What ratio should I start with?

1:15 to 1:17 (coffee to water) is a common starting range for drip and pour-over brewing — lower ratios like 1:15 give a stronger cup, higher ratios like 1:17 give a milder one. Espresso uses a very different, much lower ratio and isn't what this calculator targets.

Does this account for water absorbed by the coffee grounds (bloom)?

No — the ratio calculates coffee needed for your total water input, not the final liquid in the cup. Grounds absorb some water during brewing, so your finished beverage volume will be slightly less than the water you started with; this is normal and expected.

Coffee-to-Water Ratio Calculator

Find how much coffee to use for any brew strength and water volume.

How this is calculated

Coffee grams = Water (ml) ÷ Ratio divisor

Assumptions used in this calculation

1ml water ≈ 1g: Water volume in milliliters is treated as equal to its weight in grams (water's density is ~1g/ml), so the ratio works directly as coffee grams : water ml.

About this calculator

The coffee-to-water ratio calculator finds how many grams of coffee to use for a given water volume at a chosen brew-strength ratio.

Worked example

750ml water at 1:15

Result: 50g coffee

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Coffee-to-Water Ratio Calculator

About this calculator

Frequently asked questions

What ratio should I start with?

Does this account for water absorbed by the coffee grounds (bloom)?

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