70% of your body and 98% of your coffee is made up of water. Without quality water, it is impossible to prepare coffee properly. Its composition therefore plays a key role in how your coffee will taste.
In this article, we will focus on the possibilities of water treatment in the home environment so that it is suitable for preparing the tastiest possible cup of coffee.
Right at the beginning, unfortunately, we have to disappoint you, because neither hard nor soft water is ideal for preparing coffee.
Hard water contains a large amount of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals bind more easily to certain compounds in coffee, which leads to a very intense taste result. However, hard water also contains a high amount of bicarbonate, which is responsible for highlighting bitter notes.
Over time, hard water causes mineral buildup in coffee machines or electric kettles. In addition to shortening their lifespan, they also negatively affect the taste of your coffee.
Conclusion on hard water: Certain minerals are necessary to extract all the vital flavors from coffee, but an excess of them causes delicate aromas and sugars to be overwhelmed by bitterness.
On the other hand, soft water is usually rich in sodium, which is added using water softeners to remove impurities. Coffee prepared with softer water tends to taste flat because the water contains fewer minerals.
Neither hard nor soft water is ideal for the perfect cup of coffee, but studies by chemist Christopher H. Hendon have shown that different water hardness levels highlight different flavor profiles in coffee. His work explains why the water in your home might work wonderfully with coffees from certain regions or blends, while others taste flat and empty.
Conclusion on soft water: Hendon's studies also revealed that extremely soft water led to poor extraction levels, making coffees brewed with such water taste very hollow. If you have to choose an extreme, pick hard water. However, there are better ways to brew genuinely great coffee at home.
The simplest and most cost-effective way to filter tap water at home is using water filter pitchers. Brands like Brita, BWT, and many others. You will find a wide variety of cartridges from different manufacturers on the market, compatible with almost all pitchers. But how do you know which filter to pick? We tested several of the most common and affordable filters for you.
We selected 6 filters for the test – Brita Maxtra+ PL, Brita Maxtra+ PO, BWT Gourmet Edition Mg+, Laica Bi-flux Coffee and Tea, Laica Bi-flux, and the inline filtration system BWT Bestmax S.
We conducted tests across 4 rounds, first pitting filters from the same manufacturer against each other. We evaluated using the cupping method, and our latest release, Ethiopia Aludra AMO Natural, served as the perfect test coffee.
In the end, not one clear winner emerged from the test, but three.
The BWT Mg+ is ideal for naturally processed coffees. The water brought out a pleasant acidity, and the taste was exceptionally clean with a bright, easily distinguishable flavor profile. However, the body was lighter.
Brita Maxtra+ PO. We concluded that it is better suited for espresso brewing. The coffee developed a noticeably fuller body while maintaining a very clean flavor profile. However, the acidity took a back seat.
The Laica Bi-flux Coffee and Tea emerged from the test as the most neutral contender. It is best suited for someone who plans to brew coffee using multiple methods. In all cases, the coffee maintains its distinct flavor characteristics. Keep in mind, however, that the cartridge is not fully compatible with Brita or BWT filter pitchers.
The remaining filters did not meet our taste standards at all. The coffee tasted very bland and flat.
Water can actually have a huge impact on the quality of your home cup of coffee. Most people are perfectly happy using plain tap water to make coffee, but if you are really serious about your coffee, experimenting with different types of water is definitely worth it and we think you will soon feel a pleasant change.
