Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
Dial in your brew with the golden ratio. Enter the water you want to use and a strength ratio to get the grams of coffee, or fix the coffee and solve for water.
How to use the coffee ratio calculator
- Enter the amount of water in grams, or use the cups helper.
- Pick a strength ratio: 15 strong, 16 standard, or 18 light.
- Read the grams of coffee to grind, or switch which value you solve for.
Examples
Standard pour over
500 g water at 1:16
31.25 g coffee
Solve for water
30 g coffee at 1:16
480 g water
Frequently asked questions
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
The golden ratio is about 1 part coffee to 16 parts water by weight, written 1:16. For 500 grams of water that is roughly 31 grams of coffee. Use 1:15 for a stronger cup.
How much coffee do I need per cup?
A cup is about 240 grams of water. At a 1:16 ratio that is about 15 grams of coffee per cup. Scale up by multiplying both the water and the coffee by the number of cups.
What ratio should I use for strong or light coffee?
Lower ratios are stronger because there is less water per gram of coffee. Use 1:15 for strong, 1:16 for standard, and 1:18 for a lighter, more delicate cup.
Should I weigh coffee or use scoops?
Weighing is far more consistent. Scoops vary with grind and bean. A kitchen scale in grams lets you hit the same ratio every time, which is the key to a repeatable brew.
Does the ratio change for espresso?
Yes. Espresso is much more concentrated, often around 1:2 coffee to water. This calculator targets drip and pour over brewing, where ratios near 1:16 are typical.
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