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Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator

A brew ratio is millilitres of water per gram of coffee. Around 1:15 is the common starting point, and a smaller second number means a stronger cup. Water weighs almost exactly what it measures, so one scale does both jobs.

Your numbers

Water to pour

300mL

Volume (mL)

260mL

Formula

Water to pour = Coffee × Water ratio

Not all the water reaches the cup. The grounds hold back roughly 2 mL per gram, so 20 g brewed with 300 mL yields about 260 mL.

What to enter

InputDefaultAccepted range
Coffee (g)The weight of coffee, measured before grinding.200 and up
Water ratio (×)Millilitres of water per gram of coffee; smaller means stronger.150 and up

Step by step

FormulaWater to pour = Coffee × Water ratio
With the default numbersWater to pour = 20 × 15
AnswerWater to pour = 300 mL

Quick reference table

Results when only Coffee (g) changes and everything else stays put.

Coffee (g)Water to pour (mL)Volume (mL) (mL)
10150130
15225195
20300260
30450390
40600520

What each result means

ResultAt default values
Water to pour (mL)The water you pour in — more than what ends up in the cup.300
Volume (mL) (mL)Volume in millilitres.260

Common mistakes

Not all the water reaches the cup. The grounds hold back roughly 2 mL per gram, so 20 g brewed with 300 mL yields about 260 mL.

Glossary

Coffee
The weight of coffee, measured before grinding.
Water ratio
Millilitres of water per gram of coffee; smaller means stronger.
Water to pour
The water you pour in — more than what ends up in the cup.
Volume (mL)
Volume in millilitres.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How is Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator calculated?

Water to pour = Coffee × Water ratio — A brew ratio is millilitres of water per gram of coffee. Around 1:15 is the common starting point, and a smaller second number means a stronger cup. Water weighs almost exactly what it measures, so one scale does both jobs.

Q. Can you walk through an example?

With Coffee 20g, Water ratio 15×, the answer is Water to pour 300mL.

Q. What do I need to enter?

Enter Coffee, Water ratio. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.

Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?

Changing only Coffee (g) moves the answer to Coffee (g) 10 → Water to pour (mL) 150 and Coffee (g) 40 → Water to pour (mL) 600. The table below lays out five steps.

Q. How are the numbers rounded?

Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.

Q. Anything to watch out for?

Not all the water reaches the cup. The grounds hold back roughly 2 mL per gram, so 20 g brewed with 300 mL yields about 260 mL.

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