Best Coffee Ratios for Beginners

Choosing the right coffee-to-water ratio is the single most important step in improving your home brew. If you’ve ever had a cup that tasted too weak (under-extracted) or too bitter (over-extracted), the ratio was likely the culprit.

What is a Coffee Ratio?

A coffee ratio is simply the relationship between the weight of your dry coffee grounds and the weight of your brewing water. It is usually expressed as 1:X, where 1 is the coffee and X is the water.

The Golden Ratio: 1:17

For most beginners, we recommend starting with a 1:17 ratio. This means for every 1 gram of coffee, you use 17 grams of water.

Why 1:17?

• It provides a balanced extraction.
• It is forgiving of minor technique errors.
• It highlights the natural sweetness of the beans.

How to Calculate Your Ratio

If you want to brew a standard 300ml (300g) cup of coffee:

1. Divide your total water by the ratio: 300 / 17 = 17.6
2. You need approximately 18g of coffee.

Common Ratios for Different Methods

Method	Recommended Ratio
Pour Over	1:15 to 1:17
French Press	1:12 to 1:15
AeroPress	1:10 to 1:15
Cold Brew	1:4 to 1:8

Next Steps

Start with 1:17 and adjust from there. If the coffee is too strong, try 1:18. If it’s too weak, try 1:16.