Roast! West Coast
Coffee Smarter
E2: The Impact of Water on Coffee
0:00
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -24:28
-24:28

E2: The Impact of Water on Coffee

Coffee Smarter with Chris O'Brien of Coffee Cycle Roasting

As a craft coffee drinker, I tend to focus on the coffee I’m grinding—the roast, the origin, the tasting notes, and the elevation of the coffee trees. Do I think about the water? Honestly, no. I rarely take it into account. At least, I didn’t think about it until now.

Chris and I chat about water basics, including why it is important to the final taste of your coffee, what’s already in the water before the grinds are added, temperature, and ratio. We prattled on long enough that this episode is split into two episodes. In the first, we cover ratio and coffee recipes.

Key Takeaways: Water

  • Roughly 97.5% of a cup of coffee is the water, which makes it pretty important.

  • Coffee has a recipe, a ratio, of coffee grinds to water. For example, 16 grams of water to 1 gram of coffee grinds (16:1). Many coffees will taste best in a coffee to water range of 15:1 - 17:1.

    A good cup of coffee has a harmonious balance of flavors, in part, due to the correct combination of water to coffee grind.

  • Measure in grams, not scoops! Digital scales are reasonably priced and will make a huge difference.

    • 1 ounce = 28.35 grams

  • Coffee beans are not all the same weight. The weight will vary based on density and water content.

  • Under Extracting by Ratio: Too much coffee to water will result in a muddled flavor profile that leans bitter does not taste good-salty, metallic, soy sauce, sour (from acids). It will lack sugar to balance out the flavor profile

  • Over Extraction by Ratio: Too much water will result in a thin mouthfeel, weak flavors, and a faint aroma.

    A top view of water being poured from a kettle spout into an Aeropress (grey plastic cylinder) coffee brewer that sits on a green coffee mug on top of a digital scale showing the weight in grams. The scale is black with a silver platform.
    My digital scale has seen a bit of wear and tare…err…tear.

R!WC is a listener & reader-supported publication. There are a bunch of crazy, cool people who subscribe to this newsletter. We couldn’t do this show without craft coffee drinkers like you.


Listen to Coffee Smarter on these platforms
APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC •  I HEART RADIO • CASTBOX • POCKETCASTS • RADIO PUBLIC • YOUTUBE • STITCHERPANDORAPODVINE

R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Support local coffee shops. Drink their coffees. Enjoy their whiskeys. Visit their cafes. You won’t be disappointed.

Photo credit courtesy of Ignite Coffee Company.

Congrats to Tyler Whitehead, founder of Ignite Coffee Company for opening their first cafe. Stop by and visit: 605 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054

Their tentative hours are Tuesday thru Sunday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

The Ignite Coffee Company roaster is ready to roast.
Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle •  Camp Coffee CompanyIgnite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Roasters

R!WC grows through word of mouth. Please share this post with someone who might appreciate it.

Share

Follow @RoastWestCoast on Instagram and Facebook.

Discussion about this podcast

Roast! West Coast
Coffee Smarter
Coffee Smarter is a podcast and newsletter geared towards enabling you to brew a better cup of coffee at home. We ask coffee experts questions ranging from beginner to advanced covering topics involving brewing, drinking, and producing coffee. Learn more about the history, economics, and social impact of coffee. Plus additional advice on products, tips on home roasting, and a hands-on examination of your favorite coffee gear.