How many grams of coffee in a tablespoon? A level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5 g, and a heaped one weighs about 6 to 7 g. Peet's Coffee, for example, equates 2 tablespoons with 10 g, while generous scoops land closer to 7 g each.
| Amount | Ground coffee (5 to 7 g per tbsp) |
|---|---|
| 1/2 tsp | 0.8 to 1.2 g |
| 1 tsp | 1.7 to 2.3 g |
| 1 tbsp | 5 to 7 g |
| 2 tbsp | 10 to 14 g |
| 1/4 cup | 20 to 28 g |
| 1/2 cup | 40 to 56 g |
| 1 cup | 80 to 112 g |
Why grams of coffee in a tablespoon vary
Ground coffee isn't a uniform powder like sugar, so a spoon can't give you the same weight every time. The main reasons:
- Level vs heaped. This is the big one. Going from 5 g to 7 g means a heaped spoon can hold about 40% more coffee than a level one.
- Grind size. Fine grinds pack tighter, so a spoon of very fine grounds weighs more than a spoon of coarse French press grounds.
- Roast level. Roasting changes how dense the bean is, so a dark roast and a light roast won't fill a spoon the same way.
- The scoop itself. Plenty of coffee scoops aren't a true tablespoon, so "one scoop per cup" can mean very different things in different kitchens.
What it means for your morning cup
The National Coffee Association's long standing rule of thumb is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 oz of water. Peet's suggests 2 tablespoons, or 10 g, per 6 fl oz (180 ml). Many specialty coffee fans prefer working in grams at a ratio of about 1:15 to 1:16, meaning 1 g of coffee for every 15 to 16 g of water.
Here's how that plays out for a standard 8 oz mug, which holds about 237 g of water:
- At 1:16, you need about 14.8 g of coffee. That's about 3 level tablespoons, or a little over 2 heaped ones.
- At 1:15, you need about 15.8 g, a bit more than 3 level tablespoons.
Notice how the spoon count swings depending on how you scoop. Two heaped spoons and three level spoons can land on almost the same weight. That's the whole case for weighing.
How to measure coffee by weight
- Decide how much water you're brewing and pick a ratio. 1:16 is a friendly place to start.
- Divide the water weight by 16 to get your coffee dose.
- Zero your scale or spoon, then scoop until you reach that number.
- Brew, taste, and adjust by a gram or so next time.
- Write down what you liked so tomorrow's cup matches today's.
If you grind at home, weigh the whole beans before grinding. A tablespoon of whole beans doesn't weigh the same as a tablespoon of grounds, but 15 g of beans still makes 15 g of grounds. For more on dialing in your brew, see our guide on how to measure coffee grounds for more consistent coffee.
A small kitchen tip: a MeasureMate digital measuring spoon scoops and weighs in one step, with a display that reads in 0.1 g steps. Tare it to zero, scoop straight from the bag, and stop when you hit 14.8 g. It also switches between grams and ounces if a recipe uses ounces.
Quick questions
Is 1 tablespoon of coffee 5 grams?
A level tablespoon of ground coffee is close to 5 g. A heaped tablespoon is more like 6 to 7 g.
How many tablespoons of coffee for 12 oz of water?
Using Peet's guidance of 2 tablespoons per 6 fl oz, you'd use 4 tablespoons, or about 20 g, for 12 oz. The National Coffee Association range works out to 2 to 4 tablespoons.
Why does my coffee taste different with the same number of scoops?
Scoops vary with grind, roast and how full you pack them. Weighing your coffee takes that guesswork out.
Weights based on Peet's Coffee, Greenwell Farms, CoffeeGeek and the National Coffee Association.