For most households, a 12 oz bag is the better buy, because the coffee stays closer to its best through the last cup. A 1 lb bag only wins if you drink about three or more mugs a day. One note up front: Brega Coffee sells 12 oz only (every coffee is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US), so this post compares the two sizes in general and tells you which of ours fits each kind of drinker.
How much more coffee is in a pound?
A 12 oz bag holds about 340 g. A 1 lb bag holds about 454 g, so a pound is a third more coffee. At 1:16, an 8 fl oz mug takes about 15 g and a 12 fl oz mug about 22 g. The table shows how long each size lasts.
| Mugs of 12 fl oz a day | 12 oz bag (340 g) lasts | 1 lb bag (454 g) lasts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | about 15 days | about 20 days |
| 2 | about 7 days | about 10 days |
| 3 | about 5 days | about 7 days |
| 4 | just under 4 days | about 5 days |
These use 22 g per mug, the same math as how long a 12 oz bag of coffee lasts and how many cups of coffee are in a pound.
When does the 12 oz bag win?
It wins when a bag takes you more than two weeks to finish. Roasted coffee loses aroma once it is opened, and the fruit and sweetness fade before the body does. That is general guidance on how coffee ages, not a lab number for our coffees, but it points one way: the smaller the bag relative to your drinking, the less time the last third of it sits open on your counter.
It also wins on variety. Ten coffees from ten places is the point of our shelf, and a smaller bag lets you try a Kenyan one month and a Guatemalan the next without a pound of something you are tired of. If you are not sure yet what you like, read our pick for where to start if you are used to Starbucks.
When does a pound make more sense?
When you brew a large pot every day, or you are stocking a shared kitchen. At four mugs a day, a pound lasts about 5 days and nothing sits long enough to go flat, so the freshness argument for the smaller bag mostly disappears. A larger bag then saves you reorders, which is a convenience point and not a flavor one.
If that is you, the practical answer with us is to order more than one bag, or to put the bag on a subscription (11% off, skip or cancel in one click) so the next one lands before the last runs out.
Which of our coffees fits each side?
All three below are the same price and the same bag size, so you can choose by taste and by how you drink.
| Coffee | Label notes | Process | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Common Sense | Cocoa, red apple, brown sugar | Fully washed, solar dried | The cup you make every morning without thinking about it |
| No. 2 Good Sense | Milk chocolate, fruit, caramel | Natural, hand sorted, dried on raised beds | The slow first cup, when you want to taste something |
| No. 3 Position | Dark chocolate, dried fruit, earthy | Wet-hulled (giling basah) | Espresso, moka and anything with milk |
Good Sense is the one we would keep to a smaller bag. A natural Ethiopia is the coffee whose fruit you notice most, so you want to drink it while it is lively. Common Sense is the daily pot, and it is the one to reorder on a schedule. Position is the milk and espresso coffee, per the roaster's own suggestion.
Our pick
No. 2 Good Sense
Sidama, Ethiopia · 1,700 to 1,900 m · Natural, hand sorted, dried on raised beds · Indigenous heirloom cultivars · Medium-light roast
The label notes are milk chocolate, fruit and caramel, which is the cup you finish in two weeks, not two months.
Looking at all ten before you pick? The full list is at all ten coffees. If taste is the open question, our smooth coffee beans that are not bitter page narrows it by taste.
Pick the bag that matches how fast you drink, then pick the coffee by taste.
Questions people ask
Is a 1 lb bag of coffee cheaper than a 12 oz bag?
We sell one size, a 12 oz bag at $28 for every coffee, so we cannot speak for other brands. Compare cost per ounce on the label if you are weighing two sizes elsewhere.
How long does a 12 oz bag of coffee last?
About 15 days at one 12 fl oz mug a day, about a week at two, and under 4 days at four. The table above has the pound for comparison.
Can I buy a 1 lb bag from Brega Coffee?
No. Every coffee comes in a 12 oz bag, whole bean or ground. For heavier drinking, order more than one bag or use the subscription.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.