A 30 cup coffee urn needs about 277 g of ground coffee, which is 55 level tablespoons (5 g each) or 28 scoops (2 tablespoons each), at the standard 1:16 ratio. That assumes the usual urn cup of 5 fl oz, so 30 cups is 150 fl oz of water. Check the water line on your urn before you measure, because the cup number is a rating, not a serving. The method behind the math is in how much coffee per cup.
How much coffee for 30, 40, 60 and 100 cup urns?
Each row uses 5 fl oz per cup and 1:16 by weight (1 g of coffee to 16 g of water, and 1 fl oz of water is about 29.6 g). One 12 oz bag is 340 g.
| Urn cups | Water | Coffee at 1:16 | Level tbsp | Scoops | 12 oz bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 150 fl oz (1.2 gal) | 277 g | 55 | 28 | 0.8 |
| 40 | 200 fl oz (1.6 gal) | 370 g | 74 | 37 | 1.1 |
| 60 | 300 fl oz (2.3 gal) | 555 g | 111 | 55 | 1.6 |
| 100 | 500 fl oz (3.9 gal) | 924 g | 185 | 92 | 2.7 |
For a stronger pot use 1:15, which adds about 7 percent more coffee. For a weaker one use 1:17. The 30 cup row is the one most people need, and it needs less than one bag.
What grind does an urn need?
A medium-coarse grind, a little coarser than you would use in a home drip machine. Urns brew a large amount of coffee in a deep bed, so a fine grind clogs and over-extracts. If you buy whole bean from us and grind at home, set the grinder coarser than your drip setting. If the pot tastes bitter, go coarser next time. If it tastes thin, add coffee before you touch the grind.
How big is an urn cup really?
Commonly sold urns are rated in 5 oz cups, so a 30 cup urn holds about 150 fl oz, which is closer to 19 cups of 8 oz. If your guests pour full mugs, divide the rated cups by about 1.6 and use the row nearest that number. For bigger events, see how much coffee for 50 people and for 100 people, or how much coffee for a gallon for a single batch.
Which coffee for a big pot?
We suggest No. 6 Hegemony for the pot everyone drinks without complaining. We describe it as low in acidity and heavy in body, which makes it very hard to ruin. It is also a coffee we brew as cold brew at 1:8 overnight if the event is outdoors.
Our pick
No. 6 Hegemony
Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil · 750 to 1,050 m · Pulped natural, sun dried · Catuai, Mundo Novo · Medium
The label notes are cocoa and smooth, and we describe it as the pot everyone in the house drinks without complaining.
Ordering for a group is simple: every bag is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US. See all ten coffees, or read the FAQ. If you serve coffee every week, the subscription is 11% off, and you can skip or cancel in one click.
How do I brew a 30 cup urn step by step?
- Find the water line for 30 cups on the urn and confirm it is about 150 fl oz. If it is not, multiply your actual fl oz by 29.6 for grams of water, then divide by 16 for grams of coffee.
- Weigh 277 g of coffee, or count 55 level tablespoons, or 28 scoops.
- Set the basket or filter bag and spread the coffee evenly so water reaches all of it.
- Fill with hot water and start the brew cycle.
- Stir or swirl once when it finishes if your urn allows it, then serve.
That is 0.8 of a 12 oz bag, so one bag covers it with a little left over. If you are filling the urn for a longer event, brew in the same amounts each time instead of topping off an old batch, because a fresh pot is what people notice. Keep the cups, lids and a stir stick next to the urn so no one has to ask.
Frequently asked questions
How many scoops of coffee for a 30 cup urn?
About 28 scoops, where a scoop is 2 level tablespoons, at 1:16 for 30 cups of 5 oz. That is about 277 g.
How many tablespoons of coffee for a 30 cup urn?
About 55 level tablespoons at 5 g each, for 150 fl oz of water at 1:16.
What grind do I use in a coffee urn?
Use a medium-coarse grind, a little coarser than for a drip machine, because the water sits in contact with the coffee longer. If the coffee tastes bitter, go coarser.
Weigh once, mark the scoop count on the urn, and you will not have to do the math again.
Questions people ask
How many scoops of coffee for a 30 cup urn?
About 28 scoops, where a scoop is 2 level tablespoons, at 1:16 for 30 cups of 5 oz. That is about 277 g.
How many tablespoons of coffee for a 30 cup urn?
About 55 level tablespoons at 5 g each, for 150 fl oz of water at 1:16.
What grind do I use in a coffee urn?
Use a medium-coarse grind, a little coarser than for a drip machine, because the water sits in contact with the coffee longer. If the coffee tastes bitter, go coarser.
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.