When people think about improving their coffee, they often jump straight to gear—machines, grinders, scales. But there’s a silent factor shaping every cup: the water you brew with.
Since coffee is 98% water, ignoring water quality is like building a house on a shaky foundation.
Why Water Matters
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Too hard: Excess minerals mute brightness, flattening flavors.
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Too soft / distilled: Lacks ions needed to extract flavor properly, leaving coffee hollow.
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Chlorinated tap: Adds unwanted bitterness or “pool water” notes.
The Ideal Brewing Water
The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) recommends water with:
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Hardness: ~50–175 ppm
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pH: ~7 (neutral)
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Clean & odor-free
Simple Fixes at Home
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Filter Pitcher: Inexpensive, removes chlorine and impurities. (Brita, PUR, or similar.)
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Bottled Spring Water: Reliable backup if tap water is poor.
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ZeroWater + Minerals: Filter completely, then re-add minerals (Third Wave Water packets).
What Not to Do
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Distilled water only: Strips extraction, producing flat coffee.
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Overly softened water: Can taste slippery and under-extracted.
Workflow Hack
Pick one consistent water source for brewing. Consistency matters more than chasing lab-grade chemistry.
Pairing with Eish Coffee
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Light Roast (Dawn Origin): Best with clean, mineral-balanced water to highlight fruity brightness.
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Medium Roast (Builder’s Blend): More forgiving, but still benefits from filtered water to avoid muddiness.
Upgrade Order Revisited
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Burr Grinder
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Scale
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Pour Control (Gooseneck Kettle)
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Filter Quality
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Water Optimization ← today’s focus
Action for Tomorrow
Try brewing the same coffee with tap water vs. filtered water.
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Notice differences in clarity, sweetness, and finish.
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You’ll never ignore water again.
Want our DIY Water Guide PDF with simple starter setups? Join the Eish Coffee list to grab it.
Eish Coffee – better water, better coffee.
