Posted Fri Nov 9, 2012, 4:49am Subject: Brita or bottled water
While waiting for my first espresso machine to arrive, I wonder what kind of water should i fill it with? I have two options. Bottled water or Brita filtered water. The tap water is very hard where I live.
Posted Fri Nov 9, 2012, 7:01am Subject: Re: Brita or bottled water
Brita doesn't really do anything to remove scaling minerals from the water, so if those are your only choice, go with the bottled water. Or, you could use in in-tank cation softener with the Brita-filtered water, which is what I'm currently doing on my NS Ellimitic with LA's ~10 grain water. Although I'm running a plain 3-stage water filter at the sink rather than a Brita, but really the same type of filtering.
Taste? Depends on the bottled water. I run bottled water on my Caravel at work and, taking into account the difference in the cup between the normal Caravel and Ellimatic extractions, I wouldn't say that I see a difference either way.
Hadn't measured it, as I only just got the Ellimatic back in service a couple of weeks ago. My measurements aren't very exact, being based on standard water testing strips, so I'll only be able to give you an approximation. Testing this morning, the strip is indicating a general hardness between 2-3 gr and a carbonate hardness between 4-5 gr.
I know West Texas water can get pretty hard, especially in Hill Country. Hope this helps.
Posted Sun Nov 11, 2012, 8:49am Subject: Re: Brita or bottled water
GVDub,
Thanks, that's pretty consistent with my readings below using a CCS water test strip. I find the costs between buying bottled water and the brita filter about the same based on my water consumption.
Brita and Citation In tank filter=indicates a general 3 gr hardness Cresytal Geyser (bottled in Norman OK) and Citation In tank filter=indicates a general 3 gr hardnes
Posted Sun Nov 11, 2012, 11:35am Subject: Re: Brita or bottled water
I use one of these with these to filter for water taste, and then the in-tank cation softener. Filters Fast almost always has 3-pack deals on the carbon filters, and they last 6 months or so. I've had the dispenser long enough that it's essentially completely amortized, so water cost is just about a dollar a month for filtration. Considering that Crystal Geyser runs me about that per gallon (I'm using it in the Caravel at work) and I use about two gallons a week, the filter combination is a substantial savings for the home espresso.
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