Water softener basics and recommendations?

Water analysis, treatment, and mineral recipes for optimum taste and equipment health.
primato
Posts: 8
Joined: 16 years ago

#1: Post by primato »

Does anybode have experience with water softeners, and can anyone give me crash-course in the basics of these things? What units do you recommend?

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networkcrasher
Posts: 606
Joined: 16 years ago

#2: Post by networkcrasher »

How hard is your current water supply? Have you read Jim Schulman's Insanely Long Water FAQ?

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arcangel6
Posts: 18
Joined: 15 years ago

#3: Post by arcangel6 »

Hi,

I am about to plumb my new machine (Brewtus III-R) and just placed an order for the item listed below after communicating with Chris Nachtrieb of Chris Coffee. He was extremely helpful in my decision making. I live in an area where the water is pretty hard. I'd highly recommend checking with Chris.

Regards,

Joe

Item #WS6000SYS - Commercial Rechargeable Water (6 Liter)

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sweaner
Posts: 3013
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#4: Post by sweaner »

Joe, why did Chris recommend this setup over this less expensive setup with the replaceable cartridges?

http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/hom ... enersystem
Scott
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ira
Team HB
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#5: Post by ira »

The big advantage of this one is it's rechargeable which I guess is also it's downside. Now that I've found the cartridges for $8 and figure with the water usage of my machine, I'm glad I got the smaller one.

Ira

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networkcrasher
Posts: 606
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#6: Post by networkcrasher »

One can recharge the smaller softeners too, it's just a bit more work.

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Rybolt
Posts: 100
Joined: 15 years ago

#7: Post by Rybolt »

Any recommendations for people with pour over machines?

Do most people just blend distilled with filtered tap water to soften?

jpreiser
Posts: 173
Joined: 17 years ago

#8: Post by jpreiser »

Rybolt wrote:Any recommendations for people with pour over machines?

Do most people just blend distilled with filtered tap water to soften?
Not sure about most people but that's what I'm currently doing.

Another option from the Insanely Long Water FAQ:
Use Volvic or Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine water in your home espresso machine. They have formulations that won't scale, but which still taste OK for coffee.

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Rybolt
Posts: 100
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#9: Post by Rybolt »

arcangel6 wrote: He was extremely helpful in my decision making. I live in an area where the water is pretty hard.
Wow, that's a system. Did you consider getting a water softener for your whole house, since your water is so bad. you could have benefited from it more than just your espresso.

Endo
Posts: 337
Joined: 16 years ago

#10: Post by Endo »

Rybolt wrote:Any recommendations for people with pour over machines?

Do most people just blend distilled with filtered tap water to soften?
I have a pourover MiniVivaldi. Water softness is CRITICAL for this machine since it has a sealed steam boiler and heater unit.

My water hardness is around 150ppm. I do a double filtering using a Brita filter from the fridge and then a reservoir filter/softener from BestCup in Germany (came with my Vivaldi). I change both filters every 2 or 3 months. This brings the hardness down to 50ppm.

If my water hardness was higher that 150ppm, I'd probably just get a 20L bottle of RO water and mix it with tap water to get 50ppm.
"Disclaimer: All troll-like comments are my way of discussing"

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