The coffee-to-water ratio you use to brew coffee will affect your final beverage’s flavor. When too many grounds or too little water is used, the beans are under-extracted, and the brewed coffee tastes bitter. If you err in the other direction, using too few grounds or too much water, the coffee will taste thin and watery, lacking a full body. To brew the perfect cup, you need to use the right amount of coffee and water. You can use our chart above as a reference guide.
These ratios are fairly standard, and they work across multiple hot brewing methods. Whether you’re using a manual pour-over or French press, the coffee-to-water ratios remain constant. It’s the grind setting and brew time that are typically altered for different brew methods.
If you haven’t been weighing out your coffee and water, try it and see if you notice a change in the quality or consistency of your brewed coffee. By measuring out the correct amount of coffee and water each time, you should be able to draw out and appreciate the qualities of each coffee you make.