How many ounces in a cup of coffee?
1 coffee cup ≈ 5–6 fl oz
not the 8 fl oz measuring cup · check the marks on your carafe
Converter
Other cup standards
US cups: 1 · nutrition-label cups (240 mL): 0.986 · metric cups (250 mL): 0.946 · UK fluid ounces: 8.33
The "cup" on a coffee maker is usually 5 to 6 fl oz, smaller than the 8 fl oz measuring cup. The number varies by brand, so check the markings on your carafe or water tank before trusting the count. A 12 cup machine does not brew 12 measuring cups of coffee.
Mugs vary even more. To find out what yours holds, fill it with water from a measuring cup and note where it stops. That tells you how many "cups" from the machine actually fit in your mug.
When a recipe asks for 1 cup of brewed coffee, it means the 8 fl oz measuring cup (237 mL). See the measuring cups guide for liquid vs. dry cups.
| Coffee-maker cups | At 5 fl oz per cup | At 6 fl oz per cup | In measuring cups (6 fl oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 fl oz | 6 fl oz | 3/4 cup |
| 2 | 10 fl oz | 12 fl oz | 1 1/2 cups |
| 4 | 20 fl oz | 24 fl oz | 3 cups |
| 6 | 30 fl oz | 36 fl oz | 4 1/2 cups |
| 8 | 40 fl oz | 48 fl oz | 6 cups |
| 10 | 50 fl oz | 60 fl oz | 7 1/2 cups |
| 12 | 60 fl oz | 72 fl oz | 9 cups |
How much water for 4, 8, 10 or 12 cups of coffee
At 5 to 6 fl oz per coffee-maker cup:
- 4 cups: 20 to 24 fl oz, which is 2 1/2 to 3 measuring cups.
- 8 cups: 40 to 48 fl oz, or 5 to 6 measuring cups.
- 10 cups: 50 to 60 fl oz, or 6 1/4 to 7 1/2 measuring cups.
- 12 cups: 60 to 72 fl oz, or 7 1/2 to 9 measuring cups (about 1,774 to 2,129 mL).
Use the lower or higher number depending on what your carafe markings say one cup is.
Questions
How many ounces in a cup of coffee?
On most coffee makers a cup is 5 to 6 fl oz. A measuring cup is 8 fl oz.
How much water for 12 cups of coffee?
60 to 72 fl oz, depending on whether your machine counts a cup as 5 or 6 fl oz. That is 7 1/2 to 9 measuring cups.
Is a cup of coffee 8 oz?
Only if you measure it with a measuring cup. Coffee-maker cups are usually 5 to 6 fl oz.
Sources: US customary units: NIST Handbook 44 · ingredient weights: King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. How we calculate.