Deep dive into “Coffee Ratio” — what is it? The secret key to perfect flavor
- idavisonbkk
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
What is Coffee Ratio?
Understand brewing ratios for delicious, consistent, and professional coffee.
One of the most common questions among coffee lovers and café owners is:“Why does my coffee taste different even though I brew it the same way?”
The answer often isn’t the beans or the machine —it’s something called the coffee ratio.
This article will help you understand ratio from the basics to real-world application, so your coffee tastes great, stays consistent, and is quality-controlled like a professional.
What is Coffee Ratio?
Ratio is the proportion between “coffee grounds” and “water” used in brewing.
It tells you how many grams of coffee are used per grams or milliliters of water.
For example:
Ratio 1:2 means 1 part coffee grounds to 2 parts water
Ratio 1:15 means 1 part coffee grounds to 15 parts water
Ratio is the heart of flavor control and a fundamental concept every professional barista must understand.
Why is Ratio Important for Coffee Flavor?
Coffee brewing is an extraction process.
Water pulls flavors out of the coffee grounds.
If the ratio is incorrect, problems appear immediately:
Too much water → coffee tastes weak, thin, sour
Too little water → coffee tastes overly strong, bitter, and harsh
Even high-quality beans will taste bad if the ratio is wrong.
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Common Coffee Brewing Ratios
Ratio for Espresso
Standard ratio: 1:2
Example
18 grams of coffee grounds
36 grams of espresso yield
This produces a strong, bold flavor with good body — suitable for hot drinks, milk drinks, and specialty beverages.
You can adjust based on style:
1:1.8 → richer, heavier body
1:2.2 → lighter, easier to drink
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Ratio for Americano
Americano flavor is mainly controlled by the espresso ratio.
Example
1 shot of espresso
Add 120–150 ml of hot water
If the espresso ratio is correct, the Americano will already taste good.
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Ratio for Drip / Pour Over
Common ratio : 1:15 – 1:17
Example
20 grams of coffee grounds
300–340 ml of water
1:15 → stronger, more aromatic, heavier body
1:17 → cleaner, lighter, easier to drink
Ideal for black coffee and specialty coffee.
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Ratio for Cold Brew
Common ratio : 1:8 – 1:10
Example
100 grams of coffee grounds
800–1,000 ml of water
Since cold brew uses cold water extraction, more coffee is required than hot brewing.
Ratio Is Not a Fixed Formula
Professional baristas understand that there is no single ratio for every coffee.
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Ratios should be adjusted based on:
Roast level (light / medium / dark)
Coffee variety
Grind size
Desired flavor profile
Examples
Light roast → often use slightly more water to draw out sweetness
Dark roast → often use less water to prevent excessive bitterness
Why Cafés Must Take Ratio Seriously
Because ratio is the key to quality control:
Consistent taste in every cup
Easier staff training
Fewer customer complaints about flavor changes
More accurate cost control
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