How Many Grams of Coffee in a Tablespoon? (Chart for Every Cup Size)
A level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 grams. That is the number to use if you do not own a scale. It moves by roughly a gram either way depending on how fine the coffee is ground, how dark it is roasted and how you fill the spoon, which is why weighing is more reliable. But for an everyday cup, 5 g per level tablespoon gets you close.
Quick conversions
- 1 level tablespoon of ground coffee: about 5 g
- 1 level teaspoon of ground coffee: about 1.7 g (a tablespoon is 3 teaspoons)
- 1 coffee scoop: usually 2 level tablespoons, about 10 g. Scoops vary, so check yours once on a kitchen scale.
- 1 KNDZ drip bag: 12 g, about 2½ level tablespoons, already measured for you
Grams to tablespoons chart
All figures are for ground coffee, level spoons, rounded to the nearest quarter tablespoon.
| Coffee (grams) | Level tablespoons | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|
| 5 g | 1 | 3 |
| 10 g | 2 | 6 |
| 12 g | 2½ | 7 |
| 15 g | 3 | 9 |
| 16 g | 3¼ | 9½ |
| 18 g | 3½ | 11 |
| 20 g | 4 | 12 |
| 22 g | 4½ | 13 |
| 25 g | 5 | 15 |
| 30 g | 6 | 18 |
| 60 g | 12 (¾ cup) | 36 |
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
For pour-over and drip coffee, a good starting point is a 1:16 ratio: 1 g of coffee for every 16 g (16 ml) of water. Here is what that looks like in spoons.
| Cup size | Water | Coffee | Level tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 oz cup | 180 ml | 11 g | about 2 |
| 8 oz cup | 240 ml | 15 g | 3 |
| 10 oz mug | 300 ml | 19 g | about 4 |
| 12 oz mug | 355 ml | 22 g | 4½ |
| 16 oz travel mug | 475 ml | 30 g | 6 |
| 2 cups (500 ml) | 500 ml | 31 g | about 6 |
Like it stronger? Use a little more coffee or a little less water. Our pour-over coffee ratio guide explains how to adjust from here. French press works at a stronger ratio, so see the chart in our French press guide if that is how you brew.
Why a tablespoon of coffee is never exact
A tablespoon measures volume. Coffee recipes are written in grams because weight does not change with how the coffee is packed. A few things shift how much coffee fits in the spoon:
- Level vs heaped. This is the biggest one. A heaped spoon can hold a lot more than a level one. Every chart, including ours, assumes level spoons, so run a knife across the top.
- Grind size. Fine coffee packs together with less air between the particles, so a spoonful of espresso grind weighs more than a spoonful of coarse French press grind.
- Roast level. Beans lose water and puff up as they roast, so darker roasts are less dense. A spoon of dark roast usually weighs a little less than the same spoon of light roast.
- Whole beans. A tablespoon of whole beans lands in roughly the same place as ground coffee by weight, but beans sit unevenly in a spoon, so the number jumps around more. Weigh beans if you can, then grind.
- Your spoon. A measuring tablespoon holds 15 ml. A soup or dinner spoon from the cutlery drawer can hold quite a bit more or less, so it is not a reliable measure.
What about instant coffee?
Instant coffee is a different product. It is coffee that has already been brewed and then dried, and the granules are much lighter and fluffier than ground coffee, so a spoonful weighs less and you use far less of it per cup. Follow the jar's label rather than any ground coffee chart. Our guide to instant vs ground coffee covers the other differences.
The easiest way to get it right every time
A cheap kitchen scale that reads in single grams takes the guessing out of every cup. Weigh your scoop once, write the number on a piece of tape, and you can keep using the scoop with confidence.
Or skip measuring altogether. Every KNDZ drip bag holds exactly 12 g of freshly ground, specialty-grade coffee, so each cup comes out the same. Hang it on your mug, pour 200 to 250 ml of hot water through in stages, and it is ready in around three minutes. See how drip bags work if you have not tried one.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams of coffee are in a tablespoon?
About 5 g in a level tablespoon of ground coffee. It can move by roughly a gram either way with grind size, roast level and how you fill the spoon, and a heaped tablespoon holds noticeably more.
How many tablespoons is 15 g of coffee?
About 3 level tablespoons. That is the right amount for an 8 oz (240 ml) cup at a 1:16 coffee to water ratio.
How many tablespoons of coffee should I use per cup?
About 3 level tablespoons (15 g) for an 8 oz cup, or about 2 level tablespoons for a 6 oz cup. Use a little more if you like stronger coffee.
How many grams of coffee are in a coffee scoop?
Most coffee scoops hold 2 level tablespoons, which is about 10 g of ground coffee. Scoop sizes vary, so weigh yours once to be sure.
How many grams of coffee are in a teaspoon?
About 1.7 g in a level teaspoon of ground coffee, since a tablespoon is 3 teaspoons. Instant coffee weighs less per spoon, so follow the label on the jar.
Is a tablespoon of whole beans the same weight as ground coffee?
Roughly, yes, but whole beans sit unevenly in a spoon, so the weight varies more from spoon to spoon. For a consistent cup, weigh the beans and then grind them.
Related guides
- Pour-over coffee ratio: The 1:16 ratio with a chart for every cup size.
- How to make French press coffee: The stronger ratio French press needs, in tablespoons.
- How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?: Why the amount of coffee you use matters most.
- How to make coffee without a coffee maker: Six ways to brew with no machine.