☕ Coffee-to-Water Ratio Calculator
Use the preset buttons for common brewing ratios.
Calculate the coffee-to-water ratio for pour-over brewing. Enter your water amount and a ratio (e.g. 1:15) to automatically get the amount of coffee grounds you need.
How to use
- Enter the amount of water (mL) you want to brew.
- Enter a ratio or pick one of the preset buttons.
- The required amount of coffee grounds is calculated automatically.
How the calculation works
Work out how much ground coffee to use for pour-over coffee from the coffee-to-water ratio. Enter the amount of water and a ratio (such as 1:15) to see the grams of coffee needed. Coffee (g) = water (mL) ÷ ratio A ratio of 1:15 means 15 g of water for every 1 g of coffee; water is taken as 1 mL = 1 g. A smaller number gives stronger coffee, a larger one lighter coffee.
Worked example
One mug (250 mL of water), ratio 1:15 Coffee = 250 ÷ 15 ≈ 16.7 g Two cups (400 mL), ratio 1:16 → 25 g Ratio guide 1:12–1:14: strong 1:15–1:17: standard 1:18 and above: light
Things to be aware of
- The grounds absorb water, so the brewed coffee is slightly less than the water poured (about twice the weight of the coffee is absorbed).
- The same ratio tastes different with a different grind size or water temperature.
- Weighing with scales makes it easy to repeat the same taste every time.
FAQ
What does a ratio of "1:15" mean?
It means 15g of water for every 1g of coffee grounds. A smaller number gives a stronger brew; a larger number gives a weaker one.
Which ratio should I use?
1:15 to 1:17 is a common medium strength. Around 1:13 gives a stronger, espresso-like brew, while around 1:17 gives a lighter one.
Does this assume water is 1g per mL?
Yes — water near room temperature is close enough to 1mL = 1g for this calculation.