Coffee Brew Guide & Ratio Calculator
Dial in the perfect cup with exact coffee-to-water ratios, grind size, water temperature and step-by-step guides for espresso, pour over, AeroPress, French press, moka pot, cold brew and Turkish coffee.
Filter / Pour Over
Medium
- Place filter in dripper and rinse thoroughly with hot water to remove paper taste. Discard the rinse water.
- Add grounds and gently shake to level the bed.
- Bloom: pour 2–3x the coffee weight in water (e.g. 40–60ml for 20g). Wait 30–45 seconds until bubbling slows.
- Continue pouring the remaining water in slow, concentric circles, keeping water away from the filter walls.
- Total brew time should be 3–4 minutes. Grind finer if it brews too fast, coarser if too slow.
A gooseneck kettle gives you precise control over pour speed and placement — it makes a noticeable difference to evenness of extraction.
Coffee brewing: frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee-to-water ratio?
A good starting point is 1:16, meaning 1 gram of coffee to 16 grams (ml) of water, for filter and pour over. Espresso is far more concentrated at around 1:2, while French press and cold brew sit near 1:12 to 1:15. Use the calculator above to scale any ratio to your batch size.
How much coffee do I use per cup?
For a standard 250ml cup at a 1:16 ratio, use about 15 to 16g of coffee. Want it stronger? Move toward 1:15. Milder? Try 1:17. The calculator does the maths for any cup size.
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
The commonly cited golden ratio is between 1:15 and 1:18 (coffee to water) for filter brewing. It is a guideline rather than a rule, so adjust to taste and to your beans and roast level.
What grind size should I use?
Espresso is fine, pour over and filter are medium, French press is coarse, cold brew is extra coarse, moka pot and AeroPress are medium-fine, and Turkish is powder-fine. Pick a method in the calculator to see the recommended grind.
Does the ratio change for espresso?
Yes. Espresso is measured as a brew ratio of dose to yield, typically 1:2, for example 18g in and 36g out over 25 to 30 seconds. Switch the calculator to Espresso to dial it in.