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Brew ratios

Clever Dripper ratio for 8 oz of water

16 g of coffee, or about 3.2 tablespoons. Here is the full recipe.

Brew ratiosUpdated October 2026Numbers calculated for this page
For 8 oz (237 ml) of water, use about 16 g of coffee, roughly 3.2 level tablespoons of ground coffee. That is a 1:15 ratio, our default for clever dripper.
16 gcoffee
3.2 tbsplevel, ground
237 mlwater
~6.9 ozin the cup

Stronger or milder

RatioCoffeeTablespoonsTaste
1:1417 g3.4 tbspstronger
1:1516 g3.2 tbspour default
1:1615 g3.0 tbspmilder
1:1714 g2.8 tbspmilder

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: medium-coarse.
  • Water temperature: 195–205°F (90–96°C).
  • Brew time: 3–4 minutes.
  • Steep with the valve closed, then set it on your mug to drain. It is a French press with a paper filter.

Fixing the taste

If it tastes…Try this
Sour, thin, weakGrind a little finer or brew longer; or use more coffee (lower ratio number).
Bitter, harsh, dryGrind a little coarser or brew shorter; or use less coffee (higher ratio number).
Fine but flatUse fresher beans, roasted within the last month, ground right before brewing.
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Other clever dripper sizes

Other methods at 8 oz

Questions people ask

How many grams of coffee for 8 oz of water?

About 16 g at a 1:15 ratio, between 14 g (milder) and 17 g (stronger).

How many tablespoons of coffee for 8 oz in a clever dripper?

About 3.2 level tablespoons of ground coffee.

What is the best clever dripper ratio?

Start at 1:15 and adjust between 1:14 and 1:17 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.

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