It is logical that the taste of your coffee is influenced by the water quality: it is one of the most important components of a tasty cup of coffee. In the Netherlands we usually use tap water to make coffee, but there are also people who swear by mineral water. Does that make a difference or not? In this article you can read all about the connection between water and coffee.
To find out what water does for the taste of your coffee, we start with a bit of technical explanation. When you make coffee, water flows through the coffee particles. During this extraction process, as it is nicely called, the water absorbs flavors, oils and aromas. The speed and degree of extraction are influenced by several factors, such as the temperature of the water, the grinding degree of the coffee and the hardness of the water.
Water hardness
The harder the water, the higher the concentration of minerals in it. This mainly concerns calcium (lime) and magnesium. These minerals can bind to the coffee particles, so that more flavor is extracted from the particles – so your cup of coffee itself gets more flavor. However, if the water is too hard, it can lead to over-extraction. The coffee particles release too many flavors and aromas, causing your coffee to taste bitter. Because soft water contains little calcium and magnesium, your coffee may be flatter and less full of flavor.
Acidity
In addition to hardness, the pH value of the water also plays a role. The pH value indicates the acidity of water. The lower the pH, the more acidic the water. Pure water has a neutral pH of about 7. The drinking water that comes from our tap normally varies somewhere between 6.5 and 8.5.
If you make coffee with water that is on the acidic side, i.e. has a lower pH, this can affect the taste. The presence of more acid can bring out bitter and sour notes in the coffee. The aroma substances may also be negatively affected if the water is too acidic.
If the pH value of the water is on the alkaline side, i.e. with a higher value, the coffee may taste a bit flat and stale. The acids are neutralized, which means that the fruity acids typical of coffee are less effective.
For the tastiest coffee, a neutral water pH around 7 is ideal. At this value the flavors and aromas are best preserved.
Also read: From French press and filter to slow drip and espresso machine: how do you make your coffee?
Making coffee with tap water or mineral water?
When you use water from the tap for your coffee, you never have to worry about the quality: it is simply good. However, the composition of tap water varies per region. Factors such as the hardness of the water, the mineral content and the pH value can influence the extraction of the coffee particles and therefore the taste of your coffee.
Mineral water, on the other hand, often has a consistent composition with a known mineral content. If you think it is very important that your coffee always tastes the same, then you could consider mineral water. However, mineral water is of course more expensive than regular tap water. In addition, using mineral water with a high hardness can lead to faster build-up of Lime scale in your coffee machine, which in turn can shorten the lifespan of the machine.
Also read: This is how you maintain and descale your coffee maker
Tap waterMineral water+ Cheap+ Consistent water composition+ Available anytime and anywhere+ Possible improvement of the taste of coffee+ More environmentally friendly− More expensive− Variable water composition− Possible faster build-up of limescale in the coffee machine− Possible influence on the taste of coffee (depending on the region)
Hard and soft water in the Netherlands
Water hardness is often expressed in German hardness (°dH), which is a measure of the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in the water. Figures from Vewin, the association of water companies in the Netherlands, show that a large part of the drinking water in the Netherlands is soft. In the north of Groningen and Friesland, the east of Drenthe, the northeast of Overijssel, western Brabant and in Limburg the water is average in terms of hardness. The water is only quite hard at Goeree Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland in Zeeland. In the brochure Drinking water core data 2023 a map of the Netherlands is included on which the water hardness is indicated in colors.
Water hardnessGerman Hardness (°dH)Very soft waterMaximum 3.98Soft water>3.98 – 8.01Average water>8.01 – 11.98Quite hard water>11.98 – 13.38
Does your tap have hard water or soft water?
Do you want to know exactly how hard the tap water is in your place of residence? You can usually find this on the website of your own water company. By filling in your place of residence this online tool from Vewin you can see who supplies your water.
Conclusion
Whether you want to make your coffee with tap water or mineral water is really a personal choice. In terms of quality, you are always fine with regular drinking water from the tap. But bottled water can provide better flavor (especially if you live in an area with soft water) and coffee that always tastes the same. The best thing to do is just try it out. Make your favorite coffee with water from the tap and then with mineral water. Do you taste a difference or not? And if you taste the difference, which tastes better? If that is mineral water, the question will mainly be whether you are willing to spend a little more for your coffee from now on.
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2023-10-07 10:11:01
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