How Much Ground Coffee Per Cup (by Brewing Method)
This calculator tells you exactly how many grams (and tablespoons) of ground coffee you need based on the brewing method and number of cups. The industry-standard starting point is the SCA Golden Ratio: 55 g of coffee per liter of water (roughly 1:18). But every method has its own optimal range — espresso uses a 1:2 brew ratio, French press 1:15, V60 pour-over 1:16, and cold brew concentrate 1:8. Select your method and enter your cup count to get an accurate dose every time.
For a standard V60 or pour-over, use 15–16 g of coffee per 250 mL cup (1:16 ratio). French Press: 16.7 g/cup at 1:15. Espresso: 15 g per 30 mL shot (1:2 brew ratio). Drip machine: about 10 g per 177 mL cup (1:17). The SCA Golden Ratio baseline is 55 g per liter (≈1:18) — adjust to taste.
When to use this calculator
- Scaling a V60 pour-over from 1 to 4 cups without under- or over-dosing — the calculator gives you the exact grams in seconds.
- Dialing in an espresso shot before a morning rush: 15 g in, 30 g yield, 1:2 brew ratio.
- Prepping a weekly cold-brew concentrate batch: 8 cups × 240 mL at 1:8 ratio = 240 g of coarse ground coffee.
- Converting a recipe from tablespoons to grams when you get a kitchen scale for the first time.
V60 pour-over for 2 cups
- Method: Pour-over / V60 / Chemex — 1:16 ratio, 250 mL per cup
- Total water: 2 × 250 mL = 500 mL
- Coffee needed: 500 ÷ 16 = 31.3 g of medium-ground coffee
- Equivalent to ≈ 5.9 level tablespoons (1 tbsp ≈ 5.3 g per SCAA)
How it works
2 min readHow Much Ground Coffee Per Cup — Quick Reference Table
Use this table for the most common cup counts. All values use each method's standard ratio.
| Brewing Method | Per Cup | 2 Cups | 4 Cups | 8 Cups | Ratio | Grind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso (single) | 15 g | 30 g | 60 g | 120 g | 1:2 | Extra fine |
| Double espresso | 30 g | 60 g | 120 g | 240 g | 1:2 | Extra fine |
| Moka pot | 6 g | 12 g | 24 g | 48 g | 1:10 | Fine-medium |
| AeroPress | 14.7 g | 29.3 g | 58.7 g | 117.3 g | 1:15 | Medium-fine |
| V60 / Chemex | 15.6 g | 31.3 g | 62.5 g | 125 g | 1:16 | Medium |
| French Press | 16.7 g | 33.3 g | 66.7 g | 133.3 g | 1:15 | Coarse |
| Auto-drip | 10.4 g | 20.8 g | 41.6 g | 83.2 g | 1:17 | Medium |
| Cold Brew (conc.) | 30 g | 60 g | 120 g | 240 g | 1:8 | Extra coarse |
How It's Calculated
The core formula is:
Coffee (g) = Total Water (mL) / Brewing Ratio
Total Water (mL) = Number of Cups × Water per Cup for the MethodException — Espresso: the ratio is expressed as dose:yield (brew ratio), not water:coffee. For a single espresso (30 mL yield, 1:2 ratio): dose = 30 ÷ 2 = 15 g.
Tablespoon Conversion
1 level US tablespoon of medium-ground coffee ≈ 5.3 g (SCAA standard reference). Fine grinds pack more densely (6–7 g/tbsp); coarse grinds weigh less (4–5 g/tbsp). When precision matters — especially for espresso — always weigh in grams.
Common Mistakes
1. Using 8 oz as a 'cup' for drip machines. Most drip carafe markings use 6 fl oz (177 mL) per cup. Using 8 oz cups with the same coffee dose produces under-extracted, watery coffee.
2. Applying the same ratio for all methods. Espresso's 1:2 brew ratio is completely different from a V60's 1:16 water-to-coffee ratio — they're not interchangeable.
3. Measuring by volume without leveling. A heaping tablespoon can hold 8–9 g while a leveled one holds 5–6 g — a 50%+ difference in dose.
4. Wrong water temperature. Optimal range: 195–205°F (90–96°C) for filter methods. Boiling water (212°F/100°C) over-extracts and produces bitterness.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams of coffee per cup for a V60 pour-over?
At the standard SCA 1:16 ratio, use 15.6 g of medium-ground coffee per 250 mL cup. For 2 cups that's 31.3 g; for 4 cups, 62.5 g. If you prefer a lighter brew, try 1:17 (14.7 g/cup); for stronger, use 1:15 (16.7 g/cup).
How much ground coffee per cup for a drip coffee maker?
For an auto-drip machine, use about 10.4 g per 6 fl oz cup (177 mL) at the standard 1:17 ratio. That's roughly 2 level tablespoons per cup. A 12-cup carafe (12 × 177 mL = 2,124 mL) requires about 125 g (≈22–24 tablespoons) of medium-ground coffee.
How much coffee goes in a French Press per cup?
French Press uses a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio: 16.7 g per 250 mL cup (coarse grind). For 2 cups, measure 33.3 g; for 4 cups, 66.7 g. Steep for 4 minutes before pressing. Never use fine grind — it will clog the metal filter and over-extract.
What is the SCA Golden Ratio for coffee?
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) recommends 55 g of coffee per liter of water (ratio ≈ 1:18) as the baseline Golden Ratio. The optimal extraction range is 18–22% of total dissolved solids (TDS 1.15–1.45%). In practice, most home brewers dial to 1:15–1:17 for their preferred strength.
How much coffee for a single espresso shot?
Modern specialty coffee standards call for 15–18 g of coffee (double basket) producing 30–36 g of liquid yield (1:2 brew ratio). Traditional single shots use 7–9 g. This calculator uses 15 g for a single espresso (30 mL yield, 1:2 ratio), which is the specialty coffee standard.
Why does cold brew need so much more coffee?
Cold brew steeps grounds in room-temperature or cold water for 12–24 hours. Without heat, extraction efficiency is much lower, so you need a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio (compared to 1:16 for hot pour-over) — that's 30 g per 240 mL cup. The result is a concentrate that's diluted 1:1 before serving.
Is it better to measure coffee by weight (grams) or volume (tablespoons)?
Weight is always more accurate. Volume measurements vary by ±30–40% depending on grind size, packing density, and humidity. The SCAA standard reference is 5.3 g per level tablespoon for medium grind, but a kitchen scale accurate to 0.1 g eliminates all this variability. Grams are especially critical for espresso, where a 1 g difference in dose changes the shot significantly.
Does roast level (light vs. dark) affect how many grams I need?
Slightly. Light roasts are denser and a tablespoon weighs more (≈6 g); dark roasts are more porous and a tablespoon weighs less (≈4.5 g). Measuring by weight in grams eliminates this variable entirely. The gram ratios in this calculator apply regardless of roast level.
How many cups does a 250 g bag of coffee yield?
At the standard V60 dose of 15.6 g per 250 mL cup, a 250 g bag yields about 16 cups. For drip coffee at 10.4 g per 177 mL cup, the same bag makes about 24 cups. At espresso dose (15 g), you get roughly 16–17 single shots.
What grind size should I use for each brewing method?
Extra fine → Espresso; Fine-medium → Moka pot; Medium-fine → AeroPress; Medium → V60, Chemex, Drip; Coarse → French Press; Extra coarse → Cold Brew. Using the wrong grind at the correct gram dose still ruins the coffee: fine grind in a French press clogs the filter and over-extracts; coarse grind in an espresso machine under-extracts and produces a sour, watery shot.