To make delicious coffee, you need not only good beans, but also good water quality. Water accounts for more than 98% of brewed coffee. Therefore, choosing the right water for coffee is also very important. So what kind of water is suitable for making coffee?
First, let’s talk about the requirements for water suitable for brewing coffee. Generally, there are two requirements for water when making coffee, one is hardness and the other is pH.
Let’s talk about hardness first. The seemingly clean water in nature is not pure water containing nothing. Water generally contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and other ions as well as bicarbonate ions. These substances in the water will affect the softness and hardness of the water. Generally, hard water is not suitable for making coffee.
The TDS standard for coffee water recommended by SCAA is 75-250ppm, but in fact it is easier to make delicious coffee when the TDS of water used is below 100ppm.
Because the TDS data can only indicate the content of soluble substances in the water, it cannot clearly know the composition and content of the substances inside.
Scientific research shows that water containing an appropriate amount of calcium ions can better dissolve the acidity of coffee, but water containing too much calcium will easily form scale. The water contains a small amount of magnesium ions, which can enhance the sweetness and aroma of coffee. Therefore, water containing appropriate amounts of calcium and magnesium ions is very suitable for brewing coffee.
The pH of water also affects the taste of coffee. 7 in the pH value means neutral. The smaller the number, the more acidic it is. The larger the number, the more alkaline it is. Coffee has a low acidity pH of 5-6. Generally, coffee brewed with a pH value of 6.5-7 will be more delicious.Based on the above conditions, the first thing to rule out is tap water. The TDS value of tap water in common areas is on the high side. You can check the kettle at home to see if there is a layer of white scale.Even if the tap water in some areas meets the TDS standard for coffee water, the tap water will contain residual trace amounts of chlorine, so we will smell the tap water like swimming pool water. The coffee brewed with this water will have a sandy taste and a very mixed taste.
If you use tap water filtered by a filtration device at home, you also need to test the TDS value and try brewing to see if the taste has improved. Because the filtration effect of some filters is not good, the filtered water is still not suitable for making coffee.
Secondly, pure water that contains nothing is not suitable for making coffee. As mentioned before, an appropriate amount of calcium and magnesium ions can promote coffee extraction. Improves the acidity, sweetness and aroma of coffee. However, pure water without any substance will make the coffee brewed feel inexplicably hollow, and the lack of sweetness and aroma will make the acid become sharp.
The last one that is easier to use is mineral water. When purchasing mineral water, be sure to look at the mineral content on the label, and never judge the quality of the water based on price. For example, the outstandingly priced Evian water has a TDS of 489 ppm, which is far greater than the maximum TDS of coffee water, so it is not suitable for making coffee. If you need to buy mineral water for coffee, it is best to look at the TDS value and the content table of various minerals on the label.
Finally, if you want to ask what water is best for making coffee, the answer you will most likely get is Nongfu Spring.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
