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French Press Ratio Calculator

For a French press, use 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. A 16 oz press takes 30 grams of coffee, which is about 6 tablespoons.

Set the amount you want to make below and choose how strong you like it.

How do you brew?
How many cups?
2
cups
Cup size
MilderStronger
You need
30 g
of coffee. About 6 tablespoons or 3 scoops.
480 g
of water. That is 16 oz or 480 ml.

Coarse grind. A French press makes a fuller cup. Go one step stronger if you add milk.

A 12 oz bag of coffee makes this 11 times.

French press ratio by press size

The amounts below fill the press at a ratio of 1:16.

Press sizeWaterCoffeeOr about
12 oz (3 cup)360 g23 g4.5 tablespoons
17 oz (4 cup)510 g32 g6.5 tablespoons
34 oz (8 cup)1,020 g64 g13 tablespoons
51 oz (12 cup)1,530 g96 g19 tablespoons

How to brew it

  1. Grind the coffee coarse.
  2. Add the coffee to the press and pour in hot water.
  3. Let it steep for about 4 minutes.
  4. Press slowly and pour the coffee right away.

Stronger or milder

A French press makes a fuller cup than a paper filter does. If you add milk, try a ratio of 1:15 or 1:14.

If the cup tastes harsh, use a little less coffee before you change anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best French press ratio?

1:16 is a good place to start, which means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. Use 1:15 or 1:14 for a stronger cup.

How much coffee for a 34 oz French press?

A full 34 oz (8 cup) press takes about 64 grams of coffee, which is 13 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons of coffee for a French press?

About 6 tablespoons for a 16 oz press. One level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 grams.

How long should French press coffee steep?

About 4 minutes. Then press slowly and pour the coffee out, so that it does not keep brewing.

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