How Much Coffee Grounds Per Cup of Water?

One of the most common questions you may be wondering when it comes to using your coffee maker is how much coffee grounds per cup of water.  This question requires a bit of detail to answer, but don't worry!  We also have a great infographic to make it easy to understand!

How Much Coffee Grounds Per Cup of Water?

When it comes to how much coffee grounds to use in your drip coffee maker, the answer you get varies on a couple things.

For the definitive answer, we turned to the National Coffee Association USA.

According to them:

The golden ratio of coffee is 1 to 2 Tablespoons per 6 ounces of water

Here's what we need to know about this.

First and fore most, notice they say 6 ounces of water.  It is generally accepted that a cup of coffee can be 6 ounces, and many coffee makers may use this measurement on their lines.

But come on, who actually pays attention to this?  It is like the imperial vs metric debate, to me a cup of coffee is 8 ounces, just like a cup of anything else.

The next is the tablespoon measurement.  Many people use a coffee scoop like this to measure their coffee:

1Easylife Endurance 18/8 Stainless Steel Coffee Scoop, 2 Tablespoon (30ML) Exact, Pack of One
  • ★ BUILT TO LAST FOREVER: The 2 Tbsp coffee scoop is 1.8mm thickness and made of one solid piece of 18/8 (304) stainless steel with mirror polished finish, so it NEVER BREAK, BEND OR RUST and Last Forever. DISHWASHER SAFE. Now, buying 1Easylife Coffee Scoop to Save Your Money without replacing it!
  • ★ ERGONOMIC DESIGN: The U.S and metric measurement is ENGRAVED on the reasonable direction of the handle to keep you from guessing the volume and read directly. An indentation at the top of the handle makes it comfortable to hold with the forefinger and thumb.
  • ★ 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: We offer a 2-year-warranty plus lifetime warranty to make you happy and satisfied with our product, if you're not satisfied with your purchase, Simply let us know and you'll be offered a FULL Refund or Replacement, No Questions Asked.

A coffee scoop is equal to 2 tablespoons, which is something handy to keep in the back of your mind.

With measurements like scoops and 6 ounce cups, things can get a little crazy.

You can also see that a range of coffee grounds is suggested when it comes to how much coffee grounds to use.

This is so you can tailor your coffee to your preferences.  Some people like things weaker, some people like things stronger, it all comes down to personal preference!

How Many Tablespoons of Coffee Per Cup of Water?

No coffee scoop?  No problem.

While a scoop is popular, it is just 2 Tablespoons.  Divide the number of scoops you need to use by 2, and you are back to the unit of Tablespoons.

How Much Coffee Grounds for 1 Cup?

Since the golden coffee ratio is built on a 6 ounce cup, things can get tricky when you just want to make 1 8 ounce cup.

When it comes to a 1 cup of coffee, use 2 to 4 teaspoons of coffee grounds.  Yes you read that right, teaspoons!

Remember, 4 teaspoons is 1 tablespoon, so for a strong cup of coffee you can use 1 tablespoon of grounds for 2 1 cup of coffee.

How Much Coffee Grounds Per Cup of Water, The Infographic

I created this infographic to give you the easiest measurements possible.

In this infographic on coffee grounds and water, we use coffee scoops and 8 ounce cups of coffee.

We also tell you how the cup converts to ounces!

If you are looking for easy coffee measurements, this is the guide to use.  We even included measurements for grounds for 1 cup as coffee in an easy form to consume.

coffee grounds per cup easy measurement guide drip coffee

Enjoy your coffee!

Leave a Comment