Live brew table
Coffee and water in common units
| Ingredient | Metric | US customary |
|---|---|---|
| Ground coffee | 29.9401 g | 1.0561 oz |
| Brewing water | 500 mL (0.5 L) | 16.907 fl oz (2.1134 cups) |
| Ratio | 1:16.7 coffee to water by mass | |
Quick example
How much coffee for 500 mL of water?
At a 1:16.7 ratio, divide 500 g of water by 16.7. The result is about 29.94 g of coffee, or 1.06 oz. For everyday brewing, this calculator treats 500 mL of water as approximately 500 g.
Reading the ratio
One part coffee to N parts water
A 1:16 ratio means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of brewing water. Because a ratio describes proportions, 15 g coffee with 240 g water and 30 g coffee with 480 g water are both 1:16 brews.
1:15
Uses more coffee per unit of water than the other presets.
1:16
A simple middle starting point that is easy to scale mentally.
1:16.7
Equivalent to 60 g of coffee per liter of water.
1:18
Uses less coffee per unit of water than the other presets.
These are starting points, not promises about flavor. Brewing method, grind, roast, water, temperature, contact time, and personal preference all affect the cup.
Input is not yield
Finished beverage weight will be lower
The result reports the water you put into the brewer. Coffee grounds retain some water, and the filter or brewer can retain more, so the drink in your cup usually weighs less. This tool does not estimate that loss because it varies by coffee, grind, dose, and brewing equipment.
Method & sources
How the conversions are calculated
The Specialty Coffee Association describes 60 g of coffee per liter of water as a 1:16.7 water-to-coffee ratio in its brewing-water guidance. Its Certified Home Brewer requirements use 55 g/L as an evaluation starting point. Neither number replaces recipe-specific instructions or taste.
US fluid-ounce, cup, and avoirdupois-ounce conversions use the official factors in the NIST Guide to the SI. For kitchen practicality, the calculator approximates 1 mL of water as 1 g; actual water density changes slightly with temperature.
Common questions
Coffee-to-water ratio FAQ
What does a 1:16 ratio mean?
Use 16 grams of brewing water for every 1 gram of coffee. A 30 g coffee dose therefore pairs with 480 g water.
How much coffee should I use for 500 mL water?
At 1:16.7, use about 29.94 g coffee. Change the ratio if your recipe or taste calls for a different strength.
Should I measure coffee by weight or volume?
Weight is more repeatable because the volume of ground coffee changes with bean, roast, grind, and how densely it is packed.
Will 500 g of water make 500 g of brewed coffee?
No. Grounds and equipment retain some water, so the finished beverage will normally weigh less than the water you start with.