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Water: The Foundation

99% of your coffee. Get this right first.

TL;DR

  • 195–205°F — Temperature is critical.Learn more →
  • Distilled + minerals is optimal for consistency.Learn more →
  • Filtered water (Brita) is solid if you don't have distilled.Learn more →
  • Skip tap water & distilled alone. Both miss the mark.

🌡️ Water Temperature

This is your biggest lever. Too hot = bitter. Too cold = sour.

195–205°F is optimal

Light roasts: 200–205°F | Dark roasts: 195–200°F

Use a thermometer or gooseneck kettle with temp display. Worth the investment.

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⭐ Best: Distilled + Mineral Packets

If you want the most consistent, predictable cup every time—this is the move.

Why it works:

  • ✓ Same every time: No seasonal variations, no surprises
  • ✓ Designed for coffee: Mineral balance is optimized
  • ✓ Reproducibility: Dial in your recipe once, execute perfectly
  • ✓ No maintenance: Just add packet to distilled water

Setup: Buy distilled water + mineral packets. Or use a Coffee Water service.

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✓ Other Options

Don't have distilled + minerals? These work too.

Filtered Water (Brita, PUR)

Acceptable. Better than tap, not as consistent as distilled + minerals.

  • ✓ Removes chlorine
  • ✓ Improves flavor
  • ⚠️ Filter effectiveness varies with age
  • ⚠️ Still subject to mineral variations

Coffee Water Service

Pre-optimized distilled + minerals. No mixing required.

  • ✓ Perfect consistency
  • ✓ Zero effort
  • ✓ Delivered to your door

Tap Water (Last Resort)

Better than nothing, but inconsistent.

  • ⚠️ Chlorine present
  • ⚠️ Mineral content varies by season
  • ⚠️ pH fluctuates
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❌ Distilled Water Alone

Distilled water by itself is too pure. It extracts too aggressively and tastes flat.

Problem: Zero minerals = over-extraction = bland cup

Solution: Add mineral packets. That's it. Now it's perfect.

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🛒 Where to Get It

Third Wave Water

Mineral packets designed for optimal coffee extraction. Distilled + packet = perfect.

Visit Third Wave Water →

Coffee Water Pro

Pre-mixed mineral water optimized for coffee. Ready to use.

Visit Coffee Water Pro →

DIY Route

Distilled water: grocery store. Mineral packets: search "coffee mineral packets" online.

Gooseneck Kettle

Temperature control + precision pouring. Hario or Fellow brands are great for this.

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