A scale makes pour-over repeatable, but you do not need one to make a good cup. Plenty of people brew every morning with a tablespoon and a measuring cup, or by watching the lines on a glass server. This guide gives you the numbers for both methods.
The quick version
- One mug: 2½–3 level tablespoons of medium-ground coffee and 1 cup (8 fl oz, about 240 ml) of hot water.
- Two mugs: 5–6 level tablespoons and 2 cups (16 fl oz, about 480 ml) of hot water.
That lands close to the 1:16 ratio most pour-over recipes use. Taste, then add or remove half a tablespoon next time.
Why tablespoons are only roughly right
One level tablespoon of ground coffee usually weighs about 5–6 g, but it changes with the roast and grind. Dark, fine grounds pack heavier; light, coarse grounds weigh less. A heaped tablespoon can be almost double a level one. So:
- Always use level scoops: fill, then sweep off the top with a knife.
- Use the same spoon or scoop every time. A dedicated scoop like our coffee scoop with a bag clip stays with the bag, so the measure never changes.
- If you ever borrow a scale, weigh one level scoop of your usual coffee and write the number down.
Method 1: tablespoons and a measuring cup
- Heat water. Let it sit about 30 seconds off the boil (around 195–205°F / 90–96°C).
- Measure the water you plan to brew with in a heat-safe measuring cup: 1 cup per mug.
- Rinse the paper filter in the dripper with extra hot water and pour that rinse water out.
- Add 2½–3 level tablespoons of coffee per mug.
- Bloom: pour a small splash, just enough to wet all the grounds (about 2 tablespoons of water per mug). Wait 30–45 seconds.
- Pour the rest of your measured water slowly in small circles, in two or three stages, until the cup is empty.
Because you measured the water first, you know exactly how much went through, even without a scale.
Method 2: brew straight to the line on a glass server
If your server has lines, you can skip measuring the water: just pour until the brewed coffee in the server reaches the line you want. The grounds hold back some water (roughly twice the coffee's weight), so the coffee you need for a target line is a little more than you might expect:
| Brew to this line | Ground coffee | Approx. level tablespoons |
|---|---|---|
| 150 ml (one small cup) | 11 g | 2 |
| 300 ml (one large mug) | 21 g | 3½–4 |
| 450 ml (two mugs) | 32 g | 5½–6 |
| 500 ml (two generous mugs) | 36 g | 6–6½ |
| 600 ml (three cups) | 43 g | 7–8 |
These amounts keep you close to a 1:16 brew. Our clear glass coffee server has lines at 150, 300, 450 and 600 ml, and our amber glass server has lines at about 300 and 500 ml, so both work well for this method. Choosing one? See how to choose a glass coffee server.
Timing without a scale
You do not need a scale to time your brew; your phone is enough. Start the timer at the first pour. One mug should finish in roughly 2½–3½ minutes, two mugs in about 3½–4½ minutes. Faster than that and the cup tastes thin? Grind finer. Slower and it tastes harsh? Grind coarser. Our grind size guide shows what the right texture looks like.
Blooming by eye
Without a scale, watch the coffee instead of the numbers. Pour slowly until every ground looks dark and wet, then stop. If coffee is already streaming out of the bottom, you used too much. Our guide to the pour-over bloom explains what to look for.
When is a scale worth it?
If your cup is good some mornings and off on others, a scale is the fastest fix, because it removes the guesswork from both coffee and water. A small one like our pocket coffee scale is enough to weigh the coffee dose (it weighs up to 300 g), and you can keep measuring the water with a cup or the server lines. When you are ready for exact numbers, see our pour-over ratio chart.
Common questions
How many tablespoons of coffee for one cup of pour-over?
About 2½–3 level tablespoons for an 8 oz mug. Start at 2½ and add more if it tastes weak.
Is a coffee scoop the same as a tablespoon?
Not always. Many coffee scoops hold about 2 tablespoons, but sizes vary. Check yours once against a tablespoon, or weigh it.
Can I use the cup markings on my mug?
Mugs vary a lot in size, from 8 to 16 oz. Measure your favorite mug once with a measuring cup and you will know how much water to brew for it. Then find your mug size in our table of how much coffee to use per cup.
Brew tomorrow, no scale needed
Level your scoops, measure the water or brew to the line, and time it on your phone. Write down what you used. Two or three mornings is enough to find your cup. Brewing for two? Our guide to pour-over coffee for two walks through a larger batch.
Let it drip.
— Tran Vu Doan, Phin & Clay