Making filter coffee: The perfect ratio between coffee and water. How many scoops of coffee?

Making filter coffee: The perfect ratio between coffee and water. How many scoops of coffee?

Have you used a filter coffee maker for years but can't get the proportions right? Does the coffee taste different every time? Then you've come to the right place. In this article we share the golden rule for the perfect ratio between water and the number of scoops of coffee.

The correct ratio of ground coffee to water is very important for the taste of the coffee. The fanatics use a scale for this, which gives the most accurate results. But the average coffee drinker has neither the time nor the inclination for this. Don't worry, we make it easy for you.

The golden rule: how many scoops of coffee?

For the average coffee drinker who does not have a scale at home: per 200 ml of water you use a large tablespoon or a coffee scoop, which comes down to about 7 grams of ground coffee.

• Do you like mild coffee? Then use the rule above.
• Do you like fairly strong coffee? Use 2 x a level tablespoon or coffee scoop. This equates to about 10 grams of ground coffee.
• Do you like very strong coffee? Then use 2 x a large tablespoon or coffee scoop, which amounts to about 12 – 14 grams of ground coffee.

cups	How many scoops or tablespoons? (levelled)	How many grams?	Water
1 cup	1.5	7 grams	200ml
2 cups	3	14 grams	400ml
3 cups	4.5	21 grams	600ml
4 cups	6	28 grams	800ml
5 cups (= 1 litre)	7.5	35 grams	1000ml

Tip: do you have different preferences at home regarding the strength of the coffee? Then make the coffee stronger and add some extra water later for a mild coffee. This way you don't have to make coffee twice.

How much water for the perfect ratio?

You can read the amount of water directly in the water reservoir. This often shows the number of cups and the number of millimeters. Most coffee makers use 100 to 150 ml per cup of coffee. We find this very little, since most cups of coffee are a lot larger in size. That is why we use 200 ml per cup.

If you like to drink a large mug of coffee, stick to 300 to 400 ml.

Disclaimer: keep this in mind

The ratios between the amount of coffee and water above are guidelines. There are a number of things to keep in mind:

• Grinding degree of ground coffee: coarsely ground coffee takes up more space than finely ground coffee, so a tablespoon of finely ground coffee weighs a little more.
• Coffee roasting degree: dark roasted coffee is less dense than light roasted coffee. A tablespoon of dark roast coffee weighs about 5 grams, while a tablespoon of light roast coffee weighs about 6 grams. (source: reddit ).

How many cups of coffee from 1 kilogram of coffee?

How many cups of coffee you get from a kilogram of ground coffee differs per person. Someone who likes strong coffee will naturally get fewer cups of coffee from it.

	How many scoops or tablespoons?	How many grams?	How many cups of coffee per kilo?
Mild coffee	1 large spoon	7 grams	143 cups
Fairly strong coffee	2 level spoons	10 grams	100 cups
Strong coffee	2 large spoons	14 grams	72 cups

Tips for making coffee with a filter machine

Despite the fact that many households now have an espresso machine at home, we are still a big fan of filter coffee. With the tips below you will get the most out of your cup of coffee.

• Use fresh water: if you drink little coffee, fill the water reservoir halfway.
• Make your own coffee beans: for the best coffee, it is always better to grind your coffee beans yourself*. With ground coffee, the flavors and aromas have often already been lost.*
• Rinse the coffee filter first: do you use paper coffee filters? They often impart an undesirable paper taste. Therefore, first rinse the coffee filter with warm water.
• Use coarsely ground coffee: you use coarsely ground coffee for filter coffee. If the coffee is ground too fine, this will result in bitter flavors.

*not everyone wants to grind their coffee beans themselves and buy a coffee grinder. If you still want to enjoy fresh coffee, buy coffee beans at the local coffee roaster or coffee bar and ask if they can grind the coffee beans for you.

My conclusion: what is the perfect ratio?

The perfect ratio differs per person and you will have to discover it by experimenting. One likes a mild cup of coffee, while I like a stronger cup of coffee. I would start with a large tablespoon or coffee scoop per 200 ml and then see if the coffee is strong enough for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many scoops of coffee for 2 cups?

For a cup of 200 ml (= 400 ml for 2 cups) use 2 large tablespoons or 3 level tablespoons.

How many scoops of coffee for 4 cups?

For a cup of 200 ml (= 800 ml for 4 cups), use 4 large tablespoons or 5 level tablespoons of ground coffee.