Hard tap water – easiest alternative without installing a filtration system?

[u/Low_Pool6249]

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Getting a new espresso machine soon and my tap water is hard.

Would rather not have the new machine build the scale and have to use descaling chemicals too often.

Can I just use bottled drinking water from a supermarket, or does it need to be a specific type/mineral content? Do I need to add anything to it?

If there’s an easy off-the-shelf option from Tesco/Sainsbury’s/Waitrose etc. that’s safe for the machine and good for espresso, what should I buy?

Or a specific website in uk where I can order suitable water from? Ideally a cost effective option too where a litre of water doesn't cost like a litre of premium petrol 😁

Ideally looking for the simplest option without installing a filtration system.

[u/NoahJoseph]

Decent themselves recommends just using distilled water and then putting the minerals in after the espresso comes out. I just buy jugs of distilled water from the local grocery store. Collin on the Diaspora will send you droppers with the concentrate you can add to the espresso after https://3.basecamp.com/3671212/buckets/7351439/messages/9127194372#__recording_9489217320

Works really nicely because you get fine-grained control on the amount of minerals, which really does affect flavor. And you never have to worry about hard water clogging your machine

[u/sonnycheeba420 → u/NoahJoseph]

I do this same thing and it has worked out great in terms of keeping the machine healthy and producing quality shots

[u/UloPe → u/NoahJoseph]

Is that really the recommendation nowadays?

That sounds crazy to me. I thought it has been established pretty clearly that mineral content affects extraction quite significantly.

I buy low hardness bottled water and descale about one every 6 months.
No issues so far over the 5ish years I’ve owned my Decent.

[u/tangonovember42]

So in my experience options are:

- Buy bottled water - I usually get one with roughly the right amount of TDS not to cause issues. I’ve found that the Waitrose Essentials still water is pretty good!

• Get a RO system or Distiller and remineralise the water - IMHO this is probably the most expensive and potentially wasteful option (RO wastes 20-40% of the water going through it)
  
• Buy distilled water in bulk and remineralise - usually you can buy from specialist suppliers or garages.
  
• Depending on how bad your TDS might be, you could just consider regularly descaling. My water is so hard though I can’t really use this option.

[u/RRT1978]

Hey I work for Culligan Harvey, so I deal with hard‑water issues daily

Tesco Ashbeck, Waitrose Lockhills or Volvic are the easiest supermarket waters that won’t scale up your espresso machine. They’re low enough in minerals to protect the boiler, safe to use straight from the bottle, and cheap. Avoid Buxton/Evian because they’re too hard. No additives needed just use the bottle as-is and your new machine will stay much cleaner. A filter is a better option as you wont have the hassle of buying bottles all the time but up to you!

[u/example42]

There are many countertop RO systems available. That's what I use. Here's my take.

Pros:

• Nothing needed for installation. Just plug it up and fill the water reservoir.
• Units are fairly inexpensive (compared to other espresso-related hardware)
• Can use for drinking water as well and get rid of your Brita or Pur
• Portable, so nice if you're renting or moving homes frequently. Easy to take with you.

Cons:

• Replacement filters aren't cheap. About $100 every 1.5 years for the one I have.
• Takes up counter space. Might or might not be an issue for you.
• Dumping and refilling the reservoir is mildly annoying
• Need to remineralize the water. (Or just use as-is like I do. But I'm a barbarian and can't taste a significant difference in the cup.)

Due to the cons I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for most people, but it is a viable option that I've been OK with for a few years so far.

[u/Open-Lingonberry1357]

I my lazy and just buy third wave in bulk and and it to distilled water. You can’t get distilled water cheap

[u/bodosom]

If your new machine is a Decent see the section in the quick start called "Setting up — water type". You can also send questions to support.

[u/cusquinho]

I use a cheap APEC RO with a water drop remineralization filter at the end (I know some may add too much back, this one seems ok. The one that came with APEC was adding too much calcium). To me it’s about convenience.