Good water for HoReCa –
why is it essential?

Good water for HoReCa is a VIP, there is no question about it. Everyone knows that the better the water is, the finer brews you can get. But only the best water is good enough to make that perfect cup of coffee.

So, what is the best water for HoReCa?

The starting point of excellent coffee, tea or soft drink is water. Some good water. Is any water suitable for drinking? Of course not, but it can be treated to be ready for consumption.

It is a common belief that coffee beans and brewing methods are crucial for preparing flavourful drinks. No wonder owners of coffee shops, restaurants and even individual users focus mostly on choosing the right coffee machine and coffee beans supply.

However, even the best professional coffee maker is not enough to deliver a perfect cup of coffee. It is water, not the machine itself, that affects the most critical process of coffee making, which is coffee extraction.

The water quality translates directly to the coffee flavour. If water composition is poor, it won’t be able to distil the aromas condensed in the beans. All the gourmand potential of coffee will be lost, along with the perfect blend and toast. And even a state-of-the-art coffee maker won’t make a difference here. As you may think, good water for the HoReCa industry matters a lot.

Water composes food and drinks. But water, surprisingly, is a composition itself, too.

Pure water in HoReCa – fresh and balanced

What is exactly a water composition? It is a general term for chemical compounds found in water, that affect the sweetness and acidity of coffee. The perfect balance of minerals is what makes water good water for HoReCa.

The key for good water for HoReCa is to keep optimal proportions between:

• calcium (Ca2 +) – it helps with coffee flavour extraction. But if present in large amounts, it bonds with bicarbonate particles and forms limescale deposits.
• magnesium (Mg2 +) – it makes the coffee flavour ‘shine’, therefore it is the most desired mineral by coffee lovers. However, too much magnesium can harm the brewing equipment, covering it with rust.
• sodium (Na +) – acts in the opposite way to magnesium, as too much Na+ can make it difficult for the coffee to brew.
• bicarbonates (HCO3-) – this team is responsible for keeping the water pH balanced. But pay attention to bicarbonates levels, as any excess or deficit can make the coffee taste too flat or too acidic.

To maintain an accurate and balanced level of minerals in the water, a suitable water filtration system is a must.

Use filters to make your water good for HoReCa

Every barista and restaurant manager would agree that a well-suited water filtration system is everything when it comes to coffee brewing and preparing the food. Good, filtered water delivers both fragrance and flavour but also guarantees trouble-free operation of HoReCa equipment.

Water filtration system protects coffee machines, boilers, kettles and taps from limescale. Hard scale residue is quite a problem in the HoReCa industry, as it reduces the efficiency and performance of brewing and cooking devices. As a result, the equipment needs even more frequent servicing, which generates higher operating costs.

If you want to assess water quality, you need to check a few essential parameters, such as:

• general hardness (GH)
• carbonate hardness (KH)
• the acidity or alkalinity of the water (pH)
• the level of mineral salts that affect the taste of coffee (TDS)

The perfect water profile for preparing and serving drinks should look like this:

• GH – 50-110 ppm
• KH – 40-70 ppm
• pH – 6,5-7,5
• TDS – 100-170 ppm

Mind the TDS parameter, especially. It should reach a max of 150 ppm to guarantee flavourful brews.

Is it possible for any HoReCa business to sustain these parameters and water quality? Yes, it is, but only if a proper water filtration system is applied. By ‘proper’ we mean that the choice of filtration system should be based on:

• the initial water parameters = water quality before filtration
• the final water parameters = the desired water quality after filtration

Therefore, before you invest in the water filtration system, always check the water parameters to choose the best water filtration technology.

A simple in-house water test will do, but we recommend checking your water sample at a dedicated laboratory. If you already know your initial water parameters, and you also know what kind of water you want to have, it is time to choose a suitable filtration method.

How Bluefilters Professional guarantees good water for HoReCa

Bluefilters Professional offers water filter solutions for business applications. For the most demanding businesses, we offer tailor-made water treatment solutions, to make even the ‘worst’ water drinkable.

Few words about us: Bluefilters Professional is a business-oriented brand that delivers water filtration systems, water filters, quick-change filter cartridges and other accessories, as well as water softening solutions.

Our filtering systems are designed to provide pure drinking water in restaurants, cafes, catering services and hotels. Bluefilters brand provides solutions tailored to local needs, depending on the application and amount of drinking water requirements.