You’ve carefully chosen high-quality beans. You’ve ground them fresh. You’ve perfected your coffee-to-water ratio. But if you’re still using plain tap water to brew, you may be sabotaging your cup without even realizing it. At Lancaster County Coffee Roasters, we believe great coffee starts with more than beans. It starts with water.
Tap Water: The Hidden Flavor Killer
Coffee is over 98% water, which means the water you use has as much influence on taste as the beans themselves. Tap water, depending on where you live, often contains chlorine, minerals, and other additives that can dramatically alter flavor. Instead of highlighting the natural notes of your beans, whether fruity, nutty, or chocolatey, tap water can leave your brew tasting flat, metallic, or even bitter.
Hard water with too many minerals can over-extract your coffee, bringing out harsh flavors. On the other hand, water that’s been treated heavily with chlorine or chemicals can mask delicate aromas and leave an unpleasant aftertaste.
Filtered Water: The Unsung Hero
Using filtered water solves these problems by removing impurities while keeping the right balance of minerals. The result is clean, neutral water that lets your coffee’s true flavor shine through. Suddenly, those subtle notes your roaster worked so hard to bring out aren’t drowned out by chlorine or clouded by excess minerals.
Filtered water doesn’t just improve taste. It can also extend the life of your coffee equipment. Mineral buildup from hard water is one of the most common causes of clogged coffee makers and espresso machines. By using filtered water, you’ll spend less time descaling and more time enjoying your brew.
A Small Change with Big Impact
If you’re serious about your coffee, investing in a water filter pitcher or an under-sink system is one of the simplest upgrades you can make. Some coffee enthusiasts even swear by bottled spring water, but a good home filter is usually all you need for a noticeable difference.
Taste the Difference with Lancaster County Coffee
At Lancaster County Coffee Roasters, we take pride in sourcing and roasting beans that highlight rich, complex flavors. But no matter how good the beans, bad water will ruin them. Switch to filtered water, and you’ll discover how much brighter, smoother, and more flavorful your coffee can truly be.
