We talk a lot about the importance of good beans (obviously). But here’s something most people don’t realise, when you make a cup of coffee, roughly 98% of what ends up in your mug isn’t coffee. It’s water. Which means, if your water’s not quite right, your brew probably won’t be either.
Why Water Matters
Water might seem simple, but it carries all the flavour from your coffee into your cup. And like anything that travels, the quality of the road makes a difference. If your water has the right mineral balance, things like calcium and magnesium, it can bring out sweetness, brightness, and balance. Too much, and it can over-extract, turning your coffee bitter or flat. Too little, and it might taste thin or sharp.
In short, water’s job is to get the best out of your coffee.
Hard vs Soft
If you’re in the North, you’ve probably already clocked what kind of water you’ve got at home. Hard water, with lots of minerals, can cause limescale and mess with the flavour. Soft water doesn’t extract quite as well, which can leave your coffee tasting a bit empty.
The sweet spot is somewhere in between. The technical number? Around 150 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids. But if that’s not your thing, don’t stress. There are simpler ways to get close.
So, What Should You Use?
Filtered tap water is a great starting point. It strips out chlorine (which can give your brew a weird taste) but usually keeps the minerals you want. If you’re into the detail, there are test kits to check your levels, and if you’re really chasing perfection, you can even add minerals back in using sachets like Third Wave Water. (Ted loves a rabbit hole.)
Some bottled waters work too, but not all. If you go that route, avoid anything labelled ‘distilled’ or ‘pure’. You want a bit of mineral content in there.
A Quick Word on Gear
It’s not just about taste. Better water means less scale build-up in your kettle or machine, and fewer headaches long term. Trust us on this one!
The Bottom Line
Good water won’t fix bad coffee. But it will help great coffee taste exactly as it should. So if you’re investing in decent beans, it’s worth paying a bit of attention to what you’re brewing them with.
A couple of tweaks, and you might just notice the difference.