There are just two things needed to make a great cup of coffee: ground coffee and water. Getting the right coffee to water ratio is essential to delivering the perfect cup of coffee. The main issue with answering the question of which is the correct ratio is that everyone is going to have a different opinion.
There will be some trial and error involved in finding the ratio which is ideal for you. It can help if you have some guidance to act as a starting point from which you can make changes as you wish.
What Is The Recommended Ratio Of Coffee To Water?
The word ratio can make it sound as if complicated mathematical equations are needed, but working it out is actually a simple process. It can also be adapted to whether you are making a pot of coffee for the family, or just a single cup for yourself.
1:16 is often recommended as a good coffee to water ratio. This means you need to use 1 part coffee to 16 parts water.
The best way to ensure you have the right measurements is to use a scale. If you do not have access to a scale, then two tablespoons of coffee and six ounces of water should give you a ratio that is close to 1:16. For the perfect tasting cup of coffee, the water should be heated to around 93 degrees Celsius.
If you want to get a cup of coffee that has the ideal taste and aroma, then the key to this is getting the extraction just right. There should be enough water to enable all the ground coffee to completely dissolve. The ultimate goal is to make sure that there is nothing left behind in the filter.
The first time that you have a cup of coffee that really amazes you, you will understand that it is much more than just a way to get some caffeine into your system. It is something that you will want to carry on experiencing.
Improvising With The Ratio
The 1:16 ratio can be used successfully with most methods of brewing coffee. However, you may find that you need to change the amount of coffee you use depending on the size of the grind and how long you want the brew to last.
Something else that you will need to consider is adjusting the amount of coffee if you take milk or creamer. If this is the case, then you may want to increase the amount of coffee that is used so you still get the same taste.
Suggested ratios for different types of coffee and brewing methods can be found below.
Chemex – 45 grams of coffee and 25 oz (750 grams) of water.
Pourover – 28 grams of coffee and 16 oz (453 grams) of water.
Cold Brew – 1 cup of coffee and 1 quart (950grams) of water which has been filtered.
French Press – 52 grams of coffee and 32 oz (907 grams) of water.
When you are first starting to experiment with ratios, then single origin coffees are often the best type to use. Coffees from different regions have distinct flavours and getting the ratio right can really help you discover these flavours.
If it is the method of brewing that you are experimenting with, then a blended coffee is the best choice. This is because you will discover different flavours when the coffee is brewed in different ways.
The key to finding the perfect cup of coffee for you is remembering that there are no hard and fast rules. What works for you may not be to someone else’s taste. There are no rights and wrongs when it comes to coffee, and there can be a lot of fun to be had in experimenting with different strengths and brewing methods.