Distilled Water for Coffee: Is it a Good Idea or a Bad Idea?
If you’ve recently purchased a new coffee machine, you may be wondering what kind of water to use for brewing coffee. You might want to use distilled water. Is it, nevertheless, safe to prepare coffee using distilled water?
I decided to make a big batch, and here’s what I found out:
Distilled water is not a good choice for coffee since it lacks minerals, impacting the flavor. However, with other coffee machine types, such as Keurig, it can hasten the corrosion of internal components.
But there’s a lot more to learn about various types of water and how they affect the flavor of your coffee. This isn’t only a question for new coffee machine owners, either. Maybe you’ve owned your coffee machine for a while and want to see if there’s any way to improve the flavor.
It’s incredible how many different kinds of water there are. Distilled water, filtered water, spring water, and purified water are all options.
So, what’s the finest water to use, and how does it affect coffee flavor? We’ll address these concerns, as well as others.
Keep reading!
What kind of water is best for making coffee?
Reverse osmosis water, just filtered tap water, is the best water to use while making coffee. Distilled water is devoid of minerals and flavor, whereas spring water may have an overpowering mineral taste.
There are many different types of water available. Walk into any grocery shop and you’ll find shelves stocked with distilled, filtered, and purified water.
So, what’s the difference between the two, and which is better for preparing coffee?
- Water that has been distilled - Water that has been heated into vapor and then collected in a separate container is known as distilled water. Impurities remain in the water that has not been evaporated. This removes both harmful and innocuous microorganisms, as well as helpful minerals like calcium and magnesium.
- Water that has been filtered - Filtered water is made from municipal tap water that has been treated using carbon filters to eliminate chlorine.
- Springwater - It comes from underground natural sources and rises to the surface organically. It passes through natural sand and rock filters.
- Water that has been purified - Purified water is filtered water that has undergone a few different processes. Reverse osmosis, distillation, and deionization are some of the processes that can be used.
So, which is the most incredible coffee water?
Because coffee is primarily made of water, distillation removes all of the minerals that give water its flavor and also takes away some aspects of flavor and nutrients. If you don’t like the taste of your water, you won’t like the taste of your coffee.
Spring or filtered water produces the best-tasting coffee. If your tap water isn’t palatable, bottled, filtered water is the best option.
Is distilled water safe to use in a Keurig?
In a Keurig, distilled water should not be used. Mineral deficiency affects flavor and can interfere with the water sensor’s capacity to detect water in the water reservoir. Some individuals suggest that you use distilled water to avoid mineral build-up. Distilled water, on the other hand, can shorten the life of your machine.
Distilled water accelerates the corrosion of heating elements, boiler walls, rubber washers, and other critical components. It also has a rancid flavor.
The minerals that give water its flavor are removed during distillation, indicating that your coffee will be bitter. Using distilled water is also not suggested by Keurig, and the use of bottled water is actually encouraged. Bottled water tastes better and has all of the necessary minerals.
Additionally, using pure water will cause the newest Keurig machines to malfunction. Mineral content can be detected using sensors. You’ll get an error warning if you try to use your machine since the minerals have been removed out of distilled water.
In this article, I am discussing all of the factors that can taint the flavor of your Keurig coffee. Water is vital, but so is the coffee’s quality.
What kind of water should I use in my Keurig?
Filtered water, either purchased in a bottle or ran through your home filtration system, is the best water to use in a Keurig. Spring and distilled water should be avoided. Using tap water that has not been filtered can cause damage to your machine. Mainly due to the calcium concentration of hard water.
Water with a high mineral content is referred to as hard water. It has a superior taste, but it can cause mineral deposits and clog your machine. If you live in the United States, your water is most likely categorized as “hard water.” Hard water is found in about 85% of American households.
If you don’t filter your water and have hard water, you’ll need to descale your machine frequently. Filtered water is the best water to use in your Keurig because distilled water might cause corrosion of essential machine parts.
Filtered water tastes better and unlike distilled or hard water, will not shorten the life of your coffee machine.
Is it safe to make coffee with tap water?
While good-tasting tap water is ideal for producing French press coffee, unfiltered tap water should not be used in a Keurig since it might cause excessive scale build-up. Additionally, if you have hard water, the additional minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, may make your coffee taste unpleasant.
However, if you have healthy water or prefer the flavor of tap water, use it in a conventional coffee maker or French press! These added minerals can alter the flavor of the coffee. Soft water, on the other hand, should not affect the flavor of your brew.
It saves money and helps the environment by reducing the number of bottles of water purchased. Another approach to help the earth is to brew your coffee with a French press, and you don’t need to buy filters because you can use tap water.
What effect does water have on the flavor of coffee?
The mineral composition and heat of water have an impact on coffee. A cup of coffee made with lukewarm water, distilled water devoid of minerals, or tap water heavy in calcium can all result in a poor cup of coffee.
When it comes to water, you’ve probably observed that taste is a frequent motif. The majority of the final brewed product is made up of water.
When it comes to the end product’s taste, water is just as crucial as choosing the correct coffee.
- Insufficiently heated water - It’s possible that this won’t bring out the full flavor of the coffee. Coffee made using distilled water, which has a bland flavor on its own, will have a flat flavor.
- Calcium and magnesium-rich water -This type of water may not only damage your Keurig, but it may also cause your coffee to taste bitter.
- Pleasant water - The flavor of your brew should be unaffected by tap water treated with a water softener. If you already have a system, it’s an excellent, low-cost choice.
- Filtered water in a bottle - Filtered bottled water is less abrasive than tap water and has a pleasant taste. Drinking water or purified water can be labeled as these.
Our house has a water softener system, and my Keurig has a water filter, so I use tap water. However, if I were to purchase water, I would opt for spring water. In the end, if your water tastes excellent, so will your coffee, primarily if high-quality coffee is used.
Have I covered all of your concerns about brewing coffee with distilled water?
We discussed the many types of water available in this essay. We also discussed whether water is better for making coffee and whether or not distilled water can be used in a Keurig. I discussed whether or not it is safe to drink coffee made using tap water and how water impacts the flavor of your coffee. Your coffee will taste better if your water tastes better.
Most importantly, I addressed whether or not it is OK to prepare coffee with distilled water.
Which type of coffee is your favorite? Do mention in the comments below. We’d love to know.