Brew Ratios

The most common coffee-to-water ratio for brewing coffee is typically in the range of 1:15 to 1:17, depending on personal preferences and the brewing method. This means 1 part of coffee to 15-17 parts of water.

Generally speaking...

1:15 Ratio: This is a stronger ratio, often preferred for methods like pour-over, where a bolder and more robust flavor is desired.

1:16 Ratio: This is a widely used and balanced ratio suitable for various brewing methods, including drip coffee makers and pour-over.

1:17 Ratio: This ratio tends to produce a milder cup of coffee, suitable for those who prefer a lighter flavor profile. It's often used in methods like drip brewing.

These ratios can be adjusted based on personal taste preferences, the type of coffee beans used, and the brewing method. Experimenting with different ratios allows you to find the perfect balance that suits your palate.

Here's a chart to help with some math, specifically to identify the grams of coffee needed based on the size of cup you're brewing and you're preferred ratio.  We chose several of the common cup/travel mug sizes (fl oz) for reference.

water (fl oz)

water (g)

1:14 1:15 1:16 1:17 1:18
8 237 17 16 15 14 13
10 296 21 20 18 17 16
12 355 25 24 22 21 20
14 414 30 28 26 24 23
16 473 34 32 30 28 26
18 532 38 35 33 31 30
20 591 42 39 37 35 33

 

*Yes, I rounded to the nearest whole number to keep things simple.  If you want the more exact numbers, here's how to do the simplified math without talking about getting into the density discussion...1 fl oz is 29.5735 g.  10 fl oz x 29.5735 g = 295.74 g.  Using the 1:16 ratio, divide the 296.74 g of water by 16 = 18.48 g of coffee for your 10 fl oz mug.