When we talk about brewing great coffee, most of the conversation revolves around beans, grind size, and brewing methods. But there’s one factor that often gets overlooked — water quality. Considering that your cup of coffee is nearly 98% water, it’s no exaggeration to say that water plays as important a role as the beans themselves.

At Caarabi Coffee, we emphasize not just sourcing and roasting but also educating coffee drinkers about how to get the best out of every brew. In this blog, we’ll break down why water quality matters, what types of water are ideal, and how you can improve your home brewing with just a few mindful adjustments.

Why Water Matters in Coffee Brewing

Coffee brewing is essentially a process of extraction — hot water pulling soluble compounds from ground coffee beans. The minerals, pH level, and purity of water all affect how much and what kind of flavors are extracted.

  • Good water extracts the right balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

  • Poor water can either over-extract (leading to harsh, bitter notes) or under-extract (resulting in weak, sour cups).

In short: even the finest Caarabi beans will taste flat or unbalanced if brewed with the wrong water.

The Ideal Composition of Brewing Water

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) recommends the following parameters for brewing water:

  • pH Level: Around 7.0 (neutral)

  • Hardness: 50–175 ppm (parts per million) of total dissolved minerals

  • Alkalinity: 40 ppm

  • Odor and Taste: Clean, fresh, no chlorine or chemical aftertaste

This balance ensures that coffee extracts properly, highlighting the bean’s unique origin flavors while keeping the cup smooth and balanced.

Common Water Issues and Their Impact

  1. Hard Water (High Mineral Content)

    • Contains too much calcium and magnesium.

    • Can cause over-extraction, muting fruity notes and amplifying bitterness.

    • Also leaves limescale deposits in kettles and espresso machines.

  2. Soft Water (Low Mineral Content)

    • Extracts poorly due to lack of minerals.

    • Produces flat, lifeless brews with little complexity.

  3. Chlorinated Tap Water

    • Chlorine, often added to city tap water, adds a chemical taste.

    • Masks delicate flavors and produces harsh aftertastes.

  4. Distilled or Purified Water

    • While pure, it lacks the minerals needed for proper extraction.

    • Results in dull, underwhelming brews.

Best Water Choices for Brewing Coffee

  • Filtered Tap Water: The most practical choice. A simple carbon filter can remove chlorine and impurities while retaining minerals.

  • Spring Water: Often naturally balanced in minerals, making it a great option for brewing.

  • Bottled Mineral Water: Works if mineral content is moderate. Avoid “hard” mineral waters.

  • DIY Water Solutions: Advanced brewers sometimes add mineral packets to distilled water to create perfectly balanced brewing water.

Practical Tips for Better Water in Coffee

  1. Filter Your Water: Even a basic kitchen filter pitcher can drastically improve your brew.

  2. Avoid Boiling Tap Water Repeatedly: Reboiled water can concentrate impurities and minerals.

  3. Check Local Water Reports: Knowing your area’s water hardness helps you adjust brewing methods.

  4. Experiment with Bottled Waters: Try brewing the same Caarabi coffee with different waters — you’ll be amazed at how the taste changes.

  5. Clean Your Equipment: Hard water deposits can ruin equipment over time, so descaling kettles and machines is essential.

Why This Matters for Specialty Coffee

When you invest in estate-grown, traceable beans like those from Caarabi, you want to taste the full story — the terroir, the processing, the careful roasting. Poor water masks these qualities. Good water, on the other hand, allows you to experience the buttery body of Vontekad Estate, the smooth boldness of Cold Brew roasts, or the fruity liveliness of experimental fermented lots exactly as intended.

Final Sip

Great coffee isn’t just about beans or brewing gear — it’s about the marriage of beans and water. With mindful attention to water quality, you can elevate your daily cup from good to exceptional. After all, when coffee is 98% water, every drop counts.

Caarabi Coffee — Perfect Beans, Perfect Water, Perfect Cup.