Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator
Start with the coffee you have and calculate the exact water needed for light, medium, or strong brews.
Use a scale for precision. Multiply tablespoons by 5.5 to estimate grams.
Light coffee uses more water. Strong coffee uses less water for higher concentration.
Water Needed
400 ml
1.69 cups
Brew Ratio
1:16
Medium strength profile
Coffee (Tablespoons)
4.55 tbsp
Handy if you measure with scoops
How to Use This Calculator
Measure your coffee
Weigh the coffee grounds you plan to use. This calculator works for any brew method.
Select your strength
Choose light, medium, or strong depending on your taste preference.
Brew with confidence
Use the water measurement provided to brew a consistent cup every time.
Formula
water = coffee × (1 ÷ strengthRatio)
cups = water ÷ 236.588
tablespoons = coffee ÷ 5.5
Example: 25 g coffee at medium (1:16) → water = 25 × 16 = 400 ml → 1.69 cups water.
Tip: Slightly adjust water (±20 ml) to fine-tune strength once you taste the brew.
Full Description
Many coffee recipes start with a specific amount of beans. This calculator reverses the typical approach by taking your coffee weight and calculating the water needed for your desired brew strength. That means you can scoop a familiar amount of beans and adapt your water to hit the perfect balance.
The ratio presets reflect popular brewing guidelines: 1:18 for lighter, tea-like cups, 1:16 for standard drip or pour over, and 1:14 for bold French press or immersion brews. These ratios are versatile and can be applied to manual methods (pour over, AeroPress, French press) or automatic drip machines.
Use this calculator when
- You pre-measure coffee before filling your kettle.
- You want to standardize recipes for cafés or offices.
- You’re experimenting with grind size and need a consistent baseline.
- You’re switching roasts and want to dial in water adjustments.
Remember that water temperature (ideally 92–96°C / 197–205°F) and grind size also influence extraction. Keep those variables steady while testing different ratios to understand what suits your palate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure coffee without a scale?
Use tablespoons (1 tbsp ≈ 5.5 g). Enter the estimated grams to see water requirements.
Does this work for espresso?
Espresso uses much tighter ratios (1:2). Enter your dose in grams, pick strong, and manually adjust water to the shot yield.
What if my coffee tastes watery?
Reduce water slightly or choose the strong setting. Alternatively, use a finer grind for more extraction.
Can I brew cold brew with this?
Cold brew concentrate typically uses 1:4 to 1:5 ratios. Enter custom values in another calculator or adjust after brewing to taste.