How Much Coffee for a Party? A Guide for 10 to 50 Guests

By Robin Salvador, co-founder, Caffeine Brothers
Last updated: October 16, 2026

Quick answer: For a party, plan on about two 180 ml cups per guest and 11.25 grams of ground coffee per cup, which is a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio. That works out to 225 g of coffee for 10 guests, 450 g for 20, 675 g for 30 and 1,125 g for 50. With Caffeine Brothers prices on October 16, 2026, a cup brewed this way costs ₱9.15 to ₱12.02 in coffee, and a drip bag costs ₱24.

How much coffee should you plan per guest?

Start with cups, then turn cups into grams. Most hosts plan two cups per guest for a long evening like Noche Buena or an office Christmas party, and one cup for a short merienda. Two cups is our planning figure, so adjust it for your crowd. If your titas drink coffee all night, plan three.

For the coffee itself, use a ratio. The NCA’s French press guide, updated February 6, 2025, gives 1 gram of coffee to 10 to 16 grams of water. Its drip coffee guide, updated December 5, 2024, gives 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water. We use 1:16 for party planning because it is the lighter end of the NCA’s range and suits guests who add milk and sugar. At 1:16, a 180 ml cup (about 6 ounces) needs 11.25 g of coffee.

The table below uses two cups per guest and 1:16. Bag choices and prices are for our CB’s Finest Signature Blend on October 16, 2026, picked as the cheapest combination of our 200 g, 400 g, 800 g and 1 kg bags that covers the amount.

Leftover coffee keeps. The NCA’s storage guide, updated November 11, 2024, says roasted beans keep their freshness for 1 to 3 weeks at room temperature in an airtight container, and ground coffee for 1 to 2 weeks. If you buy whole beans and grind on the day, the rest of the bag stays good for the week after the party.

How much does party coffee cost per cup?

The coffee is the cheap part of a party. At 1:16, a cup made with our Batangas Robusta costs ₱9.15 in coffee, and a cup of Benguet Arabica costs ₱12.02, using 1 kg bag prices on October 16, 2026. A drip bag costs ₱24 because each one holds 10 g of coffee in its own filter and pouch. The chart compares every option.

Smaller bags cost more per gram. Our 200 g bag of CB’s Finest is ₱244, or ₱1.22 a gram, while the 1 kg bag is ₱866, or ₱0.87 a gram. For a crowd of 30 or more, the bigger bags save money. For office parties that need 10 kg or more, our wholesale boxes bring the price down further.

Which brewing method works best for a crowd?

Pick a method by how many people arrive at once and what equipment you already own. A drip machine handles steady refills, a French press makes a few cups fast, cold brew can be made the day before, and drip bags need only hot water. The NCA’s numbers for each are below. We compare these methods in more detail in our brewing methods guide.

Cold brew concentrate is strong. The NCA describes it as designed to be diluted with water or served over ice, so plan your dilution before you count cups. For hot coffee, the drip machine and drip bags are the easiest to run while you host. Our drip bag brewing guide shows how to brew one properly.

How long can brewed coffee stay out at a party?

Longer than many people think. In a study presented at the 2021 ASIC conference, a UC Davis team (Batali, Cotter, Lim, Ristenpart and Guinard) held three coffees for up to three hours in a vacuum carafe, a jacketed thermal carafe and a glass carafe on a hot plate. A trained panel tasted each at six points between 15 minutes and 3 hours.

The researchers wrote that the changes over time were subtler than expected, and that coffee can likely be held for 90 minutes or more without notable loss in quality. They also found that unheated, insulated carafes preserved quality better. For a party, that means brewing in batches and pouring each batch into an airpot or thermos, then brewing again after about 90 minutes.

How much caffeine will your guests get?

The NCA’s espresso page cites USDA data of 12 to 16 mg of caffeine per ounce of brewed coffee. A 180 ml cup is about 6 ounces, so each cup holds roughly 72 to 96 mg. Two cups land at about 144 to 192 mg.

The European Food Safety Authority’s 2015 opinion, as summarized by EUFIC, considers single doses up to 200 mg and daily intakes up to 400 mg safe for healthy adults, and up to 200 mg a day for pregnant women. It also notes that about 100 mg can affect sleep in some people when taken close to bedtime. Noche Buena runs late, so offer small cups after 10 PM and keep tea, salabat or water on the table. We don’t sell decaf. Our caffeine comparison explains why Robusta carries more caffeine than Arabica.

When should you order coffee for a December party?

Holiday dates matter for deliveries and for when your guests are free. Under Proclamation No. 1006, s. 2025, the December 2026 holidays fall on these days, as listed in DOLE Labor Advisory No. 12-25:

We roast daily and deliver within 1 to 3 business days in Metro Manila and 3 to 7 business days outside it. For a Christmas Eve party, order by Friday, December 18 in Metro Manila and by Monday, December 14 elsewhere. Same-day rider delivery is available for orders placed by 3 PM, Monday to Friday, with the rider fee paid by the customer.

A five-step plan for party coffee

1. Count your guests and multiply by two cups, or three for a long night.
2. Multiply the cups by 11.25 g for a 1:16 brew, or by 15 g for a stronger 1:12 cup.
3. Choose the brewer you already own, and add drip bags for late arrivals.
4. Order whole beans or a coarse or normal grind about a week before, and store the bag airtight.
5. Brew in batches, hold each batch in an insulated carafe, and brew again after about 90 minutes.

Hosting Noche Buena? See our Noche Buena coffee pairings for which roast to serve with ham, queso de bola and bibingka.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. French press coffee. National Coffee Association, updated February 6, 2025. Used for 1:10 to 1:16, 93 ± 3 °C and 4 minutes.
2. Drip coffee. National Coffee Association, updated December 5, 2024. Used for 1 to 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces and 5 minutes.
3. Cold brew coffee. National Coffee Association, updated December 3, 2024. Used for 1:4 to 1:5 and 12 hours.
4. Espresso. National Coffee Association, updated February 5, 2026. Used for 12 to 16 mg of caffeine per ounce of brewed coffee (USDA data).
5. Storage and shelf life. National Coffee Association, updated November 11, 2024. Used for freshness of beans and ground coffee.
6. The effect of post-brew holding time and carafe type on the sensory properties of drip brew coffee. Batali, Cotter, Lim, Ristenpart and Guinard, ASIC 2021 poster. Used for holding time and carafe findings.
7. EFSA opinion on the safety of caffeine. EUFIC, updated June 23, 2015. Used for 200 mg, 400 mg and 100 mg figures.
8. DOLE Labor Advisory No. 12-25. Grant Thornton Philippines, October 14, 2025. Used for December 2026 holiday dates under Proclamation No. 1006.
9. Caffeine Brothers shop. Prices read from the WooCommerce Store API on October 16, 2026.

Planning coffee for a Christmas party or a gift for the host? See our Christmas coffee gift sets, pick beans in the shop, or order coffee drip bags for guests who want their own cup. For office parties that need 10 kg or more, message us about wholesale.