Espresso

Could water be the perfect ingredient for the ultimate espresso shot?

Sam Scoles, Business Sector Manager and BRITA Professional’s resident water sommelier, explains the chemical relationship between water and great-tasting coffee, revealing how to strike the best balance for a delicious cup of coffee.

The pursuit of the perfect espresso shot takes an exact science. Regardless of the barista’s precision and care in the choice of blend and the grind, if the water quality isn’t right then the taste can be off.

Too much hydrogen carbonate in the water, commonly known as ‘hard’ water or alkalinity, will affect the perceived sourness of the coffee. Hydrogen ions react with the fruity acids in the coffee taking away the sour taste that can be essential to great taste. Essentially if the water is too hard, with too much hydrogen carbonate present, you could end up with dull, heavy, or chalky tasting coffee.

To balance the chemical composition of the water, and in turn achieve that wonderful profile with balanced sweetness, bitterness, sourness, body and aroma, the correct water filter for your water supply should be properly installed on the coffee machine.

Particularly look for one that features an ion exchange resin, otherwise known as a decarbonisation filter. This will exchange the hydrogen ions with calcium and magnesium ions, balancing the hydrogen carbonate in the water and therefore leaving more of the desirable coffee acids behind ready for brewing.

Keep in mind that regional variances across the UK mean that the mineral content of the water can be difficult to predict. If you are unsure which water filter is right for your machine or specific water type, or even how often you need to change it, get in touch and we can help.

To find the right filter to achieve the best-tasting coffee, call us on 01869 365 851 or visit www.brita.co.uk/professional.

Related content

Headquarter_710x400 mobile image

News & Stories home

Return to the News & Stories homepage.

Professional filters stories

Find more stories on professional water filtration - from professional catering to tea and coffee

What type of water is best for tea?

Research by the UK Tea Academy shows the impact of water on the taste, aroma and appearance of tea - and finally provides a water specification for a consistently great cuppa.