The Science of Coffee is a journey into coffee’s hidden microscopic secrets to help you make even better coffee at home.
Documentary maker and coffee professional James Harper travels the world and speaks with leading coffee scientists to help you appreciate coffee more deeply.
You are going to get taken into the science of water, coffee extraction, plant genetics, espresso technology, latte foam, sonic seasoning, our sense of taste and smell, organic farming, roasting, grinding and freshness, and how to think like a scientist.
Press the Subscribe button so you don’t miss future episodes!
The Science of Coffee is a spin-off series from James Harper’s documentary podcast Filter Stories.
Follow James on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Mlkk0O
Listen to Filter Stories: https://bit.ly/3ajoT5
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The Science of Coffee is a journey into coffee’s hidden microscopic secrets to help you make even better coffee at home.
Documentary maker and coffee professional James Harper travels the world and speaks with leading coffee scientists to help you appreciate coffee more deeply.
You are going to get taken into the science of water, coffee extraction, plant genetics, espresso technology, latte foam, sonic seasoning, our sense of taste and smell, organic farming, roasting, grinding and freshness, and how to think like a scientist.
Press the Subscribe button so you don’t miss future episodes!
The Science of Coffee is a spin-off series from James Harper’s documentary podcast Filter Stories.
Follow James on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Mlkk0O
Listen to Filter Stories: https://bit.ly/3ajoT5
Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 1: Alkalinity, hardness and why it matters
The Science of Coffee
26 minutes 20 seconds
4 months ago
Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 1: Alkalinity, hardness and why it matters
Water massively impacts your coffee’s flavours. But most of us struggle to fix our water because water science is confusing…
…until now! In this special collaboration with Lucia Solis (Making Coffee podcast), I guide her through the two most important concepts you need to understand to get great-tasting water for coffee: hardness and alkalinity.
We go step-by-step through:
• Why these concepts matter for coffee flavour and equipment
• How to test your water at home
• How to fix it, depending on what you’re working with
These aren’t one of my usual narrative episodes—they’re a straightforward, practical guide to help you take control of your water.
By the end of these episodes, you’ll be able to say: “I know what good water for coffee is and how to get it”.
I hope it helps you as much as it helped Lucia.
Check my website for all the visuals mentioned in this episode, including:
SCA graph for excellent water (the “map”)
Map of different water hardness across Paris
My Berlin water report
The nightmarish table of conversions…
Results from my water tests in my Berlin studio
Bottled water brands rated for their hardness and alkalinity
Please spread the word about The Science of Coffee!Leave a 5 star rating on SpotifyFollow me on Instagram and tag me in an Instagram storyWrite a review on Apple Podcasts
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Resources mentioned in the episode:
SCA’s Water Quality Handbook
Hardness and alkalinity dripper testing kit (also good for keeping your fishies happy)
BWT Penguin Filter Jug (what I used to use with the magnesium cartridges)
BWT BestAqua ROC (what now I use)
BWT BestBarista (for cafes)
Create your own water by adding minerals to very soft or distilled water: JoJo Hersh’s simple calculator using epsom salts and bicarbonate of soda, and Barista Hustle’s more elaborate one.
Want to go deeper into water chemistry?
BWT White Paper on the effects of magnesium (German)Christopher Hendon’s book Water for CoffeeDo an online Certificate of Advanced Studies at the Coffee Excellence Centre
Read The Craft and Science of CoffeeBarista Hustle's Water courseSome water content on YouTube by James Hoffman and Lance Hedrick
Season 3 of The Science of Coffee is made possible by these leading coffee organisations:
The Coffee Quest | BWT | TODDY | Algrano | Probat
The Science of Coffee
The Science of Coffee is a journey into coffee’s hidden microscopic secrets to help you make even better coffee at home.
Documentary maker and coffee professional James Harper travels the world and speaks with leading coffee scientists to help you appreciate coffee more deeply.
You are going to get taken into the science of water, coffee extraction, plant genetics, espresso technology, latte foam, sonic seasoning, our sense of taste and smell, organic farming, roasting, grinding and freshness, and how to think like a scientist.
Press the Subscribe button so you don’t miss future episodes!
The Science of Coffee is a spin-off series from James Harper’s documentary podcast Filter Stories.
Follow James on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Mlkk0O
Listen to Filter Stories: https://bit.ly/3ajoT5
