Spotless water

MediumRoastSteam

Dusk I don’t think 0 TDS mean Zero bacteria or other micro organisms. Therefore it could, theoretically, go off.

Not a biologist though, just going by what I read.

Topic: MICROBIOLOGICAL / BACTERIA - REVERSE OSMOSIS VS. ZEROWATER®

Dusk

I appreciate the TDS doesn’t necessarily align with the amount of bacteria in the water, I wasn’t sure how the makeup of water might either encourage or discourage bacteria to thrive. Perhaps I should just get a bottle and find out!

I currently use Lockhills bottled water and it would be nice to reduce my plastic waste. I’ve looked into a Zero jug but my tap water is very hard so it’s not really viable.

dfk41

Dusk What is their target market and what does it cost? Is it really meant for consumption?

simonc

Dusk how hard is very hard. I have London Thames water and the zero lasts a long time.

Dusk

dfk41

See earlier in the thread, they do mention coffee on their website but mention it needs minerals adding. As Dave said, it’s getting heated enough in a boiler to not worry too much about other things.

I’m just looking for a slightly greener solution to bottled water that doesn’t cost too much or take up too much space.

Cuprajake

Iirc Dr pavlis said the distilled water with potassium is sterile enough for nothing to grow in it.

Need to check I’ve not mixed that up.

MediumRoastSteam

Cuprajake Iirc Dr pavlis said the distilled water with potassium is sterile enough for nothing to grow in it.

Distilled yes. RO not quite.

Cuprajake

Depends is this ro or rodi

Cuprajake

It’s rodi

Dusk

simonc

Based on how often zero recommended replacing the filters for my hardness of water, it would work out more expensive than bottled water(Anglian water). The filters also create waste and I don’t know if they can be recycled so it doesn’t solve anything for me. Hence being interested in the spotless water.

Rob1

RO will remove most bacteria and micro organisms but deionization doesn’t remove any.

simonc

Dusk , I used to use 5l a week of Lockhills water, which is £1.50 ish vs a zero filter at £15.
However even with London water I’m only now buying another 2 pack, 8 months after my last.
At 4 months each is definitely cheaper than buying bottles, nor to mention the convenience of not having to go out to buy water and not worrying about costs when descaling etc.
thankfully my local recycling centre recycles filters but even without, I still think it’s less plastic than 4 months of 5l bottles.
Spotless is interesting too, but don’t disregard zero filters (unless your stats are crazily high)

Cuprajake

https://www.home-barista.com/water/adding-potassium-bicarbonate-to-distilled-water-t62600-20.html

Bacteria info in there

Dusk

simonc

Do you test the water out of your Zero jug to see when the filter needs replacing or does the jug measure? My calculations were based on their website which says I might only get 30 litres out of a filter. I’m only using maybe 2 litres a week at the moment so the purchase of bottled water isn’t an issue and I can just store it out of the way in my garage.

simonc

Dusk yes I test every few weeks and replace when it gets to 5-8 tds.
My tap water is around 270.

Dusk

simonc

The water report for my postcode says 300ppm calcium carbonate and 120ppm calcium, I’m not sure how that translates to overall TDS but I assume it’s a lot!

simonc

Dusk mine is 100 calcium and 250 calcium carbonate.

Rob1

The calcium carbonate figure includes the separate Calcium figure.

habberdagger

My solution will be to use spotless water ( I live close to a dispenser), and then put it through a Brita CUBE filter with its UV-C steriliser - that combined with the 93 degrees on my espresso machine puts my mind at rest about microbes etc…

For re-mineralisation I use Third wave packets, but am interested in the idea of using rpavlis water and adding magnesium and calcium post brew (saw some study that adding minerals post-brew is actually fine) to avoid scaling my machine at all. I use a Fracino Piccino which you need to send back to Fracino in order to descale. I live in St Albans where the tap water TDS is extremely high!

MediumRoastSteam

habberdagger that combined with the 93 degrees on my espresso machine puts my mind at rest about microbes etc…

memzey I also live in St. Albans and have been using Spotless water in my machine for ages

Note that the temperature inside the actual boiler is 105C or thereabouts - so definitely above boiling in that sense. That’s for a single or dual boiler. Also, bear in mind that when brewing, there’s water from the tank entering the boiler, during those 30 seconds. Thus there’s some exchange.

But if you have a heater exchange machine… fresh water will pass through the exchanger for the duration of the shot.

Or if your machine has a thermoblock, same again. My point being here is that I don’t think boiling water for 30 seconds is sufficient to kill any nasty nonsense in there.

Besides… It’s not only about organic matter… What about the inorganic stuff? How do you know the water hasn’t been contaminated by minerals not so human friendly? Anyone checked if it’s actually Zero TDS? And who knows how well maintained the filtering membranes and other components, and the tank on those machines are…

This is apparently the St. Albans dispenser (I used to live in Jersey Farm a long time ago).

Clearly saying: “NOT drinking water”

I suppose… If it won’t kill you, it will make you stronger….

memzey

I also live in St. Albans and have been using Spotless water in my machine for ages (the dispenser used to be in the Homebase carpark, it’s now in the Morrison’s petrol garage). I use the simple R. Pavlis recipe and don’t worry about it. No problems with scaling or issues with the machine whatsoever (touches wood). At times I’ve kept the water in containers for months (for purposes other than coffee) and I’ve never had the water smell funny or go off so I would say we are pretty safe with regards to bacteria. Just give the pump a quick wipe and flush before filling your Jerry can. There is also a place in Tollgate Farm that sells de-ionised water that I keep meaning to try but haven’t got round to.

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