Understanding Coffee Yield: How Many Cups from 1 Pound?
When you purchase a pound of coffee, knowing how many cups you can brew helps you plan your coffee budget and ordering schedule. The answer depends on your preferred strength, cup size, and brewing method. This guide provides industry-standard calculations to help you get the most from every pound.
The Golden Ratio: Your Starting Point
The specialty coffee industry recommends the Golden Ratio of 1:18 (1 part coffee to 18 parts water by weight) as the ideal starting point for balanced, flavorful coffee. For a stronger brew, many coffee professionals use a ratio of 1:15.
Why measure by weight (grams)? Weight is far more accurate than volume measurements. Coffee beans vary in density depending on roast level and origin, so measuring by grams ensures consistency every time.
Quick Conversion for Home Brewers
- Golden Ratio (1:18): ~2.5 tablespoons per 8 fl oz cup
- Strong Ratio (1:15): ~3 tablespoons per 8 fl oz cup
Quick-Reference Chart: Cups Per Pound
Here's how many cups you can brew from 1 pound (453.6 grams) of coffee, based on different cup sizes and strength preferences:
| Coffee Strength | Standard Coffee Cup (6 fl oz) |
Standard Cup (8 fl oz) |
Large Mug (12 fl oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden (1:18) | ~46 cups | ~34 cups | ~23 cups |
| Strong (1:15) | ~38 cups | ~28 cups | ~19 cups |
How We Calculate This
For an 8 fl oz cup using the Golden Ratio (1:18):
- 8 fl oz of water ≈ 237 grams
- Coffee needed: 237g ÷ 18 = 13.15 grams per cup
- Total cups from 1 lb: 453.6g ÷ 13.15g = ~34.5 cups
Different Brewing Methods: What to Expect
Drip Coffee & Pour Over
Use the ratios and chart above. These methods work best with the Golden Ratio (1:18) for a clean, balanced cup.
Espresso
Espresso requires a much higher dose of coffee per serving. A standard double shot uses 18–20 grams of finely ground coffee.
- From 1 pound (453.6g): You'll get approximately 22–25 double shots
- This assumes minimal waste and proper grinder calibration
Cold Brew
Cold brew uses a significantly higher coffee-to-water ratio because you're making a concentrate that gets diluted before drinking. Common ratios range from 1:4 to 1:8 (coffee to water).
Example using 1:5 ratio:
- 1 pound (453.6g) of coffee + 2,268g water (about 2.4 quarts)
- Yields approximately 2 quarts of concentrate
- When diluted 1:1 with water or milk, this produces roughly 1 gallon of ready-to-drink cold brew
The Grind Loss Factor
Here's a practical detail many guides overlook: grind retention. When you grind coffee, a small amount of coffee grounds (typically 0.5–2 grams per grind session) remains trapped in your grinder's burrs and chamber. Over time, this adds up.
For home grinders, this loss is minimal but worth noting if you're calculating precisely. High-end or commercial grinders may retain more due to larger burr sets. To minimize waste:
- Grind only what you need for each brew
- Purge your grinder occasionally by running a small amount of beans through
- Clean your grinder regularly to prevent stale coffee buildup
Practical Tips for Wholesale Buyers
If you're ordering our 5-pound bulk bags for your café or office:
- Golden Ratio (1:18): ~172 cups of 8 fl oz coffee per 5-lb bag
- Strong Ratio (1:15): ~143 cups of 8 fl oz coffee per 5-lb bag
- Espresso: ~113–125 double shots per 5-lb bag
These calculations help you forecast inventory needs and ensure you're always stocked with fresh, properly dated coffee.
Bottom Line
From 1 pound of coffee, you can expect:
- ~34 cups of 8 fl oz drip coffee (Golden Ratio)
- ~28 cups of 8 fl oz drip coffee (Strong Ratio)
- ~22–25 double shots of espresso
- ~1 gallon of ready-to-drink cold brew (after dilution)
Remember: these are guidelines, not rules. Adjust the ratio to match your taste preferences, and always measure by weight for the most consistent results. Whether you're brewing at home or running a busy café, understanding these ratios ensures every pound of coffee delivers maximum flavor and value.
