Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
Brew better coffee by getting the ratio right. Enter how much coffee you want and your preferred strength — get the exact grams of coffee and water. The single biggest factor in how your coffee tastes.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the water amount in ml (1 ml ≈ 1 g).
- Choose your strength ratio — 1:16 is the balanced "golden ratio".
- Pick your brew method for a grind and timing tip.
Formula used
The ratio is coffee weight to water weight. A 1:16 ratio means 1 gram of coffee per 16 grams of water. Since 1 ml of water weighs ~1 g, you can read water in ml directly. Lower ratios (1:14) are stronger; higher (1:18) are milder.
Example calculation
500 ml water at 1:16: 500 ÷ 16 = 31 g of coffee (about 5 tablespoons).
Want it stronger? Drop to 1:14 → 36 g. Milder? 1:18 → 28 g. Same water, different strength.
The one number that fixes your coffee
If your home coffee is inconsistent or disappointing, the ratio is almost always the culprit — eyeballing scoops means every brew is different. The coffee-to-water ratio (by weight) is the single most important variable, and the widely taught "golden ratio" of roughly 1:16 to 1:18 is a reliable starting point that most people then nudge to taste. Because water weighs about a gram per millilitre, you can measure water by volume and coffee by weight and the maths just works.
Getting this right does more for your cup than an expensive machine. Strength is set by the ratio, while other variables — grind size, brew time, water temperature — fine-tune extraction and are what the method tips address (coarse and long for French press, medium and quick for pour-over). Cold brew is the outlier, using a much stronger ratio because it's steeped long and often diluted before drinking. A cheap kitchen scale turns guesswork into repeatable, dial-in-able coffee.
Why use this calculator?
- Get exact coffee and water weights for consistent brews.
- Dial strength up or down with proper ratios.
- Method-specific grind and timing tips included.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
The 'golden ratio' of about 1:16 to 1:18 (1 gram of coffee per 16–18 grams of water) is the standard recommendation. Use 1:15 or lower for stronger coffee, 1:18 for milder. Adjust to your taste from there.
How much coffee for 500ml of water?
At the balanced 1:16 ratio, about 31 grams (roughly 5 tablespoons). For stronger coffee use ~36 g (1:14); for milder, ~28 g (1:18). Weighing gives the most consistent result.
Why should I weigh coffee instead of using scoops?
Scoops vary with grind and how you fill them, so every brew comes out different. Weighing coffee and water gives a precise, repeatable ratio — the key to consistent coffee you can actually dial in to your taste.