{"id":22138,"date":"2020-09-28T17:14:23","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T21:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.filtersfast.com\/blog\/?p=22138"},"modified":"2023-09-26T10:11:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T14:11:59","slug":"water-quality-for-specialty-coffee-shops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.filtersfast.com\/blog\/water-quality-for-specialty-coffee-shops\/","title":{"rendered":"Brewing the Perfect Cup: How Optimizing Water Quality for Specialty Coffee Operations is Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

COFFEE IS 98.5% WATER<\/h2>\n

Are you a coffee shop owner, aspiring barista, or someone who\u2019s just obsessed with brewing the perfect cup of coffee? Water quality is critical when it comes to brewing delicious coffee and espresso. It\u2019s a crucial ingredient in the finished product and has a major impact on equipment performance, too. We\u2019re here to help you understand why water quality is so important when it comes to the specialty coffee industry and how to select the right water treatment for your operation.<\/p>\n

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Coffee Quality<\/h3>\n

How a cup of coffee tastes depends as much on the quality of the water as it does on the beans. The right water treatment system can help you keep water chemistry consistent across locations and dial in the ideal mix of minerals for brewing.<\/p>\n

Equipment Performance<\/h3>\n

In addition to reducing energy efficiency, scale buildup from unfiltered water can cause significant damage to coffee and espresso brewing equipment. Because of this, the warranties for this equipment often require a certain water quality standard. The right water treatment system will protect your expensive equipment and by extension, your bottom line.<\/p>\n

Need help finding the right water treatment system for your business? <\/strong>Interested in special pricing? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Email b2bsale@filtersfast.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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WATER TESTING AND WHAT IT REVEALS<\/h2>\n

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Water\u2019s Characteristics and Its Common Contaminants<\/h3>\n

Coffee may be 98.5% water, but water isn\u2019t just H2O. Water is a natural solvent, carrying away particles of whatever it encounters along its way. It\u2019s these particulates, chemicals, and contaminants that impact coffee quality and equipment performance.<\/p>\n

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Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)<\/strong> A combined measure of all organic and inorganic substances dissolved in the water, including minerals, salts, metals, and other particulates.
\nParticulates Fine sediment, rust, and other particles that provide a catalyst for scale buildup and wear on equipment.<\/p>\n

Hard Minerals<\/strong> The primary water-related problem for coffee brewers and espresso machines is limescale caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium ions. This rock-like buildup leads to reduced performance and increased downtime for maintenance.<\/p>\n

Chlorine <\/strong>While added chlorine makes water safe to drink, it also contributes to corrosion in coffee equipment and can give water a terrible taste and odor.<\/p>\n

Alkalinity <\/strong>Water\u2019s capacity to neutralize acid. Some alkalinity is desirable to react with acids during the coffee extraction process, but too much has a negative effect on taste and contributes to scale buildup.
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pH <\/strong>Water\u2019s balance of acid and alkaline substances can be an indication of whether it will be scale-forming or corrosive.
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The first step in finding the right water treatment solution is to conduct a comprehensive on-site water analysis to determine the specific level of particulates, chemicals, and contaminants in your water. A water analysis is a “snapshot” of water characteristics at the time and place the sample was drawn. Although municipal water reports have value by measuring general safety and potability, they commonly combine samples from multiple sources and may not take seasonal changes into account. Therefore, municipal water reports alone may not provide an accurate picture of the water at a specific location.<\/p>\n

Here are a few questions to consider:<\/p>\n