For 8 oz of water, use about 14 to 15 g of coffee: 3 level tablespoons (15 g), or 1 and a half scoops. That is a ratio between 1:15 and 1:16, which is the range we use for drip and pour-over. The table below covers other mug sizes, and the basics of grams, level tablespoons (5 g each) and scoops (2 tablespoons) are in how much coffee per cup.
Why is an 8 oz cup not a coffee maker cup?
Most drip coffee makers count a cup as about 5 oz, not 8 oz. So when a recipe says one cup of coffee, check which one it means. An 8 oz mug is about 1.6 coffee maker cups. If you brew in a machine and want to know how much goes in for the whole pot, use the page for your size: 2 cup, 4 cup, 6 cup or 8 cup.
How much coffee for 8 oz at 1:15, 1:16 and 1:17?
Eight ounces of water weighs about 237 g. The three ratios below go from strong to light:
| Ratio | Coffee for 8 oz (237 g) | Level tablespoons | Scoops | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | 15.8 g | 3 | 1.5 | Stronger, rounder |
| 1:16 | 14.8 g | 3 | 1.5 | Our default |
| 1:17 | 13.9 g | 2.5 to 3 | 1.25 | Lighter, cleaner |
At 237 g of water, 1:16 comes to roughly 15 g, so three level tablespoons is right on the mark. Two and a half tablespoons gives you the lighter end. A tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 g, but it varies with the grind and how you level it, so weigh the first few cups if you have a scale.
1:17: 13.9 g
1:16: 14.8 g
1:15: 15.8 g
What about other mug sizes?
Here is the 1:16 amount for the sizes people actually pour:
| Mug or cup | Water | Coffee at 1:16 | Tablespoons | Scoops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 oz | 170 g | 10.6 g | 2 | 1 |
| 8 oz | 237 g | 14.8 g | 3 | 1.5 |
| 10 oz | 296 g | 18.5 g | 3.5 | 2 |
| 12 oz | 355 g | 22.2 g | 4.5 | 2 |
For a 12 oz mug, you can also see the iced version in the iced coffee ratio guide, and for a travel tumbler read how much coffee for a 20 oz tumbler.
How do you brew one 8 oz cup?
- Weigh 15 g of coffee, or measure 3 level tablespoons, and grind it medium.
- Heat water to just off the boil, about 94 °C (201 °F).
- Wet the grounds with a little water and wait 30 seconds.
- Pour the rest until the water on the scale reaches 237 g, then let it finish dripping.
If the cup is weak, move toward 1:15. If it is bitter, move toward 1:17 or grind a bit coarser. Our fixes are in pour-over coffee too weak and pour-over coffee too bitter.
Which coffee should you measure out?
Any of our ten will work with the same math. For an everyday cup, we would start with the one the label calls the cup you make every morning without thinking.
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
Cocoa, red apple and brown sugar on the label, and it takes milk without falling apart.
Our label for Common Sense says 60 g per liter, which is 14.2 g for 8 oz, right in the range above. A 12 oz bag is about 340 g, so it makes roughly 23 cups of 8 oz. You can see all ten coffees, all $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free US shipping.
A subscription is 11% off, skip or cancel in one click, if you would like a bag at the pace you finish them.
Three level tablespoons per 8 oz is an easy number to remember, and you can adjust it from there.
Questions people ask
How many tablespoons of coffee for 8 oz of water?
3 level tablespoons, about 15 g, which is 1:16 for 8 oz of water. Use 2.5 tablespoons for a lighter cup.
How many scoops of coffee for an 8 oz cup?
1 and a half scoops, where a scoop is 2 tablespoons (about 10 g). That is about 15 g of coffee for 8 oz of water.
Is a cup of coffee 8 oz?
A mug is often 8 oz, but a coffee maker cup is usually about 5 oz. Check which one a recipe or your machine uses before you measure.
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.