Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
Pick a method, type either number, and the other updates. Every preset comes from the same recipes in our brew guides.
Standard ratios by brew method
| Method | Ratio | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over (V60, Kalita) | 1:16 – 1:17 | 15 g : 250 g | The specialty default; tune ±1 for strength |
| AeroPress | 1:11 – 1:12 | 14 g : 160 g | Or 1:6 as a dilutable concentrate |
| French press | 1:15 | 30 g : 450 g | Immersion extracts a touch less; tighter ratio balances it |
| Drip machine | 1:16 | 60 g : 1 L | The classic “golden ratio” territory |
| Cold brew (concentrate) | 1:5 | 100 g : 500 g | Dilute 1:1 to serve |
| Cold brew (ready to drink) | 1:8 | 62 g : 500 g | Serve straight over ice |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 18 g in : 36 g out | Ratio is dose to beverage weight, not water used |
| Moka pot | Hardware-fixed | Basket + valve line | Fill both to their lines; the pot sets the ratio |
How coffee ratios actually work
A brew ratio is just coffee weight to water weight — 1:16 means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams (= 16 ml) of water. Weight beats volume because beans vary wildly: a tablespoon of dense, light-roasted beans can weigh 40% more than one of puffed dark roast. A $15 kitchen scale removes that entire source of error.
Ratio controls strength (how much dissolved coffee ends up in your cup), while grind, time, and temperature control extraction (which flavors get pulled from the grounds). A weak cup needs a tighter ratio; a bitter or sour cup needs an extraction fix — see the troubleshooting table in each brew guide.
Common questions
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
Around 1:16 to 1:18 coffee to water by weight — roughly 60 g of coffee per litre. It's a starting range, not a law: specialty brewers commonly run 1:15 for a richer cup and 1:17 for delicate light roasts.
How much coffee do I use for one cup?
For a 250 ml (8.5 oz) cup at 1:16.7, use 15 g of coffee — about three level tablespoons of whole beans. For a full 1-litre drip carafe, 60 g.
Is a coffee ratio measured in grams or millilitres?
Both, conveniently: 1 ml of water weighs 1 g, so a 1:16 ratio works out the same whether you measure water on a scale or in a measuring jug. Coffee should always be weighed, not scooped.
Does espresso use the same kind of ratio?
Espresso ratios compare dry dose to liquid espresso in the cup — 18 g in, 36 g out is 1:2 — because much of the water stays trapped in the puck. Brew-method ratios like 1:16 compare dose to total water poured.
Keep brewing
Brew it, then remember it
Sola Coffea has this recipe as a guided, timed brew — follow the steps, then save the result straight into your coffee journal with grind, ratio, and tasting notes.
Download Sola Coffea freeWritten by the Sola Coffea team. Last reviewed July 2026.