If you brew coffee at home, you probably care about how it tastes. You might already buy freshly roasted beans, grind them right before brewing, and maybe even use something like a pour-over or French press. But even with all that attention, your coffee may still taste a little flat or sour.
It can be frustrating to wonder why your cup never quite matches the rich, smooth flavor you find at your favorite café.
Why Your Coffee Still Falls Short
The reason is simpler than you might think: the water.
Coffee is roughly 98% water. Most coffee drinkers either use tap water for convenience or distilled water because it sounds pure. But both have problems.
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Tap water often contains chlorine and other additives that dull flavor and create bitterness.
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Distilled or reverse osmosis water is stripped of minerals like magnesium and calcium that help extract sweetness and body from coffee grounds.
When your brewing water is off, no grinder, bean, or brewer can fully fix the taste.
The Easiest Fix You Can Make
The good news is you don’t need a lab or an expensive filtration system to get this right.
Coffee professionals have long known that the best water for brewing has a balance of minerals—enough to extract flavor but not so much that it mutes delicate notes. For years, some have even recommended mixing your own mineral solution using Epsom salt and baking soda.
That approach works, but measuring out powders and mixing concentrates can feel tedious, especially when all you want is your morning coffee.
A Simple Way to Get Great Water Every Time
Third Wave Water has made this process far easier and morning proof. Each small packet contains a precise blend of minerals designed for coffee brewing. You just add a packet to a gallon of distilled or RO water, shake it up, and brew.
There’s no measuring, no guesswork, and no hidden variables. Just consistent, clean, balanced, perfect brewing water every time.
Most coffee educators have ditched the chemistry set and switched to using Third Wave Water themselves because it saves time and consistently delivers excellent results. The Specialty Coffee Association now recommends that Third Wave Water is used in all cupping protocols.
If You Don’t Change, Your Coffee Won’t Either
You can keep using tap or distilled water—it won’t do you any harm, but you will definitely miss out on the full flavor potential of your coffee. Every cup will feel like it’s missing something, no matter how good your beans or how precise your brew method.
What Happens When You Get the Water Right
Switching to properly mineralized water makes an immediate and tasteable difference. Even with the same coffee and the same gear, you’ll notice:
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Richer sweetness and a smooth, balanced body
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Clear, bright flavors without harshness
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A clean finish that lets every note come through
If you want to experience the full flavor of your coffee, improving your water is the simplest and fastest step you can take.
Ready to Make Better Coffee?
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Learn more about Third Wave Water on their website.
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Buy Third Wave Water from I Have a Bean.