Why your coffee doesn’t taste good even with expensive beans and how the right coffeewater can help

Water as a hidden factor when brewing coffee

The invisible factor 90% of coffee lovers overlook

You’ve bought high-quality beans, dialed in your grinder perfectly, and brewed your coffee with precision – yet your cup still tastes bitter, flat, or even musty? The issue might not be your gear or your technique. The real culprit could be something else entirely: your water

Coffee is 98% water – and that’s the game changer

As a passionate coffee maker, you understand the importance of roast profile, grind size, water temperature, and extraction time. But what many underestimate is this: Water isn’t just a carrier – it actively shapes the flavor.

“Good water is like a good stage – it brings out the best in coffee.”

— Every great barista, ever

Common coffee issues caused by poor water

Here are the most frequent taste problems that come from suboptimal water quality:

Taste	Water-related Cause
Bitter flavor	Too much calcium/magnesium → over-extraction
Flat or dull taste	Water too soft → under-extraction, missing minerals
Musty or off taste	Chlorine in tap water or old filters
No “sweet spot”	pH level and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) not balanced

What makes good coffee water?

According to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), ideal coffee brewing water should have:

• TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 75–250 ppm

• General hardness (GH): 50–175 ppm

• Carbonate hardness (KH): 40–75 ppm

• pH level: Around 7 (neutral)

These values help extract the right flavors – not too much, not too little.

Is tap water in good for coffee?

The short answer: It depends. Tap water is drinkable in many countries, but often:

• too hard → high mineral content can overpower the taste

• contains chlorine → especially in cities, can add unpleasant notes

• inconsistent → varies by region and even season

Mineral water is usually not a better option – many brands contain far too many dissolved solids.

Takeaway: Your water defines your coffee's taste

You’re investing time, money, and passion into your coffee – don’t let the water be an afterthought.

Instead of endlessly tweaking your grind or changing beans, try this:

• Check your local water hardness (with test strips or online data)

• Use specially formulated water designed for brewing coffee

Do a side-by-side comparison with your favorite beans:

1. Brew with normal tap water

2. Brew with specially mineralized water from purecoffeewater

The difference is often astonishing – brighter acidity, fruitier notes, and reduced bitterness.