How Much Coffee Per Cup? Coffee to Water Ratios for Every Brewer
Use 15 g of coffee for 250 ml of water, about 2 heaped tablespoons per mug. That works out to roughly 1 part coffee to 16 parts water, and it is a good starting point for French press, pour-over and AeroPress. Filter kaapi, espresso and moka pot use much stronger ratios, so check the table below.
The quick answer, by brewer
| Brewer | Ratio (coffee : water) | For one cup |
|---|---|---|
| French press | 1:15 to 1:17 | 15 g coffee, 250 ml water |
| Pour-over | 1:15 to 1:17 | 15 g coffee, 250 ml water |
| AeroPress | 1:12 to 1:16 | 15 g coffee, 200 to 240 ml water |
| South Indian filter | About 1:6 (decoction) | 3 heaped tbsp (about 20 g) with 120 ml water makes decoction for 2 cups |
| Moka pot | About 1:7 to 1:10 | Fill the basket level, water up to the valve |
| Espresso | About 1:2 | 18 g in, about 36 g out |
| Cold brew | About 1:8 (concentrate) | 50 g coffee, 400 ml cold water, dilute before drinking |
The Specialty Coffee Association's "Golden Cup" guideline is about 55 g of coffee per litre, close to 1:18 (Seattle Coffee Gear). Most people at home, especially those drinking with milk, like it a little stronger, which is why we start at 1:16.
No scale? Use spoons
A kitchen scale is the easiest way to get the same cup every day, but spoons work fine to start.
- 1 heaped tablespoon of ground coffee is about 7 g.
- 1 level tablespoon is about 5 g.
- 1 heaped teaspoon is about 2 to 3 g.
Whole beans are bulkier than ground coffee, so a spoon of beans weighs a little less. Grind first, then measure. For water, a standard steel tumbler holds about 150 to 200 ml and a big mug about 250 to 300 ml. Measure yours once with a measuring jug and you will know it for good.
Making milk coffee? Brew stronger, not bigger
Milk dilutes coffee, so if you add a lot of milk, keep the coffee the same and use less water. For a French press milk coffee, brew 15 g coffee with only 150 ml water, then top up with about 100 ml hot milk. This is the same idea as kaapi: a strong decoction, then 2 to 3 parts milk.
Too strong or too weak? Adjust one thing
| Your cup tastes | Try this |
|---|---|
| Watery, thin | Add 2 to 3 g more coffee, keep the water the same |
| Too strong, heavy | Add 30 to 50 ml more water, or a splash of hot water after brewing |
| Bitter and harsh | The ratio is probably fine. Check the grind, water temperature and brew time |
| Sour, sharp | Grind a little finer or brew a little longer |
Change one thing at a time so you know what helped. More fixes in why does my coffee taste bitter.
How much does a 250 g bag make?
At 15 g per cup, a 250 g bag makes about 16 mugs of French press or pour-over. At ₹499 a bag, that is roughly ₹30 a cup. For filter kaapi, where 20 g of coffee makes decoction for 2 cups, you get about 25 cups from a bag.
Step-by-step guides for each brewer
- French press
- South Indian filter coffee
- Pour-over
- Espresso at home
- No equipment at all? Real coffee without a machine
Which bean for you
All our blends are ₹499 for 250 g, fresh from Chikkamagaluru, in whole beans or the grind for your brewer.
- Daily Classic: medium roast, caramel and nutty. Easy black coffee at 1:16.
- Morning Boost: medium-dark, 80% Arabica and 20% Robusta. Bold enough for strong kaapi and milk coffee.
- Choco Moments: medium roast, naturally chocolatey. Great for pour-over and cold brew.
New to brewed coffee? Start with our instant to real coffee guide.
FAQs
How many grams of coffee per cup?
About 15 g for a 250 ml mug. Use 10 to 12 g for a smaller 150 to 180 ml cup.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
About 2 heaped tablespoons of ground coffee for a 250 ml mug.
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
1:16 is a good start for most brewers. Go stronger (1:14) if you add milk, lighter (1:18) if you like a clean black cup.
Does more coffee mean more caffeine?
Yes, more grounds generally means more caffeine in the cup. Most healthy adults are advised to stay under about 400 mg of caffeine a day. Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, on medication or have a heart condition.
Should I measure water before or after boiling?
Before. Some water evaporates while boiling, but at home the difference is small enough to ignore.