How many grams are in 1 cup of Cocoa?
One US cup (240 ml) of cocoa powder weighs about 86 grams. A US customary cup (236.6 ml) holds about 85 g, a metric cup (250 ml) about 90 g, and an imperial cup (284.1 ml) about 102 g.
Cups of Cocoa to grams
One US cup (240 ml) of cocoa powder weighs about 86 grams (3 oz), measured spoon and level.
Cocoa powder behaves like flour’s moody cousin: it clumps, compacts and clings to the cup. Spooned and levelled it is 86 g per cup; scooped straight from the tin it can pick up an extra 10–20 g.
Ingredient
86 grams
US cup · cocoa powder · spoon and level
More precise value: 86 grams
- Cup standard
- US cup · 240 ml
- Ingredient
- cocoa powder
- Method
- spoon and level
- Density
- 0.358 g/ml
- Sources
- USDA FDC · King Arthur
- Reviewed
- 2026-08
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Cocoa by cup standard
The same volume weighs more in a larger cup. These figures scale the reference weight of 86 g per 240 ml US cup by each cup standard’s exact volume.
| Cups | US cup | US customary cup | Metric cup | Imperial cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⅛ | 11 g | 11 g | 11 g | 13 g |
| ¼ | 22 g | 21 g | 22 g | 25 g |
| ⅓ | 29 g | 28 g | 30 g | 34 g |
| ½ | 43 g | 42 g | 45 g | 51 g |
| ⅔ | 57 g | 57 g | 60 g | 68 g |
| ¾ | 65 g | 64 g | 67 g | 76 g |
| 1 | 86 g | 85 g | 90 g | 102 g |
| 1½ | 129 g | 127 g | 134 g | 153 g |
| 2 | 172 g | 170 g | 179 g | 204 g |
cocoa powder, spoon and level. Reviewed 2026-08.
Tablespoons and teaspoons
Spoon measures use the US definitions: 1 tablespoon = 14.79 ml (16 per cup) and 1 teaspoon = 4.93 ml (3 per tablespoon).
| Measure | Grams (g) | Ounces (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 1.8 | 0.06 |
| 1 tbsp | 5.3 | 0.19 |
| 2 tbsp | 10.6 | 0.37 |
| 4 tbsp (¼ cup) | 21.2 | 0.75 |
| 8 tbsp (½ cup) | 42.4 | 1.5 |
| 16 tbsp (1 cup) | 84.8 | 2.99 |
How to measure Cocoa by volume
- Stir the cocoa in its container to break up compaction.
- Spoon into the cup without tapping, and level with a straight edge.
- Sift after measuring if your recipe needs lump-free cocoa.
Why the weight varies
Cocoa powder compacts like flour; spoon-and-level gives the published figure, scooping adds 10–20 g.
Cocoa is both a flavor and a structural “flour” in chocolate bakes, and too much dries a crumb noticeably. Dutch-processed and natural cocoa weigh about the same — the difference between them is acidity, not density.
Which value we publish, and why
We publish 86 g per US cup of unsweetened cocoa, spoon-and-level (USDA FoodData Central); King Arthur lists 84 g.
Values you may see elsewhere
Sources: USDA FDC · King Arthur . Reference weight verified against USDA FDC, King Arthur. Reviewed 2026-08. Conversions are estimates — ingredient weight varies with packing and brand.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1 tablespoon of Cocoa?
One US tablespoon (14.79 ml) of cocoa powder weighs about 5.3 g, and one teaspoon (4.93 ml) about 1.8 g.
How many ounces is 1 cup of Cocoa?
One US cup of cocoa powder weighs about 3 oz (86 g). Note these are weight ounces — for liquids, don’t confuse them with fluid ounces, which measure volume.