Water for the coffee machine - How hardness and pH affect the taste of espresso

What kind of water for the coffee machine and why not use bottled water for espresso? If you desire the perfect taste of coffee, you must use water with an optimal composition. Read this article to find out if your water is suitable for making coffee.

What kind of water to use in the coffee machine?

Do you know what is the secret ingredient of the tastiest coffees? Roasted coffee and also water – plain water. Yes, water also plays a key role in preparing the perfect espresso . Its quality affects not only the taste of the resulting drink, but also the lifespan of your coffee machine. What parameters should we focus on when using water for the coffee machine?

  • Hardness  water : it is given by the amount of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. Water that is too hard can cause scale formation in the coffee machine and affect the taste of the coffee. Water that is too soft can be too aggressive and cause corrosion.
  • pH : determines whether the water is acidic, neutral or alkaline. The ideal pH for coffee preparation is around a neutral value of 7.
  • TDS : Total Dissolved Solids (total content of dissolved substances) indicates the amount of all dissolved substances in water. A high TDS value can lead to a mineral taste in coffee.
  • Chlorides : high content can cause salty or spicy coffee taste.
  • Iron : can cause a metallic taste in coffee and a rust color in water.

Measure the water you use in the coffee maker

You will need  BWT test kit to find out the specific values of your water. Next, a sample of your water, which you usually use in the coffee machine. Then a very simple laboratory game awaits you. Don't worry, it's really easy. In the water testing kit, there are bottles of solution that you will drop into a water sample and count how many drops need to be added before the color of the water sample changes. Everything is clearly explained in the attached instructions and you can also take a look at our video instructions below.

The hardness of the water in the coffee machine and its effect on the taste of the espresso

  • total water hardness above 150ppm: harsh and too bitter coffee taste
  • total water hardness below 90ppm: flat and unpleasantly acidic coffee

The pH of the water in the coffee machine and its effect on the taste of the espresso

If a pH value of 7 is considered ideal, what happens when you have water with a pH of one?

  • A pH above 8 causes low sweetness and unpleasant bitterness in coffee
  • A pH below 6.5 results in an unpleasantly acidic coffee taste

To find out the specific pH value of your water sample, use test strips. After immersion in water, they change color, which you compare with the marked scale.

The best water for the coffee machine? Filtered

Water that has gone through filtration is completely clean. Without soluble and solid particles that reduce its quality. Clean treated water passes through the filter, which is absolutely ideal for preparing coffee. You can even choose a cartridge type filter system  BWT Bestmax Premium to add magnesium to filtered water. Water prepared in this way by filtration helps extract the coffee better and makes its flavors stand out.

Use bottled water in the coffee machine?

There are several reasons for using or not using bottled water in the coffee machine. From a financial point of view alone, it is not a very suitable style of coffee preparation. If your water at home does not correspond to the qualities necessary for preparing espresso, then it is much more advantageous to get water filtration. This system will cost you a small investment in the beginning, but after that  you filter for roughly EUR 0.04/liter of water . You simply cannot buy bottled water this cheap.

The content of minerals and other ingredients in bottled water is often simply unsuitable for preparing coffee. If for some reason you want to use bottled water in the coffee machine, then do it right  study the information on the package . It is quite usual that  packed  the waters are softer than you need . Sometimes they may contain added ingredients that will affect the taste of the coffee.

How often to change the water in the coffee machine?

Daily . Because yours  espresso is roughly 98% water , so it is important that it is as fresh as possible. Old water is a risk for affecting the taste of coffee and also increases the risk of contamination with bacteria that can multiply in stagnant water after a long time. It's ideal  when the coffee machine is not in use for a long time, let a lot of water drain from it . Even if you change the water in the tank, there will be remnants of the old water in the internal pipes.

What are the water filtration options?

For filtration, you will need a filter head , on which you screw the cartridge filtration . (For coffee machines, it is also advisable to ensure a stable water pressure .)

For ordinary water descaling, the " Bestmax " series cartridge is most often used.

  • Bestmax Premium : High-quality filtration, suitable for demanding users, usually for filtering water with an emphasis on taste and health.
  • Bestmax : Universal cartridge for filtering and softening water, usually for coffee machines in cafes and for households.
  • Bestprotect : Filtration aimed primarily at protecting appliances from limescale and other impurities.
  • Besttaste : Filtration optimized to improve the taste of water, ideal for drinking water.
  • Bestline : Basic filtration for households or small businesses, efficient and affordable.
  • Bestcare : Filtration focused on water care, suitable for specific needs such as soft water.
  • Bestclear : Filtration to improve water clarity, especially for aesthetic purposes.
  • Bestaqua : Filtration for reverse osmosis.

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