French Press Coffee Ratio: How Much Coffee for Every Cafetière Size

Getting your French press coffee ratio right is the quickest way to a better cup. Get it wrong, and your coffee comes out weak, bitter or muddy — no matter how good your beans are. Whether you call it a French press, a cafetière or a press pot, the answer is the same. 

The quick answer: use a 1:15 ratio. That’s 1g of coffee for every 15ml of water, or about 67g of coffee per litre. 

French Press Ratios at a Glance

What Is the Best French Press Coffee Ratio?

For most people, 1:15 is the sweet spot. It gives you a full-bodied cup that’s strong enough to stand up to milk but smooth enough to drink black. 

A ratio is simply coffee compared with water. The first number is the coffee and the second is the water, so 1:15 means 1g of coffee for every 15g of water. You’ll sometimes see it flipped and called the French press water-to-coffee ratio (15:1), but it’s the same recipe. 

Here's the handy bit: 1ml of water weighs 1 g, so you can measure your water in a jug or on scales and the maths still works.

A French press is an immersion brewer, meaning the coffee sits in the water for the whole brew rather than water dripping through it, as it does in a pour-over. The full contact pulls out more body, so the French press suits a range of roughly 1:12 to 1:17. Start in the middle at 1:15 and tweak to your preference. 

The ratio only works if the coffee is fresh enough. Stale beans taste flat at any ratio, so start with freshly roasted coffee if you can. 

Why Weighing Beats Scooping

A tablespoon of coffee isn’t a fixed amount. Depending on the grind and the roast, one spoonful can weigh anywhere from 5g to 8g. That’s enough to swing your brew from weak to harsh. 

A kitchen scale takes the guesswork out, and it’s the one bit of home brewing equipment we’d tell anyone to buy first. No scales? Use 1 level tablespoon of ground coffee as roughly 5-6 g, and keep your scoop the same every time so you can adjust from there. 

French Press Coffee to Water Ratio Chart by Size

Before you check the chart, one thing catches almost everyone out. French press ‘cups’ are tiny, about 125ml each. So an 8-cup press holds roughly a litre and makes around four proper mugs, not eight. 

Sizes vary between brands, so check the capacity printed on the base or box of your press. Then find the closest size below: 

Press Pot Coffee Ratio for One Mug

Just brewing for yourself? For a standard 250ml mug, use 17g of coffee. That’s about 3 level tablespoons. 

If you’re using a big press for a single mug, that’s fine. Just keep the same ratio and don’t be tempted to top it up to the brim with extra water. 

Adjust the Ratio to Your Taste

1:15 is a starting point, not a rule. The coffee-to-water ratio in a French press controls how strong your cup is. Grind size and steep time control how much flavour comes out of the coffee. Keep those two the same, and use the ratio to dial strength up or down. 

Change one thing at a time, in small steps of 2-3g. That way you’ll know exactly what made the difference. Here’s how it looks for a 500ml press: 

Does Roast Level Change the Ratio?

It can. Darker roasts give up their flavour faster, so they can taste heavy at 1:15. Try easing back to 1:16 for a smoother cup. 

Lighter roasts are the opposite. Many of our single-origin coffees open up with a touch more coffee, around 1:14, which brings out their sweetness and body. If you prefer something rich and dependable, our house blends taste great at 1:15. 

How to Brew with the Right Ratio, Step by Step

1. Heat your water. Boil the kettle, then let it sit for about 30 seconds so it drops to 93-96°C. Boiling water can scorch the coffee. 

2. Weigh and grind. Weigh your beans using the chart above and grind them coarse. Pour a splash of hot water into the press to warm it, then tip it out. 

3. Add coffee and water. Put the grounds in the press and pour in all your water, making sure every bit of coffee gets wet. 

4. Stir gently. Give it one or two gentle stirs. Pop the lid on with the plunger up to keep the heat in. 

5. Steep for 4 minutes. Set a timer. A crust of grounds will form on top. 

6. Break, skim, and press. Stir the crust so it sinks, scoop off any foam and floating bits, then press the plunger down slowly. Pour straight away. 

Want an even cleaner cup? After skimming, wait another 3-5 minutes before pressing. The fine particles sink to the bottom, so less sludge ends up in your mug. 

Get the Grind Right for Your Ratio

Even a perfect ratio can’t save the wrong grind. Too fine, and your coffee turns bitter and gritty, because the small particles over-extract and slip through the mesh filter. Aim for coarse, even grounds, about the size of sea salt. 

Pre-ground supermarket coffee is usually ground for filter machines, which is too fine. If you don’t have a coffee grinder, just click ‘cafetière grind’ when you order from us. 

Fix a French Press Brew That Tastes Wrong

The best way to perfect your brew is simple: taste, then tweak. If your cup isn’t quite right, find the problem below and make one change next time. 

One habit fixes more bitter cups than any other: don’t leave coffee in the press. Even after plunging, the grounds keep brewing. Pour everything into mugs or a flask as soon as you’ve pressed. 

Get Your Perfect Cup Every Time

If you remember one thing, make it this: the best French press coffee ratio to start with is 1:15, or about 67g of coffee per litre of water. From there, taste and tweak in small steps until it’s just how you like it. Keep note of your favourite recipe so you can repeat it every morning. 

The ratio gets you most of the way. Fresh beans do the rest. A coffee subscription delivers Liverpool-roasted coffee straight to your door, so every press tastes as good as the last. 

Local to a Crosby Coffee branch and want to level up your home brewing? Join our hands-on filter coffee brewing course and learn in person from our roasters. 

French Press Coffee Ratio FAQs

How much coffee do I use for 2 cups in a French press?

For two mugs (500ml of water), use 33g of coffee. That’s about 6 level tablespoons at a 1:15 ratio. Want it stronger for milky coffees? Go up to around 40g. 

How much coffee do I use for a 1 litre (8-cup) French press?

Use 67g of coffee, about 12 level tablespoons, for a 1:15 ratio. That makes around four mugs. For a stronger brew, go up to 75-80g. 

What is the French press coffee-to-water ratio in tablespoons?

Roughly 1 level tablespoon of ground coffee (5-6g) for every 80-90ml of water. Spoons aren’t exact, so use the same scoop each time, or switch to scales for a more consistent cup. 

Is 1:10 too strong for a French press?

For most people, yes. At 1:10, you’re close to a concentrate, which can taste heavy and bitter. It works if you plan to top up with hot water or lots of milk, but 1:12 is strong enough for most. 

Should I use the same ratio for cold brew in a French press?

No. Cold brew uses a much stronger ratio, around 1:8, steeped in the fridge for 12-18 hours. That makes a concentrate, which you then dilute with water or milk to taste. 

Does the ratio change for decaf?

No. Decaf brews just like regular coffee, so start at 1:15 and adjust accordingly. If you drink it often, a decaf coffee subscription keeps fresh beans coming. 

Why does my French press coffee taste bitter even with the right ratio?

Usually it’s the grind or the timing. Grounds that are too fine over-extract, and coffee left in the press keeps brewing. Grind coarser and pour it all out straight after pressing.