There are about 7 g in a tablespoon of espresso powder, according to the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. That means a teaspoon weighs roughly 2.3 g, which is handy to know when you need the grams in a tablespoon of espresso powder for a doubled batch of brownies or a big tray of cookies.
| Amount | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 0.6 g |
| 1/2 tsp | 1.2 g |
| 1 tsp | 2.3 g |
| 1 tbsp | 7.0 g |
| 1/4 cup | 28.0 g |
| 1/2 cup | 56 g |
| 1 cup | 112 g |
What espresso powder actually is
Espresso powder isn't the same thing as the instant coffee in your pantry. King Arthur Baking describes it as darkly roasted coffee beans that are ground, brewed, dried, and then ground again into a very fine powder. It's much more concentrated than instant coffee, which is why recipes call for it by the teaspoon.
Most bakers use it to deepen chocolate flavor. In small amounts it won't make your cake taste like coffee. It just makes the chocolate taste richer. Add more and you'll drift into mocha territory, which is great if that's what you're after.
Why one spoonful doesn't always weigh the same
Because it's so fine, espresso powder acts a lot like cocoa in a measuring spoon. A few things nudge the weight up or down:
- Packing. Press the spoon into the jar and you'll squeeze in more powder than if you spoon it in loosely.
- Clumps. Coffee powder pulls moisture from the air. If the lid was left loose, you'll find hard lumps that either trap air or pack extra powder into one spot.
- Level vs heaped. A rounded tablespoon holds noticeably more than a level one. Recipes almost always mean level.
- Brand and grind. Some brands grind finer than others, and a finer powder settles more tightly in the spoon.
None of this matters much for a single teaspoon in a chocolate cake. It matters more when you scale a recipe up or build a dry mix you want to repeat exactly. If you're curious about the bigger picture, here's why measuring ingredients by weight can improve baking consistency.
How much espresso powder to use
King Arthur Baking says a teaspoon or so is usually enough to boost a chocolate recipe, and that even a pinch makes a difference. Here's how that looks on a scale:
- Brownies or a chocolate cake: 1 tsp, about 2.3 g.
- A double batch: 2 tsp, about 4.7 g.
- Frosting, sauce or ganache: start with a pinch, then taste and add more.
- A full tablespoon: about 7 g, for when you want a clear mocha flavor.
Out of espresso powder? King Arthur Baking suggests using about 50% more instant coffee than the espresso powder called for, though instant coffee can taste a little more bitter. You can also just leave it out. The recipe will still work.
How to weigh a tablespoon of espresso powder
- Shake or stir the jar to break up any clumps.
- Set your bowl or spoon on the scale and zero it.
- Spoon the powder in loosely instead of digging into the jar.
- If you're measuring by volume, level it off with the back of a knife.
- Check the reading. You're aiming for about 7 g per level tablespoon, or 2.3 g per teaspoon.
For amounts this small, a kitchen scale that reads in whole grams will show 2.3 g as 2 g, which hides the detail you care about. A MeasureMate digital measuring spoon scoops and weighs in one step, and its display reads in 0.1 g steps. Tap the tare button to zero it, scoop, then add a little or tip a little back until you hit your number.
Quick questions
How many grams of espresso powder are in a teaspoon?
About 2.3 g. That's one third of the 7 g tablespoon figure from King Arthur Baking.
Can I use instant coffee instead of espresso powder?
Yes. King Arthur Baking suggests using about 50% more instant coffee than the espresso powder in the recipe. Expect a slightly more bitter edge.
How many tablespoons is 10 g of espresso powder?
A little less than 1 1/2 tbsp. At 7 g per tablespoon, 10 g works out to about 1.4 tbsp.
Weights based on the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart and King Arthur Baking's guide to baking with espresso powder.