Great water, great coffee

[DORad]

This may have been discussed before, but I want to emphasize the importance of quality water in making coffee, no matter what methods you use or how great your beans and grinder are. I had been using reverse osmosis water for 11 years in my Alex Duetto Espresso machine getting very good espresso. Then I read about the need for the right amount and type of minerals needed to get the best flavor from coffee.

I direct you to Third Wave Water.

They have different profiles depending on your method. They substitute Magnesium for Calcium, and get the osmolarity just right. Not only does it make better coffee, but it protects equipment, especially espresso machines. Remember water is a universal solvent, and if distilled or reverse osmosis, will have only 5-10 ppm dissolved solids, maybe even less. So over time the gaskets and any rubber seals get slowly dissolved away. And if you use hard water, you will be getting calcium deposits, not to mention the coffee does not taste as good as is could. I had several seals become defective over my 12 year ownership of my Duetto. Now I take an empty gallon jug, fill it with RO water and add 1 packet of minerals. Easy peasy. Taste is much improved. I also got the classic profile when I want to make drip or French press. Magninfico! Highly recommended. Available from them directly or on Amazon. Shaving and coffee, two everyday events that can be soooo pleasurable! Cheers.

 

[WetShaveVet]

I am trying it. Thanks.

 

[Omega48]

Thank you for the info. I may try it.
For our espresso I have been using distilled/purified water added with Potassium Bicarbonate for some years.
Currently I add one of these capsules (800mg) to 2 Gallons. That gives me about 50-60 TDS. I like the flavor in the cup. Totally scale free.
At current prices it's a little more than 5 cents per gallon of water.

Amazon.com

 

[DORad]

Nice. Cheaper than Third Wave. I wonder if the exact mineral composition matters. I'll measure my ppm after Third Wave, since I can't remember what it was.

 

[Omega48]

Coincidentally yesterday I removed the piston from my lever machine, to replace the seals , after having totally negletted it for two years of daily use (8-10 shots/day). It looked dirty, mainly because of the original Molikote grease, but practically zero scaling. Just to confirm what you said about the the importance of using quality water.

 

[joel]

If you really want your mind blown check out Apax Lab minerals. They have a recipie calculator based on specific regions and such, and it is a night and day difference. I do use Third Wave Water as well, but when I have a really special coffee, the Apax Labs comes out.

 

[DORad]

@joel I will definitely look into Apax Labs

 

[The Knize]

I love this thread. I could not agree more about the importance of the type and quality of water to brewing coffee! Fun stuff to check out!

 

[Albert V]

I have been filtering my water since the late 80’s - starting with a Brita filter system (which turns out is good for taste but filters little of the bad stuff). Currently, I use Zero Water Filter system. My coffee brewing is always either French Press or Moka Pot.

As a side note, I am on record since the 90’s stating the greatest marketing concept of the 20th century is getting people to buy bottled water - which cost more than soda or gasoline. I never understood how someone would buy cheap supermarket bottled of water, where the water is stored for months or more, in the cheapest plastic. Just invest in a good filter system - cheaper and healthier

 

[Omega48]

... I use Zero Water Filter system. ...

My apologies if you already know it. Zero Water is excellent and it removes practically everything (zero TDS). The problem is that it gives a PH near 5 and that may cause corrosion, depending on what you are using it for. Adding Sodium Bicarbonate like I do, or other minerals like the OP does, it's a way to avoid that problem.

 

[Albert V]

My apologies if you already know it. Zero Water is excellent and it removes practically everything (zero TDS). The problem is that it gives a PH near 5 and that may cause corrosion, depending on what you are using it for. Adding Sodium Bicarbonate like I do, or other minerals like the OP does, it's a way to avoid that problem.

Thanks. No, I wasn’t aware. Been using Zero Water for about six years now. I usually add a splash of raw apple cidar vinegar to my water before meals which will add slight acidity to boot. As for corrosion, I simply boil water each morning in a stainless steel pot for coffee, and in my aluminum Moka pot. As for minerals, I figure I get plenty as I use Redmonds Real Salt, and I always salt to taste. Must be working as I am 66 and have not been to a doctors office in almost 18 years. All I ever drink is water (or coffee/tea). One of the things I look for is a filter is to remove fluorine, and pharmaceuticals and pesticides. I know simple carbon filters like Brita remove just enough to get good taste.