Coffee Abacus – Free Coffee Brew Ratio Calculator for Every Method

Coffee Abacusprecision coffee, simplified
g

↔Tap or press & drag

ml

↔Tap or press & drag

↔Tap or press & drag

Understanding Coffee Ratios

A coffee ratio describes the relationship between the amount of coffee grounds you use and the amount of water you brew with. It is written as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 1:16 — meaning for every one gram of coffee, you use sixteen grams of water. This simple concept is the foundation of consistent brewing. With a ratio and a kitchen scale, you can reproduce your favorite cup reliably every time.

Ratios work because extraction — the process of dissolving flavor compounds from ground coffee into water — depends heavily on the concentration of coffee relative to water. The most commonly recommended starting point is 1:16, often called the golden ratio. It produces a well-balanced cup that highlights a coffee's natural sweetness and complexity without being too strong or too weak.

Different brewing methods work best within specific ratio ranges. Pour-over brewers like the V60 and Chemex typically shine between 1:15 and 1:17, where the controlled flow rate extracts clean, nuanced flavors. Immersion methods like the French Press benefit from slightly stronger ratios around 1:14 to 1:16, since the longer steep time allows for fuller extraction. The AeroPress is incredibly versatile, performing well across a wide range from 1:13 to 1:16 depending on whether you prefer a concentrated espresso-style shot or a longer Americano-style cup.

Your personal taste preference matters most. If you enjoy bold, intense coffee, start with a 1:14 or 1:15 ratio and adjust from there. If you prefer something lighter and more approachable, try 1:17 or 1:18. The key is consistency — once you find a ratio you love, use a scale to measure precisely, and you will brew an excellent cup every single time. Our calculator above makes this effortless by computing exact gram measurements for any ratio you choose.

Brewer Guide

V60 (Hario)

Ratio: 1:15–1:172:30 – 3:30

The V60 is the quintessential pour-over brewer, prized for producing clean, nuanced cups that highlight a coffee's origin character. Its 60-degree cone angle and spiral ribs allow air to escape during brewing, giving you full control over flow rate and extraction. The V60 rewards precision — small changes in pour technique, grind size, and timing produce noticeably different results.

GrindMedium-fine
Temperature95–100°C (just off the boil)
Brew Time2:30 – 3:30

Brewing Technique

  1. 1Rinse the paper filter with hot water to remove paper taste and preheat the brewer. Discard the rinse water.
  2. 2Add medium-fine ground coffee and level the bed. Use about 30g of coffee for 500g of water.
  3. 3Start the bloom: pour roughly twice the coffee weight in water (60g), then swirl the V60 to saturate all grounds evenly. Wait 45 seconds.
  4. 4Pour steadily in concentric circles to reach 60% of your total water (300g) by around 1:15.
  5. 5Continue pouring more slowly to reach your target weight (500g) by 1:45.
  6. 6Give a gentle stir — once clockwise, once counterclockwise — then swirl the brewer to flatten the bed.
  7. 7Allow the drawdown to complete. The total brew should finish around 3:00–3:30.

Pro Tips

  • James Hoffmann recommends the plastic V60 over ceramic — it retains heat better during the brew and is nearly unbreakable.
  • Dial in by adjusting grind size only. Keep your ratio, water temperature, and technique constant so you change one variable at a time.
  • The swirl after pouring is key — it levels the coffee bed for even extraction and eliminates high-and-dry grounds clinging to the filter walls.
  • Lance Hedrick's "121 method" uses a 2-minute bloom (much longer than standard) for deeper saturation before a single main pour. Try it if your cups taste under-extracted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best coffee-to-water ratio?

The widely recommended starting point is 1:16, often called the golden ratio. This means one gram of coffee for every sixteen grams of water. It produces a balanced cup that highlights a coffee's natural sweetness and complexity. From there, adjust to taste: try 1:15 for a bolder brew or 1:17 for something lighter and more delicate.

How does grind size affect my coffee?

Grind size controls how quickly water extracts flavor from the coffee grounds. Finer grinds expose more surface area and extract faster, which suits short brew times like espresso or AeroPress. Coarser grinds extract more slowly and work best with longer immersion methods like French Press. Using the wrong grind size for your brewer can result in bitter over-extraction or weak under-extraction.

What water temperature should I use for pour-over?

For pour-over brewing, water between 195°F and 205°F (90°C to 96°C) is ideal. Water that is too hot over-extracts bitter compounds, while water that is too cool under-extracts, producing a sour or flat taste. A good rule of thumb is to bring water to a boil and then let it rest for 30 to 45 seconds before pouring.

How much coffee do I need for multiple cups?

Simply multiply your single-cup recipe by the number of cups. For example, if you use 18 grams of coffee at a 1:16 ratio for one cup (288 grams of water), two cups would need 36 grams of coffee and 576 grams of water. Our calculator makes scaling effortless — just enter your total coffee amount and the water measurement updates instantly.

What's the difference between immersion and percolation brewing?

Immersion brewing, like French Press, steeps all the coffee grounds in water for a set time before filtering. This produces a full-bodied, rich cup. Percolation brewing, like pour-over with a V60 or Chemex, passes water through a bed of grounds by gravity. This typically yields a cleaner, more nuanced cup with brighter acidity and less sediment.

Why should I use a scale instead of measuring scoops?

Coffee beans vary in size and density depending on origin, roast level, and grind size. A scoop of light-roasted beans weighs differently than the same scoop of dark-roasted beans. A digital scale measures by weight, which ensures precision and repeatability every time you brew. Once you find a ratio you love, a scale lets you reproduce it exactly.