I’d like to wish everyone a happy Sunday, and an extra happy Mother’s Day to all my Java Junkie Mom’s out there! Thank you for tuning in to this weeks newsletter. If you’re able, make your Mom that extra special cup of coffee today. If you’re a Mom, then go treat yourself to that extra special cup at your favorite shop because you deserve it!

The Main Roast

This week we’re not going to just test the waters… we’re going to drink them. Let’s talk about how the quality of the water you use to brew your coffee can actually affect the flavor. According to captain obvious, water is the main ingredient of your coffee making up about 98% of your cup — shocking I know. If we’re talking espresso then it’s about 95%, so still a key player. This may go without saying, but if your water doesn’t taste good then there’s a 98% chance your coffee won’t taste good.

When it comes to your options you have about three; tap, bottled, and filtered water. But how do you know which one is best? There have been loads of studies conducted to research which qualities of water are affecting the flavor of your coffee. Most of them talk about the same few properties, the first takes a look at the hardness/softness of your water which is defined by the amount of calcium and magnesium present. Second, is the pH of your water, and third is TDS (total dissolved solids). TDS is basically the measure of anything in your water that is not an H2O molecule. Any of these factors could be what’s making your coffee taste crappy.

So now that I’ve lost about 98% of you by taking you back to your high school chemistry class, you’re probably thinking, can you just get to the part where you tell us the best option? And well, the honest answer is… no. But, that’s because everyone has different tastes and preferences. Not everyone is going to have the same thoughts when it comes to the taste of the water they’re drinking.

What I can tell you about is what has worked for me so far. I started to notice a huge difference in the quality of my coffee when I switched from using tap water to using the filtered water from my fridge. Hopefully your fridge doesn’t take 3-5 business days to fill your coffee maker like mine does, but I definitely prefer it over the tap — so it’s worth the wait. If you don’t have fridge that dispenses water, you could always buy a gallon or two of spring water from the grocery store for about $1.40 per gallon. Another solution would be to get a standalone filtration pitcher like a Brita. To see what works best for you, brew coffee with different types of water and see if you notice a difference. Sometimes it’s helpful to just test once variable at a time to really narrow down what you can change in order to make the best cup.

I hope this newsletter helps you on your path to find the perfect home brew. We can’t wait to see you next week!

Sip Savvy Tips

As promised, we will be sharing a few tips and tricks every week!

• Only change one variable at a time to narrow down what’s truly affecting the flavor

• If you don’t like your tap water, try a filtered pitcher or spring water

• Make sure the water in your coffee reservoir is always fresh

• Run a few cycles of clean water through your machine at least once a week to clear out old coffee residue

The Local Blend

Each week I would like to give a shoutout to a small business or locally owned coffee shop. Feel free to suggest your favorite hometown shop or any locally owned shop that you enjoy by replying to this email.

This weeks shoutout goes to Vita in Sandusky, OH. The atmosphere of this beautiful little shop will make you want to stay all day. I tried their iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso and it was delicious. As described on their webpage, Vita also offers a variety of local, domestic and imported beers and wines. Definitely check it out if you’re ever in the area!

Happy brewing! ☕️ 

~The Java Journal