Coffee Brew Ratio Calculator
Everyday
Specialty coffee uses ratios like 1:16 (one gram of coffee per 16 grams of water) to keep brews consistent. This tool gives you method-specific defaults — pour-over 1:16, French press 1:15, AeroPress 1:14, espresso 1:2, cold brew 1:8 — plus grind size and brew time reminders. Type either coffee or water and the other side recalculates from the current ratio, so you can plan a brew from either end ("I have 25g of beans" or "I want 400ml of coffee").
Coffee
25 g
Water
400 g
Cups (≈240ml)
≈ 1.7
Grind size
Medium
Brew time
3–4 min
Ratio
1 : 16
Ratios are starting points — adjust to taste. Going stronger? Lower the ratio (1:15 instead of 1:16). Bitter? Coarser grind or shorter time.
How to use
- Pick a brewing method — the ratio, grind, and time defaults snap to it.
- Adjust the ratio slider for stronger (lower number) or weaker (higher number) coffee.
- Type the coffee or water amount you have — the other re-derives. The cups estimate assumes 240ml per cup.
Frequently asked questions
- Why 1:16 for pour-over?
- It's SCA's 'golden ratio' that produces a balanced cup — strong enough to taste, not so concentrated it loses clarity. Move toward 1:15 for fuller-body, 1:17 for brighter and lighter.
- Why is espresso 1:2?
- Espresso is a 'brew ratio' from dry dose to liquid output (yield). 18g in → 36g out = 1:2, the classic 'normale'. 1:1.5 is a 'ristretto', 1:3 is a 'lungo'.
- Grams or milliliters of water?
- Water is ~1 g/mL, so 400g water ≈ 400mL. Coffee shops weigh because scales are more precise than volume.
- Does grind size really matter?
- Yes — too fine = bitter over-extraction, too coarse = sour under-extraction. The grind hints (fine for espresso, coarse for French press / cold brew) are starting points; tune from there.
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