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French press coffee ratio
The standard French press coffee ratio is 1:15 — roughly 20 g coffee (about 4 tbsp) per 300 ml water. Steep 4 minutes with a coarse grind, then plunge slowly.
French press
Coffee to water ratio
Coffee
20 g
4 tbsp
Water
300 ml
10.1 fl oz
Cups
1.27
US cups
Ratio
1:15
by weight
How the french press ratio works
French press is full immersion: coffee and water sit together the whole brew, so a slightly stronger 1:15 ratio (vs 1:16 pour over) keeps the cup rich without tasting muddy. Weigh grounds when you can — tablespoon scoops swing a lot with coarse grind. Use the chart below for common press sizes, including an 8-cup / 34 oz batch.
How many grams of coffee for a French press?
At 1:15, use about 16 g coffee per 8 oz (240 ml) of water — roughly 3 tablespoons of coarse grounds. A 3-cup press (~350 ml) needs about 23 g; an 8-cup / 34 oz press (~1 L) needs about 67 g; a 12-cup press (~1.5 L) needs about 100 g.
If you only have tablespoons, start near 1 tbsp per 4 oz of water and adjust. Scoops are less accurate than a scale, especially with coarse French press grind.
French press tips
- Use a coarse grind so fines do not slip through the mesh.
- Bloom is optional; stir once after adding all water.
- For a bolder cup, try 1:14. For lighter, 1:16.
French press ratio chart — grams by press size
Coffee amounts for standard French press sizes at a 1:15 ratio, filled to capacity — including 8-cup / 34 oz.
| Press size | Coffee | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 3-cup press (12 oz) | 23.3 g (4.7 tbsp) | 350 ml (1.48 cups) |
| 4-cup press (17 oz) | 33.3 g (6.7 tbsp) | 500 ml (2.11 cups) |
| 8-cup press (34 oz) | 66.7 g (13.3 tbsp) | 1000 ml (4.22 cups) |
| 12-cup press (51 oz) | 100 g (20 tbsp) | 1500 ml (6.33 cups) |
Press “cup” ratings assume small 4 oz cups — a 3-cup press makes about one large mug.
Compare every method in the coffee to water ratio chart or check the grind size chart for French press.
Frequently asked questions
What is the French press ratio?+
Most French press recipes use 1:15 — about 20 g coffee per 300 ml water. Stronger coffee can go to 1:14; lighter to 1:16.
How many grams of coffee for a 34 oz French press?+
A 34 oz (8-cup) French press holds about 1 liter. At 1:15 that needs roughly 67 g of coffee, or about 13–14 tablespoons of coarse grounds.
How much coffee for French press for 2 cups?+
Two cups (about 474 ml) at 1:15 needs roughly 32 g coffee, or about 6–7 tablespoons. Use the calculator with cups as your water unit.
How long to steep French press?+
Steep 4 minutes after adding water just off boil, then plunge slowly. Coarse grind helps avoid muddy cups and over-extraction.