Free Online Calculators
Brew method + cups → grams of coffee & water ml
Getting the coffee-to-water ratio right is the single biggest factor separating a great cup from a mediocre one. Too little coffee and your brew tastes thin and sour. Too much and it turns bitter and harsh. This calculator takes the guesswork out of the equation, giving you precise measurements for every brewing method — whether you're pulling an espresso shot or making a cold brew concentrate for the week.
The calculations here are based on the SCA Golden Cup Standard, which recommends a ratio of roughly 1:15 to 1:18 (coffee to water) for most filter-based methods. That means for a 300ml cup of pour over coffee, you'd use around 17–20g of ground coffee. For a French press serving two people at 600ml, you're looking at approximately 34–40g. Having exact numbers like these makes a real difference, especially when you're dialing in a new bean or a new grinder.
Each brewing method extracts coffee differently, which is why a one-size-fits-all ratio doesn't work. Espresso uses a much tighter ratio — typically 1:2 — so a 18g dose of coffee yields about 36g of espresso in the cup. Cold brew sits at the opposite extreme, often using a 1:8 or even 1:5 ratio because the long steep time and cold water extract less efficiently. Getting these numbers wrong by even a small margin changes the flavor profile dramatically.
For AeroPress and moka pot users, the ratios are just as specific but less commonly discussed. A standard AeroPress recipe might call for 15g of coffee to 200ml of water (1:13), while a moka pot is designed around a near-fixed ratio based on its chamber size. The calculator handles all of these automatically — just select your method, enter your desired yield, and you get the exact coffee dose in grams.
If you're scaling up for a gathering, this tool is especially useful. Brewing filter coffee for 8 people using a 1:16 ratio into a 1.2-litre carafe? You need 75g of coffee — a number that's easy to get wrong if you're doing the mental math mid-morning.
Always weigh your coffee rather than scooping it. A standard tablespoon of coffee can range from 5g to 8g depending on grind size and roast level, which means volume measurements are unreliable. A simple kitchen scale makes every cup far more consistent. Once you find a ratio you love using simple-calculator.online, write it down — that's your baseline recipe.
Water quality matters too. The SCA Golden Cup Standard isn't just about ratios; it also specifies water temperature (90–96°C for most pour over methods) and mineral content. But ratio is the easiest variable to control and the one with the most immediate impact on taste.
For a standard 250ml cup using a filter or pour over method, use about 15–17g of coffee, which follows the SCA-recommended 1:15 to 1:17 ratio. Adjust slightly based on your personal taste preference.
The SCA Golden Cup Standard defines the ideal coffee-to-water ratio as approximately 55g of coffee per litre of water, or about 1:16. This applies mainly to drip and pour over brewing — espresso and cold brew use very different ratios.
Yes. If you prefer stronger coffee, move toward a 1:13 or 1:14 ratio. For a lighter, more delicate cup, try 1:17 or 1:18. The brewing method still sets the baseline, but personal taste is always the final guide.