the basket between 90 and 96°C (194 to 205°F) for most of the brew.
The National Coffee Association's "Golden Ratio" is looser: 1 to 2 tablespoons per 6 oz of water. At 5 grams per tablespoon that is 28 to 56 grams per liter, so only its upper end matches the SCA.
Moccamaster publishes its dose by water volume, at the same 55 g per liter:
| Water | 2-tbsp scoops (level) | Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| 60 oz (1,800 mL) | 10 | 99 g ± 5 |
| 40 oz (1,250 mL) | 7 | 69 g ± 5 |
| 32 oz (1,000 mL) | 6 | 55 g ± 5 |
| 24 oz (750 mL) | 4 | 41 g ± 5 |
| 16 oz (500 mL) | 3 | 28 g ± 5 |
| 10 oz (300 mL) | 2 | 17 g ± 5 |
Moccamaster suggests adding hot water to a cup that comes out too strong, rather than cutting the coffee. Our Moccamaster review covers the machine itself, and our coffee maker picks compare it with the Ninja CE251 and OXO Brew 9-Cup.
French press coffee ratio
The National Coffee Association gives 1:10 to 1:16 for French press, with water at 93°C (199°F), give or take 3 degrees, and about 4 minutes of steeping. Starbucks uses about 1:18 (10 g per 180 mL). Bodum, which makes the Chambord, says one Bodum scoop of coarse coffee per 4 oz cup of water at 92 to 96°C, steeped 4 minutes, with an inch of space left at the top. The calculator starts at 1:15, our pick inside that range.
| Water | Coffee at 1:15 | Level tbsp | Stronger, 1:12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 fl oz355 mL | 24 g | 4.5 | 30 g |
| 17 fl oz503 mL | 34 g | 6.5 | 42 g |
| 24 fl oz710 mL | 47 g | 9.5 | 59 g |
| 34 fl oz1,005 mL | 67 g | 13.5 | 84 g |
34 oz is the capacity of Bodum's 8-cup Chambord; with the inch of headroom it takes a little less water. For less sediment in the cup, see the Espro P3.
Pour over coffee ratio
The National Coffee Association recommends 1:13 to 1:16 for pour over, with water at 93°C (199°F), give or take 3 degrees, and 2 to 4 minutes of contact. Starbucks uses about 1:18. The calculator starts at 1:16, our pick: 22 grams of coffee for a 12 oz mug (355 mL of water).
Chemex ratio
Chemex's own instructions call for one rounded tablespoon of coffee per 5 oz cup and water at about 200°F, and Chemex counts all its sizes in 5 oz cups. Starbucks' Chemex recipe is 45 grams for 720 mL of water, which is 1:16.
| Chemex size | Water | Coffee at 1:16 | Level tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 cups | 15 fl oz444 mL | 28 g | 5.5 |
| 6 cups | 30 fl oz887 mL | 55 g | 11 |
| 8 cups | 40 fl oz1,183 mL | 74 g | 15 |
| 10 cups | 50 fl oz1,479 mL | 92 g | 18.5 |
Cold brew ratio
There is no single cold brew standard, and published recipes differ by about two to one. Starbucks steeps 22 grams of coarse coffee per 180 mL of water (about 1:8) for 12 hours, then mixes the result 1:1 with water. The National Coffee Association gives a much stronger 1:4 to 1:5, steeped about 12 hours, which is a concentrate. Grounds hold back some of the water, so you get out less than you put in.
| Water | Starbucks, 1:8.2 | Concentrate, 1:4.2 |
|---|---|---|
| 32 fl oz946 mL | 116 g4.1 oz | 224 g7.9 oz |
| 40 fl oz1,183 mL | 145 g5.1 oz | 280 g9.9 oz |
| 64 fl oz1,893 mL | 231 g8.2 oz | 448 g15.8 oz |
| 128 fl oz3,785 mL | 463 g16.3 oz | 896 g31.6 oz |
Cold brew concentrate ratio
OXO's cold brew maker uses 284 grams (10 oz) of coarse coffee to 1,200 mL (40 oz) of water, about 1:4.2, steeped 12 to 24 hours at room temperature. To serve, OXO mixes 2 oz of concentrate with 4 to 6 oz of water or milk, one part concentrate to two or three parts water. OXO also notes that 10 oz of grounds is roughly 3½ cups, which matches about 5 grams per level tablespoon. See the OXO cold brew maker in our coffee maker guide.
AeroPress ratio
AeroPress recommends one heaping scoop, 16 to 18 grams of medium-fine coffee, per cup, with water to the 4 mark at 185°F (85°C), or 175°F (80°C) for dark roasts. The Original and Clear chambers hold up to 10 oz, so a full chamber works out to about 1:16 to 1:18; the calculator uses 1:17.5 for 17 grams in a full chamber.
Espresso ratio
The National Coffee Association's starting point is 1:2 by weight: 1 gram of ground coffee for 2 grams of espresso in the cup, extracted in 20 to 30 seconds, measured as the weight of the liquid espresso. By volume, Breville's Barista Express manual has a double basket extract about 2 oz (60 mL).
| Dose (ground coffee) | Espresso at 1:2 |
|---|---|
| 14 g | 28 g |
| 16 g | 32 g |
| 18 g | 36 g |
| 20 g | 40 g |
| 22 g | 44 g |
Shopping for a machine? See our home espresso machine picks.
Moka pot ratio
A moka pot sets its own ratio. Bialetti's instructions are to fill the water chamber to the lower edge of the safety valve and fill the funnel with ground coffee without pressing it down, so the size of the pot decides how much coffee and water you use. We did not find a manufacturer gram figure we could verify, so the calculator does not give one.
How this calculator works
- Ratios are by weight. Water volume is converted at 1 mL = 1 g and 1 fl oz = 29.57 mL.
- Defaults come from the SCA standard (drip), Starbucks' Chemex and cold brew recipes, OXO's concentrate recipe, AeroPress's dose and the NCA (espresso). Pour over and French press have no single standard, so their defaults are our picks inside the NCA and Starbucks range. The strength slider lets you go a little past the published ranges and says when you have.
- Tablespoons and scoops assume 5 grams per level tablespoon (Mr. Coffee, Starbucks) and a 2-tablespoon scoop (Moccamaster). Rounded tablespoons hold more.
- Cups default to the brewer's own cup size: 5 oz for drip and Chemex, 4 oz for French press (Bodum). Change it to match your machine.
Sources were checked on October 7, 2026.
Sources
- Specialty Coffee Association. SCA Standard 310-2021, Home Coffee Brewers: Specifications and Test Methods (standard brew ratio 55 g of coffee per 1 kg of water, brew strength 1.15–1.55%, slurry 90–96°C). Copy hosted by CoffeeGeek; SCA lists its standards at sca.coffee/research/coffee-standards. coffeegeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SCAGoldCupStandard.pdf
- National Coffee Association, How to make drip coffee: 1 to 2 tablespoons per 6 oz of water, the "Golden Ratio". www.aboutcoffee.org/brewing/drip-coffee/
- National Coffee Association, How to make pour-over coffee: 1:13 to 1:16, 93 ± 3°C, 2–4 minutes. www.aboutcoffee.org/brewing/pour-over-coffee/
- National Coffee Association, How to make French press coffee: 1:10 to 1:16, 93 ± 3°C, about 4 minutes. www.aboutcoffee.org/brewing/french-press-coffee/
- National Coffee Association, How to make cold brew coffee: 1:4 to 1:5, about 12 hours. www.aboutcoffee.org/brewing/cold-brew-coffee/
- National Coffee Association, How to make espresso: 1 g of dry coffee to 2 g of espresso, 20–30 seconds. www.aboutcoffee.org/brewing/espresso/
- Mr. Coffee BVMC-EHX / BVMC-JPX series instruction manual: suggested coffee measurement chart, 1 level tablespoon = 5 g, 1 cup = 5 fl oz. s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/NewellRubbermaid/BVMC-EHX%20Series_BVMC-JPX%20Series_23ESM1
- Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker product page: 12 cups (1 cup = approx. 5 fl oz / 148 mL), 60 fl oz water capacity. www.mrcoffee.com/coffee-makers/10-cup-coffee-makers/mr.-coffee-12-cup-programmable-coffeemaker/SP_544000.html
- Ninja CE200/CE250/CE251 owner's guide: 1 scoop (1 tbsp) per cup, 12-cup line = 60 fl oz. Copy hosted by P.C. Richard & Son. static.pcrichard.com/docs/CE251_Owners-Manual_01.pdf
- Moccamaster USA, How much coffee should I use in my Moccamaster? (grams and 2-tablespoon scoops by water volume). support.moccamaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009389881
- Moccamaster USA, KBGV Select product page: 1.25 L / 40 oz / 10 cups. us.moccamaster.com/products/kbgv
- Chemex user manual: one rounded tablespoon per 5 oz cup, water about 200°F. Copy hosted by Seattle Coffee Gear. www.seattlecoffeegear.com/cdn/shop/files/chemex-user-manual.pdf
- Chemex FAQ: "We measure our cup size in 5 ounce increments." chemexcoffeemaker.com/pages/faq
- Bodum Chambord 8-cup (34 oz) product page: one Bodum scoop of coarse coffee per cup of 4 oz water, 92–96°C, 4 minutes; Bodum cups are about 4 oz. www.bodum.com/us/en/1928-16us4-chambord
- AeroPress FAQ: 16–18 g (one heaping scoop) per cup; a level scoop holds 12–13 g; Original and Clear chambers hold up to 10 oz. aeropress.com/pages/faq
- AeroPress, How to use: 16–18 g of medium-fine coffee, water to the 4 mark, 185°F (85°C). aeropress.com/pages/how-to-use
- OXO, How to use the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker: 284 g (10 oz) coarse coffee to 1,200 mL (40 oz) water, 12–24 hours; 2 oz concentrate to 4–6 oz water or milk. www.oxo.com/blog/coffee-and-beverages/how-to-use-the-oxo-cold-brew-coffee-maker
- Starbucks at Home, How to brew with a drip brewer: 2 Tbsp (10 g) per 6 fl oz (180 mL); coffee-maker cups vary from 4 to 6 fl oz. athome.starbucks.com/brewing-guide/how-brew-drip-brewer
- Starbucks at Home, How to brew with a coffee press: 2 Tbsp (10 g) per 6 fl oz (180 mL). athome.starbucks.com/brewing-guide/how-brew-coffee-press
- Starbucks at Home, How to make coffee with a Chemex: 45 g per 720 mL (24 fl oz). athome.starbucks.com/brewing-guide/how-make-coffee-chemex
- Starbucks at Home, How to make pour-over coffee: 2 Tbsp (10 g) per 6 fl oz (180 mL). athome.starbucks.com/brewing-guide/how-make-pour-over-coffee
- Starbucks at Home, How to make cold brew coffee with a Mason jar: 4 Tbsp (22 g) per 6 fl oz (180 mL), 12 hours, then 1 part concentrate to 1 part water. athome.starbucks.com/brewing-guide/how-make-cold-brew-coffee-mason-jar
- Breville the Barista Express (BES870) instruction book: double basket extracts about 2 oz / 60 mL. assets.breville.com/Instruction-Booklets/USCM/BES870_USCM_IB_2020.pdf
- Bialetti Moka Express instructions: fill the funnel with ground coffee without pressing; water to the lower edge of the safety valve. www.bialetti.com/media/manual/caffettiere/MOKA_EXPRESS-manual.pdf