Updated: September 2026.
To make good coffee at home, use freshly roasted beans and grind them just before brewing. Measure about 10 g of coffee for every 160 ml (5.4 oz) of water (a 1:16 ratio) and use filtered water at 195-205 °F (90-96 °C), never boiling. Match the grind to your method and serve right away. With these five keys, any coffee maker produces a much better cup.
Coffee is an essential part of Colombian culture, and brewing it well at home is within everyone's reach. These are the tips that make the difference, from choosing the bean to the moment you serve.
How Much Coffee Per Cup? Coffee Measurements
The basic measurement is 1 g of coffee for every 15-17 ml of water. For an 8.5 oz (250 ml) cup, that's about 15 g, roughly two heaping tablespoons of ground coffee. If you don't have a scale, a level tablespoon of ground coffee weighs about 5-7 g.
| Method | Coffee-to-water ratio | Example | Grind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee maker | 1:16 | 10 g per 160 ml | Medium |
| V60 or Chemex | 1:15 to 1:17 | 15 g per 250 ml | Medium-fine (V60) or medium-coarse (Chemex) |
| French press | 1:13 to 1:16 | 12 g per 160 ml | Coarse |
| AeroPress | 1:12 to 1:15 | 15 g per 200 ml | Fine to medium |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 18 g to get 36 g of coffee | Very fine |
| Cold brew (concentrate) | 1:8 | 60 g per 500 ml | Extra coarse |
It's a starting point: if you want it milder, add water or use less coffee; if you want it stronger, do the opposite. To see the methods side by side, check our comparison table of coffee brewing methods.
How Do You Make Coffee at Home, Step by Step?
- Choose a good coffee. 100% Arabica specialty beans, with a visible roast date and a stated origin.
- Grind just before brewing. Match the grind to your method; ground coffee loses aroma within minutes.
- Measure. Use the ratio from the table; a kitchen scale helps a lot.
- Heat the water to 195-205 °F (90-96 °C). If you don't have a thermometer, let boiled water rest for about 30 seconds.
- Brew with the method you prefer, respecting its timing.
- Serve right away and don't reheat the coffee.
10 Tips for Brewing Coffee Like an Expert
1. Buy quality coffee
Most of the world's coffee is Arabica or Robusta. Arabica is grown at higher altitude and has a milder, more complex and fruity flavor, with less caffeine; Robusta is more bitter and has more caffeine. For a good cup, choose specialty Arabica. All our specialty coffee is roasted in small batches and labeled with its origin and roast date.
2. Check the freshness
Look for the roast date, not just the expiry date, and ideally drink the coffee within the following weeks. Good coffee has beans of even size and color and an intense aroma, with no rancid smells.
3. Grind at home
Grinding just before brewing preserves the oils and aromas. A burr grinder gives a more even grind than a blade grinder. If you'd rather skip this step, buy ready-to-brew ground coffee with the grind for your method.
4. Mind the water
Water is almost 99% of the drink. Use filtered or bottled water with low to medium mineral content; avoid chlorinated water and very hard water, which give a bitter or metallic taste. Distilled water, with no minerals, isn't good either: it makes flat coffee.
5. Don't use boiling water
Water at 212 °F (100 °C) extracts bitter, astringent compounds. The ideal temperature is between 195 and 205 °F (90-96 °C).
6. Choose your method well
- Drip coffee maker: simple and practical for making several cups at once.
- French press: a full-bodied, strong cup, because its metal filter lets the oils through.
- AeroPress: compact, versatile and fast; it combines immersion and pressure.
- Chemex and V60: clean, bright cups that highlight the bean's notes.
7. Know what the filter does
Paper filters hold back most of the oils and give a cleaner, lighter cup. Metal filters, like the French press's, let oils and fine particles through and give more body. Always rinse paper filters with hot water before using them.
8. Serve right away and don't reheat
Over time, the aromatic compounds evaporate, and coffee kept on a hot plate turns bitter. Brew only what you're going to drink; if you want cold coffee, brew it cold, like cold brew, instead of chilling hot coffee.
9. Clean and store properly
Wash coffee makers, metal filters and your grinder regularly: old oils turn rancid and spoil the next cup. Store coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place, away from the stove and out of the fridge, where it absorbs moisture and odors.
10. Go easy on add-ins
Milk and sugar soften coffee, but too much hides its nuances. If you want to discover the real flavor of a good bean, cut back on sugar gradually: a well-brewed specialty coffee already has natural sweetness. And a preheated porcelain cup keeps coffee hot for longer.
Experiment Until You Find Your Cup
Try different ratios, methods and times, but change only one variable at a time and take notes. If the cup is bitter, grind coarser or lower the temperature; if it's sour or watery, grind finer or use more coffee. And if you want to go further, try our 25 coffee recipes or start with our beginner's guide to coffee. A good gourmet coffee does the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Coffee at Home
How do you make good coffee at home?
With freshly roasted beans ground just before brewing, a ratio of 1 g of coffee for every 15-17 ml of water, filtered water at 195-205 °F (90-96 °C) and the right grind for your method. Serve the coffee right away and don't reheat it.
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup?
For an 8.5 oz (250 ml) cup, about two heaping tablespoons of ground coffee, which is roughly 15 g. Adjust the amount to how strong you like it.
What is the ideal coffee-to-water ratio?
Between 1:15 and 1:17 for most filter methods: for example, 10 g of coffee for every 160 ml of water. The French press takes a little more coffee, and espresso uses a much more concentrated 1:2 ratio.
What temperature should the water be for coffee?
Between 195 and 205 °F (90-96 °C). Boiling water extracts bitter compounds; if you don't have a thermometer, let boiled water rest for about 30 seconds before using it.
Should coffee be stored in the fridge?
No. In the fridge, coffee absorbs moisture and odors, and temperature changes cause condensation. An airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place is better.
Written by the Green Hills Coffee team, specialty coffee growers and roasters in Itagüí, Antioquia.
