What is a coffee dose? How many grams to use, by method

Why weigh the dose instead of using scoops?

Because weight is consistent and volume is not. Honest Coffee Guide says to always measure coffee as a weight, not as a volume such as tablespoons. A scale lets you repeat a recipe exactly.

Some makers still give volume measures. Chemex suggests one rounded tablespoon of ground coffee per 5 oz cup. AeroPress and Stumptown both mention the AeroPress scoop next to a gram figure. Both work as a rough start, but grams are what most published recipes use.

How much coffee should you use for each method?

It depends on the method and the size of the brew. These are published starting points from manufacturers and roasters.

For any other size, fix the ratio and scale the dose. The brew calculator does the math for a given cup size.

How big is an espresso dose?

Usually around 18 to 21 grams for one shot, according to Perfect Daily Grind. It says baristas measure to a tenth of a gram. Lighter roasts are often dosed a little lower, between 17 and 19 grams.

Your basket sets the limits. Perfect Daily Grind says an 18-gram basket holds between 16 and 20 grams of coffee. Pick a dose inside your basket's range, then leave it alone while you adjust.

What is the difference between dose and yield?

The dose is what goes in; the yield is what comes out. Perfect Daily Grind defines yield as the wet weight of the espresso you extract. An 18 g dose with a 36 g yield is a 1:2 ratio.

The terms are mostly used for espresso. For filter coffee, people usually talk about the dose and the water instead.

Should you change the dose or the grind?

Usually the grind. Perfect Daily Grind says the dose should not be used to change brew time or flavor directly. It should be set first, to establish the yield.

Baratza gives the same advice: keep the dose consistent while you adjust grind. Changing both at once makes it hard to tell which one helped. That one-variable rule is the core of dialing in.

How does dose relate to grinders?

The dose is what you weigh before you grind. Some people weigh only the beans for one brew, a habit called single dosing. Grinders built for it are designed to be loaded with one dose at a time.

A grinder that holds onto grounds can make your dose inconsistent. What comes out may not match what went in, which is grind retention. If you weigh every dose, check the weight of the grounds as well as the beans.

When your dose is steady, the grind setting becomes the main thing to tune. Use the grind converter to start a recipe from another grinder's setting.