Fellow
Fellow Ode Gen 2 Review
A single-dose grinder built specifically for pour-over and filter coffee enthusiasts — not intended for espresso.
Updated
French Press Ratio Calculator: Coffee to Water
Pick your French press size and strength to get the exact coarse-ground coffee and water to use. Ratios from 1:12 to 1:15, every time.
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How much coffee in a French press? Calculate it
1:13.5 · Balanced
Strong (1:12)Light (1:15)
Coarse-ground coffee
Balanced37.0g
Water just off boil
500ml
Water in oz
16.9oz
Approx. tbsp
7.4tbsp
Steep time
4 min
Coffee to water by weight
1
13.5
Brew timeline
Pour + stir
0:00
Steep
4:00
Press + pour
right away
Strength
StrongLight
Next: Cup is off? Adjust steep time in 30-second steps before changing the ratio.
The math behind the calculator
The calculator solves coffee (g) = water (ml) ÷ ratio, using a stronger 1:12–1:15 range than drip coffee's 1:15–1:18. French press needs less water per gram of coffee because the grounds stay in full contact with the water for the entire steep — there's no filtering-as-you-go the way a drip machine or pour-over works.
The press size presets convert directly to water volume using each size's standard capacity, so picking a preset just plugs a known water amount into the same ratio formula rather than doing anything different mathematically.
How to use the result
- 1Pick your press size and strength.
- 2Add coarse grounds, pour water just off the boil, stir.
- 3Steep 4 minutes, press, and pour right away.
Common mistakes
- Grinding too fine: sediment and bitterness.
- Water straight off a rolling boil: let it rest about 30 seconds.
- Leaving coffee on the grounds after pressing.
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, so the ratio works by weight.
- Press sizes are the volumes printed by most makers (12, 17 and 34 oz); fill to just below the top band.
- A level tablespoon of coarse ground coffee is taken as about 5 g; weigh it when you can.
- Grounds hold back roughly twice their own weight, so the brewed coffee is a little less than the water you pour.
- Steep time is the common 4-minute starting point; adjust by taste.
Get the Coarse, Even Grind French Press Needs
A blade grinder produces uneven chunks that clog the mesh filter and leave sediment in the cup. These burr grinders give the uniform coarse grind French press depends on.
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An electric grinder with factory-aligned 64mm flat burrs and very low retention, built for single-dose espresso workflows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy.
What is the best coffee-to-water ratio for a French press?
Most French press recipes land between 1:12 and 1:15, noticeably stronger than the 1:16-1:18 used for drip coffee.
A balanced starting point is 1:13.5 — a full-bodied cup without going syrupy.
Go toward 1:12 for a bolder cup or 1:15 if 1:13.5 tastes too heavy.
Why is French press coffee usually stronger than drip?
Because the grounds sit fully immersed in water for the entire brew instead of having water pass through them once, and there's no paper filter removing oils and fine particles.
Both effects add body and strength, so a French press ratio that matched drip's 1:16 would taste thin by comparison.
How long should I steep a French press?
4 minutes is the standard steep time at a ratio in the 1:12-1:15 range, with water just off the boil (around 200°F / 93°C).
If it tastes over-extracted or bitter at 4 minutes, shorten the steep in 30-second increments rather than changing the ratio first.
Should I use a coarser grind for French press?
Yes — a coarse, uniform grind (similar to sea salt) is essential.
A finer grind slips through the mesh filter into your cup and over-extracts during the long steep, producing sediment and bitterness regardless of how carefully the ratio was measured.
How much coffee do I put in a 34 oz French press?
A 34 oz press holds roughly 1,000 ml, so at 1:13.5 you need about 74 g of coffee.
Use the press size preset above to get the exact figure for your strength, since press capacities vary slightly by brand.
Why is there sludge at the bottom of my French press cup?
Fine particles pass through the mesh filter, mostly from a grind that's too fine or uneven.
Grind coarser with a burr grinder, pour gently, and leave the last sip in the cup.
See our guide to burr vs blade grinders for why uniformity matters.
What water temperature is best for French press?
Water just off the boil, around 200°F (93°C), is a good default for French press.
Much cooler water pulls less flavor and tastes thin; let boiling water sit about 30 seconds first.
Our coffee water temperature calculator adjusts for roast and altitude.
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