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User Guide

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WARNING: The information contained in this page is extremely useful. Reading all the way to the bottom puts you at serious risk of getting better brews with empirical water.

MUST KNOW Information

What is zero TDS water?

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids. Zero TDS water is water that contains no minerals.

To dilute your empirical water concentrates into usable brew water, you'll need zero TDS water.

Where can I find the best zero TDS water?

Deionized - The best kind of zero TDS water, by far. See this page for more info.

Distilled - Most grocery stores carry distilled water.

Recommended distilled water brands: Arrowhead Distilled, Good & Gather Distilled (find at Target), Ice Mountain Distilled, more brand suggestions coming soon. There is quite some variance in distilled water quality, so please try a few different brands to find the one that tastes best.

Reverse osmosis - Technically low TDS, this can be a viable option. The lower the TDS, the better.

How to use droppers

You are encouraged to rely primarily on the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

How to mix GLACIAL

GLACIAL for light roast coffee

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

GLACIAL for medium roast coffee

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

GLACIAL for dark roast coffee

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 1.5 mL (or 1.77 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.73 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

GLACIAL for espresso

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 1.5 mL (or 1.77 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.73 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

GLACIAL for tea

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) GLACIAL Hardness.
  2. Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) GLACIAL Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

SPRING

SPRING for light roast coffee

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 100 mL (or 100 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

SPRING for medium roast coffee

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 100 mL (or 100 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 2 mL (or 2.36 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 7.6 mL (or 8.97 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

SPRING for dark roast coffee

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 100 mL (or 100 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 3 mL (or 3.54 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 11.4 mL (or 13.45 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

SPRING for tea

Note: Measure buffer using ONLY the 0.50 mL fill line for best accuracy.

Instructions

Prepare in a 1 liter bottle, or directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 100 mL (or 100 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 1 mL (or 1.18 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Alternatively, prepare in a 1 gallon container of your choosing:

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) SPRING Hardness.
  2. Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) SPRING Buffer.
  3. Optional: Add 3.8 mL (4.48 grams) Extraction Booster.
  4. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

For higher intensity and acidity, use less buffer. For lower intensity and acidity, use more buffer.

FAQ

What is the shelf life of empirical water?

All of the concentrates in your order will stay fresh for about 6 months, until the expiration date on your Hardness bottle.

Is empirical water easy to brew with?

empirical water has a large sweet spot, courtesy of calcium carbonate. This makes it very forgiving to brew with.

Note: You may need to adjust your brew parameters to find that sweet spot initially, depending on your previous water. Once you find it, it's pretty hard to miss.

How should I store the water?

Store the water in a dark, dry, cool location.

Can I use empirical water in my espresso machine?

Yes, empirical water GLACIAL is espresso-friendly. Descale your machine after every 1000 shots pulled.

The SPRING and AQUIFER profiles are moderately-to-heavily scale-forming, so you will need to descale more often.

Do I need to descale my kettle?

empirical water GLACIAL is barely scale-forming. It's not necessary to ever descale your kettle when using this water. With the SPRING profile, you may choose to descale once in a while, but it's not required.

What makes empirical water different from other brewing waters on the market?

Check out this article.

How do I adjust the water for different roasts?

See the Buffer Guide in the User Guide higher up on this page.

How can I make a lot of brew water quickly?

Reuse the glass bottles as your 1 liter mixing bottle. Make several liters of brew water at once to save time. Alternatively, follow the 1 gallon instructions under the Default Instructions tab at the top of this page.

How do I manage my subscription?

Log into your account (top right corner), then click "Manage Subscriptions" under Account Details.

Can I drink the concentrates?

Dilute the concentrates into brew water according to the instructions higher up on this page. You can drink the brew water straight or use it to brew coffee/tea.

What's the refund policy?

Request a refund within 180 days of purchase and you'll get one, no questions asked. You can keep the product, too! Send a submission on the contact page to receive your refund.

How does empirical water treat funky coffees?

empirical water is infamous for its ability to target clean sweetness, acidity and flavor notes without any unwanted funk.

Does empirical water ship for free?

Regular orders of empirical water ship for free to USA and Canada. For other countries, there is a flat rate of $29 regardless of order size.

Samples ship only to USA, and the shipping cost for that is $9.

What is the mineral composition of empirical water?

GLACIAL, v1.5

Harmonious and lively, with an emphasis on clarity and complexity.

TDS: 70 mg/L

 

SPRING, v1.1

Resonant and concentrated, with an emphasis on body and richness.

TDS: 157 mg/L