Do you wake up each morning thinking about a delicious fresh cup of coffee? How many times have you been disappointed by the taste of your first sip because you did not know how many scoops of coffee per cup were needed?
We are here to help you make the perfect cuppa every day!
Grams of Coffee per cup
Brewing the perfect cup of coffee takes practice and a bit of patience. Measuring the ground coffee is one of the most important steps in the process.
We suggest about 14 grams of ground coffee per eight ounces of water, but you will want to adjust the measurement to your palette. If you prefer a more potent brew, you can increase the number of coffee grounds and vice versa for a less strong cup until you find your sweet spot!
The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association of America), an international group of coffee farmers, baristas, and roasters, came up with what is known as the Golden Cup Standard. They recommend a coffee-to-water ratio of 55 grams per 34 fluid ounces, with a +/- 10% leeway. This roughly translates to 18.5 ml of water per gm of ground coffee.
In addition to the coffee-to-water ratio, the SCA also recommends that the water temperature – at the point of contact with the coffee grounds – falls between +/- 5℉ degrees of 200℉ (93.0℃ +/- 3℃ ) to achieve the Golden Cup Standard.
How To Measure Coffee Grounds
Depending on your available devices for measuring coffee, you can follow some basic guidelines.
Measure With a Scale
Using a scale will give you the most accurate measurement. Still, you can easily buy a coffee scoop at most kitchen supply stores if a scale is unavailable. Or you can use a standard measuring tablespoon.
A digital scale is the most accurate way to weigh out the appropriate amount of coffee grounds. Depending on how many cups of coffee you make, you can use the SCA recommendation of 55 grams per liter of coffee to start, which is approximately two tablespoons per cup.
One interesting note is that 10 grams of dark roast coffee are fewer coffee grounds than 10 grams of light roast coffee because dark roast coffee tends to be denser than light roast. This is why using a scale will give you the most accurate amount.
Measure Without a Scale
Suppose you do not have a scale; you can buy a coffee scoop at your local kitchen retail store. Generally, a standard-level coffee scoop holds approximately two tablespoons (10 gms) of ground coffee. This is a perfect place to start for one cup of coffee.
If you want a cup of brewed coffee that is not so strong, then you fill the scoop three-quarters of the way full, or if you prefer a more robust cup, use a heaping cup full.
If you prefer the scoop method of measuring, we recommend buying a stainless steel standard-size scoop of two tablespoons. Stainless steel is germ-resistant, unbreakable, and easy to clean, making the coffee scoops long-lasting.
Lastly, if you do not have access to a scale or scoop, you can use a measuring spoon equal to a tablespoon. You will want to use approximately two tbsp of coffee grounds per eight ounces of water.
How Much Ground Coffee Should You Use for a Morning Cup
Depending on the cup size you use each morning, you will need to measure your coffee grounds accordingly. So, the first step is to know what size cup you will be using.
You might be surprised to know that in the United States, a standard coffee cup measures six fluid ounces, while a coffee mug can measure between 8-10 ounces. This detail is important as it will affect how much coffee you need to achieve your desired taste.
Fill your cup with water to determine how many ounces it holds. Then pour the water from your cup into a liquid measuring cup. This will tell you if you have a standard cup of six ounces, a mug, or another random size.
Next, adjust your coffee grounds using the Golden Cup Standard of two tablespoons of coffee grounds per eight ounces of water.
Remember, you will want to adjust your measurement of coffee grounds to your taste. So, use these guidelines as a starting point and experiment with your tastebuds.
Coffee Required for Different Brewing Techniques
Another critical piece of information for making a perfect cup is knowing how you will brew it.
There are various methods available to everyone for brewing coffee at home these days. If you haven’t already experimented, you can go to your local coffee shop and try the different brewing methods: espresso, drip, French press, cold brew, Moka pot, etc. See which best suits your tastebuds, and then invest in the relevant coffee makers in the home version.
Depending on the machine or technique, you want to have the proper coffee grinds to ensure the perfect coffee cup.
In general, the length of time the coffee grounds will be in contact with the water will determine the grade of the grind. Brewing should be quicker with finely ground coffee. For instance, an espresso machine uses a much finer grain than a drip coffee maker, while a French press uses a much coarser grind of bean coffee.
Below are some of our tips for different types of brews.
Cold-brew
Cold-brew coffee is the simplest brewing method for coffee. You don’t need to buy special equipment or worry about specific directions. And you can make ahead cups for the next few days!
Cold brew tends to be less acidic in taste as the grounds are fully immersed for a long time. Adjustments are easily made by either adding or lessening the coffee grounds used.
If you are a coffee connoisseur, you may feel the one downside to cold-brew is that the flavor of the coffee can be muddled due to the longer brewing process.
Here are some tips to help you make the best cold-brew coffee:
- Grind: We suggest a medium to coarse grind for the coffee beans.
- To make eight cups of coffee, use about 12 ounces of ground coffee in a container and pour 64 ounces of room-temperature water over the coffee grounds.
- Ensure all the grounds are wet by stirring.
- Cover the container and let it sit for at least eight hours and up to 24 hours at room temperature.
- When ready, strain the coffee through a cheesecloth or coffee filter.
- Store the coffee in the refrigerator. You can keep cold brew coffee for up to 10 days in your refrigerator.
Espresso
Buying an espresso machine can be a costly investment. But if you are spending money each day on your morning coffee, it is a worthwhile one.
Having a machine at home also means you can make adjustments precisely as you would like to brew your desired cup. Depending on the machine you buy, you can also vary your daily cup with steamed milk and venture into your barista skills with lattes and cappuccinos.
Espresso tends to have a strong and rich coffee flavor. You can taste and feel the intricacies of the beans and the roasting methods.
Our tips for making your espresso are:
Grind: We suggest a very fine grind for an espresso machine so the water can move through quickly.
- For one shot of espresso, we recommend 7-10 grams of coffee.
- Experiment with beans of different origins and roasting methods.
French Press
French press coffee is another simple method to brew flavorful and smooth coffee.
With a French press pot, you can determine how long the water is in contact with the coffee grounds, which gives you space to experiment with the intensity of the brew.
- Grind: We recommend a coarse grind for the French press.
- In general, use a 1:12 to 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio.
- We suggest using two tablespoons of coffee grounds for a bolder brew using eight ounces of water.
- We recommend using one and a half tablespoons of coffee grounds for a medium-strength brew using eight ounces of water.
- Always use fresh filtered water and bring it to a boil. Then, pour it over the grounds.
- Give the grounds a good stir to get thoroughly saturated. You will know you are done when most of the grounds sink to the bottom.
- Let the coffee sit for a minimum of three minutes. We suggest letting it sit for six to eight minutes to see how you like the taste after a longer brew.
- When you are ready to plunge, do so gently. If you feel the tension in the descent, back it up slightly and slowly resume.
- Pour the coffee into your cup immediately for the best taste!
Moka Pot
Moka pot coffee is a stovetop brew. The taste is often compared to a cup of espresso, although it is not quite the same. However, this is one option to try if you are looking for a strong cup of coffee!
Moka pots come in various sizes, from one to 50 cups of coffee. The common size for home use is one, three, six, nine, or 12 cups. Keep this in mind when buying a Moka pot, as you can’t make a half-pot. If you only make coffee for yourself, consider purchasing the single or three-cup size.
Here are our tips to make the best cup of coffee using a Moka pot:
- Grind: A medium-fine grind. Think of it as a grind slightly finer than a drip coffee setting but not as fine as an espresso setting.
- With the Moka pot, you do not need specific measurements, as you will simply fill the coffee basket and the water chamber. However, as a reference, you will need about seven to eight grams of coffee per cup.
Coffee Ratios Breakdown
It is vital to remember that a coffee pot is designed for coffee. Therefore, the number of cups per pot will be based on the standard six fluid ounces of a coffee cup (rather than the standard of eight ounces = one cup). This is essential information for you to use the correct amount of coffee grounds necessary.
Here are some useful ratios based on one cup = six fluid ounces of water:
- One 6 fluid ounce cup of water: 9-10 grams of coffee grounds
- 2 cups: 18- 20 grams of coffee grounds
- 4 cups: 38 -40 grams of coffee grounds
- 6 cups: 58 -60 grams of coffee grounds
- 8 cups:78- 80 grams of coffee grounds
- 10 cups: 98-100 grams of coffee grounds
- 12 cups: 118-120 grams of coffee grounds
This a reminder that these are standard measurements that should be adjusted to your taste. Also, with different brewing methods, you may find you want to add or lessen your coffee grounds due to the intensity of the brew.
Conclusion on How Many Scoops Of Coffee Per Cup
We hope you’ve learned how many scoops of coffee per cup you’ll need for your perfect morning cup of joe!
Other things to consider and to experiment with are the country and region of origin of the beans, the variety of the beans (arabica, robusta, blend), the roast type (light, medium, medium-dark, dark), and the texture (fine, medium, coarse) of the grind.
Once you find your favorite bean, the proper grind, and accurate measurement, your morning will be off to a great start!
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