Why Measuring Your Coffee Matters
If you’ve ever wondered why your coffee sometimes tastes too weak, too bitter, or just plain inconsistent, the answer might be simple: you’re not measuring out your coffee properly.
While eyeballing your coffee grounds when making coffee might be convenient and quick, precision is the secret to a consistently great cup. Here’s why measuring your coffee matters and how to do it right.
1. Consistency in Every Cup
One of the biggest benefits of measuring your coffee is consistency. There’s nothing more disappointing than grabbing your travel mug on your way out the door, sitting in your car prepared to face the day, and giving your fresh brew a sip to find it’s too weak or bitter.
When you use the same coffee-to-water ratio each time, you eliminate guesswork and ensure that your morning coffee tastes just as good as yesterday’s (or better).
2. Ability to Dial in Preferences
When you consistently measure out your coffee, you have the opportunity to decide if you want it brewed darker or lighter, stronger or more mellow. To do this, we recommend taking some time to record your measurements each time you brew, and adjust as needed. Adjustments you might make would include more or less coffee, hotter or cooler water, grind size, etc.
3. Balanced Flavor
Coffee is all about extraction, the process of dissolving flavors from the grounds into the water. Too much coffee can lead to over-extraction which can cause bitter or harsh flavors. Too little coffee can cause under-extraction which leads to weaker, more sour flavors. Measuring ensures the right balance of smoothness and taste.
4. Avoids Waste
Ever accidentally dump in too much coffee? Carefully measuring out your coffee and water with the right tools can help you use just the right amount, saving you money on wasted beans and preventing unpleasant, overly strong cups.
5. Better Control Over Strength
Prefer a bold, intense cup? Or is a lighter, smoother one more your thing? Measuring lets you fine-tune your brew strength by adjusting ratios with precision. The standard starting point* is 1:16 (coffee to water ratio), but you can tweak it to your taste from there by adding more or less coffee.
*This can vary a bit based on brew method, as well.
How to Measure Coffee Like a Pro
- Grind Size Matters: Finer grinds extract faster. Getting a grinder that allows for specific grind sizes will give you more room to dial in your own preferences. Adjust measurements to a slightly finer grind if using espresso vs. French press.
- Use a Scale: The scale is the gold standard for measuring. Place your vessel onto the scale. This could be your whole French press, your Aeropress, or a container you pour into to then pour into your coffee brewer. Zero out the scale, then add your coffee grounds. Aim for 1 gram of coffee per 15–18 grams of water (adjust to taste).
- Scoop Method (if no scale): Most standard coffee scoops hold about 7–10 grams. Many coffee scoops will provide the estimated measure, to help you be precise.
How Much Coffee to Use
This will vary based on brew method and preference. French press is a fairly standard method for brewing, and here are our recommended measurements for that method:
- 25 grams of coffee and 400 grams of water for 12oz of coffee
- 38 grams of coffee and 600 grams of water for 18oz of coffee
- 50 grams of coffee and 800 grams of water for 24oz of coffee
Ready to Measure?
Measuring your coffee might seem like a small step, but it’s the difference between a good cup and the perfect one. Whether you’re a casual drinker or a brewing enthusiast, precision leads to better flavor, consistency, and just a better experience.
If you want to get granular with your coffee measurements, we recommend using a whole bean coffee, like our Enzo Whole Bean or Vivace Whole Bean coffee. This gives you the ability to grind the coffee to the perfect grind size before weighing and brewing.