The Importance of Water Quality
Reiko Piekarski, Director of Coffee Programs | Fortuna Enterprises, LLC
Before we dive deep into this month’s topic of discussion, take a moment to refresh the memory on the Foundations of Brewing. The second mentioned variable focuses on water quality. Why? The rest of the brewing essentials will not help achieve brewing excellence if the wrong water is being used. Despite common belief water is truly the most important ingredient for making the best cup of coffee. Since August is National Water Quality Month, we decided to draw attention to the importance of water quality, how it impacts the coffee industry, and the quality of the brewed cup.
Freshwater Resources
There is a statement which goes along the lines of, “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” The truth behind where this originated may not be known, however the fact of the matter is there is not as much safe accessible drinking water available out there. Freshwater is vital for the survival of any living creature on this planet, but this resource is surprisingly, extremely rare to come by. Although the Earth’s surface is covered with 71% water, less than 3% is considered fresh water. 65% of freshwater is locked away in the forms of glaciers, polar ice caps, agriculture, and the atmosphere. What little accessible freshwater there is makes up only 0.5% of consumable water, which must be continuously treated to keep up with demand.
Unfortunately, fresh clean water is not accessible or equally distributed throughout the world. The largest freshwater surfaces can be found in Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Indonesia, and the United States. This means approximately 1/5 of the world’s population lives in water scarce areas. The water that is available is often contaminated, polluted, or infested with bacteria and disease. The lack of access to freshwater affects not just the health of the community and environment, but also the geopolitics of these areas. Whether it is habitats preserved for fish nurseries or reserves for agriculture, accessibility to clean water is important for economic development. With the population growing, the demand for this already scarce resource will become even more strained thus leading to more conflict in the future.
At Origin
Once ripe cherries are harvested from the branches of the coffee tree, they are processed to preserve the harvest and prepared for export. Depending on location, weather, timing and of course, accessibility to water, a producer will determine how the harvest will be processed. The coffee milling process creates a lot of wastewaters especially with the washed method application. Separation of the fruit from the seeds requires water to run through the de-pulper then freshwater is added to a tank to ferment and loosen the residual fruit clinging to the green seeds. Then, the tanks are drained and flushed with clean water to rinse off the fruit. Water will not only carry away any chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers potentially used in cultivation but high levels of caffeine as well.
Agricultural and production practices impact the surrounding environment and communities downstream because of untreated wastewater from coffee mills. In fact, about 90% of surface water in Central America is considered contaminated. Take for instance the city of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, where thousands of families had no access to clean water for weeks. During the down time, the municipal water authority was busy cleaning the pipelines due to the severely polluted wastewater which had come from coffee mills located upstream. Not only does wastewater pollute stream and blue water reservoirs but unhealthy watersheds also translate into soil erosion leading to landslides, in the event of flash flooding caused by climate change. This type of weather shift is even damaging agriculture at higher elevations while also causing devastation to the communities downstream.
Coffee Flavor
We have established the importance of clean freshwater for coffee producers and overall basic survival but what does water taste like? The industry standard states water should be odorless and tasteless when it comes to brewing coffee as anything present in the water will affect the overall cup. Think about an amazing cup of coffee enjoyed in the local coffee shop then a bag purchased to take home, then brewed only to be disappointed because the quality is not like in the shop. One of the easiest ways to improve home coffee brewing experiences is by switching from tap to filtered water. In other words if the water tastes off then the coffee will too.
Equipment
Water filtration is not only key to unlocking the full potential of flavor in coffee, but this also protects the performance of brewing equipment. When untreated water boils in a pot till dry, one may notice there is a white residue or substance left behind. These are mineral deposits, like salt, which do not evaporate. Inside a closed boiler, these mineral deposits can collect at the bottom and build up especially if a machine is left dormant for extended periods of time. The heating elements inside the boilers are prone to buildup which can drastically reduce the efficiency of heating water. Scale buildup also contributes to blockages in lines, valves, flow meters, and pretty much anything the water passes through. Corrosion of these areas due to higher pH or acidity in water can also lead to leaks and ruptures. All it takes is routine water filtration maintenance by replacing the filter to prevent these costly emergencies and keep the quality brew flowing.
The fact of the matter is every living being depends
on natural systems like fresh, clean water. We collectively heavily influence
these natural systems. We need to recognize that the decisions which affect
these valuable resources are a complex involvement of various factors. Where
water is being sourced should be just as important as where and how green
coffee is being handled. These intricate infrastructures require the collective
effort of all involved systems to achieve balance and sustainability. Just
remember, without water we cannot cultivate, process, transport and above all,
enjoy our morning cup of coffee.
Resources
National
Geographic: Freshwater Resources
National Geographic: Freshwater Ecosystem
How to Make
Your Own Coffee Water
https://silverbridgecoffee.com/water-quality-affect-coffee-flavor/
SCA
Beyond the Quality of the Water in Your Cup Coffee and Water Resources at
Origin
Perfect
Daily Grind: What Cafe Owners and Baristas Need to Know About Water Quality
Coffeelands:
Coffee and Water Resources at Origin
BWT
Water Filtration for Business, Hotels and Hospitality
Fortuna Enterprises - 20 Years of Seed to Success!
Established in 2000, Fortuna Enterprises is the consummate leader in providing complete and comprehensive solutions for all of your coffee shop needs. Located in Greensboro, NC, Fortuna excels in unparalleled customer service by offering specialty roasted small-batch coffee, a fully stocked warehouse, imports, design, equipment repair, consulting, barista training, and more!
We are compelled to be the unsurpassed authority for all coffee shop requirements. We use this drive to continue our extensive research in carefully selecting only the highest quality coffees, equipment, syrups and other coffee shop necessities. Our products have a proven record of premium industry performance and unmatched reliability. We buy large quantities from our suppliers so we are in turn able to negotiate extremely competitive pricing for our customers.
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