Fellow
Fellow Ode Gen 2 Review
A single-dose grinder built specifically for pour-over and filter coffee enthusiasts — not intended for espresso.
Updated
Coffee to Water Ratio Calculator & Chart
Get the exact coffee and water amounts for the strength you want, in grams, tablespoons and coffee-maker cups. Works for drip, pour-over, French press and cold brew concentrate.
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Calculate your ratio
ml
1:16.0 · Balanced
Concentrate (1:8)Light (1:20)
Espresso is measured differently (dose to shot weight, about 1:2). Use the espresso yield calculator.
Coffee needed
Balanced55.4g
Coffee in oz
2.0oz
Approx. tbsp
11.1tbsp
Water (ml)
887ml
Water (fl oz)
30.0fl oz
Machine cups
6.0
8 oz mugs
3.7
Coffee to water by weight
1
16
Strength
ConcentrateStrongBalancedLight
Next: Too weak, move toward 1:15; too intense, toward 1:17. Change one thing at a time.
The math behind the calculator
The calculator solves one equation in either direction: water (ml) = coffee (g) × ratio, or coffee (g) = water (ml) ÷ ratio. Because 1 ml of water weighs 1 g, the ratio works by weight on both sides. 1:16 is the common middle ground for drip and pour-over; 1:15 is bolder, 1:17 lighter.
Coffee makers mark their carafes in cups of about 5 fl oz, not the 8 fl oz measuring cup, so a "12-cup" machine holds about 60 fl oz. The result shows both: coffee-maker cups for filling the reservoir, and 8 oz mugs for what you will actually pour. Mixing the two up is the most common reason home drip coffee comes out weak.
How to use the result
- 1Weigh the coffee and water with a kitchen scale, not scoops.
- 2Brew and taste before changing anything.
- 3Too weak or too strong? Move the strength slider one notch.
Common mistakes
- Measuring with scoops instead of weight.
- Reading a 5 fl oz coffee-maker cup as an 8 oz mug.
- Blaming the ratio when the grind is too coarse or fine.
What this calculator assumes
Every fixed figure the maths uses, so you can check the result against your own gear.
- Water is taken as 1 g per ml, which is what lets a weight ratio work from a volume of water.
- Ratios are coffee to water by weight: 1:16 means 1 g of coffee for every 16 g (16 ml) of water.
- A coffee-maker "cup" is 5 fl oz (about 148 ml). Some brands use slightly different cups, so check your carafe markings.
- A mug is taken as 8 fl oz (about 237 ml).
- A level tablespoon of medium-ground coffee is taken as about 5 g. Grind, roast and how heaped the spoon is can move this by 20% or more, so weigh when you can.
- Ratios apply to the water you pour in. Grounds hold back roughly twice their own weight, so the brewed volume is always a little less.
- Espresso is not covered: it is measured as dry dose to liquid shot weight, around 1:2.
Coffee ratio chart by brew method
Common starting ratios by weight. Start in the middle and adjust by taste.
| Method | Ratio range | Start at | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee maker | 1:15 to 1:17 | 1:16 | This calculator |
| Pour-over (any dripper) | 1:15 to 1:17 | 1:16 | Open |
| Hario V60 | 1:15 to 1:17 | 1:16 | Open |
| Chemex | 1:15 to 1:17 | 1:16 | Open |
| French press | 1:12 to 1:15 | 1:14 | Open |
| AeroPress | 1:12 to 1:17 | 1:15 | Open |
| Cold brew concentrate | 1:4 to 1:8 | 1:5 | Open |
| Moka pot | about 1:10 (set by the pot) | fill the basket level | Open |
| Espresso (dose to shot) | 1:1.5 to 1:2.5 | 1:2 | Open |
How much coffee for 12 cups, or any other size?
At the standard 1:16 ratio. Coffee-maker cups are 5 fl oz; tablespoons are approximate.
| Amount | Water | Coffee | Approx. tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 coffee-maker cup | 5 fl oz (148 ml) | 9 g | 1.8 |
| 2 coffee-maker cups | 10 fl oz (296 ml) | 18 g | 3.7 |
| 4 coffee-maker cups | 20 fl oz (591 ml) | 37 g | 7.4 |
| 6 coffee-maker cups | 30 fl oz (887 ml) | 55 g | 11.1 |
| 8 coffee-maker cups | 40 fl oz (1183 ml) | 74 g | 14.8 |
| 10 coffee-maker cups | 50 fl oz (1479 ml) | 92 g | 18.5 |
| 12 coffee-maker cups | 60 fl oz (1774 ml) | 111 g | 22.2 |
| 1 mug (8 oz) | 8 fl oz (237 ml) | 15 g | 3.0 |
| 2 mugs (8 oz) | 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 30 g | 5.9 |
| 1 liter | 34 fl oz (1,000 ml) | 62 g | 12.5 |
Get a Consistent Grind to Match
A ratio only repeats if the grind does. An inconsistent grind undoes precise measuring fast. These are our top-rated burr grinders for a repeatable cup.
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Drip Machines That Hold a Ratio Well
A good drip machine heats water to brewing temperature and wets the bed evenly, so the ratio you set is the cup you get. These are the drip brewers we rate highest.
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A precision brewer with app-controlled bloom, flow, and temperature per recipe — for enthusiasts who rotate coffees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy.
What is the golden ratio for coffee?
There is no single golden ratio.
The Specialty Coffee Association's Golden Cup guidance works out to roughly 1:18 by weight (about 55 g of coffee per liter), while most home brewers and cafés start nearer 1:15 to 1:17 for a stronger cup.
Start at 1:16 and adjust by taste.
What is the best coffee-to-water ratio for drip coffee?
1:16 (about 62 grams of coffee per liter of water) is the most common starting point for drip and pour-over, and it's the SCA's reference ratio for a reason — it balances strength and clarity for most beans and roast levels.
From there, move toward 1:15 for a bolder cup or 1:17-1:18 if it tastes too strong or bitter.
Should I measure coffee by weight or by scoops?
By weight.
A tablespoon of coffee can vary by 30% or more depending on grind size, bean density, and how packed the scoop is, so two "level scoops" from two different bags rarely brew the same.
A cheap kitchen scale removes that variable entirely and is the single biggest upgrade for a consistent cup.
Does the ratio change for different brewing methods?
Yes. Drip and pour-over usually sit at 1:15 to 1:17, French press runs stronger at about 1:12 to 1:15, and cold brew concentrate is around 1:8 before dilution.
This calculator takes any ratio from 1:8 to 1:20 and has presets for each. Espresso is measured as dose to shot weight (about 1:2), so use the espresso yield calculator for that.
Why does my coffee taste weak even at a 1:15 ratio?
If the ratio is right but the cup still tastes thin, the cause is almost always grind size (too coarse for your brew time pulls less flavor out) or water temperature (should be 195-205°F / 90-96°C).
A ratio calculator gets the strength math right, but extraction — how much flavor actually comes out of the grounds — depends on grind and contact time too.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
About 2 level tablespoons per 6 oz of water at 1:16, or just under 2 per 5 oz coffee-maker cup.
A level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs roughly 5 g, but grind and roast move that by 20% or more, so a scale is more reliable.
The calculator shows an approximate tablespoon figure next to the grams.
How many grams of coffee for 1 liter of water?
At the common 1:16 ratio, 1 liter (1,000 ml) of water takes about 62 g of coffee.
Use 67 g (1:15) for a bolder pot or 55-59 g (1:17-1:18) for a lighter one.
The calculator converts any amount in either direction.
How much coffee for 12 cups?
About 111 g of coffee for a 12-cup coffee maker at 1:16.
A coffee-maker cup is 5 fl oz, so 12 cups is 60 fl oz (about 1,774 ml) of water.
That works out to roughly 22 level tablespoons, but weighing is more reliable.
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