June 07, 2025
When it comes to specialty coffee roasters, there are a lot of factors to think about for packaging. This includes things like color, materials, shape, and extra features. However, one important aspect that often gets overlooked is the coffee bag size. The coffee bag size can greatly affect the freshness of the coffee. It will also affect its unique qualities, like aroma and flavor. It also determines how many cups of coffee you can brew from each bag.
The 12oz coffee bag has become the most popular choice for many coffee roasters. However, why is it so popular? And how many cups of coffee can you get from a 12oz coffee bag?
The golden ratio for coffee making is adding 2 tsp coffee grounds to your 6 ounces of water. It means this ratio can give you more cups of coffee with this coffee bag size.
At the same time, a typical cup is of 8 ounces but people often use 6 ounces to refer to a "cup of coffee."
To keep things simple:
· A 12-ounce coffee bag which is arguably the most common coffee bag size can make about 32 cups. It is truer if you are filling the mug with 6 OZ of water.
· On the other hand, if you are filling mug with 8 ounces, then your 12 OZ coffee bag will make about 21 cups of coffee.
If you drink just one small cup of coffee every morning then a 12-ounce bag should last you about three to four weeks. However, that is the minimum. You might end up drinking more than one cup a day. If you enjoy multiple cups daily or brew your coffee stronger, then that bag could only last about a week or two.
Some coffee brands offer 16-ounce bags. A pound of coffee can give you around 30 to 40 cups if you brew it regularly. Higher-end brands might have smaller bags, like 8 to 10 ounces. On the other hand, some budget instant coffee brands sell 30-ounce containers that can last quite a while.
If you are thinking about making cold brew then that is a bit different. Cold brew is not just iced coffee. It also involves steeping coffee grounds in water to create a stronger flavor.
You will need about an ounce of ground coffee for every cup of water for one glass of cold brew.
These calculations can give you a good idea of how much coffee you can get from a 12-ounce coffee bag. However, several things can change the number of coffee cups you can make with it:
Everyone has their own taste when it comes to coffee. If you like a stronger cup then you will use more coffee. It will ultimately reduce the number of cups you can make. Adjusting how much coffee you use can help you get the flavor you enjoy.
Different types of coffee, like espresso, cold brew, or flavored options may need different amounts of coffee to prepare. It means the type of coffee you like can affect how much cups you can make with a 12oz bag.
The way you brew your coffee can also change how much coffee you need. For instance, a French press might need a coarser grind and different measurements compared to a regular drip coffee maker.
For instance,
· Brewing Espresso
The coffee-to-water ratio for espresso is quite different. This is because it is much stronger. We suggest using a ratio of 1:2. It means you will need about 20 grams of coffee for a 40-gram shot of espresso. A 12-ounce coffee bag will give you around 17 shots of espresso with this ratio.
· Brewing Pour Overs
The pour-over method is a favorite way to brew coffee by hand. We recommend using 28 grams of coffee to make a nice 16-ounce cup for this method. You can expect to get about 12 cups of coffee from a 12-ounce coffee bag with this recipe.
· Brewing AeroPress
The main limit is how much water can fit in its chamber when using an AeroPress. So, the size of your mug is not as important as your AeroPress recipe.
We recommend using 18 grams of coffee for the inverted method. It should be ground to a medium-fine texture similar to table salt. You can make about 18 cups of 9.8 ounces of coffee with this recipe from a 12-ounce coffee package.
There are many different AeroPress recipes that need different amounts of coffee. For example, if you use the non-inverted method, you can use just 12 grams of coffee per cup. You could make around 28 cups of coffee this way.
· Brewing French Press
The French press is a great way to start your home brewing adventure. This is because it is really easy to use. However, French presses come in many different sizes. So, how many cups of coffee you can make from a 12-ounce bag depends on the machine size.
If you want to make two 10.5-ounce cups of coffee then you will need 38 grams of coarsely ground coffee. You can make about 18 cups of coffee with that amount from a 12-ounce package.
The size of the coffee grind can affect how the flavors come out. Finer grinds might need a little less coffee than coarser grinds. It usually depends on how you brew it. Keep in mind that if the grind is too fine when trying out different grind sizes. It can make your coffee taste bitter because of over-extraction.
On average, a 12oz coffee bag should make about 17 to 21 coffee cups. However, various factors can change that number. These usually include the size of your cup, the brewing method you use, and how strong you like your coffee.