Measuring

Measuring Spoons

Measuring spoons are a graduated set, 1.25ml, 2.5ml, 5ml and 15ml in the sets we use, for amounts too small to pour accurately from a jigger. They measure the bar spoons and teaspoons of syrup, liqueur and sugar where small errors show most. The Aviation, the Mojito and the Caipirinha all call for one.

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Three stainless steel measuring spoons in a row, marked one quarter teaspoon, half a teaspoon and one teaspoon.

The tool

About the Measuring Spoons

Small Measures Change a Drink Quickly

A jigger is accurate from about 15ml up. Under that, the amount is a thin layer in the bottom of a cone and hard to judge.

Yet many recipes call for less. The Aviation takes one bar spoon of crème de violette, about 5ml, against 45ml of gin; a little too much and the drink turns floral and purple. The Caipirinha takes four teaspoons of caster sugar, and four heaped spoons are much sweeter than four level ones.

A Bar Spoon and a Teaspoon Are Both About 5ml

In our recipes a bar spoon and a teaspoon both mean about 5ml. A dash, from a dasher top, is about 0.6 to 0.9ml, smaller than any spoon in a standard set.

So dashes are counted and spoons are filled. The two do not swap cleanly in a recipe.

Small measures in our recipes

Dash

Volume: About 0.6-0.9ml
Measure it with: A dasher bottle
Example: Angostura in a Zombie

Quarter teaspoon

Volume: 1.25ml
Measure it with: Measuring spoon
Example: Salt for a rim or a syrup

Half teaspoon

Volume: 2.5ml
Measure it with: Measuring spoon
Example: Half a bar spoon of liqueur

Teaspoon or bar spoon

Volume: About 5ml
Measure it with: Measuring spoon
Example: Crème de violette in an Aviation

Tablespoon

Volume: 15ml
Measure it with: Measuring spoon or jigger
Example: Most recipes simply say 15ml

Measure	Volume	Measure it with	Example
Dash	About 0.6-0.9ml	A dasher bottle	Angostura in a Zombie
Quarter teaspoon	1.25ml	Measuring spoon	Salt for a rim or a syrup
Half teaspoon	2.5ml	Measuring spoon	Half a bar spoon of liqueur
Teaspoon or bar spoon	About 5ml	Measuring spoon	Crème de violette in an Aviation
Tablespoon	15ml	Measuring spoon or jigger	Most recipes simply say 15ml

Level, Not Heaped

For sugar and salt, fill the spoon and sweep it flat with the back of a knife. For liquids, fill to the brim and hold the spoon level over the tin as you pour.

Stamped Steel Lasts

Buy stainless steel with the sizes stamped into the handles, and make sure the set includes 2.5ml. Rinse spoons straight after syrup or salt; a film of dried sugar makes the next measure short.

Using it

Using the Measuring Spoons

Usage

Measuring bar spoons and teaspoons of syrup, liqueur and sugar, such as the Aviation's bar spoon of crème de violette or the four teaspoons of sugar in a Caipirinha. Also for salt and sugar in rims and syrups.

Pro Tip

Measure your own bar spoon once. Fill it with water, tip it into a 5ml measuring spoon and see how close it comes; then you know what your stirring spoon holds.

Professional Tips

Fill liquids level with the brim, not short of it.
Level sugar with the back of a knife; a heaped spoon holds far more.
Measure over the shaker tin, so any drip lands in the drink.
Rinse straight away; dried syrup makes the next measure short.

Alternatives

Budget Alternative

An ordinary stainless kitchen set in metric sizes does the job. Check that it includes 2.5ml.

Premium Option

A slim stainless set with long handles and narrow bowls that reach into bottles. The measures are no more accurate; they are easier to use.

Specifications

Material
Stainless steel
Capacity
The sets we use run 1.25ml (¼ teaspoon), 2.5ml (½ teaspoon), 5ml (1 teaspoon) and 15ml (1 tablespoon)
Details
Small, shallow bowls on slim handles, with the size stamped on each

Go further

More to explore

Common Questions

How much is a bar spoon in ml?

About 5ml in our recipes and in most British and American ones, the same as a teaspoon. The bowls of real bar spoons vary, and some Japanese spoons hold nearer 2.5ml, so a measuring spoon is the reliable way to get 5ml.

How much is a dash?

Our recipes mean roughly 0.6 to 0.9ml, the amount a dasher top lets out per flick. That is less than the smallest spoon in most sets, 1.25ml, so dashes are counted, not measured with a spoon. Six dashes come to about the volume of a teaspoon.

Why use measuring spoons for cocktails?

Because a jigger is hard to read under about 15ml. Small amounts of strong or sweet ingredients, such as crème de violette, maraschino or sugar, change a drink quickly, and a spoon measures them the same way every time.

How many ml is a teaspoon?

5ml in a metric set, which is what British recipes mean. A tablespoon is 15ml, three teaspoons. Cutlery teaspoons are not made to a standard size, so use a measuring spoon when a recipe gives a teaspoon of something.

Metal or plastic measuring spoons?

Metal. In our experience stainless steel spoons with the sizes stamped in last for years and go in the dishwasher. Plastic warps in hot water and holds the smell of strong ingredients, and printed markings wear off until you cannot tell the sizes apart.

Should a teaspoon of sugar be level or heaped?

Level, unless the recipe says otherwise. Fill the spoon and sweep the top flat with the back of a knife. A heaped spoon can hold nearly twice as much, which is enough to make a Caipirinha or a Daiquiri noticeably sweeter.

Can I use a bar spoon to measure?

Yes, if you know what yours holds. Check it once against a 5ml measuring spoon. Many hold close to 5ml, but some are smaller, and the twisted handle makes it easy to spill a little on the way to the tin.

Make something

Made with the Measuring Spoons

Used In These Cocktails

Aviation Zombie Daiquiri Mojito Caipirinha

Related Equipment

Updated 18 October 2026

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