Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
Built by Johnny Alto · free, no sign-up · updated July 26, 2026
Enter how much water you are brewing with and pick a ratio to get the exact grams of coffee to grind. Presets set a sensible starting ratio for pour over, drip, and French press, and you can nudge it stronger or weaker to taste.
Use0grams of coffee
Ratio1:16coffee to water
Roughly0tablespoons
Water in grams and milliliters are the same for coffee, so 500 ml is 500 g. A 1:16 ratio is the classic middle ground; go to 1:15 for a stronger cup or 1:17 to 1:18 for a lighter one. Weighing your coffee is far more consistent than scooping.
How the coffee to water ratio works
A brew ratio is simply the weight of water divided by the weight of coffee. A 1:16 ratio means sixteen grams of water for every gram of coffee, so 500 grams of water calls for about 31 grams of coffee. Because a milliliter of water weighs a gram, you can read your water in milliliters and treat it as grams without converting.
Different methods suit different ratios. Immersion brewing like a French press tends toward 1:15 for a fuller cup, pour over sits around 1:16, and automatic drip and larger batches often run 1:17 to 1:18. These are starting points; once you nail a repeatable ratio you can dial in strength to your own taste.
Why weigh instead of scoop
Scooping is inconsistent because grind size and bean density change how much coffee fits in a spoon. A cheap kitchen scale removes that guesswork and is the single biggest upgrade to a home brew. The tablespoon figure here is a rough guide, at about five grams per level tablespoon of ground coffee, for when a scale is not handy.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
A 1:16 ratio, one gram of coffee to sixteen grams of water, is the classic balanced starting point. Use 1:15 for a stronger cup or 1:17 to 1:18 for a lighter one.
How much coffee for 500ml of water?
At a 1:16 ratio, about 31 grams of coffee. For a stronger 1:15 cup, use around 33 grams.
Is milliliters the same as grams for water?
For coffee brewing, yes. One milliliter of water weighs one gram, so you can measure water either way without converting.
How many tablespoons is that?
A level tablespoon of ground coffee is roughly 5 grams, so 30 grams is about 6 tablespoons. Weighing is more accurate, since grind and bean density change the scoop.
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This calculator gives estimates for planning only; always confirm against your own measurements and species research. Some links are to our buying guides, which contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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