The Ultimate Guide to Water Quality for Better Coffee
Your coffee is 98% water. If your water tastes bad, your coffee will too. Learn how to optimize your water for the perfect brew.
Most people focus on the beans and the machine, but they ignore the most abundant ingredient: water. Using the right water can be the difference between a flat, bitter cup and a vibrant, sweet one.
Water quality is especially important for pour-over brewing, where every detail matters. Check out our best pour-over coffee makers guide to see which drippers work best with filtered water. And don't forget—the quality of your beans matters just as much. Learn how to choose coffee beans to ensure you're starting with the best ingredients.
Why Tap Water Isn't Enough
Tap water often contains chlorine, which ruins delicate coffee flavors, and minerals that are either too high (causing scale) or too low (causing poor extraction).
The Ideal Water for Coffee
According to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), ideal water should be:
- Odor-free
- Chlorine-free
- Calcium Hardness: 50-175 ppm
- Alkalinity: 40-70 ppm
How to Improve Your Water
- Basic Filter: A Brita or similar pitcher will remove chlorine.
- Third Wave Water: Mineral packets you add to distilled water for a perfect SCA-standard profile.
- Peak Water: A specialized pitcher that allows you to adjust the filtration level based on your local tap water.
Who This Is For
The enthusiast who has "hit a wall" with their coffee quality and is looking for the next step in optimization. Water quality is especially important for pour-over brewing—check out our best pour-over coffee makers guide to see which dripper works best with filtered water.
Want to learn more? Explore all our coffee education guides for more brewing techniques and tips.