Does filtered water improve the taste of coffee and tea?
But first a look at why filtered water seems to improve the taste of coffee and tea, psychology aside for now. Tap water, while safe for drinking, varies greatly from location to location and as such contains different levels of minerals, fluoride, calcium build up, bacteria, lead, and other non-harmful contaminants. Some of these, especially if their presence is higher in certain tap water used, can interact with the coffee beans or tea leaves changing the taste, texture, and brewing of the beverage. Unfiltered water may also cause less of the water to flow properly through the leaves or beans and give an inconsistent taste or level of brewing each time. Filtered water on the other hand is free of most of these contaminants which means it is generally lighter and tasteless. Those aspects of filtered water means that this water will have far less impact on the brewing process and leave the taste and texture of the beverage completely determined by the tea leaves or coffee beans used. O
