The ratio of coffee to water is the single biggest lever on how strong your coffee tastes. It's written as 1:16, meaning 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. Weighing beats scoops: a scoop of a light, dense roast weighs more than a scoop of a dark, airy one, so measuring by volume gives you a different cup every time. A cheap kitchen scale that reads in grams is the best upgrade you can make.
The Golden Cup starting point
The Specialty Coffee Association's Golden Cup standard recommends about 55 g of coffee per litre of water (roughly 1:18) for brewed coffee, give or take 10%. Many specialty cafés go a little stronger, 60–65 g per litre (about 1:15–1:17). If you're unsure, start at 1:16 and adjust: more coffee for a stronger cup, less for a lighter one. Strength and extraction are different things — if coffee tastes sour or bitter, change the grind, not the ratio.
Ratios for every brew method
| Method | Ratio | Example | Grind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over (V60, Chemex) | 1:15–1:17 | 15 g : 250 g | Medium-fine |
| Drip coffee maker | 1:16–1:18 | 60 g : 1 L | Medium |
| French press | 1:15–1:17 | 30 g : 500 g | Coarse |
| AeroPress | 1:11–1:17 | 15 g : 220 g | Medium-fine |
| Kokekaffe | 1:13–1:16 | 70 g : 1 L | Coarse |
| Japanese iced coffee | 1:16 (incl. ice) | 30 g : 300 g + 200 g ice | Medium-fine |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:5–1:8 | 100 g : 700 g | Coarse |
| Moka pot | ≈1:7–1:10 | Fill the basket | Medium-fine |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 18 g in : 36 g out | Fine |
Quick conversions
One mug
A typical 250 ml mug needs about 15–16 g of coffee.
A full coffee maker
For 1 litre (about four mugs), use 55–65 g of coffee.
No scale?
A level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs roughly 5–7 g, so about 2½–3 tablespoons per mug. It's an estimate — a scale is far more consistent.
Water weighs what it measures
1 ml of water weighs 1 g, so you can weigh water straight into the brewer.
Ratio FAQ
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
The SCA Golden Cup standard is about 55 g of coffee per litre of water, roughly 1:18. Most people enjoy something between 1:15 and 1:17.
How much coffee for 1 litre of water?
Use 55–65 g for filter coffee and around 70 g for kokekaffe or French press.
My coffee is too strong — should I use less coffee?
Yes, if it tastes heavy and intense but balanced. If it tastes bitter or harsh, the grind may be too fine — try coarser before changing the ratio.