If you are a coffee lover and like to experiment when brewing coffee in your coffee maker or with other methods, it is important to know how much ground coffee per cup is required. You may think this is a random thing, but it is a fine art, and there are entire websites and books devoted to brewing the perfect coffee.
If you want to refine your skill and brew methods, in this article, we look at how to measure coffee and how many tablespoons of coffee grounds or coffee beans make the perfect cup!
Considerations for Coffee Making
Before looking at the actual numbers and values, it is essential to make a few considerations first. Brewing coffee isn’t something you should simply jump into — it is something to take your time over and learn.
What Is Meant by ‘Per Cup’?
Throughout this article and any other coffee guide, you will often see the term ‘per cup’. This means a cup of coffee, obviously. But what type of cup? How big is the cup? How much do you fill it by?
There are so many variables that it is important to have something more definite to work with. A cup isn’t a specific volume or unit of measurement.
However, when referring to ‘a cup’ in the coffee industry, there is a commonly accepted associated measurement. Commonly, one cup is equal to 150ml or 5 fluid ounces.
You don’t have to stick rigidly to this measurement, but if the term ‘one cup’ is used throughout this article, we mean the standardized 150ml volume.
What Type of Measurement Are You Using?
Another variable when looking at the amount of coffee needed is the measurement you use for the coffee itself.
We appreciate this may sound confusing, but if you stick to one type of measurement for your cup and one type of measurement for your coffee ground, you can’t go wrong.
The common coffee measure methods include:
- Grams of coffee
- Tablespoons of coffee
- Scoops of coffee
We find that tablespoons are the easiest measuring method to use. It requires the least effort and is widely used by coffee manufacturers etc. However, there is some variance, and it is not 100% accurate.
For example, is it a level tablespoon or a heaped tablespoon? If you use this measurement, you should be clear on how full the tablespoon should be.
Measuring coffee in grams is the most accurate method. You can be precise and get enough coffee to create a fantastic drink. However, this generally requires extra work and time as you will need to use weighing scales first.
Scoops are also relatively easy, but they are not as widely accepted as tablespoons of coffee.
How Do You Like Your Coffee?
Lastly, you should also think about how you like your brewed coffee. The correct amount of coffee may not necessarily align with your tastes and suitabilities.
For example, you may prefer weak coffee and thus need to use fewer coffee beans or grounds than advised. Alternatively, you may love the taste and bitterness and thus love strong coffee. If so, you may need to use more coffee than advised.
The key is to use the coffee ratios and amounts listed in this article as guidelines. You should then adjust this if necessary to suit your preferences. Not everyone likes their cup of coffee the same, and this is OK!
How Much Ground Coffee Per Mug – A Simple Guide
Now that you have thought about how you like your coffee and which measurements to use, we can jump into the guide.
The Golden Ratio
Did you know that there is a coffee-to-water ratio that has been scientifically developed to create the perfect cup of coffee?
This is known as the Golden Ratio. The Golden Ratio was developed by the SCAA – Speciality Coffee Association of America. They developed it so that people would have a clear idea of how to mix water and coffee.
The ratio is 1:18, where 1 is coffee and 18 is water.
Therefore, for a standard cup of coffee, we can simply divide the volume by 18 to get how much coffee to use!
One Cup = 150ml = 150 / 18 = 8.3g
As a result, we can now answer our initial question — how many grams of coffee per cup do you need. The commonly accepted measurement is 8.3g of ground coffee per 150ml cup. You can use this as the basis of calculations if you want to make coffee for your friends and family — simply multiply the number of cups by 8.3.
Comparison Table for Grounds and Tablespoons of Coffee
So, we now have the answer: you need 8.3 grams of coffee for each cup. But what if you want to make more than one cup? What if you don’t have any measuring equipment to use?
To help, we have converted the golden ratio into tablespoons of coffee which is a much easier and universal measurement to use.
- 1 Cup of Coffee (150ml) = 8.3g of coffee = 1.6 tablespoons
- 2 Cups of Coffee (300ml) = 16.6g of coffee = 3.2 tablespoons
- 5 Cups of Coffee (750ml) = 41.5g of coffee = 8 tablespoons
- 10 Cups of Coffee (1500ml) = 83g of coffee = 16 tablespoons
- 12 Cups of Coffee (1800ml) = 99.6g of coffee = 18.2 tablespoons
Now, this may still not seem easy. How do you measure 0.6 tablespoons of coffee, for example?
The commonly accepted measure is that 1 tablespoon of coffee is equal to approximately 5 grams of coffee. A level tablespoon of coffee is generally less than this and equals approximately 4 grams of coffee. Alternatively, a rounded/heaped tablespoon of coffee is approximately 7 grams.
As you can see, using tablespoons of coffee can create some inconsistency. To be consistent, you have to work out how many tablespoons to use and remain consistent with how much you fill your spoon.
For the most accurate results, it is much more reliable to use weighing scales and weigh the number of ground beans or ground coffee exactly. There is no room for error here — if you get the weight right, you make your coffee right!
How to Brew Great Coffee — Tips and Advice
You should now have a brilliant idea of how much coffee to use! To help further in your brewing endeavours, we have provided some simple tips below.
Water Temperature Is Crucial
This may seem obvious, but the water temperature is more important than you may think.
The temperature of the water and brewing method affects how much coffee is extracted from the ground coffee and is distilled into your drink.
The ideal water temperature for brewing your coffee is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit or 90 to 96 degrees Celsius.
If you brew using water colder than this, you may find that your coffee is weak. Alternatively, if you brew with boiling water at a much higher temperature than this, you may find that the flavour and quality of the coffee are lost.
Measuring Coffee Gives Consistently Great Results
If you want your cup of coffee to taste amazing every time, measurements are essential.
Over time, you may be able to measure by eye and not need to be as precise. However, to start, we advise measuring how much coffee you use. This will make sure that you can enjoy your cup of coffee to the maximum each time!
Pro tip: a digital scale is the best way to make sure your coffee-to-water ratio is consistent. Measuring spoons scoop different amounts based on the density of the coffee beans.
— nprcoffeeclub (@nprcoffeeclub) April 5, 2022
Using the Right Grinder Is Also Important
If you are using whole coffee beans instead of coffee grounds, you will have to use a coffee grinder.
It is important to use a high-quality grinder and the right type. This can greatly affect your coffee-making experience and the quality of your drink.
Ideally, you should use a burr or mill grinder. These grinders provide better consistency. As a result, you can be more accurate when measuring your coffee.
A Percolator Can Help Save on Costs of Coffee Grinds and Coffee Beans
There are many different ways you can create coffee — coffee machines, drip coffee, instant coffee, or a percolator, for example. These different methods all have their pros and cons.
One of the most effective methods to use in terms of cost is the percolator. Using a percolator means that you recycle a large percentage of the coffee beans or coffee grounds.
This is because you do not have to empty the percolator after each use. Instead, you can simply top it up with some freshly roasted beans or coffee grounds each time you use it.
However, bear in mind that percolator coffee is usually stronger. Also, it can be trickier to get the correct amount of coffee as you have to account for the used beans/grounds already at the bottom of the percolator.
Do What Works for You!
Our last tip is to use the brewing method, measurements, and type of coffee that works for you! We have given you guidelines for using the ideal amount of coffee.
However, after testing this, you may find that it doesn’t work for you, and you don’t like the coffee taste. That’s fine — as a result, whether you are using a coffee machine, espresso machine, or percolator, do what works for you.
Coffee Grounds FAQs
Is it possible to get the amount of coffee wrong?
Not really. Remember that these measurements and ratios are purely guidelines. There is no absolute method you must achieve. Worst case scenario, you simply create one cup of coffee that is too strong or too weak. Simply adjust your measurements and try again — your next coffee brewing experience should be better!
What are coffee beans measurement conversions?
While one cup (150ml) typically requires 8.3g of ground coffee, this equates to approximately 70 coffee beans. Remember that a tablespoon of coffee beans contains roughly 4-7g of coffee. This is an approximation, however, and obviously depends on the size of the beans and the cup!
Just the Right Java
We hope you have benefited from this article on how many teaspoons of coffee per cup to use. Making coffee is an art form! It takes skills, practise, and patience to brew coffee perfectly.
The key is to understand the basics, such as the ideal coffee to water ratio and how much ground coffee in a cup is used for different strength brews. However, the most important thing is that you use brewing methods and ratios that produce great coffee that you enjoy!
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Tom is a former chef turned full-time food blogger. He has always been passionate about food, and loves nothing more than experimenting in the kitchen and sharing his recipes with others. Tom’s blog is one of the most popular food blogs on the internet, and he has won numerous awards for his cooking. When he’s not blogging or cooking, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.