How much coffee or tea per cup? Brew helper

Choose coffee or tea, the method and how much you are making. The tool shows how much coffee or tea to use and for how long, with the source for every number.

How to use the brew helper

For coffee, pick a method and type the amount of water in millilitres. For espresso, type how much espresso you want in the cup in grams. For tea, pick the type and the number of 6-ounce cups.

Coffee: the National Coffee Association numbers

The National Coffee Association gives “quick numbers” for each method: drip 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water and about 5 minutes; pour-over 1:13 to 1:16 coffee to water, 93 ± 3°C, 2 to 4 minutes; French press 1:10 to 1:16, 93 ± 3°C, about 4 minutes; cold brew 1:4 to 1:5 and about 12 hours; espresso 1 gram of dry coffee to 2 grams of liquid and 20 to 30 seconds. Grind sizes: French press and cold brew coarse, drip and pour-over medium, espresso fine. The grams of coffee for your water are our calculation from these ratios. Your taste decides: the NCA says the best method is the one that gives your favourite coffee.

Tea: the Twinings numbers

Twinings, a tea maker, suggests 1 tea bag or 1 teaspoon of loose tea per 6-ounce cup and these brew times: black 3 to 5 minutes, chai 3 to 5, green 2, herbal 3 to 4, red 3 to 4, oolong 2 to 3, white 1 to 2 and cold-brewed iced tea 3 to 5 minutes. Their guide gives one water instruction for all teas: start with freshly drawn cold water and pour it over the tea as soon as it reaches boiling. Some makers advise cooler water for green and white tea, so check your own packet.

Sources

National Coffee Association USA: brewing and Twinings North America: How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea (both read 2 Nov 2026). Caffeine in your cup: see the caffeine calculator.

General information. Take care with hot water.