For a 12 oz cup, use about 22 grams of coffee (4.4 level tablespoons, 2.2 scoops) at a 1:16 ratio for drip, pour-over and Chemex, and about 24 grams (4.7 tablespoons) at 1:15 for French press and AeroPress. Moka pot and espresso do not use a drip ratio, and cold brew is its own thing. The chart below has all of them.
What is the coffee ratio for each brewing method?
Water is 12 oz, about 355 g. Tablespoons are level at 5 g each and a scoop is 2 tablespoons. Ratios are common starting points, not rules. Moka and espresso are set by the equipment, so those rows are labeled differently.
| Method | Ratio | Grind | Grams per 12 oz | Level tbsp | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip machine | 1:16 | Medium | 22 g | 4.4 | Drip vs pour-over |
| Pour-over | 1:16 | Medium to medium-fine | 22 g | 4.4 | Pour-over cheat sheet |
| Chemex | 1:16 | Medium-coarse | 22 g | 4.4 | 6 cup Chemex |
| French press | 1:15 | Coarse | 24 g | 4.7 | 17 oz French press |
| AeroPress | 1:15 | Medium-fine | 24 g | 4.7 | French press vs AeroPress |
| Moka pot | Set by the basket | Fine | Fill the basket level | n/a | Moka vs espresso |
| Espresso | About 1:2 by output | Fine | 18 g makes a double | n/a | Moka vs espresso |
| Cold brew | 1:8 for concentrate | Coarse | 44 g | 8.9 | Cold brew vs iced coffee |
Our pillar page, how much coffee per cup, covers the basics for drip machines. For drip machines by pot size, start from the 8 cup page or the 12 cup page.
Why do French press and AeroPress get a stronger ratio?
Immersion methods steep the grounds in the water, so they lean on a bit more coffee for the same strength. That is general practice. Our own label note for most coffees is 60 g per liter, which is about 1:16.7, and it is a good default for French press too. Try 1:15 if your cup tastes thin and 1:16 if it tastes heavy. The 32 oz French press page has a full pot.
What about moka pot, espresso and cold brew?
A moka pot fills the basket with grounds and the water goes in to the valve line, so the pot size sets the dose and not a ratio. Espresso is measured by output: roughly 18 grams in for a double, and about twice that weight out, though shops vary. Cold brew is brewed as a concentrate, commonly at about 1:8, and then diluted. We do not give exact numbers for these because they depend on your equipment and taste, so treat the table row as a starting point.
How do you scale the chart to a bigger pot?
Multiply the water in ounces by 29.57 to get grams, then divide by 16 for a 1:16 brew or by 15 for a 1:15 brew. A 32 oz pot is about 946 g of water, so roughly 59 g of coffee at 1:16, which is about 12 level tablespoons or 6 scoops. A 64 oz urn for a crowd is about 1,893 g of water and 118 g of coffee at 1:16, about 24 level tablespoons. The math is the same for every row of the chart, only the ratio changes. Round to the nearest gram and do not worry about the decimals, since the scoop is the bigger error.
How do you adjust the number once you have it?
Change one thing at a time. A thin or sour cup needs a tablespoon more or a finer grind. A harsh or bitter cup needs a coarser grind before you touch the dose. Our too bitter and too weak posts go through the fixes. Weigh a level tablespoon once, as how many grams of coffee in a tablespoon explains.
Which coffee works across most methods?
A medium roast that takes drip, French press and pour-over in the same week is the easy choice. Our subscription is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click, and all ten coffees are all $28 for 12 oz.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium
Cocoa, red apple and brown sugar on the label, for drip or French press at 60 g per liter.
FAQ
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
For most methods, 1:16 (about 60 g per liter) is a safe default. French press and AeroPress are often brewed a little stronger, and cold brew and moka use their own ratios.
How much coffee for a 12 oz cup of drip?
About 22 grams, which is 4.4 level tablespoons or 2.2 scoops, with 12 oz (355 g) of water at 1:16.
How many scoops of coffee for French press?
For a 12 oz cup at 1:15, about 24 grams, which is 4.7 level tablespoons or 2.4 scoops. Our other French press pages have the full-pot amounts.
Pick the row for your brewer, weigh once, and adjust from there.
Questions people ask
What is the best coffee to water ratio?
For most methods, 1:16 (about 60 g per liter) is a safe default. French press and AeroPress are often brewed a little stronger, and cold brew and moka use their own ratios.
How much coffee for a 12 oz cup of drip?
About 22 grams, which is 4.4 level tablespoons or 2.2 scoops, with 12 oz (355 g) of water at 1:16.
How many scoops of coffee for French press?
For a 12 oz cup at 1:15, about 24 grams, which is 4.7 level tablespoons or 2.4 scoops. Our other French press pages have the full-pot amounts.
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.