Guide · Manual brewers
How much coffee per cup: grams and scoops for cafetière, filter and espresso
A simple rule for how much coffee to use, then maker-backed figures for cafetières, pour-over, filter machines, moka pots, espresso and cold brew.
How much coffee per cup you need depends on how you brew, but a good starting rule for most methods is about 55 to 70g of ground coffee per litre of water. That’s roughly 13 to 17g for a 250ml mug. Espresso and cold brew sit outside that range, and so does a cafetière if you like it strong. We haven’t tested this in person. The figures below come from the makers themselves (Bodum, Hario, Moccamaster, Sage, Bialetti), checked 3 Oct 2026, and you should treat them as starting points to adjust to your taste. Read how we compare.
How much coffee per cup: the simple rule
If you only remember one thing, make it this: weigh your coffee and your water. Moccamaster’s own guidance says weighing in grams gives the most consistent results, and that’s true for every method.
- Mug of filter-style coffee (250ml): about 14 to 17g.
- Small cup (125ml): about 7 to 8g, or one rounded tablespoon.
- Too strong? For filter coffee, Moccamaster suggests topping up your cup with hot water rather than changing the recipe.
- Too weak? Add a gram or two next time, or try a darker roast.
Spoons are a rough guide only, because a tablespoon of coarse coffee weighs less than a tablespoon of fine coffee.
Who it isn’t for: anyone happy with “two scoops and see”. That works, but you’ll get more consistent coffee from a cheap set of scales.
Coffee per cup by brew method
| Method | Maker’s figure | Per 250ml mug (worked out) |
|---|---|---|
| Cafetière | Bodum: 1 rounded tbsp or 1 Bodum scoop per 4oz (125ml) cup | 2 rounded tbsp |
| Pour-over (V60) | Hario UK: 15g for 250ml (expert guide); 16 to 18g for about 220ml (beginner guide) | 15 to 18g |
| Filter machine | Moccamaster: 55g per litre, 69g for 1.25 litres | about 14g |
| Moka pot | Bialetti: fill the funnel loosely and level, don’t press | fixed by pot size |
| Espresso | Sage: 8 to 11g (single basket), 16 to 19g (double) | n/a |
| Cold brew | Hario Mizudashi: 80g for about 1,150ml water, about 8 hours in the fridge | about 17g per 250ml water |
The “per mug” column is our own arithmetic from the makers’ figures, rounded.
Cafetière
Bodum’s instructions say to use one rounded tablespoon, or one Bodum scoop, of coarse ground coffee for each 4oz (125ml) cup. Note that Bodum’s “cup” is small, so a typical mug needs two. Our guide to grind size for a cafetière explains why the grind should be coarse.
Pour-over
Hario UK’s expert V60 guide uses 15g of coffee ground medium-fine for 250ml of water, a full mug. Its beginner guide suggests 16 to 18g for about 220ml. To make two cups, Hario says just double both.
Filter machine
Moccamaster’s support page gives 55g of coffee for a litre of water, with a table from 17g for 0.3 litres up to 99g for its 1.8-litre Grand. It also gives level scoops for its own 2-tablespoon scoop: six for a litre. See our Moccamaster KBG Select review and filter coffee machines guide.
Moka pot
You don’t really choose a dose with a moka pot. Bialetti says to fill the funnel loosely, without pressing and without a mound on top, and to fill the base with water to just below the safety valve. The pot’s size sets the amount.
Espresso
Sage’s Barista Express manual gives an optimum dose of 8 to 11g of coffee for its single basket and 16 to 19g for the double. Most people make doubles. Our guide to how to make espresso at home covers the rest.
Cold brew
Hario’s Mizudashi manual uses 80g of freshly ground dark-roast coffee and about 1,150ml of water, brewed in the fridge for about eight hours. It notes the brewed volume is less than the water you put in.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants one number for everything. Espresso and cold brew work very differently from a cafetière or filter.
Adjusting for taste and mug size
- Bigger mug: scale up by weight. A 350ml mug at Hario’s ratio needs about 21g.
- Stronger: add coffee in 1 to 2g steps rather than brewing longer, which can make it bitter.
- Weaker: use a little less coffee, or add hot water afterwards.
- Milky drinks: milk dilutes flavour, so many people use a bit more coffee for a latte-sized drink.
Change one thing at a time, so you know what made the difference.
Where to go next
A set of coffee scales makes all of this easier. Our cafetière guide takes you through the full method, and our moka pot grind size guide covers stovetop brewing.
FAQ
How many grams of coffee for one cup? For a 250ml mug of filter-style coffee, about 14 to 17g. Hario UK’s V60 guide uses 15g for 250ml.
How many scoops of coffee per cup? Bodum’s guide is one rounded tablespoon (or one Bodum scoop) per 125ml cup, so about two for a mug.
How much coffee for a cafetière? Use one rounded tablespoon per 125ml cup, as Bodum suggests. An 8-cup (1-litre) cafetière needs about eight.
How much coffee for a double espresso? Sage’s Barista Express manual gives 16 to 19g for its double basket.