A perfectly brewed cup of coffee is an excellent way to start the day. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a barista to get the perfect cup of Joe. You just need to know the number of coffee beans or coffee grounds to use per cup, and you are good to go.
Using too much or too little coffee beans could ruin the entire brew. So, if you wonder how many coffee beans per cup, you have come to the right place.
The ideal coffee to water ratio is not that easy to achieve since variables affect it. The most crucial factor is the number of coffee beans you use during brewing. Although there are many factors a simple guide would be for a 200ml cup of coffee use about 110 coffee beans.
Below is a detailed explanation of how to accurately measure coffee beans per cup to achieve the perfect flavor for your brew.
How Many Coffee Beans to Grind per Cup
So, how many coffee beans per cup for the perfect brew? Several factors may affect the amount of coffee used per cup. For instance, the grams of coffee beans used vary from one type of coffee to another. For example, 7.5 grams of coffee beans may be used for a single espresso and 14 to 18 grams for a double shot. This means 60 to 80 beans for a single espresso and around 140 to 180 beans for double shots.
Something else that may affect the number of beans you need in a cup is the weight of the coffee beans. There are many coffee bean varieties, including Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa, and each type differs in size of beans.
On average, a coffee bean size measures around 14 to 16 and weighs about 0.1 to 0.15 grams. To enhance their flavor profile, coffee beans are usually roasted. The longer they are roasted, the darker they become and the less moisture they have. Consequently, the coffee beans will shrink.
The golden ratio used to measure the perfect coffee is .035 ounces or 1 gram of coffee grounds for every .608 ounces or 18 ml of water. While this is the standard measurement, you can adjust accordingly to suit your requirements.
Below is a table denoting the number of whole coffee beans needed to grind for various cup sizes. You can grind these in a coffee grinder, you can also grind coffee beans in a blender if you don’t have a coffee grinder to hand – or some other methods mentioned within the highlighted article.
| Type of Coffee | Liquid | Amount of Whole Beans | Amount of Ground Beans (Grams) |
| Single Shot Espresso | 1 ounce/ 30ml | 60-80 | 6 to 8 |
| 50ml Cup | 1.69 ounces/50ml | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| Double Shot Espresso | 2 ounces/60ml | 140-180 | 14-18 |
| 100ml Cup | 3.38 ounces/ 100ml | 55 | 5.5 |
| 200ml Cup | 6.76 ounces/ 200ml | 110 | 11 |
| 250ml Cup | 8.45 ounces/ 250 ml | 137.5 | 13.75 |
You may be interested in reusing coffee grounds, check out that article for more information.
How Many Grams of Coffee Beans per Cup
In an average cup, you can expect about 7 to 10 grams of coffee. Coffee cups are typically designed to hold close to 6 ounces, meaning that you should use 10.6 grams or 0.38 ounces of ground coffee beans. Simply put, this is more like two tablespoons of your ground coffee in a 6-ounce coffee cup.
Generally, coffee beans are measured in grams and are available in 250g, 500g, and 1kg bags. It is highly recommended to use a digital kitchen scale to get these measurements accurately. Besides, measuring by weight will give you more accurate results than measuring by volume. Pour the coffee beans into a bowl and place them on the kitchen scale until you get the right amount of grams or ounces.
Of course, you can use ground coffee to make coffee cups of different sizes to get the perfect amount of flavor. For a more robust coffee, consider using smaller sizes of coffee grinds. Also, use filtered water rather than tap water since it does not contain mineral flavors.
How Many Tablespoons of Whole Coffee Beans per Cup
If you use a tablespoon to measure whole coffee beans, you will need about 10.6 grams or 0.38 ounces of coffee beans per cup. This equates to nearly 1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grinds for a cup. This is more like the standard amount of coffee you need to make six ounces of water.
A digital kitchen scale is the most popularly used tool when it comes to measuring coffee beans. It offers a higher level of accuracy so that you can end up with the correct measurement every time. However, if you don’t have a digital kitchen scale, a tablespoon can come in handy. A level tablespoon can accommodate roughly 5 to 7 grams of coffee.
However, it is essential to note that the amount held on a tablespoon can vary since coffee is different. Also, as mentioned above, dark roast beans have a smaller volume compared to light roast beans, meaning that you will get more grams per tablespoon. Another crucial thing to note is that one teaspoon will typically hold more finely ground coffee and less coarse ground coffee.
Tablespoons of Coffee Beans vs Tablespoons of Coffee Grounds
A common question among many people is whether a tablespoon of coffee beans equals a tablespoon of ground coffee. Well, the simple answer to this is a resounding no. A tablespoon of coffee grounds is more likely to weigh more than a tablespoon of coffee beans.
This is because unground beans have an irregular shape that allows more air between them. The air pockets contribute to the lower weight of coffee beans vs. coffee grounds.
How Many Coffee Beans Per Espresso Shot
Approximately, 60 to 80 coffee beans will be needed to make an espresso shot. It will largely depend on personal taste but try starting with about 70 coffee beans first and see how that tastes.
In most brewing methods, the ratios relate to the water used during the extraction. However, this is not the case with espresso shots. This is because the primary focus is on the weight of the extracted liquid rather than on the amount of water extracted.
For this method, the ratio used is 1:2, which is the ratio for coffee to the yield. So, if 10 grams of coffee is used, the average yield will be 20 grams.
How Many Coffee Beans are Needed per Cup French Press
Around 100 coffee beans will make a standard cup of coffee using a french press. You can test the taste after a cup, but 100 beans is a good standard starting point.
Brewing coffee with a French press involves filling the vessel with boiling water before leaving it to steep for about 4 to 5 minutes. Unlike drip coffee, the extraction occurs with the water to prevent water loss. Once the extraction process is complete, the coffee grounds are pushed to the bottom using a metal filtered plunge.
You will need to determine the number of cups the vessel can accommodate for this brewing method to determine the number of coffee beans. In most cases, you can make two cups of coffee from a 4-cup French cup, meaning that you will need four tablespoons of coffee and 1-1/2 cups of water.
However, if you want to make the brew stronger, you can add more coffee. Also, the longer it brews, the stronger the coffee will be. You also want to ensure that you grind the coffee beans to the size of flakes of salt to allow the coffee grounds to seep through the filter.
Conclusion
While everyone has their coffee preference, the number of coffee beans used can make or ruin your brew. Now that you know the secret to the perfect cup of coffee don’t hesitate to experiment at home until you find what works for you. Stick to it while considering other factors like the water volume, ingredients, temperature, and more.
For a variety of factors, how many coffee beans per cup is a difficult one to answer without more information but as a guide for a 200ml cup of coffee use about 110 coffee beans.
