Beverages, Coffee, Brewed, Prepared With Tap Water, Decaffeinated: How Many Grams in a Cup?
Decaffeinated brewed coffee is a nearly pure aqueous extraction with a density of 1.002 g/ml, only fractionally heavier than plain water. One US cup weighs approximately 237 g and one tablespoon about 14.8 g. The decaffeination process removes 97% or more of the caffeine but leaves behind the bitter phenolic compounds, oils, and melanoidins that define coffee flavor. Decaf brewed coffee is used in tiramisu, coffee-flavored ice cream bases, chocolate cake recipes where it deepens cocoa flavor, and as a braising liquid for beef. At this density, it can be treated as water by weight in virtually any recipe calculation.
Quick convert
- US cup = 236.588 mL
- 1 tbsp = 14.787 mL
- 1 tsp = 4.929 mL
Reference table
| Cups | g |
|---|---|
| 0.3 | 59 |
| 0.5 | 119 |
| 0.8 | 178 |
| 1.0 | 237 |
| 1.5 | 356 |
| 2.0 | 474 |
FAQ
- Why is decaf brewed coffee almost exactly water density?
- Brewed coffee is 98.5-99% water by mass. The dissolved solids (coffee oils, acids, melanoidins, and residual caffeine) total only 1-1.5 g per 100 ml, raising the density to just 1.002 g/ml. Decaffeination does not meaningfully change this because caffeine itself is present at only about 40-80 mg per cup in regular coffee.
- Does decaf coffee behave differently than regular coffee in baking?
- By weight, no. Both regular and decaf brewed coffee have essentially the same density (~1.002 g/ml) and contribute the same mass per cup. The flavor difference is minimal when coffee is one ingredient among many. In recipes like chocolate cake where coffee enhances cocoa, decaf works identically by weight without adding caffeine.
- How many grams of decaf coffee should I use for tiramisu?
- Traditional tiramisu calls for about 1-1.5 cups of strong coffee for soaking ladyfingers. At 1.002 g/ml, one cup weighs 237 g. For stronger flavor, brew a double-strength batch (using twice the grounds per cup of water); the density will rise only slightly to about 1.004-1.006 g/ml, adding at most 1 g per cup.