Coffee-to-Water Ratio Calculator
The single biggest lever on how your coffee tastes is the ratio of coffee to water, and the easiest way to control it is by weight. A ratio like 1:16 means one gram of coffee for every sixteen grams of water. Since a gram of water is essentially a millilitre, the math translates cleanly to any brew size.
Finding your ratio
1:16 is a widely loved balanced starting point. Prefer it bolder? Move toward 1:15. Lighter and more tea-like? Try 1:17 or 1:18. Ratio controls strength; once it's set to your taste, you adjust grind size to fine-tune extraction and bitterness.
Weigh everything
Scooping is wildly inconsistent because grounds vary in density. A cheap scale that reads to the gram is the highest-impact, lowest-cost upgrade in coffee. Weigh your coffee and your water, keep the ratio fixed, and your cup becomes repeatable instead of a daily gamble.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good coffee-to-water ratio?
- 1:16 by weight is a balanced default; 1:15 for stronger, 1:17-1:18 for lighter.
- How much coffee for 500 ml of water?
- At 1:16, about 31 grams of coffee.
- Should I measure by weight or scoops?
- Weight. Scoops vary too much; a gram scale makes your brew consistent.