How much DME for a starter -- I don't have a scale

[allanmac00]

I don't have a scale, so I'm trying to figure out a good starter ratio for DME/Water based on cups. I have seen many different opinions. What's the most reliable way to get to 1.040?

 

[ArcaneXor]

Cups are a meaningless measurement for something like DME because the weight per volume is always going to vary. If you don't have a scale, how do you measure your hop additions?

If you have a refractometer you can just keep adding DME until you hit about 10 Brix.

 

[Zen_Brew]

I find that 3/4 cup into 1000ml gets me in the 1.035-1.040 are after a 15 minute boil. 1 cup gets 1400ml to the same area. As Arcane says though, it can vary a bit with DME density and how well you compact the measuring cup.

 

[allanmac00]

Cups are a meaningless measurement for something like DME because the weight per volume is always going to vary. If you don't have a scale, how do you measure your hop additions?

If you have a refractometer you can just keep adding DME until you hit about 10 Brix.

I'm just looking for a ballpark -- I'm sure that it wouldn't be exact. And I buy the hops as I need them, already in 1 oz. bags.

 

[Bensiff]

spend 5 dollars at the grocery store and get one of those cheap meal portioning scales that go to 16 ounces, that will get you close enough with little investment. Ebay has pretty good digital gram scales that are not too expensive as well...you can help them out by being one of their few customers with legitimate usage of the device.

 

[Bheher]

Just use 1/2 cup dme and 2 cups water or any ratio of 1:4. Its just a starter as long as your between 1.035 and 1.06 i think your ok... You could probably just taste it and if it taste ok your good to go.