1 lb Bag of Coffee: How Many Cups It Makes and How Long It Lasts

A 1 lb bag of coffee holds 453.6 grams of coffee. Brewed at a common drip ratio of about 15 g per 8 oz cup, that is roughly 30 cups. Pour bigger mugs and the count drops to about 20; pull double espressos and you get roughly 25 to 32 shots, depending on your dose.

The right answer depends on your mug, your brewer and how many cups you drink a day. Here is the math, with tables for each method and a quick way to pick a bag size.

Key takeaways

• 1 lb = 453.6 g. Cups per pound = 453.6 ÷ the grams of coffee you use per cup.
• Drip at 15 g per 8 oz cup: about 30 cups. With 12 oz mugs at the same strength: about 20.
• Espresso: about 28 doubles at 16 g, or 25 at 18 g.
• One 8 oz cup a day: a pound lasts about a month. Two big mugs a day: about 10 days.
• Pick the bag you can finish within a few weeks of opening, then store it airtight.

In this article

1. How many cups are in a 1 lb bag of coffee?
2. Cups per pound by brew method
3. How long does a pound of coffee last?
4. 12 oz vs 1 lb vs 2 lb vs 5 lb
5. Keeping a 1 lb bag fresh
6. Coffees worth buying by the pound
7. FAQ

How many cups are in a 1 lb bag of coffee?

A coffee bag is labeled by weight, so you only need two numbers: what the bag weighs and what one cup uses.

A pound is 453.6 grams

One avoirdupois pound is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kg, so a 1 lb bag contains about 453.6 g of coffee. Whole bean or ground, the weight and the cup count are the same.

Grams per cup at common ratios

The National Coffee Association’s “Golden Ratio” for drip coffee is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 oz of water. Because tablespoons vary, weighing is more reliable. Many home brewers land around 1:15 to 1:17 (grams of coffee to grams of water), and 1:16 is an easy middle point. At 1:16, an 8 oz cup (about 240 ml of water) needs 15 g of coffee.

Once you know your grams per cup, the formula is:

Cups per pound = 453.6 ÷ grams per cup

For example, 453.6 ÷ 15 = 30.2 cups. If you prefer a slightly stronger 1:15 cup, you use 16 g and get about 28 cups. Our coffee-to-water ratio guide explains how to tune strength in small steps if your cup tastes thin or harsh.

Cups per pound by brew method

Doses differ by brewer, so the cups of coffee per pound change with your method. Use these round figures as a starting point.

Drip coffee maker

Watch the cup markings on your machine. Many coffee makers count a “cup” as a small serving rather than a full 8 oz mug, so a 12-cup carafe does not hold twelve mugs. Count the mugs you actually pour, not the numbers on the tank.

French press and cold brew

A French press often runs a little stronger than drip, so many people use about 1:15. For a 12 oz serving that is roughly 24 g, which gives about 19 servings per pound. Cold brew concentrate uses far more coffee per ounce, but you dilute it before drinking, so count servings after dilution.

Espresso doubles and moka pot

The NCA describes espresso as about 1 g of coffee for every 2 g of liquid in the cup, brewed in roughly 20 to 30 seconds. A double shot usually sits between 14 and 18 g of dry coffee; the brewing tips on our product pages suggest 16 to 18 g. That puts a pound at about 25 to 32 doubles. If you make lattes with two doubles a day, plan on roughly two weeks per bag.

For a moka pot, the dose is set by the size of the basket. Weigh what one full basket holds, then divide 453.6 by that number to get your brews per pound.

How long does a pound of coffee last?

To answer how long a pound of coffee lasts, divide the cups per pound by the number of cups you drink each day.

Days per bag = 453.6 ÷ (grams per cup × cups per day)

Days per bag at 1, 2 or 3 cups a day

Households with two coffee drinkers

Add up the cups for the whole household. Two people who each drink two 12 oz mugs a day use about 89 g daily, so a 1 lb bag lasts about five days. In that case a 2 lb bag (about 10 days) or a 5 lb bag split into portions is easier to manage than a weekly reorder.

12 oz vs 1 lb vs 2 lb vs 5 lb: which bag size fits you

The 12 oz vs 1 lb coffee question comes down to speed. A 12 oz bag holds 340 g, a quarter less than a pound. If you want the exact figures for that size, see how many cups a 12 oz bag makes.

Match the bag to your drinking speed

The NCA suggests buying enough coffee for one or two weeks at a time, and our product pages suggest choosing a size you will finish within three to four weeks. Use whichever window suits your taste: the shorter it is, the closer every cup tastes to the first one.

Whole bean or ground for a 1 lb bag

Whole beans hold their aroma longer once the bag is open, because grinding exposes far more surface to air. If a pound takes you longer than two weeks to finish, whole bean and a grinder are worth it. If you finish a pound in a week or so, pre-ground in the right size is a fair trade for convenience: Coarse for French press and cold brew, Espresso for espresso machines and moka pots, Standard for drip and pour-over.

Keeping a 1 lb bag fresh to the last cup

The freshness window after opening

According to the NCA, roasted whole beans stay fresh for about one to three weeks at room temperature, and ground coffee for about one to two weeks. The fresher the roast when your bag arrives, the more of that window you get to enjoy.

Storage basics

• Move the coffee to an opaque, airtight container, or squeeze the air out of a resealable bag.
• Keep it at room temperature, away from light, heat and the stove.
• Skip the fridge: coffee picks up moisture and odors there.

For more detail on containers and freezing, read how to store your coffee beans.

Coffees worth buying by the pound

These three come in 12 oz, 1 LB, 2 LB and 5 LB bags, and each order is roasted 1–5 days before delivery, then delivered in 2–5 days.

• Colombia: a medium roast single origin from Medellin, Antioquia, with dried orange, berry and chocolate notes. Available in Coarse, Espresso, Standard and Whole Bean, up to a 12 LB bag.
• Breakfast Blend: a smooth, nutty medium roast of South American coffees, made for an everyday morning cup. Same four grinds, from 12oz to 12 LB.
• House Blend: a medium roast of Central and South American coffees with nutty, sweet chocolate and mild citrus notes. Choose Espresso, Standard or Whole Bean, in sizes up to 5 LB.

Not sure which flavor profile you like yet? Our best sellers are a good place to start.

1 lb bag of coffee FAQ

How many cups of coffee are in a 1 lb bag?

About 30 cups of 8 oz at 15 g per cup, a 1:16 ratio. With 12 oz mugs at the same strength it is about 20; with small 6 oz cups, about 41.

How many tablespoons of ground coffee are in a pound?

It depends on the grind and roast, so weigh one level tablespoon of your own coffee. If it weighs 5 g, a pound holds about 90 tablespoons; if it weighs 7 g, about 65.

How long does a 1 lb bag of coffee last for one person?

At one 8 oz cup a day, about a month. At two cups a day, about two weeks; at two 12 oz mugs, about 10 days.

How many espresso shots can you get from a pound of coffee?

About 28 double shots at 16 g each, or 25 at 18 g. Single shots of 7 g give about 65.

Is it cheaper to buy a 1 lb bag than a 12 oz bag?

Compare the price per ounce: divide each bag’s price by 12 or by 16. A bigger bag only saves money if you finish it while it still tastes fresh.

Pick your pound: choose your size and grind on our best sellers, roasted 1–5 days before delivery.

Sources

1. How to Make Drip Coffee, National Coffee Association (About Coffee), accessed 2026.
2. How to Make Espresso, National Coffee Association (About Coffee), accessed 2026.
3. How to Store Coffee, National Coffee Association (About Coffee), accessed 2026.

Facts checked in October 2026.