coffee ratios sound like math class.
it is really just a way to stop guessing.
a 1:16 ratio means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. so 20 grams of coffee gets 320 grams of water.
that is a very good place to start for drip coffee or pour-over.
no scale? you can still make coffee. but a scale makes it much easier to repeat the cup you liked instead of hoping the scoop gods are on your side.
brew the 1:16 version once, then taste it.
if it feels weak, try a little more coffee or a little less water next time. if it feels too strong, do the opposite. change one thing at a time.
ratio is not the only thing happening. grind size, water temperature, brew time, and pouring all change the cup too. this is why i would not change the ratio, grind, and water temperature in one chaotic morning experiment.
also, this starting point is for regular brewed coffee. espresso and cold-brew concentrate use very different recipes. do not force every coffee method into the same ratio.
my easiest starter recipe is 20 grams of coffee and 320 grams of water. write down what you used. taste it. make the next cup from actual information.
tl;dr: start regular drip coffee or pour-over at 1:16 by weight. that is 20 grams of coffee to 320 grams of water. adjust one variable after you taste it.
and if you would rather have someone else do the ratio math, come drink coffee with us at Couplet.
coupletcoffee.com / @couplet
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