Can’t figure out how much coffee you need for 4 cups or a full pot?! Here’s a helpful chart.
If you have your coffee down to a science, and you always use a scale for your morning brew, you probably don’t need this. But, if you’re a regular person, I want to show you how easy it can be. Anyone can succeed in making impressive coffee at home using the chart below!
conversions
1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons = 1 standard coffee scoop
volume equivalents
1/8 cup = 1 ounce = single espresso shot
1/4 cup = 2 ounces = double espresso shot
1/2 cup = 4 ounces
1 standard cup = 8 ounces
carafe, 1 cup = 5 ounces
How much coffee per cup in grams
8 oz water + 14-15 grams of coffee
10 oz water + 18-19 grams
12 oz water + 22-23 grams
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup
Standard cup in US measurement is 8 fl ounces, while a cup on your coffee maker is 5 fl ounces. If you set your brewer to make 2 cups, you get 10 ounces of coffee. So, a full 12 cup pot is actually 7.5 regular 8-ounce cups.
This ratio makes a really good, strong cup of coffee. You can use less coffee depending on your taste or coffee roast level.
if measuring in 5 fl oz cups, use:
1 cup = 5 oz water + 1 heaping tbsp coffee
2 cups = 10 oz water + 2 1/2 tbsp coffee
3 cups = 15 oz water + 4 tbsp coffee
4 cups = 20 oz water + 5 tbsp coffee
5 cups = 25 oz water + 6 tbsp coffee
6 cups = 30 oz water + 7 1/2 tbsp coffee
7 cups = 35 oz water + 9 tbsp coffee
8 cups = 40 oz water + 10 tbsp coffee
9 cups = 45 oz water + 11 tbsp coffee
10 cups = 50 oz water + 12 1/2 tbsp coffee
11 cups = 55 oz water + 14 tbsp coffee
12 cups = 60 oz water + 15 tbsp coffee
Note: For medium strong coffee, use 1 tbsp coffee for every cup. For example, for a full 12 cup pot you will need 12 tbsp of coffee, not 15.
for 8 ounce cups use:
1 cup = 8 oz water + 2 tbsp coffee
2 cups = 16 oz water + 4 tbsp coffee
3 cups = 24 oz water + 6 tbsp coffee
4 cups = 32 oz water + 8 tbsp coffee
5 cups = 40 oz water + 10 tbsp coffee
for 10 ounce cups use:
1 cup = 10 oz water + 2 1/2 tbsp coffee
2 cups = 20 oz water + 5 tbsp coffee
3 cups = 30 oz water + 7 1/2 tbsp coffee
4 cups = 40 oz water + 10 tbsp coffee
5 cups = 50 oz water + 12 1/2 tbsp coffee
for 12 ounce cups use:
1 cup = 12 oz water + 3 tbsp coffee
2 cups = 24 oz water + 6 tbsp coffee
3 cups = 36 oz water + 9 tbsp coffee
4 cups = 48 oz water + 12 tbsp coffee
for 16 ounce cups use:
1 cup = 16 oz water + 4 tbsp coffee
2 cups = 32 oz water + 8 tbsp coffee
3 cups = 48 oz water + 12 tbsp coffee
4 cups = 64 oz water + 16 tbsp coffee
BEST COFFEE GRIND FOR:
French press – coarse, as breadcrumbs
Pour over – fine to medium
Drip coffee maker – medium, as beach sand
Espresso machine – extra fine
Reusable k-cup – medium, drip grind
coffee recipes
If you love coffee as much as I do, here’s a list of delicious coffee recipes that you can easily make at home.
make better coffee at home
Here are a few of my favorite hacks that will help you make better coffee at home, without spending a dime!
Robi Gurganus
If I try to make more than a half pot of coffee (6-7 cups) in either of my machines the water overflows the basket and I end up with a lot of coffee grounds in my morning joe. They are both drip type, an Electrolux carafe and a Cuisinart carafeless. I’m buying pre ground coffee at the supermarket. Are these typically ground too fine to allow the water to pass thru quick enough in this type of machine? It certainly looked finer than average beach sand.
Danijela
Hi Rob, that doesn’t sound right. Which brand do you use? Make sure it doesn’t say espresso ground coffee because that’s too fine. You need classic ground coffee, pretty much like beach sand and even coarser, like Kosher salt. Any ground coffee like Folgers or Dunkin’ Donuts ground will work. Avoid espresso ground coffee like Cafe Bustelo.
Missy
Thank so much for all of the conversions! I’m trying to get away from my Kcup machine but been having no success on getting my coffe right in my grin n brew. I’ve been so frustrated, but this makes it all so much clearer! Thank you!,,
Laela
Wow! I assumed we would use more grounds than that. I have a Bunn coffee maker and every morning I pour about 25 fl. oz. (“5 cups”)of water into the reservoir and scoop a half a cup of coffee grounds. I only get about 2 1/2 true cups, but usually only drink 2. Also I use creamer so my coffee has to be strong!
Anna Bolster
For a 12 cup coffee maker 12 ounces if water and 6 scoops of coffee or 6 TBLS
Danijela
Hi Anna, for a full 12 cup pot I would use 60 ounces of water and 15 tablespoons of coffee if you like your coffee strong. If you like medium coffee, use 60 ounces water and 12 tablespoons of coffee.