The Importance of Water

Water is often overlooked as an important component of coffee preparation even though it makes up 99% of the brewed cup. There are two essentials regarding water that need to be addressed when making coffee; filtration and temperature.

Many café’s have hot water towers and filtration systems built into their water lines to ensure that their coffees maintain their full flavour and clarity.

Water heated to approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for a great tasting coffee. If the water is not heated to this ideal temperature, essential oils from the coffee will not be fully extracted, resulting in a weak, light and sour tasting coffee. Many home drip machines do not achieve this temperature and do not showcase these coffees to their full potential. For a home or office drip machine we recommend the Technivorm which is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America as a brewer that offers a consistent and optimal brewing temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit. When using other brewing techniques such as a French press, preheating your brewing vessels will also improve results.

If possible, use filtered or bottled water for brewing your coffee. Impurities and ill tasting elements in the water may materialize in the coffee, affecting its flavour and clarity.