As we all know, our cup of coffee is just water and roasted beans. A delicious aroma will start filling the room as soon as you combine freshly roasted coffee beans and hot water.
The process of making coffee may seem simple at first. But, if you’re trying to make the perfect cup of coffee in the morning, there are a few hacks you need to know- one of them being the quality of your water.
The aroma of your coffee depends on many factors, including the type of coffee bean roasts, the coffee bean roasting process, coffee freshness after roasting, and, last but not least, the kind of water you are using.
So, let’s discover how better water will improve how your coffee tastes.
What Kind of Water Should you Use to Craft the Perfect Cup of Coffee?
There is no need for you to immediately go shopping for jugs of distilled or pure water. It’s time-consuming and cumbersome. Not to mention- wasteful.
You can use tap water for your cup of coffee but that would depend entirely on where you’re located.
The main question is: Is the water in your region hard or soft?
The hardness of water varies significantly from place to place. It can also change over different seasons due to minerals being diluted by floods and spring rains or intensified by melting snow.
What is the difference between hard and soft water?
Soft water is water with little or no mineral content other than salt ions, while hard water is
packed with calcium and magnesium ions. Water can be naturally soft like rain is, or you can
make it soft by removing calcium and magnesium from hard water.
What does water hardness have to do with the flavor of your coffee?
Experienced baristas claim that water hardness brings out significantly different flavors in your cup of coffee. Even though you’re always using the same coffee beans, it can taste differently depending on where you brew it or even the current season.
Why does water hardness matter so much when brewing coffee?
Compounds typically found in your coffee are citric and lactic acid, and eugenol, which is responsible for the “woodsy” taste. Different types of coffee bean roasts have different combinations of these compounds. This is where the water hardness plays its role in taste.
The compounds present in hard water combined with compounds in your coffee create a specific scent, taste, and mouthfeel. For example, when eugenol meets the minerals from hard water, you’ll taste notes of wood.
The more eugenol there is – the more prevailing will the woody aroma be.
Similarly, the sticky magnesium ions account for a more robust flavor and higher levels of caffeine. If your tap water has high levels of bicarbonate, your coffee will most likely have bitter notes.
Want to join my live demo?
Does this mean you should always use soft water for brewing your coffee?
Hard water can be a bit of a gamble, especially if you don’t enjoy bitter notes in your coffee.
Whereas soft water might not have high concentrations of minerals. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will make your coffee taste better. It contains only sodium which has little flavor “stickiness,” and it doesn’t contribute as much to bitter-tasting coffee.
What about filtered water?
As mentioned, the quality of water varies throughout different regions.
In some areas, tap water contains loads of impurities that can alter the flavor of your cup of coffee.
Often, the coffee made with such water leaves an acidic or metallic taste in your mouth. If that’s the case, you should definitely filter the water before brewing different coffee roasts.
Sometimes boiling water isn’t enough. Filtered water, more often than not, changes the taste of your coffee for the better. Using a proper filtration system produces the best tasting water for drinking and for making coffee.
Why You Should Use a Water Filtration System
Most can agree that using filtered water tastes better. However, a basic water filtration system can be limiting in terms of its health benefits and flavour. Over the years, electronically-reduced (OR ionized alkaline) water filtration systems have gained popularity for its benefits.
Using a filtration system that produces ionized alkaline water, will keep you hydrated for longer, supports longevity and your physical well-being. It has also been said that ionized alkaline water eliminates impurities that come from basic tap water.
In addition to its health benefits, ionized water can extract flavour better. A basic filter alone cannot do this with roasted coffee beans.
With an ionized alkaline water system, you can adjust the pH levels – which impacts the brew taste. With such adjustments, you can increase the strength of the brew. Which means you’ll have better-tasting coffee at home.
The Importance of the Quality of Fresh Roast Beans
Even though water quality is paramount, nothing compares to the importance of finding the best dark roast coffee brands for your cup of coffee.
In short: choosing the right beans is a game changer for the perfect cup of coffee.
Some people will like their coffee strong, while others prefer milder tastes.
How can you make sure you are drinking high-quality coffee?
● Find the best coffee roasters near you.
● Choose the best place to store coffee beans.
● Do your best to preserve coffee freshness after roasting.
Detox your Life!
Concluding Thoughts
There are many things that can influence the taste and aroma of your cup of coffee. Even if you always choose the same brand of ground coffee, your coffee might not turn out the same.
Now you know why. The water you are using affects the flavor of your coffee. Even if you always use tap water, it is not a guarantee that your coffee will never change since tap water mineral content is not always the same.
Generally, if you want the best tasting coffee, filtered water is the way to go. It tastes better and has added health benefits.
