A classic single espresso uses about 7 g of ground coffee, and a modern double usually takes 14 to 20 g, with 18 g the most common café starting point. So the short answer to how many grams of coffee for espresso is: start with 18 g in a double basket and aim for about 36 g of espresso in the cup, a 1:2 brew ratio.
| Dose (ground coffee) | Yield at 1:1.5 | Yield at 1:2 | Yield at 1:2.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 g | 10.5 g | 14 g | 17.5 g |
| 14 g | 21 g | 28 g | 35 g |
| 16 g | 24 g | 32 g | 40 g |
| 18 g | 27 g | 36 g | 45 g |
| 20 g | 30 g | 40 g | 50 g |
Single vs double: where the numbers come from
The 7 g single is the Italian tradition. illy describes a single espresso as 7 g of ground coffee, 7.5 g at most, pulled to about 20 to 25 ml in no more than 30 seconds. A traditional double simply doubled that, which is how 14 g became the old double dose.
Specialty cafés have since moved higher. Partners Coffee lists 18 g in and 32 to 36 g out in 28 to 30 seconds. Drop Coffee uses 18.5 g in and 36 g out in 29 to 32 seconds. Clive Coffee calls 18 g a common starting point for standard 58 mm baskets, while smaller 53 to 54 mm baskets usually need 15 to 17 g. Clive's own starting recipe goes up to 20 g in and 30 g out.
That's why you'll see such a wide range online. Nobody is wrong. They're just using different baskets and different styles of shot.
What the 1:2 brew ratio actually means
Espresso ratios compare the dry coffee going in with the liquid espresso coming out, both by weight. At 1:2, 18 g of grounds should give you about 36 g of espresso. Clive Coffee puts the classic espresso range at roughly 1:1.5 to 1:2.5.
- Shorter (around 1:1.5): thicker and more concentrated. Clive notes light, bright roasts can taste cleaner here.
- Middle (1:2): the common café baseline and a sensible place to start.
- Longer (1:2.5 or more): lighter in body. Clive says natural process coffees often suit 1:2.5 to 1:3.
Weigh the shot in the cup instead of reading the ml lines on a shot glass. Crema is mostly foam, so volume jumps around while weight stays honest.
How many grams of coffee for espresso in your basket
Your basket matters more than any chart. Many baskets are stamped with a dose, like 18 g or 20 g, and that number is a great first guess. Clive's advice is to find the lowest dose you can use before the shot starts channeling, then stick with it.
Signs your dose needs a tweak:
- The puck is soupy and wet after the shot: try a little more coffee.
- The grounds press against the shower screen and leave a big imprint: try a little less.
- Your shot time drifts while the grind stays the same: check that you're dosing the same weight every time.
Dialing in your dose step by step
- Pick a dose that matches your basket, such as 18 g for a standard double.
- Weigh the whole beans before grinding, then check the grounds in the portafilter.
- Pull the shot into a cup on a scale and stop near twice the dose.
- Time it. Partners and Drop both land around 28 to 32 seconds for an 18 g double.
- Change the grind first. Change the dose only in small steps, and only one thing at a time.
A practical tip: dosing is where most espresso drift starts. With the MeasureMate digital measuring spoon you can scoop beans and weigh them in one step, and the display reads in 0.1 g steps, so landing on 18.0 g instead of "about 18" is easy. Press the tare button to zero the reading if you want to weigh into a small cup instead.
Quick questions
Is a double shot twice the coffee of a single?
Traditionally, yes: 7 g for a single and 14 g for a double. Many cafés now pull doubles with 18 to 20 g, so today's double is often more than twice a classic single.
How many grams of espresso should end up in the cup?
At a 1:2 ratio, about twice your dose. That's 36 g of espresso from 18 g of coffee, or 14 g from a 7 g single.
Should I measure espresso in ml or grams?
Grams. Crema makes ml readings unreliable, and the ratios roasters publish are by weight.
Ratios based on illy's espresso guide, Clive Coffee, Partners Coffee and Drop Coffee.