How Much Coffee Do You Need a Month? Cups, Grams and Bags

Order too little coffee and you run out by the third week. Order too much and the last bag goes flat in the cupboard. Here is how to work out the right amount, with real numbers for every kind of household.

How Much Coffee Do You Need a Month? The Quick Answer

For one person drinking one mug a day, you need about 450g of coffee a month. That is close to one 500g bag, or two 250g bags.

The sum is simple. A standard mug of filter or cafetière coffee uses around 15g of ground coffee. Multiply that by 30 days and you get 450g.

Drink two mugs a day and you need about 900g. Share the pot with a partner and the number doubles again. So the real question is how many cups your home drinks each day.

The rest of this guide shows you the numbers by brew method and by household. That way you can order once and stop guessing.

How Many Grams of Coffee per Cup? 15g Is a Good Start

Different brewers use different amounts. But most land somewhere between 14g and 18g for a normal drink.

The Specialty Coffee Association's "gold cup" guide suggests about 55g of coffee per litre of water. That works out at roughly 1 part coffee to 18 parts water. Many home brewers go a little stronger, at about 60g per litre.

Typical doses by brew method

• Filter or pour over: about 15g for a 250ml mug
• Cafetière: about 15g per person, or 30g for a 500ml pot
• Double espresso: about 18g, for flat whites, lattes and cappuccinos
• AeroPress: about 14g to 15g, which is one heaped scoop
• Moka pot: about 15g to 20g for a small four cup pot

Espresso is the hungriest method. A double shot uses a little more than a mug of filter, and you may pull two in a row. If your house runs on lattes, plan on the higher end.

Not sure which ratio suits your brewer? Our coffee ratio calculator works it out for you. Our coffee grind size chart shows the right grind for each method too.

How Many Cups in a 250g Bag? About 16

At 15g a cup, a 250g bag makes about 16 mugs. A 500g bag makes about 33.

Real life is a little messier. You might spill a few beans, or brew a stronger pot at the weekend. So treat 14 to 16 cups as a safe figure for a 250g bag.

Cups per bag at a glance

• 250g bag: about 16 mugs of filter, or 13 to 14 double espressos
• 500g bag: about 33 mugs of filter, or 27 to 28 double espressos
• 1kg of coffee: about 66 mugs at 15g each, by our own maths

If you are dialling in a new grinder, expect to use up a few extra grams. It takes a shot or two to get the settings right.

Our Genesis Espresso Blend is a good example. A 250g bag costs £9, and a 500g bag costs £16. At 18g a shot, that 500g bag gives you close to 28 double espressos.

See how dose changes your cup

This short video from James Hoffmann explains why the amount of coffee you use matters so much. It focuses on espresso, but the idea works for every brewer.

Monthly Coffee Chart: How Much Your Household Needs

Here is a simple guide for a 30 day month at 15g a cup. Round up if you like a strong brew or drink espresso.

• 1 person, 1 cup a day: about 450g a month. Order one 500g bag.
• 1 person, 2 cups a day: about 900g a month. Order two 500g bags.
• 2 people, 1 cup each a day: about 900g a month. Order two 500g bags.
• 2 people, 2 cups each a day: about 1.8kg a month. Order three or four 500g bags.
• Weekend only, 2 cups each day: about 240g a month. One 250g bag will do.
• A family of 4 adults, 1 cup each a day: about 1.8kg a month. Order three or four 500g bags.

Most homes sit in the first three rows. If that is you, one or two 500g bags a month is a good place to start.

How many cups does the UK drink?

You are not alone if your number looks high. The British Coffee Association says the UK now drinks around 103 million cups of coffee a day.

It also found that 67% of adults drink coffee every day. Around 29% have three or more cups. So a two mug habit is very normal.

Count your cups for one week

The best way to know your number is to count. Keep a tally on the fridge for seven days. Add up the mugs, multiply by four and a bit, and you have your month.

Remember the extras. Visitors, a Sunday pot after church or a flask for a walk all add up. A spare 250g bag covers those weeks.

Why Bag Size Matters for Freshness: Finish Within About a Month

Ordering the right amount is not just about money. It is about flavour.

Roasted coffee is at its best in the first few weeks after roasting. Many roasters suggest you finish a bag within about four weeks of the roast date. After that, the aroma and sweetness start to fade.

That is why one huge bag is not always the best buy. If 1kg takes you two months to drink, the last half will taste flat. Two smaller deliveries, a couple of weeks apart, keep every cup fresh.

Simple ways to keep beans fresh

• Buy whole beans and grind just before you brew
• Keep the bag sealed, away from light and heat
• Do not store coffee in the fridge, where it can pick up smells
• Freeze only in small airtight portions, and take out what you need

Our guide to storing coffee beans for maximum freshness goes into more detail. Spot the warning signs with our list of signs your coffee beans have gone stale.

Whole bean or ground?

Ground coffee loses its aroma much faster than whole beans. If you buy ground, choose a smaller bag and order more often.

You can choose whole bean, or a grind for cafetière, filter, pour over, espresso, moka pot or AeroPress. If you are torn, read our guide to whole bean vs ground coffee subscriptions.

How to Set Up the Right Monthly Order in 3 Steps

Once you know your number, a regular delivery takes the thinking away. Here is how to set it up so it fits your habit.

1. Pick your bag size. Use the chart above. One person on one mug a day is a 500g bag. Two people on two mugs need more.
2. Pick your grind. Whole bean keeps best. Choose ground only if you do not have a grinder.
3. Review after the first month. Did you run out early or have coffee left over? Adjust the size or pause a delivery.

The best monthly order is one you can change. With the Creation Coffee Club, our coffee subscription in the UK, you can pause, skip or cancel any time. A holiday never leaves you with a stack of bags.

If you are still weighing up the idea, our guide to how our coffee subscription works explains each step. Our honest maths on whether a coffee subscription is worth it covers the savings.

What does a month of coffee cost?

One 500g bag of Genesis is £16, which covers a single daily drinker for a month.

That works out at under 50p a mug before the subscriber discount. Our coffee subscription cost estimator runs the numbers for bigger households.

Common Questions About How Much Coffee You Need

• How much coffee do I need per month?

  For one mug a day you need about 450g a month, based on 15g per mug. Two mugs a day needs about 900g. Double those figures if two people share the coffee.

• How long does a 250g bag of coffee last?

  A 250g bag makes about 16 mugs at 15g each. For one person drinking one mug a day, that is just over two weeks. At two mugs a day it lasts about a week.

• How many cups of coffee are in 500g?

  A 500g bag makes about 33 mugs of filter or cafetière coffee at 15g a cup. It makes about 27 to 28 double espressos at 18g a shot.

• How many grams of coffee should I use per cup?

  Around 15g for a 250ml mug of filter or cafetière coffee is a good start. A double espresso uses about 18g. Adjust a little stronger or weaker to taste.

• Is it better to buy a 1kg bag of coffee?

  Only if you will drink it within about four weeks of roasting. If 1kg takes you longer, two smaller bags delivered a couple of weeks apart will taste fresher.

• Can I change my coffee subscription amount?

  With the Creation Coffee Club, yes. You can change your order, pause a delivery or cancel any time, so your coffee keeps pace with your habit.