Water quality significantly influences the taste of your coffee. Learn how water hardness and pH affect coffee flavor and which water treatment methods are ideal.
Did you know that your coffee is 99% water? Yet water quality is often neglected when making coffee. Water that's too hard not only damages your coffee machine, but also impairs the taste of your coffee. The main components of our drinking water are minerals, which consist of total salt content, carbonate hardness, permanent hardness, and total hardness. These minerals influence water hardness and pH, which can vary greatly depending on rock and soil conditions. Water hardness is determined by the content of calcium or magnesium ions and the carbonate hardness and is measured in °dH.
The rule of thumb is: the higher the ion content, the harder the water. When you heat hard carbonate water, the ions settle as a gray coating (scale). These limescale deposits severely impair the performance and lifespan of your coffee maker and prevent the coffee aromas from developing optimally. Furthermore, an unappealing film forms on the surface of your coffee.
Water hardness is closely related to the pH value. Hard water tends to react alkalinely, neutralizing the fruit acids in Arabica coffees and developing an undesirable aftertaste. Soft water up to 6°dH, on the other hand, tends to be acidic and can intensify the sour taste of highly acidic green coffee varieties. Ideal for preparing your coffee is water with a pH value of 7.0 and a total hardness of approximately 4–8°dH.
Tips for the perfect coffee water
A simple and cost-effective solution is a countertop water filter. This removes coarse particles, replaces limescale-causing ions with sodium ions, filters out unpleasant tastes and odors, and traps tiny particles and heavy metals. However, countertop filters cannot remove germs, so regularly changing the filter cartridges is important. Alternatively, you can use soft to medium-hard mineral water. Some suitable mineral waters include Volvic, Spreequell, and Fiji Water, which offer a good balance of magnesium and calcium content.
Another alternative to a countertop filter is Third Wave Water. This US company offers special blends for coffee water. To prepare, simply mix the minerals contained in the bags with distilled water. The resulting water has the appropriate magnesium and calcium content, as well as the right hardness, for perfect coffee enjoyment.
Determine water hardness
Before purchasing a filter, you should determine the hardness of your water. You can find this out on your local water company's website or with free water hardness test strips from Brita. Within seconds, you can determine the hardness of your water and decide whether a water filter is necessary.
In summary: Water quality plays a crucial role in the taste of your coffee. Pay attention to the correct water hardness and pH level to get the best out of your coffee. With the right water softening and treatment methods, nothing stands in the way of perfect coffee enjoyment.
