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 better brews.

Welcome to The Bundle

Items Explained

Your empirical water Bundle contains brew water samples, concentrates for mixing more brew water, and some convenient measuring equipment.

Brew water samples feature a sky blue tab on the label, as such:

These brew water samples are for general coffee & tea brewing, for balanced performance across the board. It is recommended to brew with these samples first to form an impression of how the water performs in its default state.

Once you've used up these brew water samples, please hang onto the bottles! They are meant to be reused for mixing more brew water from concentrate.

Concentrates feature a dark blue tab on the label, as such:

Concentrates must be mixed and diluted with zero TDS water according to the section below titled, How to Mix Brew Water.

Mineral Profiles

glacial v1.5 (Default)

Harmonious and lively, with an emphasis on clarity and complexity. Suitable for coffee, espresso and tea. Default TDS: 70 mg/L

 

spring v1.1 (Default)

Resonant and concentrated, with an emphasis on body and richness. Suitable for coffee and tea. Default TDS: 157 mg/L

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 for diluting empirical water concentrates?

Deionized - The best kind of zero TDS water. 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, Pure Life, 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 (RO) - Technically low TDS, not zero. The lower the TDS, the better. If you have access to RO, it's ideal to upgrade it to deionized water with a simple deionization filter pitcher like Zero Water.

How should I store the water?

Store unopened concentrates in a dark, dry, cool location.

Refrigerate hardness concentrate upon opening. Do not refrigerate buffer or extraction booster.

As for brew water, it's completely up to you.

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

It is best to think of the extraction booster as a situational tool.

By default, it is recommended to add the Extraction Booster to your kettle towards the tail end of the brew, e.g. during the last couple of pours in a coffee pour over, or in the last few steeps of a gongfu tea brew.

A standard dose of the extraction booster is 0.5 mL.

How to Mix Brew Water

The fastest way to mix brew water

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

Step 1: Acquire 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. Using the provided syringe, add glacial buffer: 10 mL for general coffee & tea, 6 mL for light roast coffee (Default), 0 mL for light roast coffee (Acidity++), 20 mL for medium roast coffee, or 30 mL for dark roast coffee and any roast as espresso.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with RO, deionized, or distilled water.

spring

  1. Pour in 2 full bottles of spring hardness concentrate.
  2. Using the provided syringe, add spring buffer: 20 mL for general coffee & tea, zero buffer for light roast coffee, 30 mL for medium roast coffee, or 40 mL for dark roast coffee.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with RO, deionized, or distilled water.

glacial for general coffee & tea

A balanced presentation of the glacial profile for versatile performance across all coffee and 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.

glacial for light roast 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 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 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 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

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.

spring for general coffee & tea

A balanced presentation of the spring profile for versatile performance across all coffee and 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.

spring for light roast 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 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 1.5 mL (or 1.77 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 5.7 mL (or 6.73 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 17.1 mL (or 20.16 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 28.5 mL (or 33.6 grams) spring buffer.
  3. Fill remaining capacity with zero TDS water.

spring for dark roast 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.

Misc. tips for mixing brew water

To avoid spillage when pouring the hardness concentrate, rest the lip of the hardness bottle on the rim of the measuring cylinder or other measuring container.

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 measurement errors.

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 into the original jug, back up to the original fill level.

Use the syringe to measure buffer amounts greater than 2 mL.

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.

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.

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 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.

What is the mineral composition of empirical water?

glacial v1.5 (Default)

Harmonious and lively, with an emphasis on clarity and complexity. Suitable for coffee, espresso and tea. Default TDS: 70 mg/L

 

spring v1.1 (Default)

Resonant and concentrated, with an emphasis on body and richness. Suitable for coffee and tea. Default TDS: 157 mg/L