Coffee calculator
How Much Coffee Do You Need for a Crowd?
For 100 people drinking one 8 oz cup each, plan about 4 lbs of coffee to brew about 6¼ gallons. Enter your headcount below for an exact amount, how many batches to brew, and how much decaf to have on hand.
Coffee you need
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- Batches in a 1.5 gallon brewer–
- Coffee per 1.5 gallon batch–
- Airpots (2.5 liter)–
- Pots on a 12-cup home coffee maker–
- Bags to order–
- Cups and lids–
- Milk and cream (about 1 oz per cup)–
- Coffee cost at wholesale pricing–
Based on a coffee-to-water ratio by weight, with about 2 g of water absorbed per gram of grounds. Results are estimates; round up for long events or big coffee drinkers.
Brewing for a church, office or event? Get our coffee in 5 lb bags, roasted to order and delivered every Friday across the Twin Cities.
How Much Coffee for 10 to 500 People
Quick reference at a balanced 1:16 ratio with 8 oz cups, before any extra buffer:
| People | 1 cup each | 2 cups each |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.4 lb · 0.6 gal | 0.7 lb · 1.2 gal |
| 25 | 0.9 lb · 1.6 gal | 1.9 lb · 3.1 gal |
| 50 | 1.9 lb · 3.1 gal | 3.7 lb · 6.2 gal |
| 75 | 2.8 lb · 4.7 gal | 5.6 lb · 9.4 gal |
| 100 | 3.7 lb · 6.2 gal | 7.5 lb · 12.5 gal |
| 150 | 5.6 lb · 9.4 gal | 11.2 lb · 18.8 gal |
| 200 | 7.5 lb · 12.5 gal | 14.9 lb · 25 gal |
| 250 | 9.3 lb · 15.6 gal | 18.6 lb · 31.2 gal |
| 300 | 11.2 lb · 18.8 gal | 22.4 lb · 37.5 gal |
| 500 | 18.6 lb · 31.2 gal | 37.3 lb · 62.5 gal |
Rule of thumb: 1 lb of coffee brews about 1⅔ gallons, or 26 to 27 eight-ounce cups, at a balanced strength. One gallon of coffee takes about 9½ oz (270 g) of ground coffee.
Tips for Brewing Coffee for a Crowd
- Brew in batches, not all at once. Coffee tastes best within 30 to 60 minutes of brewing. Start a fresh batch when an airpot is half empty.
- Use airpots or thermal carafes, not a hot plate. A burner cooks coffee and turns it bitter within half an hour. Insulated airpots keep it hot and tasting good for about two hours.
- Grind for drip. A medium grind, like sand, works for batch brewers and coffee makers. We can grind it for you.
- Weigh the coffee once, then mark it. Weigh the first batch, then note the scoop count or line on your container so volunteers can repeat it.
- Label the decaf clearly. Use a different colored airpot or a big label so no one gets the wrong one.
- Use fresh coffee. Coffee roasted within the last few weeks tastes noticeably better than old grocery coffee. See how long coffee stays fresh.
Serving coffee every week? We supply churches, offices and restaurants and bakeries across Minnesota, with no contracts and no minimum order. For events that want iced coffee, see our cold brew kegs.
Quick Answers
How much coffee do I need for 100 people?
About 3.7 lbs of ground coffee for one 8 oz cup each, or about 4 lbs with 10% extra. That brews roughly 6¼ gallons. For two cups each, plan about 7½ to 8¼ lbs.
How much coffee do I need for 50 people?
About 1.9 lbs for one 8 oz cup each, or about 2 lbs with a little extra. That's roughly 3 gallons of coffee.
How many cups of coffee are in a pound?
About 26 to 27 eight-ounce cups at a balanced 1:16 ratio, or about 36 six-ounce cups. Weaker coffee stretches further, but it won't taste as good.
How much ground coffee per gallon?
About 9½ oz (270 g) of ground coffee per gallon of brewed coffee at a 1:16 ratio.
How much coffee for a 12-cup coffee maker?
About 4½ oz (125 to 130 g) of ground coffee for a full 12-cup pot, which makes about 60 oz. Coffee maker "cups" are only 5 oz each.
How much decaf should I make?
About 20% for most daytime events. Plan a third or more for evening events.
How many cups of coffee per person?
Plan 1 cup per person for a short meeting, 1½ for a morning event, 2 for a half day and 3 for an all-day event.