A coffee scoop is a handy tool for measuring coffee, but it can be difficult to know how to measure precisely if you’re not sure how many tablespoons are in a scoop.
The key to a good cup of coffee is often the ratio of ground beans to water, so learning about the size of a coffee scoop can help you perfect your morning cup.

How many tablespoons are in a coffee scoop?
A coffee scoop holds about 2 tablespoons of ground coffee beans. Not all scoops are exact, so you may want to double-check your coffee scoop by measuring out 2 tablespoons and seeing if it all fits in the scoop or if there is any space left over. In general, though, most scoops are close enough to 2 tablespoons that you can use them without additional measuring.

How many scoops should I use to make coffee?
Most coffee enthusiasts feel that you should use one scoop, or 2 tablespoons, of grounds for every 6 ounces of water.
How much ground beans you use to brew your coffee, however, depends on how you prefer your coffee to taste.
Using a full scoop for every 6 ounces of water will give you a strong, bold, flavorful cup of coffee. If you prefer a lighter brew, you might want to opt for one scoop for every 12 ounces of water.
You may also want to change your ratio of grounds to coffee depending on what type of coffee you’re using or what roast it is.

Can you use too many grounds?
Using too many grounds probably won’t make your coffee taste bad, although it could be very strong.
The hot water can only absorb so much of the coffee, though. The water won’t be able to extract flavor from the additional grounds, so they’ll be wasted.

How much coffee can a coffee mug hold?
It’s important to remember that a coffee cup and a coffee mug hold different amounts of liquid. A coffee cup holds about 6 ounces of coffee.
If your coffee maker says it makes 8, 10, or 12 cups, for example, it is assumed that those are 6-ounce cups.
A cup measurement, however, holds 8 ounces. If you’re filling up your coffee maker with water, don’t fill it using a measuring cup.
Instead, fill it based on the markings on the coffee maker itself. Most coffee makers have markings written on the side or inside of the water area that make it simple to tell where to fill to.

You can use these markings as a guide for the water and to help you estimate how much coffee to add to the filter.
A coffee mug, on the other hand, holds between 8 and 12 fluid ounces, with the majority of mugs holding about 8 ounces.
If you’ve made 12 cups of coffee according to the coffee maker but you’re drinking out of a coffee mug, you may only be able to fill the mug between six and nine times.

If you’re making espresso, the volume will be even less. A single shot of espresso is 1 ounce, while a double, which is the most common espresso measurement, is 2 ounces.
Some people prefer an espresso ristretto, also known as a short shot. This is only 0.5 ounces of coffee. Espressos or ristrettos served with milk are about 4 ounces in total volume.
If you order a cappuccino or flat white or you’re using a cappuccino cup, the drink will be about 6 ounces in total.
A latte, on the other hand, is about 8 ounces in size. Cold-brew is usually served in a 12-ounce cup or mug.
Tea is also commonly served in a 12-ounce mug, although this can vary from café to café and depends largely on personal taste.
Iced coffees are usually served in a 14-ounce cup, which leaves plenty of room for the ice.
