Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator

The golden ratio is about 1 part coffee to 16 parts water by weight, written 1:16. For 500 grams of water that works out to 31.25 grams of coffee. Drop to 1:15 for a stronger cup or rise to 1:18 for a lighter one.

A cup is about 240 grams of water. At 1:16 that is 15 grams of coffee, and at the stronger 1:15 it is 16 grams. Scale up by multiplying both the water and the coffee by the number of cups.

It is the N in 1:N, the grams of water per single gram of coffee. A smaller N means less water per gram of coffee and therefore a stronger, more concentrated brew, while a larger N dilutes it.

Solve for coffee when you know how much drink you want and need the dose to grind. Solve for water when you have already measured your coffee, perhaps a bag portion, and want to know how much water it will make at your ratio.

Use the presets as a guide: 1:15 for a strong, punchy cup, 1:16 for a balanced standard brew, and 1:18 for a lighter, more delicate cup. You can also type any ratio into the field for something in between.

Weighing in grams is far more consistent. Scoop volume shifts with grind size and bean density, so the same scoop can hold different amounts of coffee. A kitchen scale lets you hit the same ratio every time.

Yes. Espresso is much more concentrated, often near 1:2 coffee to water. This calculator targets drip and pour over brewing, where ratios around 1:16 are typical, so it is not aimed at espresso doses.

The calculator handles the ratio only, not grind or time. A 1:16 ratio is a strong starting point for pour over, drip and French press, but you still adjust grind size and contact time to suit the method and your taste.

Yes. The maths runs in your browser, so the numbers you enter are never sent anywhere.