How Many Coffee Cups In A Gallon? 4 Methods

This article will answer your question, “how many coffee cups in a gallon?” how to prepare that much coffee, and the best brands to buy a gallon carafe.

How many coffee cups in a gallon
A gallon of coffee usually works best for cold brew

Have you ever wondered how many coffee cups are in a gallon? A gallon of coffee equals 3.79 liters of coffee, which yields about ten twelve-ounce cups. Making a gallon of coffee is simple, and it usually works best for cold brew.

If you are planning to throw a party, a gallon of cold brew coffee only takes half a day to prepare in advance with the equipment you probably already have at home.

In this article, I will show you how to prepare a gallon of coffee and the best brands to look out for if you don’t have the time to make that much coffee on your own.

What Makes A Gallon?

As part of the imperial system, a liquid gallon (also known as gallon for short) equals 231 cubic inches and roughly 3.79 liters. A gallon of coffee contains about 1,510 milligrams of caffeine.

How Much Coffee Do You Need For A Gallon Of Water?

The rule of thumb that works perfectly for me is eight ounces of ground coffee goes with one gallon of water. This is a golden ratio to make a strong, concentrated cold brew. Adjust and scale down as you go.

Some people will go for the 1:1 ratio, but it also depends on the kind of coffee you use in the first place.

What Happens If You Drink A Gallon Of Coffee?

Drinking a gallon of coffee within a short amount of time without toilet breaks is not a wise choice from a health perspective. And I’m talking about normal filter-strength coffee, not espresso.

How many coffee cups in a gallon?
Exceeding amount of caffeine intake will result in fatigue and headaches

A healthy adult can consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. Any exceeding amount of caffeine, in the long run, will result in fatigue due to prolonged hours of being awake. Not to mention the jitters and headaches you’re sure to experience. 

It’s even worse if you drink a gallon of coffee within a day. Talking about the amount of water alone, you will end up needing constant toilet breaks all day long.

How To Make A Gallon Of Cold Brew Coffee

If you’re planning to brew a gallon of cold-brew coffee for a big get-together, here’s how you make it.

Materials Needed 

Ingredients:

  • One gallon of chilled water 
  • Eight ounces of freshly ground coffee
  • Milk 
  • Sugar or other sweeteners of choice

Equipment:

  • A large pitcher
  • A funnel (optional) 
  • A strainer or coffee filter 

Method:

  1. Add ground coffee into the pitcher and fill it to the top with water.
  2. Let it sit for at least 12 hours up to 24 hours in the fridge.
  3. Use the funnel to pour coffee into a container and dump the coffee ground or save the ground for other uses.
  4. Add sweetener to the coffee and adjust up to your liking.

If you’re wondering what kind of coffee you should use to make cold brew, I suggest medium roast and dark roast coffee. Those types of roast levels are low acidity and robust. Plus, the chocolate and hazelnut flavor profiles commonly found in these types of roasts will make your coffee more fun to enjoy.

Another tip I have for you is to use flavored roasts for cold brew. You need something exciting, unique, and full of flavor to delight your taste buds when drinking cold brew. I usually go for vanilla, raspberry, coconut, and chocolate-flavored coffee.

A cold brew can last up to two to three weeks in the fridge if stored correctly.

Best Coffee Choices For A Gallon Of Cold Brew

Counter Culture Hologram

Counter Culture’s Hologram coffee is enriched with a fruit-forward and milky chocolate note. Its bold flavor is brought to you by the combination of medium-dark roast coffee from Latin America and Africa.

If you’re seeking a killer cold brew to surprise your guests at a home party, this is the one. Each bag comes with twelve ounces of beans, so make sure you’ve got enough for a gallon of cold brew. You might also be interested in our round-up of the best packaged coffee brands

Counter Culture Coffee - Whole Bean Coffee - Fresh Roasted, Sustainably Farmed (Kosher) - Hologram, 12 oz (1 Bag)
$16.80 ($1.40 / Ounce)
  • FRUITY | MILK CHOCOLATE | SYRUPY. Hologram is a medium-dark roast comprised of washed and natural coffees from Latin America and Africa. The components change over the seasons, but the coffee always tastes fruity, chocolatey, and complex.
  • CERTIFIED KOSHER whole bean coffee. We source only exceptional coffee beans that are sustainably farmed and environmentally sustainable. We maintain detailed relationships with each of our partners.
  • We don't just find good coffee, we put in the work and commitment to develop great coffee.


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03/07/2024 01:20 am GMT

Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Medium Roast

Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Medium Roast is a perfect call to make cold brew coffee that has bright acidity and notes of berry and molasses. It’s a Kilimanjaro single origin made from Arabica beans that will surprise your taste buds.

Trader Joe’s Joe Medium Roast Ground Coffee

100% Arabica Ground 13 oz (Pack of 2)

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Laird Superfood Boost Coffee

On the lesser-known side, Laird spruces up your cold brew with a toasty, earthy flavor without it tasting all that much like mushrooms. I highly recommend the Medium Roast Functional Coffee Boost for those with an adventurous palate since the coffee contains functional mushrooms, vitamin D, and olive leaf powder.

A heads-up is that this coffee is a little too fine so make sure you stir it well when brewing to ensure the coffee gets saturated with water and yields a more satisfying cup.

Laird Superfood Boost Coffee, Medium Roast Ground Beans Infused with Functional Mushrooms, Vitamin D and Olive Leaf Powder, 12 oz. Bag
$14.01 ($1.17 / Ounce)
  • BOOST YOUR CUP - Boost Coffee was curated to naturally support you with our hand-selected blend of Medium Roast coffee beans, Red Reishi and Maitake functional mushroom extracts, vitamin D, and olive leaf powder
  • FUNCTIONAL COFFEE - This coffee is powered by functional mushroom extracts and botanicals, serving up 15% of your daily value of Vitamin D in each 12 oz serving (use a wire filter for the full vitamin D full benefit)
  • FLAVOR PROFILE - The rich and full taste of medium roast coffee is a delightful, full-bodied blend; Indulge in a rich cup of coffee where you will not taste the functional mushroom extracts but will reap all the benefits of them
  • UPGRADE YOUR COFFEE - Functional Coffee is crafted to help you harness the benefits of thoughtful ingredients and superfoods, taking your ritual and fueling experience to the next level
  • DIRECTIONS, TIPS & SERVINGS - Brew coffee using a wire filter - 10g coffee per 12 oz of hot (not boiling) water; Add your desired creamer & enjoy!


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03/07/2024 01:50 am GMT

Best Brands To Buy A Gallon Of Coffee

Starbucks Coffee Traveler

Starbucks Coffee Traveler is a wise, economical choice to have a gallon of coffee at home without making it yourself. A box like this comes with milk, sugar packs, stir sticks, and napkins.

Currently, the brand has developed four flavors you can choose from; for example, the Veranda Blend is the best seller. This is a 96-ounce box filled with medium roast coffee and can yield twelve eight-ounce cups. Two boxes like this are more than enough to prepare a gallon of coffee for a meeting or party.

If you’re looking for a strong dark roast without sugar or fat, opt for its Dark Roast coffee box. The other two are Pike Place Roast and Pike Place Roast Decaf. 

All of the options are the same size. However, you can customize the size you want, which is available in two-gallon, two-and-a-half-gallon, or five-gallon sizes. You can order Starbucks Coffee Traveler directly on the website or the app by choosing the nearest store in your area for a pick-up.

Dunkin’ Donuts Box O’Joe

A box of Dunkin’ Donuts Box O’Joe
A box like this can stay in the fridge for up to a week

The next big brand you should look out for is Dunkin’ Donuts. Its 64-ounce Box O’Joe can yield ten small cups. So to make a gallon of coffee, take two. Learn more in our explainer on how long does Dunkin’ Donuts’ Box O’Joe stays hot.

A box like this can stay in the fridge for up to a week. You can always reheat it in a microwave or an oven. A box of Dunkin’ Donuts Box O’Joe comes with sweetener, sugar, creamers, and stir sticks.

For those who are new to Dunkin’ Donuts catering, this Box O’Joe is a dark roast with a distinctive sweet note.

They recommend you serve it right away after you receive it when it’s freshly brewed and still hot. If your nearest Dunkin’ Donuts has this, just call them a few minutes ahead of time and pick it up directly at the store.

Author

  • Oanh Nguyen

    Born and raised by a traditional mama-barista, Oanh is a typical Viet coffee aficionado who would spend her entire precious Sunday showing you how to categorize coffee beans just by the looks and smells. She enjoys writing about everything drinks-related while sipping her favorite rosebud tea. Find Oanh on LinkedIn.