The importance of water hardness in coffee preparation
If you are a coffee lover, preparing coffee is an important ritual to start the day. Surely, you take care of every last detail: body, aroma and flavor. But, to have the perfect cup, you need to have the perfect coffee beans that only Café 1820 can give you, and also pay attention to an important detail that is often overlooked: the hardness of the water. Keep reading and find out why.
The importance of water
The quality of the water in the coffee plays a key role in the success or failure in the process of creating an excellent cup of coffee, and at the same time influences the shelf life of the coffee machine. Surely you think that all water is the same: no taste, smell or color. However, the hardness of the water is something that greatly influences the preparation of a drink, and even in yourself body.
It does not matter if the water comes from the local water supply or if it is bottled water, its main elements are:
Chemical substances. These substances are used to treat water, so that it is microbiologically pure and free of bacteria. One of the chemical substances that water absorbs during its journey and treatment to eliminate bacteria is chlorine.
Chlorine is the number one enemy of coffee. This is due to its oxidizing effect, which alters the sensory structure of the coffee, creating a more bitter taste and, in the case of espresso, whitening the creamy layer on the surface of the coffee.
Natural minerals. These minerals are natural, coming from the soil where the water lay, or that were absorbed during the trip that the water makes from the source to the tap.
What is the water hardness?
When speaking of water hardness, it refers to the concentration of calcium and magnesium found in the water. This hardness can be expressed in different units, but the one in common use is in the concentration of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which is measured by milligrams of liters of water.
According to information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is possible to achieve a classification of the degrees of water hardness in four groups, according to its concentration of calcium carbonate.
Soft water. The water that has less than 60mg / l of CaCO3.
Semi-hard water. It contains between 61mg / 1 and 120mg / 1 CaCO3.
Hard water. It has between 121mg / l and 180mg / l CaCO3.
Hardest water. It is the heaviest water, having more than 181mg / l CaCO3.
The ideal water hardness level to prepare a cup of coffee should be between 17 and 85mg per liter, that is, soft water.
What to do to have the perfect coffee?
To eliminate the chlorine, you need to use active carbon filters or simply leave the water to rest for a period of time, given that chlorine tends to evaporate rather quickly.
About the dissolved minerals, these are mostly calcium and magnesium which are responsible for the hardness of the water, a correct extraction will be determined by the balance between these solids and carbonates.
And the water who comes from the public water supply… The most precise method is to have it analyzed by a specialized laboratory. It is certainly not the most practical or economical, but in doing so we can be guaranteed accurate information from where to start. A cheaper alternative is to buy a water analysis kit, readily available for a low cost.
But, without a doubt, having a good filter for water in your home and an excellent filter inside your coffee machine, added to the exquisite taste of Café 1820, will be the best investment to achieve the perfect cup. In this way, you will be testing pure coffee beans, selected under the strictest quality specifications.
Now that you know how to enjoy more of your coffee, it is time to know the true delicious flavor that Café 1820 has for you.