It is as important as the quality of your coffee beans, but the water that comes out of the tap just doesn't cut it.
Here's the skinny on London water...
1) Hard water is water that contains a high level of naturally occurring calcium
and magnesium
2) 70% of the UK has hard water
It is as important as the quality of your coffee beans, but the water that comes out of the tap just doesn't cut it.
Here's the skinny on London water...
Facts about London water:
1) Hard water is water that contains a high level of naturally occurring calcium
and magnesium
2) 70% of the UK has hard water
3) Hard water restricts the development of fine flavours in hot drinks
4) Scale is a product of hard water that damages equipment and machinery
5) London is the most hard hit area of water hardness with > 22 degree of
general hardness and 267mgl of calcium hardness
6) For superior quality extraction of coffee beans, the brewing water should
have between 17-85mgl of hardness as set by SCAA
7) Chlorine and heavy metals released from the pipework can affect the final
taste of coffee
8) Hard water reduces the transparency and changes the colour of tea
9) Scaled up boiler systems need more time and energy to heat up
10) Hard water reduces the quality of the crema
Information compiled by Brita Professional
Photo credit: Kate Beard