Coffee Brew Ratios: Grams per Liter and Cost per Cup at Home vs. a Cafe
October 29, 2026
Brew ratio is the weight of water to the weight of coffee. A ratio of 1:16 means 16 grams of water per gram of coffee. It is most accurate when measured by weight, not by volume of scoops. A typical range for filter coffee is 1:15 (stronger) to 1:17 (lighter), which corresponds to 67 to 59 grams of coffee per liter of water.
For 480 g of water at 1:16, use 480 ÷ 16 = 30 g of coffee. Per liter: 1,000 ÷ 16 = 62.5 g. At 1:15: 32 g for 480 g of water. At 1:17: 28.2 g.
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Drip and pour-over: 1:15 to 1:17. French press: 1:12 to 1:15 (a bit stronger because of immersion). Cold brew concentrate: 1:4 to 1:8, diluted afterward. Espresso: 1:2, for example, 18 g of ground coffee yielding 36 g of liquid espresso in 25 to 30 seconds. Water weight in grams equals milliliters (1 g = 1 mL). A 12-ounce mug holds about 355 mL, so at 1:16 you need 355 ÷ 16 = 22.2 g of coffee. Allow for water absorbed by the grounds: the coffee holds about twice its weight in water, so 480 g of water produces roughly 420 g of brew.
| Method | Typical ratio | Coffee for 500 g water | Coffee for 1 liter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong drip | 1:15 | 33.3 g | 66.7 g |
| Standard drip | 1:16 | 31.3 g | 62.5 g |
| Light pour-over | 1:17 | 29.4 g | 58.8 g |
| French press | 1:14 | 35.7 g | 71.4 g |
Cost per Cup
A 340 g (12 oz) bag at $18 costs $0.0529 per gram. A 12-ounce cup at 22.2 g uses $1.17 of coffee. Over 250 workdays, that is $294. A $4 cafe coffee costs $1,000 over the same days, so you save about $706 a year, before counting milk or sugar and the cost of equipment. A $30 grinder and a $25 pour-over setup pay for themselves in about two months. Specialty beans at $30 a bag raise the cost per cup to $1.96, still half the cafe price.
Adjusting Strength and Extraction
If the coffee tastes sour or weak, grind finer, use hotter water (195°F to 205°F), or increase the brew time. If it is bitter, grind coarser or shorten the contact time. Change the ratio only to adjust strength, not extraction. Use fresh beans within a month or so of roasting, and grind just before brewing.
Making It Routine
Weigh the beans and water on a kitchen scale (0.1 g resolution is ideal for espresso). Write down the ratio that you like, so that you can repeat it. For a pot of 8 cups (about 1.2 liters) at 1:16, you need 75 g.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good coffee-to-water ratio?
About 1:16 (62.5 g per liter), within a range of 1:15 to 1:17.
How much coffee for a 12-ounce cup?
About 22 g at 1:16.
What is an espresso ratio?
Typically 1:2, such as 18 g in and 36 g out.
How much does a home cup cost?
About $1.17 with $18 for 340 g of coffee.
Why measure by weight?
Scoops vary a lot with the roast and grind.