Will give it a shot. Apologies for all the questions, it’s a bit of a step learning curve when you previously just turned on a tap :)
Another Water discussion
simonc cheers!
caffeinated-carp Hm ok, although apparently at least no longer corrosive?
I don’t know if the specs have changed. It’s corrosive last I checked. If the alkalinity is higher now then maybe not.
- Edited
caffeinated-carp 5 g epsom salt (MgSO4•7H2O)
2 g MgCl2•6H2O (hexahydrate) or 1 g anhydrous MgCl2
1.5 g anhydrous CaCl2 or 2 g CaCl2•2H2O (dihydrate)
1.7 g baking soda (NaHCO3)
2 g bicarbonate potassium (KHCO3)
That seems a little complex to me :)
What’s odd about it is they’ve specified anhydrous forms of everything but the MgSO4 and named Sodium bicarbonate baking soda. Also, they have you mixing the minerals in one concentrate causing salts to precipitate (probably Calcium sulfate).
The resulting water spec would be:
26.1mg/l Mg
15.9mg/l Ca
9.26mg/l Na
15.63mg/l K
38.85mg/l SO4
37.79mg/l Cl2
40.15 Alkalinity
147.18 Hardness
Their instructions (from what I could make out) are to make a 200ml concentrate and add 4ml to 1000ml.
So I’ve decided to go for the zero water jug, at least initially. Got it today, used the TDS meter and seems my tap water has a reading of 114 which seems quite good from what I can tell. Filters should last a while at least
Your tap water seems pretty damned good in comparison to mine.
dutchy101 yeh I’m surprised. Should mean filters last many months. Between 95 and 150 litres apparently.
Just made up the first batch of water after running out of Ashbeck. I ended up following the barista hustle recipe 4 using the calculations in the Direct Dosing Recipe Picker & Calculator which seems to be created by people from the EAF discord forum. Awesome spreadsheet I must say, I hope the calculations are correct!
I made it up using direct dosing in to my old 5l ashbeck bottle using baking soda and epsom salts, thus these were the options I had from that spreadsheet:
I choose the Barista Hustle 4 recipe because actually, of all the recipes it was the only one that fell within La Marzocco’s spec:
It’s probably being over the top to ensure I meet their spec, but hey… they do say it would invalidate your warranty!
All seemed fairly easy, a bit of a faff measuring the ingredients, and it sucks with the zero water jug to have to fill and empty 3 times but I’ll get used to it I think.
I ran enough through the service and brew boiler to purge them. Trying a coffee with it now, seems nice enough.
Apparently the TDS (according to ChatGPT because I’m no good at working all this out yet) should be 134 ppm and the zero water meter read 105 (still within LM spec anyway), ChatGPT informs me that my TDS meter is probably not very good.
Out of interest, what tests does everyone use to measure GH, KH and pH? As far as I can tell the best way to do GH and KH is a dropper kit, people have mentioned these ones before:
For testing ph, any recommendations? Just go for the API ones or can you just go for any old test strips?
caffeinated-carp I am not dedicated enough for this :) - but I used a basic TDS reader just to see the overall numbers - though I realise thats not showing any detail. I also picked up a dip test from Amazon. Again I believe the drop tests are the best.
I used the dip tests just to see that the output from the Osmio was “working”. Now I just fill and forget.
MattH I’m not sure I’m dedicated enough to be honest! Time will tell if I keep up with this. I feel like a mad scientist…
caffeinated-carp I’m not sure I’m dedicated enough to be honest! Time will tell if I keep up with this. I feel like a mad scientist…
Get a buiness card, cut a strip 5mm wide measure 5mm from the bottom, make a line and bend into an L shape, to make a little scoop. Scoop from a pot of Bicarb and add to 2 litres of RO water…place in machine and get on with your life.
DavecUK yeh that’s probably easier :D although admittedly whilst this stuff can drive me insane i do enjoy a good process :)
so you’re reckoning that a 5 × 5mm square will result in the right amount of bicarb basically for 2 litres worth?
I did this, my 5mm x 5mm gives me around 0.1g of bicarb that I use for 1 litre
Bagpu55 quite a neat trick :)
I timed it last time as was annoyed I needed to top up again and it took me 3-4 mins to put 2l into a jug and weigh in the powders. So not too bad. Not sure the difference in time for using a bit of card vs weighing is much time saved.
But less time refilling the zero jug.
Good to hear that I chose the same recipe and it’s one that is most machine friendly.
- Edited
caffeinated-carp I wrote this article probably 15 years ago now.
http://coffeetimex.wikidot.com/ro-water-copper-corrosion
I used 2 scoops then, but 1 scoop is enough.
DavecUK useful thanks :)