What does a 1:16 coffee ratio mean?

1:16 means 1 g coffee to 16 g input water: 15 g coffee and 240 g water. The filtered drink will weigh less because grounds retain liquid.

Should I change ratio or grind first?

Treat sour or bitter taste as a clue, not proof of extraction. Check dose, water, roast and flow, change one variable at a time, then compare with your previous cup.

Do I need a scale to use a coffee ratio?

A scale is the most repeatable option. The calculator gives a gram target, while spoon or cup measurements are only rough approximations and vary with the coffee.

Coffee Ratio Calculator — Coffee Methods

Use this when you know the water amount and need repeatable grams. The calculator uses the same rule as the guides: water ml ÷ ratio number = coffee grams, rounded to 0.1 g. Tablespoons are shown only as a fallback, using roughly 5 g per level tablespoon.

Presets this calculator actually uses

Data table
Preset	Ratio	Example output	Best next step
V60 / pour over	1:16	300 ml → 18.8 g	Run the V60 timer
French press	1:15	300 ml → 20 g	Run the French press timer
AeroPress	1:14	210 ml → 15 g	Run the AeroPress timer
Moka pot	1:10	300 ml → 30 g	Fill the basket level; do not tamp
Cold brew concentrate	1:8	800 ml → 100 g	Dilute finished concentrate before drinking
Espresso yield	1:2	36 g out → 18 g in	Treat the number as liquid yield, not brew water

Change ratio only after grind and time are close. If the cup is sour, bitter, or muddy, use the coffee troubleshooter before adding more coffee.

See the full coffee to water ratio guide for method exceptions and taste adjustments.