TIL my quest for the perfect home espresso grind took way longer than I thought it would.

I kept chasing that 'sweet spot' with my Baratza Encore, adjusting the grind a tiny bit every morning for what felt like weeks. It turns out the real issue was my water; the hard tap water in my city was throwing everything off. After switching to filtered water, I dialed it in perfectly in just two tries. Does anyone else find that water quality is the most overlooked variable in their setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

xena_anderson1mo ago

Nah, that's just shifting blame. Water is a total scapegoat. People obsess over gear and tiny details because it's easier than admitting their own technique is off. If your grinder is decent and you're paying attention, you can make it work with almost any water that's safe to drink. This just sounds like someone looking for a magic fix instead of putting in the practice.

aarons361mo ago

Hard disagree, that's a wild take. Water makes a HUGE difference, it's not just about safety. Minerals change how the coffee extracts, full stop. Telling someone to just get better when their water is fighting them is bad advice. Fixing the water is part of the technique.