Reference · coffee per cup
How much coffee per cup?
About 8 g of ground coffee per 5 fl oz coffeemaker “cup”, or 13 g per 8 fl oz mug of water, at the Specialty Coffee Association’s 55 g-per-liter reference — roughly 1½ and 2½ level tablespoons. Below: which “cup” your machine means, amounts by number of cups, and why spoon rules disagree twofold.
Quick answer
| “Cup” of water | Volume | SCA 55 g/L (g) | 1:16 (g) | Level Tbsp* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffeemaker cup | 5 fl oz ≈ 147.9 ml | 8.1 | 9.2 | ≈1½ |
| NCA “Golden Ratio” portion | 6 fl oz ≈ 177.4 ml | 9.8 | 11.1 | ≈2 |
| US cup / 8 fl oz mug | 8 fl oz = 236.6 ml | 13.0 | 14.8 | ≈2½ |
*At a working figure of about 5 g of ground coffee per level US tablespoon, explained below. Water is what you pour, not what ends up in the cup: the grounds keep some, which is why a 5 fl oz coffeemaker “cup” of water is usually described as giving about 4 fl oz of coffee.
Which “cup”? The definitions
A US measuring cup holds about 60% more than a typical coffeemaker cup (236.6 ÷ 147.9 ≈ 1.6), so “two tablespoons per cup” means very different coffee depending on which cup is meant.
| Cup | Water | Defined by |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 8 US fl oz = 236.6 ml | Half a US pint; NIST lists 1 fl oz = 29.57 ml |
| US nutrition-label cup | 240 ml | FDA metric equivalents for labeling (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii)); NIST’s kitchen table also rounds 1 cup to 240 ml |
| Metric cup | 250 ml | Australia, Canada, New Zealand (Wikipedia) |
| “Coffee cup” | 150 ml | Wikipedia; the SCA cupping ratio is also set per 150 ml (8.25 g) |
| US coffeemaker cup | 5 fl oz ≈ 147.9 ml | About 4 fl oz (118 ml) brewed from 5 fl oz of water (Wikipedia) |
| BUNN Speed Brew home brewers | 5 oz | Manual: “4 to 10 (5) oz. cups per batch”; 10 cups = 50 oz of water |
| Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew | 5 oz | Product page: “makes up to 25 oz. of coffee” (25 ÷ 5) |
| Cuisinart coffeemakers | 5 oz (printed as 130 ml) | Grinder booklet: cups “measured in 5-ounce (130 ml) increments” — note 5 US fl oz is 147.9 ml |
| Moccamaster (Technivorm) | 125 ml | Manual: “1/4 litre of water (2 cups)”; Grand models mark 1.8 l as 15 cups (120 ml) |
Measure yours once: fill the reservoir to a cup line, pour the water onto a scale (1 ml of water weighs about 1 g) and divide by the number on the line.
Coffee by number of cups
Grams of ground coffee at the SCA’s brewing reference of 55 g/L ± 10% and at 1:16 (62.5 g/L), a common starting point. Spoon columns use ≈5 g per level tablespoon and ≈10 g per 2-tablespoon scoop. The last column is BUNN’s own chart for comparison.
Coffeemaker cups (5 fl oz ≈ 147.9 ml of water each)
| Cups | Water (ml) | 55 g/L (g) | 1:16 (g) | Level Tbsp | Scoops | BUNN Tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 148 | 8.1 | 9.2 | 1½ | 0.8 | — |
| 2 | 296 | 16.3 | 18.5 | 3½ | 1.6 | — |
| 4 | 592 | 32.5 | 37.0 | 6½ | 3.3 | 4–5 |
| 6 | 887 | 48.8 | 55.5 | 10 | 4.9 | 6–7 |
| 8 | 1183 | 65.1 | 74.0 | 13 | 6.5 | 8–9 |
| 10 | 1479 | 81.3 | 92.4 | 16½ | 8.1 | 10–11 |
| 12 | 1775 | 97.6 | 110.9 | 19½ | 9.8 | — |
8 fl oz mugs (236.6 ml of water each)
| Mugs | Water (ml) | 55 g/L (g) | 1:16 (g) | Level Tbsp | Scoops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 237 | 13.0 | 14.8 | 2½ | 1.3 |
| 2 | 473 | 26.0 | 29.6 | 5 | 2.6 |
| 3 | 710 | 39.0 | 44.4 | 8 | 3.9 |
| 4 | 946 | 52.1 | 59.1 | 10½ | 5.2 |
Formula: coffee (g) = water (ml) × 0.055, or water ÷ 16. Wikipedia’s summary of the 55 g/L (American) to 63 g/L (Norwegian) standards gives about 14–16 g per 240 ml cup; the coffee-to-water ratio calculator works for any other amount.
Tablespoons and scoops: what they weigh
- Tablespoon volume. A US tablespoon is 14.79 ml (NIST); food labels round it to 15 ml (FDA).
- How dense ground coffee is. Corrêa and colleagues (2016) measured bulk densities of 300–410 kg/m³ for roasted and ground (robusta) coffee, varying with roast level and grind size, within the 300–450 kg/m³ range the authors cite from earlier literature. That is 0.30–0.45 g per ml, so a level tablespoon holds roughly 14.79 × 0.30–0.45 ≈ 4.4–6.7 g.
- A manufacturer’s check. Moccamaster’s support table counts a scoop as 2 tablespoons and pairs 6 level scoops with 55 g and 10 with 99 g — 4.3–5.1 g per tablespoon across its rows.
- Scoops are not one size. Moccamaster’s own measuring spoon holds 12 g, “sufficient for 2 cups”, more than its 2-tablespoon scoop. Weigh one level scoop of your coffee once to know what yours holds.
This page uses ≈5 g per level tablespoon. The measured range runs from about 12% lighter to a third heavier than that, so spoon counts are estimates; a scale is not.
How the per-cup rules compare
Converted to grams per liter (tablespoon rules at 5 g per tablespoon):
| Rule | As written | g per liter |
|---|---|---|
| NCA “Golden Ratio” (drip); Mr. Coffee | 1–2 tablespoons per 6 oz of water | ≈28–56 |
| BUNN Speed Brew chart | 4–5 Tbsp per 20 oz … 10–11 Tbsp per 50 oz | ≈34–42 |
| Cuisinart grinder booklet | 1½ rounded Tbsp (25 ml) per 5 oz | not converted (rounded spoons) |
| SCA brewing best practices | 55 g/L ± 10% | 49.5–60.5 |
| Moccamaster USA | 2 Tbsp per 6 oz, or 55 g per liter; scoop table 17 g per 0.3 l … 99 g per 1.8 l | ≈55 (54.7–56.7) |
| Moccamaster manual (ECBC standard) | 60 g per liter; 75 g per 1.25 l | 60 |
| Norwegian standard | 63 g/L (Wikipedia) | 63 |
| NCA pour-over | 1:13 to 1:16 by weight | 62.5–76.9 |
The top of the NCA’s drip rule (2 Tbsp per 6 oz ≈ 56 g/L) lands on the SCA reference; the bottom is half as strong. BUNN’s chart sits in between, and Moccamaster’s European manual and the NCA’s pour-over ratio run stronger. None is wrong — they are different strengths. To see what strength and extraction mean in the cup, read the brewing control chart explained.
- NCA drip “Golden Ratio” (also Mr. Coffee): 1–2 Tbsp per 6 oz ≈ 28–56 g/L (dashed: estimated).
- BUNN Speed Brew chart: ≈34–42 g/L (dashed: estimated).
- SCA brewing best practices: 55 g/L ± 10% (49.5–60.5), also shown as the shaded band.
- Moccamaster USA scoop table: ≈55 g/L (54.7–56.7).
- Moccamaster manual, ECBC standard: 60 g/L.
- Norwegian standard: 63 g/L.
- NCA pour-over: 1:13–1:16 = 62.5–76.9 g/L.
How to measure for your machine
- Find your cup size. Fill the reservoir to the 4-cup line, weigh the water and divide by 4. Expect about 148 ml (5 fl oz) on the US drip machines listed above and 125 ml on a Moccamaster.
- Pick a strength. 55 g/L is the SCA reference; 1:16 (62.5 g/L) is a little stronger.
- Multiply. Coffee (g) = water (ml) × 0.055, or water ÷ 16. A full 12-cup US carafe (1,775 ml) takes 97.6 g at 55 g/L.
- Calibrate your scoop. Weigh one level scoop of your coffee and divide step 3’s grams by it.
- Taste, then adjust one thing. Too weak or strong: change the amount. Sour or bitter at a strength you like: change the grind.
Common questions
How many tablespoons for 12 cups?
A 12-cup US carafe uses 60 fl oz of water. At the SCA reference that is 97.6 g, about 19½ level tablespoons or 10 two-tablespoon scoops. The NCA’s 1–2 Tbsp per 6 oz gives 10–20 tablespoons — the upper end matches the SCA figure.
Does this apply to espresso or cold brew?
No — those are measured differently. See the espresso ratio and cold brew guides.
Sources
- National Coffee Association — About Coffee: Drip coffee (“1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water”, the “Golden Ratio”)
- National Coffee Association — About Coffee: Pour-over coffee (1:13 to 1:16 by weight)
- Specialty Coffee Association — Protocols & Best Practices (55 g/L ± 10%; cupping 8.25 g per 150 ml)
- U.S. FDA — Guidelines for Determining Metric Equivalents of Household Measures, October 1993 (1 cup = 240 mL, 1 tablespoon = 15 mL; 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii))
- NIST Office of Weights and Measures — Approximate Conversions from U.S. Customary Measures to Metric (tablespoon 14.79 mL, fluid ounce 29.57 mL)
- NIST — Metric Kitchen: Cooking Measurement Equivalencies (1 cup ≈ 240 mL, 1 tablespoon ≈ 15 mL)
- Wikipedia — Cup (unit) (US customary cup 236.6 ml; metric cup 250 ml; coffee cup 150 ml; US coffeemaker cup 5 fl oz water → about 4 fl oz brewed)
- Wikipedia — Coffee preparation (55 g/L American, 63 g/L Norwegian; about 14–16 g per 240 ml cup)
- BUNN — Speed Brew Owner’s Manual (4 to 10 (5) oz cups per batch; tablespoons per batch chart)
- Mr. Coffee — The Best Way to Make Coffee (one to two tablespoons per six ounces of water)
- Mr. Coffee — 5-Cup Coffee Maker, 25 oz. Mini Brew (product page: makes up to 25 oz of coffee)
- Cuisinart — Coffee Bar Coffee Grinder DCG-20NC/DCG-20BKNC instruction booklet (cups measured in 5-ounce (130 ml) increments; 1½ rounded tablespoons per 5 oz)
- Moccamaster support — How much coffee should I use in my Moccamaster? (scoops of 2 Tbsp vs grams by water volume)
- Technivorm Moccamaster — User manual 741/CD/CDT (¼ litre = 2 cups; ECBC standard 60 g per litre)
- Moccamaster USA — Brewing 101 (two tablespoons per 6 oz, or 55 g per liter)
- Moccamaster — Coffee measuring spoon (holds 12 g of ground coffee, enough for 2 cups)
- Corrêa P.C. et al. (2016) Preservation of roasted and ground coffee during storage. Part 2: Bulk density and intergranular porosity. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental 20(7):666–671