User Guide

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How to Mix Brew Water

Fastest way to mix brew water (optional)

With this method, you can mix enough brew water for 80 cups of coffee in under a minute of active labor.

Step 1: Get a 5 gallon water jug

Recommended: Crown Cap Jug by Brio

Recommended: Stand and dispensing cap for Crown Cap Jug

Step 2: Mix your brew water.

glacial

  1. Pour in 1 full bottle of glacial hardness concentrate.
  2. Add glacial buffer: 6 mL for light roast coffee (Default), 0 mL for light roast coffee (Acidity++), 20 mL for medium roast coffee, 30 mL for dark roast coffee and any roast as espresso, and 10 mL for tea.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring

  1. Add 2 liters of spring hardness concentrate for light roast coffee, medium roast coffee, dark roast coffee, or tea. For espresso, add only 1 liter.
  2. Add spring buffer: 20 mL for general coffee & tea, 0 mL for light roast coffee, 30 mL for medium roast coffee, or 40 mL for dark roast coffee and espresso.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

glacial for LIGHT ROAST FILTER COFFEE (Default)

Get more acidity from your light roast coffees using the glacial profile. Further reduce buffer if more acidity is desired.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 0.3 mL (or 0.35 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 1.14 mL (or 1.34 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 3.4 mL (or 4.03 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.72 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

glacial for LIGHT ROAST FILTER COFFEE (Acidity++)

Get maximum acidity from your light roast coffees using the glacial profile.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

glacial for MEDIUM ROAST FILTER COFFEE

A more rounded version of the glacial profile, for brewing medium roast coffee.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 11.4 mL (or 13.44 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 19 mL (or 22.4 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

glacial for DARK ROAST FILTER COFFEE

The most forgiving version of the glacial profile, for thick and smooth brews of dark roast coffee.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.73 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 17.1 mL (or 20.16 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 28.5 mL (or 33.6 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

glacial for ESPRESSO (any roast)

A good starting point for espresso, for any roast level.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.73 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 17.1 mL (or 20.16 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 28.5 mL (or 33.6 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

glacial for TEA

The glacial profile for tea.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.72 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) glacial hardness.
  2. Add 9.5 mL (or 11.2 grams) glacial buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring for LIGHT ROAST FILTER COFFEE

Get more acidity from your light roast coffees using the spring profile. You will not need to use any buffer for this recipe.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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

  1. Add 100 mL (or 100 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 1136 mL (or 1136 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 1892 mL (or 1892 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring for MEDIUM ROAST FILTER COFFEE

A more rounded version of the spring profile, for brewing medium roast coffee.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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

  1. Add 100 mL (or 100 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 0.5 mL (or 0.59 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 1.9 mL (or 2.24 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 1136 mL (or 1136 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL (or 6.72 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 1892 mL (or 1892 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 9.5 mL (or 33.6 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring for DARK ROAST FILTER COFFEE

The most forgiving version of the spring profile for thick and smooth brews of dark roast coffee.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 7.6 mL (or 8.97 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 1136 mL (or 1136 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 22.8 mL (or 26.88 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 1892 mL (or 1892 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 38 mL (or 44.8 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring for ESPRESSO (any roast)

A good starting point for espresso, for any roast level.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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

  1. Add 50 mL (or 50 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 2 mL (or 2.36 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 950 mL (or 950 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 190 mL (or 190 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 7.6 mL (or 8.97 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 568 mL (or 568 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 22.8 mL (or 26.88 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 946 mL (or 946 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 38 mL (or 44.8 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring for TEA

The spring profile for tea.

Instructions for 1 Liter

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. Fill remaining capacity with 900 mL (or 900 grams) zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 Gallon

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 380 mL (or 380 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 3.8 mL (or 4.48 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 Gallons

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 1136 mL (or 1136 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 11.4 mL (or 13.44 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 Gallons

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 1892 mL (or 1892 grams) spring hardness.
  2. Add 19 mL (or 22.4 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Aviary Coffee Water (Batch #1-4)

Designed by Christopher Feran for Aviary and similar roasts.

Instructions for 1 liter brew water

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

  1. Add 10 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 0.5 mL Aviary buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 989.5 mL zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 gallon brew water

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 38 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 1.9 mL Aviary buffer.
  3. Fill to remaining capacity with 3760 mL zero TDS water.

Aviary Coffee Water (Batch #5 / no batch number)

Designed by Christopher Feran for Aviary and similar roasts.

Instructions for 500 mL brew water

Prepare directly in your kettle.

  1. Add 10 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 0.25 mL Aviary Buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 490 mL zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 liter brew water

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

  1. Add 20 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 0.5 mL Aviary buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 980 mL zero TDS water.

Instructions for 1 gallon brew water

Prepare in a 1 gallon container.

  1. Add 76 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 1.9 mL Aviary buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with 3722 mL zero TDS water.

Instructions for 3 gallon brew water

Prepare in a 3 gallon container.

  1. Add 228 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 5.7 mL Aviary buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Instructions for 5 gallon brew water

Prepare in a 5 gallon container.

  1. Add 380 mL Aviary hardness.
  2. Add 9.5 mL Aviary buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

Misc. tips for mixing brew water

  • You may choose to omit buffer entirely from your brew water, adding it drop-by-drop, to taste, directly to your coffee or tea after brewing.
  • If using a 1 liter, 1 gallon, 3 gallon, or 5 gallon container, there's no need to measure the zero TDS water when "filling to remaining capacity". The overall concentration can be off by a few percent - empirical water is forgiving of modest errors in overall concentration.
  • If starting from jugs of distilled water, try the "pour out" method: Mark the fill level of the jug. Pour some of the water out into a spare container, add your hardness and buffer, then pour back in your distilled water from the spare container back into the original jug, up to the original fill level.
  • Use the syringe to measure buffer amounts greater than 2 mL.
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Must-Know Info

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 for diluting empirical water concentrates?

See this page for more info.

How should I store the water?

Store all unopened liquids in a dark, dry, cool location.

After opening hardness concentrate, refrigerate.

After opening buffer or extraction booster, store at room temperature.

After opening brew water, refrigerate or store at room temperature.

How to use droppers

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

How to use the extraction booster

The extraction booster can boost flavor definition and sweetness in coffees that need it.

To use the extraction booster, simply add one dropper squeeze of the concentrate to your brew water, or even directly into your kettle.

To measure more precisely, count the number of drops.

FAQ

When does empirical water expire?

Your empirical water will expire 1 year after the date of purchase.

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.

Can I use empirical water in my espresso machine?

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

Do not use the silica version of empirical water in your espresso machine.

Will 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 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.

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.

What is the mineral composition of empirical water?

glacial profile

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

GH/KH: ~35/24

Note: This is the default version for light roast coffee. Both hardness and alkalinity can be separately adjusted to suit your preference.

spring profile

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

GH/KH: ~65/23
Note: This is the default version for light roast coffee. Both hardness and alkalinity can be separately adjusted to suit your preference.

Aviary Coffee Water

GH/KH: ~58/27