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Have you ever wondered how many coffee beans in a pound? After all, you want to get the most possible beans so that you can keep brewing up great-tasting coffee!
One pound roughly contains around 3200 to 3500 coffee beans. But, the real answer to how many coffee beans are in a pound is a bit more complicated.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at what to know about how much coffee you can get out of a pound of beans. Let’s jump in!
The Number of Cups of Coffee in One Pound
I don’t know about you, but when I buy coffee I care about how many cups I can get out of a bag.
Now, to help you figure this out, you need to remember that there are about 3500 coffee beans in a bag of coffee.
As a rule of thumb, you’ll need 75 or 76 coffee beans per cup. With this in mind, you can make around 45 cups of joe with a single pound of coffee beans.
However, the exact number of cups of coffee one pound can make can still vary. It depends on:
- Brewing method
- Type of coffee beans
- Grind size
- Degree of roasting
- How strong you want your coffee to be
Examples
To give you an idea of how many cups you can get out of a bag of coffee, let’s take a look at a few different brewing methods and how they affect how much coffee you can make.
A French press coffee, for example, needs around 0.67 ounces or 19.7 grams of ground coffee mixed with 8 ounces or 236 mL of water. Remember that one pound weighs 454 grams. So, if you’re planning to French press all the coffee beans in one pound, you can make around 24 cups of coffee.
Another example is a pour-over. The pour-over method works like an automatic drip coffee maker, so they produce roughly the same number of cups. This method uses ½ ounce or 14 grams of coffee mixed with 238 mL or 8 ounces of water.
As a result, a pour-over or drip coffee brewing method can produce 32 cups of coffee from one pound of coffee beans.
How Your Coffee Preference Can Affect The Number of Cups
Each coffee lover has a unique preference for brewing their coffee. You may prefer your coffee to be strong, while others like it weaker.
These preferences can affect how many cups of coffee you can get in a pound. Also, the cup size is a critical factor. Let’s take a closer look at these factors and how they affect how many cups of coffee you’ll be able to brew.
Stronger Coffee Brews vs. Weaker Brews
The usual 45 cups you can make in a pound of coffee beans would change depending on how you want your coffee. Of course, if you want it stronger, you’ll be making fewer cups.
Stronger coffee calls for either more ground coffee beans or less water. Regardless, you will still get fewer cups of coffee in a single pound. On average, if you want stronger coffee, you can make around 16 to 32 cups with one pound of coffee.
If you’re the opposite and prefer your cup to be weaker, then you will be getting more cups out of one pound.
Another factor to consider is when you prefer adding cream or milk to your cup. This would also entail fewer ground coffee beans, which means more cups of coffee for you.
The Cup Size
Aside from the degree of intensity you want your coffee to have, the cup size you use to measure also matters.
The standard 8-ounce cup produces around 45 cups of coffee, and anything larger than that will produce fewer cups.
Here are a few examples:
- Using 12-ounce cups can only make around 16 cups for your french press and 21 cups for pour-over
- 16-oz mugs can make 12 cups for french press and 16 cups for pour-over
- 20-oz mugs can make 9 cups for french press and 13 cups for pour-over
The Number of Coffee Tablespoons You Can Get in One Pound
The number of tablespoons of coffee in a pound differs depending on whether you’re using whole coffee beans or ground coffee.
You can get around 75 tablespoons of coffee in a single pound of ground coffee. In comparison, it can reach 90 tablespoons with coffee beans.
But, you also need to consider that the spoon size you’re using can be different from another individual. So, the spoon size also matters.
FAQs
If you’ve still got a few questions about buying a bag of coffee beans, I totally understand.
To help you clear up any lingering doubts, here are a couple of FAQs about coffee beans!
Does the Type of Beans Matter?
There are two main types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are larger, so they tend to be heavier and stronger.
On the other hand, Robusta beans are less aromatic and lighter. As a result, you get more beans in a bag of Robusta than in a bag of Arabica.
Are There Price Differences When Buying Ground Coffee or Coffee Beans?
The good news is that there are no price differences between the ground coffee vs coffee beans. Most coffee brands sell ground coffee and coffee beans in the same price range.
How to Store Your Coffee Beans?
The best way to store coffee beans is by placing them in an opaque airtight container. This prevents them from losing their freshness, taste, and aroma. Keep them in a cool, dark place for the best results.
Can You Freeze Coffee Beans?
Yes, you can. Most people freeze their coffee beans when they plan to store them for more than a month. That’s because freezing coffee beans can help them stay fresh for a year.
If you want to use them, take the coffee beans out of your freezer. Then, let them thaw before opening the container. Don’t put them back in the freezer because it can cause moisture to develop which can ruin the flavor of the beans.
How Many Coffee Beans In A Pound – Final Thoughts
Now that you know how many beans are in a pound, you’re better prepared to purchase a tasty and affordable bag of beans.
Just remember that several factors play important roles in knowing how many cups you can make with a pound of coffee, including:
- Your chosen brewing method
- Cup and spoon size
- The coffee intensity you prefer
With that in mind, you’re ready to brew up the best cup of coffee! And, if you have any recommendations for affordable bags of beans, let us know in the comments!
