If you make one double espresso at home each day using 18 g of beans, you need about 540 g of coffee for a 30-day month. Two people following that routine need about 1,080 g. If your daily filter brew uses 15 g, your monthly total is 450 g per person.
Those numbers are useful starting points, but your own recipe matters more than the word “cup.” A small espresso, a large mug of filter coffee and a latte can all use different amounts of beans. Here is how to calculate your household’s needs, choose a bag size and set a delivery schedule that fits.
The simplest way to calculate monthly coffee use
Grams of dry coffee per brew × brews per day × days at home = coffee needed.
Use the weight of the beans or grounds before brewing, not the weight of the drink. For example, adding milk to a double espresso changes the drink’s volume but does not change how many beans went into that shot. If you add another double shot, count another dose.
For a shared filter pot, count the full batch once. A 30 g batch shared between two people uses 30 g in total, not 30 g per person.
How much coffee does one person or a couple need?
The table uses two illustrative recipes: 15 g of dry coffee for one filter brew, and 18 g for one double espresso. The espresso dose is also used in Counter Culture’s baseline espresso recipe. Neither dose is a rule for every brewer; substitute your actual recipe.
| Household routine | Daily use | 30-day total |
|---|---|---|
| One person, one filter brew a day | 15 g | 450 g |
| One person, one double espresso a day | 18 g | 540 g |
| Two people, one filter brew each a day | 30 g | 900 g |
| Two people, one double espresso each a day | 36 g | 1080 g |
| Two people, two double espressos each a day | 72 g | 2160 g |
These totals exclude grinder purging, practice shots, spills and guests. They also assume you brew at home every day. If you only make coffee at home on weekends, use the number of days you actually brew instead of multiplying by 30.
How long does a 7 oz or 2 lb bag last?
SENS Choice offers 7 oz and 2 lb options. For planning, 7 oz is approximately 198 g, and 2 lb is approximately 907 g. Use the net weight printed on your actual package if it differs slightly from these conversions.
| Daily household use | 7 oz bag | 2 lb bag |
|---|---|---|
| 15 g: one filter brew | About 13 days | About 60 days |
| 18 g: one double espresso | About 11 days | About 50 days |
| 30 g: two filter brews | About 6.6 days | About 30 days |
| 36 g: two double espressos | About 5.5 days | About 25 days |
How you store an opened bag also matters between brews. See our guide to storing coffee beans at home before choosing a larger bag.
These are consumption estimates, not freshness guarantees or delivery promises. A bag that mathematically lasts 60 days is not automatically the best purchase for someone who prefers to open smaller bags more often.
At 18 g per day, three 7 oz bags provide roughly 595 g in total: enough for a 540 g month with about 55 g left for adjustments. At 36 g per day, six small bags provide roughly 1,191 g against a baseline need of 1,080 g. Those are whole-bag estimates for a month, not instructions to order that quantity every week.
Match the quantity to the delivery interval
Coffee needed between deliveries = daily household use × days between deliveries.
SENS Choice currently lists recurring options every week, every two weeks, every three weeks and every four weeks. Compare the amount in each shipment with the amount you expect to use over that interval.
- One person making a 15 g filter brew each day: uses 105 g per week or 210 g in two weeks. One 7 oz bag is slightly short of two weeks of daily brewing.
- One person making an 18 g double espresso each day: uses 126 g per week or 252 g in two weeks. One small bag every two weeks would leave a gap.
- Two people each making an 18 g double espresso daily: use 756 g over three weeks. A 2 lb bag contains about 907 g, leaving approximately 151 g beyond that baseline. Over four weeks, the same household needs 1,008 g, more than one 2 lb bag.
There may not be an exact match between your consumption, available bag sizes and delivery intervals. Choose the closest practical combination, then check what is left before the next shipment. Check current shipping timing and subscription terms before ordering; a recurring order date is not a guaranteed arrival date.
Every four weeks is not the same as monthly
Four weeks is 28 days. Calendar months have 28–31 days. A four-week schedule runs roughly 13 times per year, while a calendar-month schedule runs 12 times. The exact number of charges within a particular year depends on the starting date.
This matters when comparing both coffee quantities and budgets. For example, 18 g per day requires 504 g for a four-week interval, compared with 540 g for our 30-day monthly example. Read the selected frequency and recurring charge at checkout rather than assuming that “subscription” always means monthly.
Use a one-week check to avoid overordering
- Write down the weight of coffee available at the start of the week, excluding the packaging.
- Track any new coffee opened or added during the week.
- At the end, subtract the remaining coffee from the starting amount plus additions.
- Use that weekly consumption to estimate the next delivery interval.
If your household used 240 g in a week, a two-week interval needs about 480 g before any extra allowance. This method includes your real practice shots and changes in drink size, making it more useful than a generic “cups per bag” claim. Repeat the check after a change in routine, such as working from home more often.
Choose the coffee after choosing the amount
If you enjoy exploring different origins, SENS Choice offers a changing single-origin selection chosen by the roasting team, with size and frequency options. It is presented as a choice for pour over and drip brewing.
If you mainly make espresso or milk drinks, start with the flavor you prefer. Our guide to choosing beans for home espresso compares SENS options for black coffee, lattes and decaf. You do not need to change both your coffee and your delivery quantity at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Does a latte use more beans than an espresso?
Only if its espresso recipe uses more coffee. A latte made with one 18 g double-shot dose uses the same amount of beans as that double espresso served on its own. Milk does not add to the bean requirement.
Is one 2 lb bag enough for a couple for a month?
At 30 g combined daily use, a 30-day month needs 900 g, which is just under 2 lb with almost no allowance for waste. At 36 g daily use, the total is 1,080 g, so one bag is not enough. Count both people’s actual recipes before choosing.
Should I subscribe before I know my usual consumption?
A one-time purchase can help you establish what you like and how quickly you use it. A recurring order becomes easier to size once your routine is predictable. Check the available management and cancellation terms before selecting a subscription.
Ready to plan your next delivery? Calculate your daily use, multiply it by the interval you want, then compare the size and quantity options on SENS Choice. Choose an amount you can comfortably use rather than the largest bag by default.
