How many coffees does 1 kg of beans make? A UK guide for home and office

If you are choosing between a 250 g bag and a 1 kg bag, the real question is how many cups you will get and how long it will last. The answer depends on brew method and dose per serving. A small change in grams per cup makes a big difference across a full kilo.

This guide gives realistic yields for espresso, cafetière, and filter, without calculators or complicated tables. You will find simple dose examples, quick planning scenarios for homes and offices, storage best practice, and rest windows so the coffee tastes its best when you need it.

Back Yard Coffee roasts to order in Hassocks and supplies 1 kg bags suited to home espresso, cafetières, batch brew, and small offices. UK delivery and free local pickup are available, so summer event and office planning can be straightforward.

Quick yields by brew method

Brew yields vary with grind setting, recipe, and cup size. Use these as practical UK baselines, then adjust to taste.

• Espresso, double shot: common doses are 14 g to 22 g per basket. With a classic 2:1 ratio, a 18 g dose yields about 36 g espresso in 25 to 32 seconds. From 1 kg:

• 14 g dose: about 70 doubles

• 18 g dose: about 55 doubles

• 20 g dose: about 50 doubles

• 22 g dose: about 45 doubles

• Cafetière (French press): a widely used ratio is 60 g per litre of water. Typical mugs at home run 300 to 350 ml. From 1 kg:

• 1 litre brew (about 3 large mugs): 60 g, so about 16 full litres, or roughly 48 large mugs

• 500 ml brew (about 1 to 2 mugs): 30 g, so about 33 half-litre brews, or roughly 40 to 45 mugs total

• Pour-over and manual filter: a baseline of 1:16 is common. Examples:

• 20 g to 320 g water, a medium-large mug: about 50 cups per kg

• 15 g to 240 g water, a smaller cup: about 65 cups per kg

• Batch brew at 1:16: 1 litre uses 62 to 65 g, similar to cafetière maths, so about 15 to 16 litres per kg

These ranges assume little waste. In practice, expect a small margin for dial-in shots or brew-basket losses. For offices, add a 5 to 10 percent buffer.

How long a 1 kg bag typically lasts

• Home espresso for two people: 2 doubles per day at an 18 g dose uses 36 g daily. A kilo lasts about 27 to 28 days.

• Solo home drinker, mixed methods: 1 double espresso on weekdays (18 g) and 2 filter cups at weekends (2 x 20 g). Expect 4 to 5 weeks.

• Small office, 5 to 8 people: 10 to 12 mugs per weekday using filter at 1:16, about 200 to 240 g per day. A kilo lasts 4 to 5 working days.

• Event or away-day filter station: 1 kg supports about 15 to 16 litres at 1:16, which is roughly 45 to 55 servings depending on cup size.

Coffee is at its best within 3 to 4 weeks of roast for most brewing. Buying in 1 kg works well when your pace matches that window, or when you plan to freeze in small airtight portions.

Rest windows and when to open the bag

Freshly roasted coffee releases CO2 after roast, which affects flavour and extraction.

• Filter and cafetière: usually shine from day 3 after roast.

• Espresso: often peaks near day 7 for stable crema and balanced shot times.

• Decaf: similar guidance, with espresso decaf commonly benefitting from about a week of rest.

If planning for an office Monday start, place the order so the bag lands a few days before use for filter, or at least a week ahead for espresso.

Storage best practice

• Keep sealed in a cool, dry, dark place. Avoid direct sunlight, heat, and humidity.

• If freezing, portion into small airtight bags or tubs, freeze once, and thaw only what you need. Do not refreeze once opened.

• Squeeze out excess air before resealing. Grind just before brewing for best aroma.

Back Yard Coffee packs roast-dated valves to vent CO2 while keeping oxygen out. For local restocks, free pickup in Hassocks keeps miles and packaging down.

Plan your week, simple scenarios

• Home espresso, 18 g doubles: 2 per day is 36 g. For 7 days, set aside about 250 g. One 1 kg bag covers about 4 weeks at this pace.

• Office filter, 12 mugs daily: assume 300 ml per mug, so 3.6 litres per day. At 60 g per litre, plan for about 215 g per day, roughly 5 days per kilo.

• Weekend hosting with a 1 litre cafetière: 60 g per pot, 3 rounds across a brunch is 180 g. A 1 kg bag covers several weekends.

If you would like a flexible, roast-to-order restock rhythm that aligns with these plans, consider the Roasters Choice subscription. It delivers on a schedule that suits home or office use.

Is bulk cheaper and how much to buy for 100 people

• Is it cheaper to buy in bulk: per-gram pricing often favours 1 kg bags over multiple smaller bags. You also reduce packaging and deliveries. Actual pricing varies by coffee and season.

• How much coffee for 100 people: plan by brew method.

• Filter at 1:16 and 250 to 300 ml cups: allow 15 g per person on average. For 100 people, about 1.5 kg. If cups are larger or you expect seconds, plan 2 kg.

• Espresso-based service: one double shot per person at an 18 g dose needs about 1.8 kg. If offering milk drinks with a single shot, plan around 1 kg, plus some buffer for dial-in and remakes.

Pre-summer events and office gatherings benefit from early ordering. If you are nearby and need a quick top-up, free local pickup is available when the order is marked ready.

Choosing the right 1 kg bag

Match the coffee to your method and audience.

• Espresso and bean-to-cup: balanced medium roasts help with reliable extraction and milk drinks.

• Filter and cafetière: light to medium roasts highlight clarity for pour-over and rounded sweetness for press.

You can explore 1 kg options and set up a schedule that fits your brew cadence. If you prefer a guided pick each cycle, Roasters Choice keeps things fresh while staying within rest windows.

For local readers looking for specialty coffee in Brighton and Hove, Back Yard Coffee roasts to order and supports office supply with subscription options and trade guidance. Learn more about our role among coffee roasters in Brighton, including wholesale support and 1 kg supply, on our coffee roasters page. You can also browse current coffees and 1 kg bag options in our coffee collection.

• Explore our coffee roasters page for wholesale and 1 kg supply: https://backyardcoffee.co.uk/pages/coffee-roasters

• Browse current coffees, including 1 kg formats: https://backyardcoffee.co.uk/collections/coffee

FAQ

• How many coffees does 1 kg make? About 45 to 70 double espressos depending on dose, around 48 large cafetière mugs, or roughly 50 filter cups at 20 g per brew.

• How long will a 1 kg bag last? Homes using 2 doubles per day get about 4 weeks; small offices making 10 to 12 filter mugs per weekday get about a work week.

• Is bulk cheaper? Per-gram pricing typically improves at 1 kg. Savings vary by coffee and season.

• How much for 100 people? Filter service at 250 to 300 ml per cup needs about 1.5 kg; espresso doubles at 18 g need about 1.8 kg. Add a buffer.

• How much is 1 kg of beans? Pricing changes by origin and roast. See current 1 kg listings in our coffee collection for up-to-date prices and availability.

Summary

A 1 kg bag is a practical size for home espresso users, weekend hosts, and small offices. Expect 55 doubles at an 18 g dose, around 50 filter cups at 20 g each, or about 48 large cafetière mugs. Open filter roasts from day 3, espresso from around day 7, and store cool, dry, and dark for consistent flavour. For simple restocking, consider Roasters Choice and 1 kg formats, with UK delivery or free local pickup when convenient.