For 1 liter of water (33.8 fl oz), use about 62 g of coffee: roughly 12.5 level tablespoons, or 6 scoops with a little left over. That is 1:16 coffee to water by weight. The dose printed on our own labels for drip is 60 g per litre, which is 12 level tablespoons or 6 scoops, and it is a fine place to start.
The method behind these numbers, including how we count a level tablespoon at 5 g and a scoop as 2 tablespoons, is on our how much coffee per cup page. Below is the chart for the four liter sizes people ask about most, at three strengths.
How much coffee for 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 liters of water?
Lighter is 1:18, standard is 1:16 and stronger is 1:14. Water is counted as 1 g per milliliter, so 1 liter of water is 1,000 g. Ounce figures are rounded to one decimal.
| Water | Strength | Coffee (g) | Coffee (oz) | Level tablespoons | Scoops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 L (16.9 fl oz) | Lighter 1:18 | 28 g | 1.0 oz | 5.5 | 2.8 |
| Standard 1:16 | 31 g | 1.1 oz | 6.25 | 3.1 | |
| Stronger 1:14 | 36 g | 1.3 oz | 7 | 3.6 | |
| 1 L (33.8 fl oz) | Lighter 1:18 | 56 g | 2.0 oz | 11 | 5.6 |
| Standard 1:16 | 62.5 g | 2.2 oz | 12.5 | 6.25 | |
| Stronger 1:14 | 71 g | 2.5 oz | 14 | 7 | |
| 1.5 L (50.7 fl oz) | Lighter 1:18 | 83 g | 2.9 oz | 16.5 | 8.3 |
| Standard 1:16 | 94 g | 3.3 oz | 19 | 9.4 | |
| Stronger 1:14 | 107 g | 3.8 oz | 21.5 | 10.7 | |
| 2 L (67.6 fl oz) | Lighter 1:18 | 111 g | 3.9 oz | 22 | 11 |
| Standard 1:16 | 125 g | 4.4 oz | 25 | 12.5 | |
| Stronger 1:14 | 143 g | 5.0 oz | 28.5 | 14.3 |
Round to the nearest half tablespoon if you are measuring without a scale. If you do not own a scale, how to measure coffee without a scale covers the stand-in tools and how to adjust after the first pot.
How many liter pots does a 12 oz bag make?
A 12 oz bag is about 340 g. At the standard 62.5 g per liter, that is about 5.4 liters of brewed water, so five full liter pots with a little coffee left for a smaller batch. At the label dose of 60 g per litre it stretches to just under six. If you want the cup math instead of the liter math, see how many cups of coffee in a 12 oz bag.
Does a liter of water make a liter of coffee?
No. Ground coffee absorbs water, roughly twice its own weight, so 1 liter of water through the grounds gives you somewhat less than 1 liter in the pot. For 1 liter of finished coffee, add a little water. A reasonable rule is to brew about 1.1 liters of water for 1 liter in the carafe and raise the dose by the same 10 percent. This varies with brewer and grind, so treat it as a starting point and adjust the next pot.
Which units should I trust, metric or US?
Grams. A level tablespoon of ground coffee is a good estimate at 5 g, but grind size and how the spoon is filled move it a gram or two either way. Across 12 tablespoons that error adds up to a noticeably stronger or weaker pot. If you stay with spoons, level them off with a knife every time. Our grams in a tablespoon of coffee post shows the spread.
Other sizes near 1 liter
A liter is a little more than 4 cups of water at 8 fl oz. If your machine or pitcher is sized in ounces, the neighbors are already on the site: how much coffee for 64 oz of water, how much coffee for a thermos and how much coffee for a gallon. For brewers with their own ratio, see the coffee ratio by brewing method chart.
Which coffee fits a liter pot?
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 roast
Its label notes are cocoa, red apple and brown sugar, and the roaster suggests drip or French press at 60 g per litre, which is exactly the liter dose in the table above.
It takes milk without falling apart, which matters when the pot is for a table and not for one person. Every one of our coffees is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US. Browse all ten coffees if you want to compare, or set up a subscription (11% off, skip or cancel in one click) so the next bag arrives before the last pot is empty.
Weigh 62 g, pour 1 liter, and change the dose by 5 g on the next pot if you want it stronger or lighter.
Questions people ask
How many tablespoons of coffee for 1 liter of water?
About 12.5 level tablespoons, which is 62.5 g at 1:16. Use 12 if you want to match the 60 g per litre dose on our labels, and 14 for a stronger pot.
How many scoops of coffee for 1 liter of water?
About 6 standard scoops (2 level tablespoons each). Add a little extra, around 6.25 scoops, if you want to hit 62.5 g exactly.
How much coffee for 2 liters of water?
About 125 g at 1:16, which is 25 level tablespoons or 12.5 scoops. The chart above has lighter and stronger versions.
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.