Coffee and Water

When you brew your coffee what do you think about first?  Is it the flavor you’re going to make or the origin?  Do you contemplate which brew method you are going to use? 

Personally I have 5 different brew methods that all give a different taste to my coffee.  Do you think about which filter you are going to use? All of these are good to think about but I would suggest starting at a little more basic level.  I am talking about the water.

Water has a tremendous impact on how your coffee tastes.  The chemicals that are in it or not in it.  The minerals that are in the water or not in the water all of these add up to coffee tasting a certain way.  The time the coffee comes into contact with the water and the temp of the water.  These all play an important role in determining how great a cup of coffee we are going to have.  We often think about how fresh the coffee is or where the coffee came from, and so often we over look the number one thing that makes coffee drinkable.  We will look at time and temp at a different time as these both are both their own topics.

There are many opinions on what water to use.  I am of the opinion that filtered water is the best.  You can get some nuances of the minerals in the water but none of the chemicals that the water treatment center puts in it.  Also if you are on a well filtered water helps to reduce the mineral content to a level that will not change the coffee.  When I do outdoor events I buy filtered water in the gallon jugs.  I never buy distilled water.  In my opinion distilled water leaves you with a flat cup of coffee even if you are getting the best freshest roasted coffee.

Water plays a vital role in your cup of coffee.  It is important to use the best water to get your best cup of coffee.