When excellent coffee is your goal, it is imperative
that you control the variable that makes up 98% of coffee beverages – water. It’s
all about quality and consistency.
Water chemistry is complex. Chemical characteristics of water such as hardness,
pH, alkalinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) have a significant impact
on coffee quality and consistency, and are often the cause of equipment problems
and costly repairs.
Let’s look at four types of contaminants that can be problematic and the OptiPure water treatment technologies used to deal with them:
1. Dirt & Sediment
Fine silt, dirt, rust and other debris causes wear on parts and can damage
solenoids, valves and other fittings. Particulates settle as sediment and
provide a catalyst for scale build-up.
OptiPure Filtration systems utilize gradient density-depth filtration.
The larger dirt particles are trapped in the outer layers of the filter while
smaller particles are trapped in the deeper layers as the gradient becomes
denser. These gives OptiPure filters high dirt-load capacity and longer filter
life without compromising water pressure and flow to equipment.
2. Chlorine Taste & Odor
Chlorine presents two problems. First, it imparts an unpleasant taste and
odor which can ruin coffee beverages. And second, chlorine can be corrosive
to boilers, heating elements and other wetted surfaces which increases
maintenance costs and reduces equipment life.
OptiPure filtration systems include high quality activated carbon to reduce
chlorine.
The rating (gallons/liters) for OptiPure NSF Certified Systems
indicates their “capacity” for chlorine reduction. OptiPure
AMS systems take out chlorine and the majority of dissolved minerals that
can cause corrosion.
3. Hardness (Scale)
The formation and accumulation of scale from hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) is the #1 cause of water-related problems with coffee equipment. Over time scale build-up impedes efficient heat transfer, diminishes beverage quality, increases maintenance frequency and can reduce equipment life by years.
4. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)TDS is made up of an array of contaminants (primarily minerals) that are
dissolved in water. Hardness minerals are a common part of TDS along with
others such as sodium and iron. The type and amount of dissolved solids affects
espresso and coffee quality and water-related equipment problems.
There are two fundamental ways to deal with Water
Hardness and TDS.
First, OptiPure can effectively eliminate problematic minerals
by removing them.
AMS (Advanced Membrane
Separation) technologies are specially designed reverse osmosis systems
that remove problematic minerals. OptiPure BWS models allow precise blending
pure water with specially filtered water to achieve a desired TDS and mineral
balance for coffee.
OptiSoft (Ion Exchange Softening) technologies protect espresso machines against scale through a process that trades hardness minerals for sodium. Not recommended for coffee brewers.
Second, OptiPure can reduce the scaling tendency by inhibiting
problematic minerals.
ScaleX2® – a non-chemical
scale inhibitor technology that protects against scale without removing calcium
minerals is recommended with high volume coffee brewers and espresso equipment.
IsoNet® – a patented
scale inhibiting technology that helps protect against scale and corrosion
at low to moderate hardness levels with coffee brewers. Not recommended
for espresso machines.
The system that you select must meet your equipment and usage requirements.
To enjoy the benefits of water treatment with your coffee brewer and/or
espresso machine it is essential that the capacity (in gallons/liters) and
flow rate (gallons/liters per minute) of the filtration system meets your
real-world water usage requirements. OptiPure offers a range of water treatment
systems with different performance characteristics to meet the demands of
any coffee or espresso equipment.
A system’s ‘rated capacity’ is typically based on its ability
to reduce chlorine, taste and odor. OptiPure systems for coffee and espresso
applications are designed with the right ‘balance’ of treatment
technologies. This means that, along with chlorine reduction, the integrated
scale treatment technology is engineered to perform for the rated capacity
of the system as well; assuring complete protection for the period between
filter changes.
Our goal is to help you make the best decision about water treatment for
your applications.
For a detailed guide to understanding water-related problems with espresso
machines and coffee brewers and how to select the best system for your application,
click here and request The OptiPure Espresso & Coffee
Water Filtration Application Guide
The OptiPure System Application Guide & Product Catalog provides basic information about OptiPure Water Treatment Technologies and an easy-to-use system selection guide. Fountain beverage systems and ‘combination’ applications explained in detail. Contact your OptiPure Dealer or OptiPure for assistance with your application requirements.
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