A simple guide to coffee-to-water ratios

Read a ratio as a recipe

A 1:16 ratio means one gram of coffee for every sixteen grams of brewing water. For 20 grams of coffee, that is 320 grams of water. It describes the water you add, not the final drink weight: some water stays in the grounds.

Try a starting point

For filter coffee, 1:16 is a useful experiment rather than a rule. Brew one cup, record the result and change only one variable next time. Espresso ratios use beverage yield and should not be interpreted the same way.

• 15 g coffee + 240 g water: a small brew.
• 20 g coffee + 320 g water: a larger brew.
• 30 g coffee + 480 g water: enough to share, depending on serving size.

Change strength deliberately

If the drink seems too concentrated, try a little more water relative to the same dose. If it seems weak, try less. Sourness and bitterness can also involve grind, temperature and extraction, so changing the ratio does not fix every problem.

Keep a short brewing note

Write down the bean, dose, water amount, grind setting and what you tasted. A few clear notes are more useful than changing every setting at once.