Stronger or milder
| Ratio | Coffee | Tablespoons | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:12 | 49 g | 9.9 tbsp | stronger |
| 1:14 | 42 g | 8.4 tbsp | stronger |
| 1:15 | 39 g | 7.9 tbsp | our default |
| 1:16 | 37 g | 7.4 tbsp | milder |
Ratios are coffee to water by weight. A scale makes this easy and repeatable; tablespoons are approximate because grounds vary in density (about 5 g per level tablespoon).
How to brew it
- Grind: fine to medium.
- Water temperature: 175–205°F (80–96°C).
- Brew time: 1½–2 minutes.
- Add coffee and water, stir, steep about a minute, then press gently for 20–30 seconds. Lower temperatures make it sweeter.
Fixing the taste
| If it tastes… | Try this |
|---|---|
| Sour, thin, weak | Grind a little finer or brew longer; or use more coffee (lower ratio number). |
| Bitter, harsh, dry | Grind a little coarser or brew shorter; or use less coffee (higher ratio number). |
| Fine but flat | Use fresher beans, roasted within the last month, ground right before brewing. |

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Take a lookOther aeropress sizes
Other methods at 20 oz
Questions people ask
How many grams of coffee for 20 oz of water?
About 39 g at a 1:15 ratio, between 37 g (milder) and 49 g (stronger).
How many tablespoons of coffee for 20 oz in a aeropress?
About 7.9 level tablespoons of ground coffee.
What is the best aeropress ratio?
Start at 1:15 and adjust between 1:12 and 1:16 to taste.
Numbers on this page are estimates calculated from the assumptions shown. Coffees, beans and drinks vary; caffeine figures are typical values, not medical advice.