Wondering how many coffee beans per cup? Here's what to know...

Have you been wondering how many coffee beans it takes to brew a cup of coffee? That depends on many factors. Here's the short answer, followed by some helpful in-depth coffee brewing facts. 

How many coffee beans per cup?

You will need approximately 0.4 oz, which is equivalent to about 10.5 grams, of coffee beans, for every cup. In grounds, this equates to approximately two tablespoons of ground-up coffee for a medium-strong cup of coffee. 

There are plenty of nuances to understand about the amount of coffee needed per cup for a great mug of morning bliss. Here are some more helpful hints to ensure the best cup of Joe!

Understanding Ground Coffee Beans and Measurements

First let's talk about grind size. There are various grind sizes readily available for multiple coffee makers. To get the most taste from a bean, utilize the ideal grind size. This takes up more area and minimizes the number of beans per cup needed.

For instance, if you grind coffee beans in a coarse grind, you're more likely to get a decently strong cup of coffee with fewer beans. However, an espresso grind, which is very fine, will give you stronger coffee. 

In OneGreatCoffee.Com's coffee selection menu, you can choose between sizes like whole bean, ground, French press, and espresso grinds as you order your custom coffee. That way, you can get the exact coffee strength you've been craving. 

Coffee in Ounces:

One ounce (28 - 29 grams) of ground beans should be enough for about 12 cups of coffee. 

Here are some factors to keep in mind: 

- On average, a single coffee bean weighs around 0.1 to 0.2 grams. 

- 28.3495 grams is how many it takes to make about one ounce. 

- For a big 10-12 ounce coffee mug, you need about 100 ground up coffee beans. 

- Coffee bags usually hold 8 to 16 ounces of beans, or enough for about 8 pots of coffee at minimum if you're brewing coffee at medium strength. 

- 5.13 grams is about 40 coffee beans

- For a whole pot of coffee, about one ounce of ground beans is sufficient, or one eighth of an eight ounce bag, or, 5-8 scoops of coffee, depending on your scooper size. 

Most “regular” coffee grinds are a medium coarse size. Pour over and French Press coffee makers may require coarser grinds. (Learn how much coffee to use for a French Press by clicking here!) Espresso makers utilize a finer and more powdery grind. 

K-cups and single-serving coffee pods generally come pre-ground and measured for a cup. That way, you get a nice medium-strength coffee with zero guesswork. At OneGreatCoffee.com, you can get some awesome FRESHLY ROASTED gourmet single-serve coffee in pre-packed pods. Click HERE to browse our single-serve fresh cup coffee pod collection. 

The Number Of Coffee Beans Per Cup: Measurements Explained In-Depth

Quantity: The quantity of coffee beans in a cup depends upon numerous aspects. Various types of coffee sellers have various amounts of internal components and differing wetness materials. These elements impact the last weight of a cup of coffee. While these factors don't impact the average coffee drinker, be aware that different coffee variants can actually produce larger or smaller beans.

Bean size usually comes into play with the cost of coffee, particularly, how expensive it is for retailers to acquire in bulk. The processing method (wet processing, dry processing, dark roast, light roast etc.) may also impact the final size of the unground coffee beans, and sometimes, their cost. 

Volume: Coffee beans are generally offered by weight, not by volume, so the variety of beans per cup will differ. Many coffee fans choose to determine their coffee beans by weight instead of volume.

You can start exploring numerous coffee brewing methods when you have figured out how many coffee beans it takes to create a cup that is to your preferred strength. It's crucial to comprehend the ratio between coffee and water as well, as various kinds of beans might have varying compounds like tannins, caffeine, etc. 

Other Factors: Basically, two tablespoons of coffee beans make one cup of medium to strong coffee. A tablespoon is 5.3 grams. If you're utilizing accurate measurements, a cup of brewed coffee is roughly 8 ounces.

You might need to increase the number of beans in a cup by one-third to half of a tablespoon if you're brewing with a coffee maker that runs faster (reducing the extraction time of the coffee grounds). Using a kitchen scale may be helpful if you want to measure coffee in grams precisely. 

How Roast Profile Affects Coffee Strength 

The flavor and strength of coffee is dramatically impacted by the roast level of the coffee beans. As such, the amount of coffee grounds you are using to brew a cup or a pot of coffee may vary based on the type of roast profile you are working with. 

So which profiles are strongest if you are trying to get the most “bang for your buck” out of your coffee? In our opinion, this question has no one simple answer. After all, so many factors come into play, many of which depend on things like personal preference (what do YOU consider strong), how much caffeine is in coffee, and what flavor notes an individual coffee drinker is chasing.

Additionally, if by strength you mean flavor, or how much punch a cup of coffee has, the answer to which roast profile is the strongest gets even more complicated. Different types of coffee taste better or worse with different roast profiles. For example, a dark Italian roast can be smooth and bold while a light roasted Italian roast coffee may pack a different sort of punch with higher levels of acidity and citrusy notes. 

However, in general, most people agree that dark roasted coffee has a bolder overall taste that is strong and “punchy.” As far as caffeine goes, light roasted coffee beans or medium light roasts tend to contain a little bit more caffeine since they are exposed to heat during roasting for less time. If you want strong coffee that has a range of nuanced flavors, a medium roast is a good option. 

Finally, if you are going for really strong flavor notes and tons of caffeine, espresso might be for you. A fine dark roasted espresso grind is going to have a ton of coffee flavor! 

How does coffee roast affect the body of coffee? 

Coffee's body is often identified by weight, mouthfeel, and texture. Body often shows up with specialty coffee Association grading of coffee beans. Coffee and its body are impacted by something known as the Maillard reaction, which is often carefully used to control how a coffee will taste after roasting is completed. 

Types of Coffee Beans and Their Strength

Coffee beans can come in all sorts of different flavor strengths. Among the more delicate coffee flavors is the Kenya Peaberry coffee bean. Alternatively, one of the strongest coffee flavors is a dark Italian blend. Also, continental blends are known to be pretty bold-tasting. 

Monsoon Malabar dark roasted coffee, Colombian organics, fair trade dark roasts, and Barcelona espresso coffees are also considered fairly strong. Guatemalan coffees, Sumatran coffees, and many other South American coffees tend to fall somewhere in the middle. 

Get More Out of Your Beans

To get the most out of your coffee beans, be sure to brew your coffee at the proper temperature and always select the correct grind size. Do not over-extract your coffee and drink it while it is still hot and fresh. You can also brew most types of ground coffee cold, in a “steeping cold brew” style, using a glass container with a lid. The cold brew method in this blog lets you extract every single bit of flavor without damaging or scalding your coffee grounds. 

In addition to this, different coffee beans can produce different types of coffee profiles when brewed. For example, smaller Robusta coffee beans can brew a strong cup of coffee with bold, bitter flavors, and acidic astringency.

However, pure Arabica beans can brew a delicately nuanced cup of coffee with almost sweet or chocolate flavors and a deliciously clean, smooth finish. (For this reason, we only sell 100% pure Arabica coffees.)

Half an ounce of Robusta beans will produce strong, yet poor-tasting coffee. Half an ounce of Arabica beans will still produce strong and flavorful coffee, but often with slightly less caffeine.