500 ml of water, pour-over at 1:16
31.3 g of coffee, about 6.3 tablespoons.
Coffee ratio calculator
—
Ratios are by weight: 1:16 means 1 g of coffee for every 16 g (ml) of water. For espresso the second number is the drink in the cup. One level tablespoon of ground coffee is about 5 g.
Water measured in
g water per 1 g coffee
Enter the your own ratio (optional).
Ground coffee
31.3 g
500 ml of water at 1:16 for pour-over. That is about 6.3 level tablespoons.
- Tablespoons
- 6.3
- Water
- 500 ml
- Ounces of coffee
- 1.10
Coffee for 500 ml by method
| Method | Ratio | Coffee | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 1:16 | 31.3 g | 6.3 |
| Drip machine | 1:17 | 29.4 g | 5.9 |
| French press | 1:15 | 33.3 g | 6.7 |
| AeroPress | 1:14 | 35.7 g | 7.1 |
| Moka pot | 1:7 | 71.4 g | 14.3 |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 250.0 g | 50.0 |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:8 | 62.5 g | 12.5 |
Getting coffee strength right
Coffee tastes weak or bitter mostly because of how much coffee is used for the water. Baristas talk about a brew ratio, such as 1:16, meaning one gram of coffee for every sixteen grams of water.
For 500 ml of water at 1:16, the pour-over default, you need 500 ÷ 16 = 31.3 g of coffee. That is about 6 level tablespoons. The same water in a French press at 1:15 needs 33.3 g. The table under the result shows every method for your amount of water.
Espresso and cold brew are different. Espresso at 1:2 is measured by the drink in the cup, not the water in the tank. Cold brew concentrate is very strong at 1:8 and is meant to be diluted, often half and half with water or milk.
If the cup tastes too strong, add a gram or two of water per gram of coffee next time. If it is weak or sour, use a little more coffee or grind finer. A cheap scale makes this much easier than spoons.
Sources
What this calculator does not account for
- Ratios are starting points; taste and adjust.
- Tablespoon weights vary with grind.
How this is calculated
Formula: Coffee by ratio
coffee (g) =water (g or ml) ÷ ratioWhat the symbols mean
- ratioGrams of water for each gram of coffee, such as 16 for 1:16.
- water1 ml of water weighs 1 g.
Good to know
- One level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 g.
Read the full methodologyFound an error? Contact us
Worked examples
Each example is worked out by the same code as the calculator above.
Embed this calculator
The frame shows the tool only.
<iframe src="/embed/coffee-ratio-calculator" title="Coffee ratio" width="100%" height="720" style="border:0;max-width:42rem" loading="lazy"></iframe>Questions
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
Around 1:15 to 1:17 for filter coffee. The Specialty Coffee Association's golden cup standard is about 55 g per litre, or roughly 1:18.
How much coffee for 500 ml of water?
About 31 g for pour-over at 1:16, or 33 g for French press at 1:15.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
About 2 level tablespoons (10 g) for a 6 oz cup, or 3 for an 8 oz mug.
What ratio for cold brew?
About 1:8 for a concentrate you dilute with water or milk, or 1:15 to drink straight.
What ratio is espresso?
Usually 1:2: 18 g of coffee for 36 g of espresso in the cup.