Ernie1 I use Waitrose Lockhills.

It isn’t perfect but it’s cheap, quick, zero faff, and if/when it becomes an issue I’ll worry about it then.

I have exactly the same attitude to Tesco’s Ashbeck.

      JesmondJester I don’t want to be a Hoffman fan boy and I am happy to be led but struggle to wade (pun intended) through lots of information about what is “right” and his information is so accessible.

      The answer may be as simple as buy a Brita and see what you think. Or that and BTW and compare. Or Zero Water and a few sachets and try them and see which you like best.

      I don’t recall Hoffmann having any information about water.

      You don’t need any sachets of anything with the Zero jug. See if you can get an alkalinity reading (in mg/L CaCO3) from your water supplier. You know the Zero jug water will be 0, so mix your water to get around 50g/L alkalinity.
      So say your water is 150mg/L use 1 part tap to 2 parts Zero jug water, takes moments to mix in a kettle/jug on scales.

      A KH/Alkalinity drop kit is handy, you could then check results with a BWT jug too.

      Making coffee is more like cooking than an ology. Easier than a lot of cooking which commonly has more than 2 ingredients 😀

          Sorry guys - I posted what I thought was a picture of the make-up of my water but didn’t check the post afterwards.

          Try this.

          I’d be fine to run with the bottled water solution. I probably use 600ml a day at the moment. My main concern with this is the plastic bottle waste and collection / storage of them. First world problems.

            MWJB

            Thanks!

            I like the idea of mixing enough in bulk to use over the course of a week and just do the mixing once.

            The other thing is, mixing with tap water which has such variance in the alkalinity concerns me. I’d love to know I am using the same water every time, for every cup no matter the method of brewing.

            And it be cheap.

            And be easy.

            I don’t ask much do I? :-)

            I cycle a fair amount and there is quote made famous by bike designer Keith Bontrager concerning the manufacture of bikes. “Cheap, light, strong - pick two”.

            I think this is going to be the same. “Cheap, easy, no waste”

              Zero filter jug and third wave water sachet for easy, or bicarb for cheap.

              Both relatively cheap options and replicable. Bicarb a starting point to let you experiment more.

                JesmondJester I’d be fine to run with the bottled water solution. I probably use 600ml a day at the moment. My main concern with this is the plastic bottle waste and collection / storage of them. First world problems.

                I suppose you could argue that’s a very real ‘world problem’!

                600ml a day seems a lot, that’s 10-15 espressos at least with a bit of flushing.

                A four-pack of 2L bottles is £1.65 and lasts me about 2 weeks.

                I agree about the plastic waste, it’s really not ideal but we’re all both so I feel like we’re doing our bit in other ways 😂

                    MediumRoastSteam Both are from Armathwaite in Cumbria, maybe from different sources in the past? Maybe more recent test results?

                        MWJB MediumRoastSteam Both are from Armathwaite in Cumbria, maybe from different sources in the past? Maybe more recent test results?

                        Ashbeck label on the left, Lockhills on the right. Bought the bottles a while back, but if the labels can be trusted, and unless something changed recently - not the same.

                        • MWJB replied to this.

                            I don’t know about lockhills but ashbeck has changed recently for me anyway and the bicarbonate is now 46mg which I believe is much more boiler friendly. Volvic is apparently the way to go but a lot more expensive than the Waitrose and Tesco own brands.

                              steve_07 I don’t know about lockhills but ashbeck has changed recently for me anyway and the bicarbonate is now 46mg which I believe is much more boiler friendly.

                              Can you maybe post a picture of the Ashbeck label with Bicarbonate at 46mg please? I just checked some newer bottles I have in the garage and mine are still showing 25mg. I will try to remember to have another look next time I’m at Tesco, but I think I bought those bottles only a few weeks ago.

                                  Mine is the same, I just checked. I also notice that the Calcium has increased from 11mg to 17mg…

                                  steve_07 Doram mine is a 5L bottle so not sure if that makes a difference

                                  Thanks!

                                  Oh dear, that’s not great with TDs almost doubled. :(

                                      Doram As you say, “bought a while back”, both labels have now changed.

                                        Doram It’s not a bad thing, even now it only just gets into the the ‘good boiler water’ recommendations from SCAA, SCA, Water for Coffee.

                                            MWJB Doram It’s not a bad thing, even now it only just gets into the the ‘good boiler water’ recommendations from SCAA, SCA, Water for Coffee

                                            I may well have the wrong end of the stick here, but I have to admit that my top priority has been to minimize scale, with less consideration for getting to SCAA, SCA recommendation.

                                            Time will tell.

                                                Doram Yes mine too but I’m comparing against tap water which is very hard in my area. I decided Tesco ashbeck was cheap enough and close enough to be convenient. I understand not idea but a compromise.

                                                  Ernie1

                                                  You could!

                                                  At the moment i am having 2x V60 and either a moka or an espresso after lunch. During the week. Probably four coffee drinks on Saturday and Sunday.