How much coffee for a 5 cup coffee maker: grams and scoops

For a full 5 cup coffee maker, use about 46 grams of coffee, roughly 9 level tablespoons or 4 and a half standard scoops, with 25 ounces (about 740 g) of water. That is a 1:16 ratio. Go to 49 grams (10 tablespoons) for a stronger pot, or 44 grams (9 tablespoons) for a lighter one.

Most coffee makers count a cup as roughly 5 ounces, not the 8 ounces on a measuring cup. That is why a 5 cup machine makes about 25 ounces, a little over three mugs. Fill the carafe to its 5 mark and use that as your water amount.

What does the 5 cup table look like?

Water is 25 ounces (about 740 g). Tablespoon and scoop figures assume ground coffee at roughly 5 g per level tablespoon, with a scoop equal to 2 tablespoons. They are rounded, so treat them as a starting point.

At the 1:16 and 1:17 rows the tablespoon count rounds to the same number. If you want to tell them apart, you need a scale. For more on dialing in strength, see what to change when coffee is too weak, and for the smaller machine, the 4 cup measurements.

How many pots does a 12 oz bag make?

A 12 oz bag is about 340 grams. At 46 g per pot, that is a little over 7 full 5 cup pots. At 49 g it is just under 7, and at 44 g it is almost 8. If you brew one pot a day, a bag lasts about a week.

Which of our coffees suit a small drip machine?

Two of our medium roasts are made for this. The roaster describes No. 1 Common Sense as the cup you make every morning without thinking about it, and No. 10 Folklore as the second pot and the one you make for the house. Both are brewed in drip at 60 g per litre. Our guide to the best coffee for a drip coffee maker covers the wider question.

Buying a bag every few weeks is easier on a subscription, which is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click. See all ten coffees if you want to look around.

How do you scale up or down?

The ratio does the work, so you can scale to any pot. For a half pot of about 12 ounces of water, use roughly 23 grams. For a full mug of 8 ounces (about 235 g), use roughly 15 grams at 1:16. Weigh the water if you can, since carafe markings are approximate.

Two habits improve a small pot more than any ratio change. First, grind just before brewing, because whole beans keep better than ground coffee. Second, use fresh, cold water and run a quick rinse of the paper filter so the cup tastes of coffee and not paper. Neither costs anything.

What if your machine does not match the table?

Machines vary. Some 5 cup models brew closer to 20 ounces, and some carafes are marked in 6 ounce cups. The fix is simple. Fill the carafe with water to the line you normally brew to, weigh or measure it, and divide by 16 for your coffee amount. For 20 ounces (about 590 g), that is roughly 37 grams, or 7 and a half level tablespoons.

Keep a note of the amount that tastes right in your kitchen. A cup that is a little strong for one person is just right for another, so the table is where you start and your own taste is where you land. Change one thing at a time, either the dose or the grind, and taste before you change the next.

Does the grind matter?

Yes. For a flat or cone drip basket, use a medium grind, like coarse sand. If the coffee tastes sour or thin, grind a little finer. If it tastes harsh, grind coarser. Our posts on sour coffee and bitter coffee go through the fixes in order.

Questions about whole bean or ground? Our FAQ has the answers.