Optimal Coffee-to-Water Ratio for Pour-Over
Start at 1:16 (1g coffee per 16ml water) as your baseline, then adjust based on how strong you want your cup and how the coffee is extracting.
⚡ Quick Answer
Use 1:16 as your starting point — 18g coffee to 288ml water, or 20g to 320ml. Go to 1:15 for a stronger, more intense cup (like a morning coffee with milk). Use 1:17 for a lighter, cleaner cup that highlights delicate floral or fruity notes in light roasts. The exact ratio matters less than consistency — pick one ratio and vary grind size to dial in extraction, not strength. Adjust strength separately by changing the ratio once extraction is correct.
🎯 Key Takeaway: Dial in extraction with grind size first. Once coffee tastes balanced, adjust ratio if you want it stronger (1:15) or lighter (1:17). Don't change both at once.
⚙️ Ratio Reference Guide
1:15 (Strong)
18g coffee → 270ml water
More body, intense flavor. Good for dark roasts or drinking with milk. Can highlight bitterness in over-extracted brews.
1:16 (Standard)
18g coffee → 288ml water
Best starting point. Balanced strength and clarity. Where most specialty coffee recipes are calibrated.
1:17 (Light)
18g coffee → 306ml water
Lighter body, more clarity. Better for delicate light roasts. Can taste thin if extraction is off.
✅ When to Use Each Ratio
1:15 — Use when:
Drinking with milk or cream, brewing dark-medium roasts, or wanting a stronger morning cup. Competition recipes from World Brewers Cup often use ratios around 1:15–1:16.
1:16 — The default for most situations
Standard starting point recommended by most specialty roasters and pour-over guides. Works across roast levels and origins. Recipes from Hario, James Hoffmann, and most coffee instructors use 1:16.
1:17 — Use when:
Brewing a very light, delicate Ethiopian or Kenyan where you want maximum clarity and brightness without intensity. Also useful when exploring a new coffee and wanting to taste its origin character clearly.
Quick Reference: Common Brew Sizes
| Coffee Dose | 1:15 Water | 1:16 Water | 1:17 Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15g | 225ml | 240ml | 255ml |
| 18g | 270ml | 288ml | 306ml |
| 20g | 300ml | 320ml | 340ml |
| 25g | 375ml | 400ml | 425ml |