Your office has a big meeting coming up today and you’ve been tasked with making the coffee. You have to brew 10 cups, which is more coffee than you’ve ever handled at once. Approximately how many scoops of ground coffee do you need for 10 cups?
To make 10 cups of coffee, you need between eight and 11 scoops of coffee grounds depending on the preferred coffee strength. You should add at least 50 ounces of water, which is approximately 6 ¼ cups.
If you’re wondering why you would only need 6 1/4 cups and not 10 cups of water to make 10 cups of coffee, then you’re not alone. Here in America, we typically refer to a serving size as 8 ounces (1cup) when it comes to drinks. When it comes to measuring coffee though, 6 ounces is the standard for a cup of coffee.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the recommended number of scoops for brewing 10 cups of coffee. We’ll break the information down into tablespoons and grams so that no matter how you like to measure your coffee, you can do it quickly and efficiently. Keep reading!
How Many Scoops of Coffee Do I Need for 10 Cups?
The Specialty Coffee Association of America or SCAA was established in 1982. Although coffee was brewed for thousands of years before that and will likely be for thousands of years in the future, the SCAA is credited with creating what is known as the Golden Ratio.
That is, you should use a tablespoon or two of ground coffee for each six-ounce quantity of water in the brewing machine.
Keeping that Golden Ratio in mind, we can now talk about how many tablespoons of coffee you should add when making 10 cups.
In all instances, the amount of water you’ll use is the same. It’s 50 ounces or approximately 6 ¼ cups.
How much ground coffee to put into the coffeemaker when brewing 10 cups of coffee depends on the coffee preferences of your recipients.
Do they like weaker coffee because they don’t want caffeine jitters? In that case, then you should add approximately 17 ½ tablespoons of coffee or 79 grams.
When brewing 10 cups of coffee at regular strength, for each cup, you want to add 90 grams of coffee or 20 tablespoons.
For the strongest coffee in the conference room, use 22 2/3 tablespoons or 102 grams.
Of course, you’re interested in scoops, which are easier to dole out. Your boss is expecting steaming hot coffee in the meeting room in about an hour, after all. You can’t dilly-dally with all that math.
The number of scoops you need to make 10 cups of coffee is much easier. For a weaker cup, add 8 ¾ scoops. If you’re making coffee at normal strength, then dump in 10 scoops. For stronger coffee, you need 11 1/3 scoops.
We’d recommend using measuring cups to get the precise quantities of coffee, especially if you’re brewing strong stuff. You don’t want the coffee to be too strong. No one will be able to concentrate on business if they’re that wired!
How Many Scoops of Coffee Do I Need When Making Fewer Than 10 Cups of Coffee?
You’ve got your coffeemaker, your measuring spoon, and you’re ground coffee. You’re all ready to brew 10 cups of coffee when your boss tells you that a few people won’t attend the meeting. Here’s how many scoops of coffee are required when brewing fewer than 10 cups.
Calculations for Measuring Coffee
8 Cups
When making eight cups of coffee at a time, you’ll need 5 cups of water or 40 ounces. You can brew weaker cup using 7 level coffee scoops, which is 14 tablespoons or 64 grams.
For average coffee that’s not too weak or too strong, use 8 scoops. This is approximately 16 tablespoons or 72 grams.
To brew some really strong coffee, be ready to scoop out 9 servings of coffee grounds, which is 18 tablespoons or 82 grams.
6 Cups
If only six people are coming to the big work meeting, set aside 3 ¾ cups of water or 30 ounces. By using 5 1/3 scoops of coffee, which is 10 2/3 tablespoons or 48 grams, you’ll produce six weaker cups.
Six scoops of coffee, which is 12 tablespoons or 54 grams, will produce a moderately strong coffee. You can make six cups of coffee stronger still with 7 scoops, which is 62 grams or 14 tablespoons.
5 Cups
You’d reduce your quantities still when brewing five cups of coffee at once. You should add in no more than 25 ounces or 3 cups of water.
With 4 ½ scoops of coffee grounds, which is 9 tablespoons or 40 grams, you’ll have five weaker cups of java. Increase the scoops to 5 (10 tablespoons or 45 grams) if you want the coffee a little bit stronger.
Wake up everyone in the meeting with very strong coffee by brewing coffee using 5 2/3 scoops of grounds, which is precisely 51 grams or 11 1/3 tablespoons.
4 Cups
For a very small meeting of only four people, limit the water that goes into the coffeemaker to just 20 ounces or 2 ½ cups. Anything more than that will water down the coffee too much.
Serve regular strength coffee with 4 scoops, which is 36 grams or 8 tablespoons. Weaken the coffee by reducing the amount of coffee grounds down to 3 ½ scoops. That’s approximately 7 tablespoons or 32 grams.
To make the coffee stronger, you can use 4 ½ scoops, which is 9 tablespoons or 41 grams.
Golden Cup Standard According to SCA
The SCA, Specialty Coffee Association, has come up with a golden cup standards. According the the SCA, “Coffee shall exhibit a brew strength of 11.5 to 13.5 grams per liter, corresponding to 1.15 to 1.35 “percent” on the SCA Brewing Control Chart.”
Coffee Ratios
The Golden Ratio for coffee is 1:18. This can always be adjusted based on your personal preferences and whether you like a strong cup of coffee or not.
Using Scoops vs. a Coffee Scale to Measure Coffee
Many coffee drinkers use the scoop method to measure their coffee. Although this may be faster and more convenient, it will not measure precisely how much coffee you want.
Scoops are not sufficient because they are not very accurate. The same amount of coffee by weight can take up a different volume depending on the grind size. A scoop of coarsely ground coffee (for a French press) will weigh less than a scoop of finely ground coffee (for an espresso).
Also, have you ever tried to scoop two identical weights of anything? It’s almost impossible! Even if you are attempting to use a level coffee scoop.
Although measuring your coffee and even your water out takes an extra step, it pays off in the end. Once you find the proper coffee-to-water ratio for you, the guesswork is gone.
Which Coffee Machines Can Make 10 Cups of Coffee?
Okay, you got the appropriate number of scoops prepared to make 10 cups of coffee. Now you need the right coffeemaker for the job.
What, you didn’t think we were going to recommend a standard single-cup coffee machine for these purposes, did you? Even if your coffeemaker could brew a cup in a minute or two, that’s still a lot of strain to put on the machine. Plus, the process wouldn’t be very efficient.
Here are 8 of our favorite coffeemakers that can brew at least 10 cups at once!
KRUPS Simply Brew Family Drip Coffee Maker
Drip coffee machines are beloved among coffee aficionados since they’re easy to use and typically programmable. That’s why we thought we’d start this list with the KRUPS Simply Brew, a drip coffee maker that can brew up to 10 cups.
With its stainless steel body, the Simply Brew looks great and is designed for durability. The button on the side of the coffeemaker gets this machine brewing. Even if you’re exhausted first thing in the morning, you can still get delectable hot coffee.
The Pause & Serve feature allows you to stop brewing so you can serve the coffee you already made. If your coffee has to sit for a while, the Simply Brew will keep that cup warm for 60 minutes.
After that, the coffeemaker will power itself off. This feature comes in handy, especially on those frazzled mornings. You know the kind!
The Simply Brew makes coffee without the need for a paper filter. Instead, the machine includes a measuring spoon and a permanent filter that will save you money long-term on replacement filters.
Ensure you meet the Golden Ratio for brewing coffee by watching the water tank window of the coffee machine. The door of the Simply Brew is also convenient, as it’s large for accessibility.
Proctor Silex 10-Cup Coffee Maker
For the coffee lover on a budget, the Proctor Silex 10-cup coffee maker is a fantastic machine to consider.
Compatible with Smart plugs so it can integrate with Siri, Google Home, or Alexa, you can then issue voice commands to your Proctor Silex coffeemaker. That ought to make brewing 10 cups of coffee a lot faster, as will the brewing capacity of this machine!
The single-button push controls are simple so you can quickly figure out how the coffee brewer works. An Auto Pause & Pour feature lets you pull fresh coffee and serve it, temporarily interrupting the machine’s brewing.
When you’re done making coffee, the Proctor Silex’s Lift & Clean brew basket and the borosilicate carafe can safely go in the dishwasher.
Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker
Next is the Hamilton Beach programmable coffee maker for brewing an impressive 12 cups of coffee.
An included Front Fill water reservoir makes meeting the requirements of the Golden Ratio easy. You should also like the swing-open brew basket, which opens out so you can dump its contents and clean it quickly.
The Select-a-Brew features gives you the freedom to customize the strength of each cup of coffee you brew. You can also use an Auto Pause & Pour feature.
All programming features single-touch buttons. You can even program the Hamilton Beach coffeemaker to brew up to 24 hours before schedule. If you’re the forgetful type, this coffee machine can save you from an embarrassing blunder with your boss.
Also benefitting the forgetful are cleaning reminders so your Hamilton Beach coffee machine never gets too grimy.
With a two-hour shutoff, you can safely use this coffee machine daily. Plus, Hamilton Beach designed their 12-cup coffeemaker to take up less space on the counter, which is a definite plus!
Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Coffee Maker
With its Optimal Brew Thermal System, the Mr. Coffee 10-cup coffee maker could be just what your office needs.
The stainless steel, double-layered thermal carafe extracts coffee well for a rich depth of flavor. Mr. Coffee also promises 20 percent faster brewing at a temperature of 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
A freshness timer indicates when it’s time to dump your coffee so you never have to sample a stale cup again. The Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause is a handy feature, as is Brew Later. With Brew Later, you can schedule your coffee brewing time.
Do you like your coffee strong? With the Strong Brew feature, you can always ensure you get that caffeine jolt that puts a pep in your step!
If your Mr. Coffee coffeemaker is looking a little dirty, use the automatic clean cycle.
Cuisinart DGB-450 Automatic Grind & Brew 10-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker
Cuisinart is always a reliable brand to have in your pantry, and their Automatic Grind & Brew 10-cup thermal coffeemaker proves why.
The Automatic Grind & Brew has a grind-off feature for pre-ground coffee beans. Brew Pause allows you to stop brewing midway through.
You can also program your coffeemaker to brew delicious coffee a full 24 hours before you need it.
The blade grinder included with the Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew will grind coffee beans if they’re not pre-ground, then brew them to perfection.
The included dual-walled thermal carafe will keep your cups warmer even when the coffee machine has been off for awhile.
BUNN CSB2B Speed Brew Elite 10-Cup Coffee Maker
Calling itself one of “the fastest home coffee makers in America,” the BUNN Speed Brew Elite will make up to 10 cups of coffee faster than most.
According to BUNN, it takes four minutes for all 10 cups to be ready!
How does that happen, you ask? The Speed Elite Brew holds hot water in a commercial-grade stainless steel tank that maintains an optimal temperature for brewing. The machine also features a tall funnel that stores longer BUNN filters.
Altogether, the water that flows in the Speed Brew Elite moves fast and won’t overflow the coffee grounds.
The spray head of this coffee maker is intended for excellent coffee flavor and extraction. The Drip-Free Carafe makes pouring coffee a joy.
Speaking of BUNN coffee filters, included with your Speed Brew Elite coffeemaker are 25 filters.
Mixpresso 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker
Is your office on a tight budget? You can still make luxurious drip coffee with the Mixpresso 12-cup drip coffee maker.
Yes, you read that right. The Mixpresso can brew up to 12 cups of coffee at once!
Featuring an auto-shutoff for safety, the Mixpresso is all about convenience. This coffee machine also has a water window for tracking how much water you add to the brewer.
The carafe plate is nonstick and will maintain its temperature for a while after you turn the Mixpresso off. You can enjoy warmer coffee for longer.
An included glass carafe has a filter basket you can take out when you’re done brewing for easy washing in the sink. The filter is reusable, which will put more money in your pocket.
The Mixpresso boasts a compact design that makes it adept for even cramped counters.
Ninja CM401 Specialty 10-Cup Coffee Maker
Finally, we have the Ninja specialty 10-cup coffee maker.
Promising better thermal flavor extraction thanks to the automated brewing technology included with this coffee machine, the Ninja achieves this with its consistent brewing temperature and even water saturation.
An included frother folds away when not in use so it doesn’t take up too much room. When making espressos and lattes, you’ll use the milk frother a lot!
You can choose from six brew sizes for up to 10 cups of coffee, including full carafe, half carafe, XL travel mug, standard travel mug, XL single cup, or standard single cup.
Since this is a specialty coffee brewer, you have four brewing options for making cappuccinos, macchiatos, lattes, and iced coffee.
Final Thoughts
When brewing 10 cups of coffee, you need 8 ¾ to 11 1/3 scoops of grounds. Plenty of coffee machines out there can make 10 cups of coffee at once, sometimes in as little as three or four minutes!
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