The coffee-to-water ratio sets how strong your brew is. Once you pick a ratio, this formula tells you how much water to use for any dose of coffee.
Water (g) = Coffee (g) × Ratio
What the terms mean
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Water | Water to use, in grams |
| Coffee | Dry coffee dose, in grams |
| Ratio | Parts water per part coffee |
Worked example
A 30 g dose at a 1:16 ratio needs 30 × 16 = 480 g of water, which is about 480 ml.
The golden range. Most drip and pour over coffee lands between 1:15 and 1:17. Go stronger (1:14) or weaker (1:18) to taste.
FAQ
Should I weigh water or measure it by volume? Weighing is more accurate since a gram of water is also a milliliter, avoiding the small volume errors from foam, meniscus, or an uneven measuring cup. A kitchen scale is the more reliable choice, especially at smaller batch sizes.
See the Coffee Ratio Calculator and the Coffee-to-Water Ratio Chart.