It`s easy to take water for granted when it is available with the simple turn of a tap, but for true lovers of tea and coffee, doing so is a mistake. The tea and coffee that you brew is between 98.5% and 99% water, which means that the composition of the water has a definite impact on the taste of your tea or coffee. The impact is so noticeable, in fact, that large chains such as Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and It`s a Grind! all use specially formulated water to ensure that the beverages brewed in their locations all over the world are consistent in taste.
Several factors influence the flavor of your water. Where it is from, if and how it has been purified and what the chemical and mineral contents are all contribute to how the water tastes. Tap water is treated for maximum purity, but the chlorine and other chemicals used to purify the water can leave it tasting harsh. Natural well water often contains a certain amount of sulfur, giving it a rotten egg smell and slightly unpleasant taste. Hard water contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium, which not only alter the taste of tea and coffee, but they can also cause lime scale build-up on your brewing appliances, which also changes the taste of your beverages.
Fortunately, you don`t have to be a master chemist to check the quality of the water you are using to brew your tea and coffee. There are three simple tests that can help you to determine what effect your water will have on the tea and coffee that you brew with it.
The first test is to fill a clean, clear glass with tap water and hold it up to the light. If you can see particulate matter floating in the water, your city`s water system might have an issue with rust flakes or sediment, both of which will affect the texture and taste of your tea and coffee.
The second test is to smell and taste your tap water as soon as you have filled a clean glass with it. Taste and smell the ice cubes in your freezer as well. If the water and the ice cubes have a strong odor or taste, the culprit is most likely to be the chemicals in the municipal water supply, the naturally occurring minerals in the water source or a combination of both. All this will affect the taste of your tea and coffee and the performance of your brewing system.
Finally, examine your brewing system for evidence of lime scale. This will appear as a dried white residue around your brewer`s hot water spout. Lime scale is caused by a high mineral content in your water and it can clog the insides of your brewing system, affecting the taste of your beverages.
Tea and coffee lovers like those at Mary`s Gourmet Foods recommend an effective and convenient solution to unsuitable tap water`s effects on their gourmet offerings. Simply brew your coffee and tea with a bottled water system such as the ones offered by Angel Springs. water specialists like This will not only help protect your brewing system from lime scale build-up, but it also ensures you get a consistently delicious cup of tea or coffee every single time.
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Hmm,
This article maybe answers the question of why I dislike Starbucks coffee. It must be the water.