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Coffee to water ratio calculator

Brew ratio is grams of water per gram of coffee. Filter coffee runs around 1:16, espresso around 1:2, and cold brew concentrate around 1:5.

Ground coffee
31.3g
= Exact Coffee brew ratio
Roughly, in tablespoons
6.1
Cups produced
2.08
Coffee per cup
15.0
Approximate liquid yield
438
Nominal strength
6.25 g per 100 mL
Show the working
  1. Water = 500
  2. Brew method = 16
  3. Cup size = 240
  4. Ground coffee = 500 / 16 = 31.25
  5. Roughly, in tablespoons = 31.25 / 5.125 = 6.097 56
  6. Cups produced = 500 / 240 = 2.083 33
  7. Coffee per cup = 2.083 33 > 0 ? 31.25 / 2.083 33 : 0 = 15
  8. Approximate liquid yield = 500 - 31.25 * 2 = 437.5
  9. Nominal strength = 16 > 0 ? 100 / 16 : 0 = 6.25

Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.

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    The formula

    • coffee = water / brew ratio
    • grounds retain roughly twice their own weight in water

    The Specialty Coffee Association golden cup range is 1:15 to 1:18 for filter.

    A tablespoon of ground coffee is about 5.1 g, but grind size changes that by 20% either way — weigh it if you can.

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