Cuvee Coffee

Coffee is 98% Water. It is essential to consider the impact that water can have on your equipment, your products, your customers and your success. Chemical characteristics of water can have a significant impact on coffee taste and consistency, and are often the cause of costly repairs and shortened equipment life. All of these can be avoided with the right water treatment system. It is impossible to achieve the “perfect cup” without careful consideration of water quality.

Water treatment is not a mystery - It is a process involving many different aspects of the physical and chemical sciences. The expertise is in the application of specific water treatment technologies to deal with different contaminants in order to produce a desired result. What matters most is:

The filtration system includes the right treatment technologies to deal with contaminants that will affect both your espresso equipment and beverage quality.
The system performance is ‘balanced'; this means that each of the different treatment claims, i.e. chlorine reduction and scale inhibition, will deliver consistent performance based on the stated capacity (in gallons) of the system.
The system will perform at the required flow rate.
The system capacity is proportional to the actual water usage of the equipment between recommended filter change intervals.

Whether your decision to purchase a water filtration system is driven by the desire to improve quality and increase customer satisfaction or to protect your equipment against expensive service calls and downtime, the outcome is the same: a more successful and profitable business.

Become Knowledgeable - Have your water tested to determine the likely impact water contaminants will have on your equipment and your product. Learn about these contaminants and investigate the treatment options available. Make sure the system you choose is the best for your application and will deliver the results you expect. The bottom line is: if you don't understand what filtration does, and how it will protect you and your business, it's tough to make the best choice.

It's all about quality and consistency – The quality and grind of the beans, uniformity of the pack, the temperature and pressure, and the timing of the shot are all variables that must be controlled to create excellent espresso. If excellence is your goal, it is imperative that you control the variable that makes up 98% of espresso – water.

The following info rmation describes how these contaminants impact espresso equipment and beverage quality, and how OptiPure Water Filtration deals effectively with each of them.

Particulates (dirt, sediment, rust)

Suspended particulate matter in water is detrimental to the condition and performance of espresso equipment, and to the quality and consistency of espresso beverages. Particulates in water cause added wear on parts; and can clog solenoids, valves and group heads. Fine silt, dirt, rust and other debris settle as sediment in the boiler and can be a catalyst for scale build-up. Particulate matter can also affect the taste, texture and aroma of espresso.

OptiPure filtration systems filter out suspended particulate matter down to 0.5 micron in size. To get an idea how small this is, one micron is equivalent to .000001 meter, a human hair is about 90 microns thick and the smallest speck you can see is about 40 microns. These tiny particles of dirt, sediment, rust and other debris are trapped in the filter media. A particulate filter works a lot like a net. It will trap and hold the objects larger than the holes in the net, until it is full. It is important to understand that the ‘life' of a particulate filter is not based upon a predetermined number of ‘gallons' capacity. Its life is a function of ‘dirt load' capacity. Particulate filters must be replaced on a routine basis or the filter will ‘load' and eventually plug.

OptiPure filtration systems utilize gradient density-depth filtration. This means that water flowing through the filter passes through nearly ¾” of media that traps particulates within its entire depth (about 20,000 microns deep). The larger dirt particles are trapped in the outer layers of the filter. As the gradient becomes progressively denser, smaller particles are trapped in the deeper layers of the filter. This filtration technology provides exceptional ‘dirt load' capacity, and allows excellent flow with minimal pressure drop between recommended filter change intervals.

Chlorine / Taste & Odor

Most municipal water utilities use chlorine to kill pathogenic organisms and to provide a residual concentration throughout the distribution system. This residual (free) chlorine presents two problems for espresso equipment and beverage quality. First, it imparts an unpleasant taste and odor. And second, free chlorine can cause pitting and corrosion in boilers, heat exchangers, group heads and other wetted surfaces which increases maintenance costs and reduces equipment life.

Activated carbon is the best technology for reducing chlorine and unpleasant tastes & odors. Different types of activated carbon used for chlorine and taste & odor reduction include granular activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC). The effectiveness and capacity of a carbon filter is based upon the amount of ‘surface area' available in the carbon media. Powdered activated carbon has the greatest surface area of all the forms. A ball of PAC the size of a pea has a surface area equivalent to half a football field.
The primary factors that affect an activated carbon filter's ability to reduce chlorine and take out off tastes and odors are:

The type and form of carbon used.
The available activated carbon surface area within the media.
The amount of time water flowing through media is in contact with the activated carbon.

The media structure of the OptiPure cartridge is entirely composed of fibers coated with powdered activated carbon (PAC). Thousands of these carbon saturated fibers make up the entire depth of the activated carbon cartridges used in the OptiPure filtration systems designed for espresso applications. The high mass of powdered activated carbon, along with the gradient-depth structure of these cartridges, provides tremendous surface area and contact time as water flows through.

NSF International is an independent, world recognized laboratory that tests and certifies water filtration systems under their Drinking Water Treatment Unit Certification Program. OptiPure's activated carbon chlorine reduction media contributes to the exceptional performance and capacity of OptiPure NSF Certified Systems .

Espresso quality and consistency is crucial to your success.

Filtering out particulate contaminants and reducing chlorine, taste & odor is always beneficial and is recommended for all espresso applications.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Water is nature's solvent. It contains, to some degree, everything it comes in contact with on the way to your tap. TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is the measure of a broad array of chemical contaminants in water that includes all inorganic and organic substances which are present in a molecular or ionized form. It is the ions from the dissolved solids in water that enable water to conduct an electrical current. High TDS levels generally indicate hard water, but testing is necessary to determine actual hardness. Additional problems associated with high TDS include corrosion and unpleasant taste & odor.

Hardness – (scale / lime-scale)

A common and expensive water related problem with espresso equipment is the formation and accumulation of scale. Varying amounts of scale-forming compounds (primarily calcium and magnesium in the form of carbonates) are present in water supplies. These dissolved mineral compounds, measured as “water hardness”, become concentrated in water due to evaporation. Concentration and heat force them out of solution where they form as a hard, adherent, rock-like layer in boilers, heat exchangers, group heads and on elements. Over time scale build-up impedes efficient heat transfer, diminishes beverage quality, increases maintenance frequency and can reduce equipment life by years. Scale is the number one water-related problem with espresso equipment.

When does Hardness and TDS become a problem? There are a variety of opinions about the ideal water characteristics for espresso, but experts agree that high mineral content (high TDS) and high water hardness can ruin espresso and cause problems due to scale build-up in equipment. Experts also agree that calcium in water is essential to the proper body, balance, and flavor and finish of espresso. Some consider 2 to 5 grains (35 to 85 ppm) of hardness to be an ideal range. Others say higher levels of calcium are not detrimental to espresso but at some point calcium hardness causes equipment problems due to scale. High TDS, even when hardness levels are acceptable, can still cause problems with equipment and espresso quality.

It's important to understand the potential water-related problems in your situation, and assess the impact it can have on your equipment and your business.

How important is beverage quality and consistency to your business?
How frequently will your equipment require service, and at what cost?
Are water-related problems covered under the equipment warranty?
How many years will your equipment last and what is the replacement cost?

Even at 200 double shots per day, the cost of treating your water with OptiPure over a five year period is about 40¢ a day. What will not treating your water cost you?

Analyze Water to Diagnose Potential Water-Related Problems
Different characteristics of water influence hardness minerals and their tendency to form scale.
It is impossible to choose the best treatment technology without an understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics of water. To determine the degree to which high TDS and/or water hardness will have a negative impact on your equipment and beverage quality, testing your water for at least the following four water parameters is recommended.

Water Hardness (as CaCO3) – is a measure of the scale forming compounds of calcium and magnesium. The amount of hardness is sometimes expressed in ppm (parts per million) or mg/L (milligrams per liter). Ppm and mg/L are equivalent measurements that express the number of parts of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) per 1,000,000 parts of water. Water hardness is also expressed in grains per gallon (gpg). One grain of water hardness is equivalent to 17.1 ppm of calcium or magnesium carbonate. For example, 171 ppm CaCO3 = 10 grains of hardness.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) – Also expressed in ppm or mg/L, total dissolved solids are all of the inorganic and organic substances in water that are present in their molecular or ionized form. For example, table salt - NaCl, when dissolved in water become Na+ and Cl- ions. Dissolved ions, such as Cl- , make up the majority of TDS and are what allow electricity to pass through water (electrical conductivity).

Alkalinity – As it pertains to espresso equipment, alkalinity is an indicator of the potential, or tendency for hardness minerals to form scale. Bicarbonate (alkalinity) breaks down when heated and combines with calcium and magnesium to form hardness compounds that can precipitate as scale.

pH – is a measure of the relative balance between acid and alkaline substances in water. It is an indicator of whether water has a scale-forming tendency or a propensity to be corrosive. The pH of water is considered, in conjunction with other water parameters, to determine the best water treatment technology.

This info rmation may be available from your water company. pH will be expressed as a number between 0 and 14 (most likely between 6.5 and 9.0). The other parameters will be a number value expressed in mg/L (milligrams per liter), or ppm (parts per million). If the water quality report shows a high/low range (due to seasonal changes or blending of wells) use the ‘high' level for the analysis.
If not available, FilterXpress can provide a complete water analysis and recommendation.

NOTE: Testing for chlorine is not necessary because the following recommended OptiPure ‘systems' include activated carbon filtration for chlorine and taste & odor reduction.

FilterXpress Offers 2 Treatment Technologies to protect espresso equipment against Scale and TDS problems.

Removal technologies take out dissolved minerals that cause scale. An OptiPure Advanced Membrane Separation (AMS) system will virtually eliminate water-related problems with espresso equipment because the problematic minerals are removed. When warranted, this technology easily pays for itself by reducing service and optimizing beverage quality, and can add years to equipment life.

Inhibitor technologies do not remove dissolved minerals. Inhibitors interfere with the relationship between the ions of dissolved minerals to inhibit the formation of hardness compounds. They do not remove hardness minerals and do not reduce TDS. Some scale inhibiting technologies dissolve polyphosphate into water. These polyphosphate sequestrate inhibitors can be very effective in certain applications such as ice machines, but OptiPure does not recommended their use with espresso equipment. OptiPure's ScaleX2 technology is a very effective scale inhibitor but, unlike polyphosphate, ScaleX2 is not affected by temperature and pH variations and does not add any chemicals to water.

OptiPure application recommendations are based upon the systems tested and proven ability to help protect equipment against undesirable water characteristics. It is important to note that water chemistry and the mechanical aspects of espresso equipment can be very complex. Many variables can influence the overall impact water will have on equipment in a given application.
The purpose of this document is to help OptiPure users understand how water contaminants can affect their espresso equipment and beverage quality and consistency, and the treatment options available; and to share important considerations for making an info rmed decision about selecting the best water treatment for their application. The water quality parameters presented here are general application guidelines. Recommendations may vary based upon application specifics, and equipment design and features.

Filtering out particulate contaminants and reducing chlorine, taste & odor is recommended for all espresso applications. OptiPure's AMS and ScaleX2 systems for managing hardness and TDS problems are integrated, multi-stage systems that include particulate filtration and activated carbon for chlorine, taste & odor reduction.

Application Recommendation

	Consider when	Recommended when
Hardness	> 171 ppm (10 grains)	> 325 ppm (19 grains)
Alkalinity	> 150 ppm	> 250 ppm
TDS	> 350 ppm	> 450 ppm
pH	6.5 to 9.5	6.5 to 9.5

These are general application considerations - Contact your OptiPure distributor or FilterXpress for a specific application recommendation.

Advanced Membrane Separation (AMS) – Unlike filtration , which is a process of trapping and holding contaminants within a filter media, membrane separation is a process where contaminants rejected by the membrane are flushed away to the drain. Nothing is trapped and held in the membrane media. It is a separation process .

It is incorrect to refer to all membrane-type systems as “RO”. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a near absolute removal process that takes out virtually all dissolved solids and ions in water. Water with this degree of purity can be corrosive and lacks the mineral content and balance essential for proper coffee extraction. Reverse Osmosis is not recommended water treatment for espresso equipment.

OptiPure AMS systems utilize a special type of membrane with different filtration and rejection characteristics than RO. OptiPure membranes are very effective at reducing high TDS and removing minerals that form hardness while allowing a calculated permeation of non-hardness minerals. A simple way of viewing the characteristics of this technology is that these membranes are “selective” about what and how much they reject.

OptiPure AMS delivers water with the ideal properties for espresso.
AMS systems deal with a broad range of contaminants that are detrimental to espresso equipment and beverage quality. Each system includes sediment and activated carbon prefiltration, AMS processor, storage tank and water repressurization. These systems further enhance mineral balance by adding a calculated amount of calcium to the product water following the selective rejection membrane.

OptiPure OPW-Series are compact wall mounted systems. Six models offer from 100 to 1600 gallon per day production with storage and repressurization options ranging from 5 to 500 gallon capacity.

OptiPure OPM models are completely self-contained, free standing units with 150 and 300 gallon per day production and 25 or 50 gallon storage options.

Application Recommendation

	Consider when	Recommended when
Hardness	> 50 ppm (3 grains)	> 85 ppm (5 grains)
Alkalinity	> 100 ppm	> 150 ppm
TDS	> 100 ppm	> 200 ppm
pH	6.5 to 9.5	6.5 to 9.5

These are general application considerations - Contact your OptiPure distributor or FilterXpress for a specific application recommendation.

ScaleX2 technology is a simple, reliable and cost-effective solution for protecting espresso equipment against the formation and build-up of damaging scale while retaining minerals beneficial to espresso quality.

ScaleX2 instantly transforms dissolved hardness ions into microscopic particles that become suspended in solution greatly reducing the potential for scale formation. The microscopic particle formations become stronger as water temperature increases, which further enhance ScaleX2's ability to prevent hardness compounds from forming scale in espresso equipment.

ScaleX2 is a superior alternative to common scale reduction methods including polyphosphate inhibitors and softening resins.

ScaleX2:

does not remove calcium or other minerals from water
does not add sodium or chemicals to water
becomes even more effective as water temperature increases
is not negatively affected by pH variations
requires changing the filter only once a year in most cases

ScaleX2 systems are available in various configurations to meet different application requirements. ScaleX2 models SX2-21 and SX2-22 are Tested and Certified by NSF International.

System Sizing

Once you choose the best treatment technology for you're application, you must select a system that will meet your usage requirements.

Proper system application will assure that your espresso equipment performs at its peak. OptiPure system capacities and performance claims are based upon a systems tested and proven ability to protect equipment between filter changes. Exceeding the filtration system capacity can compromise system performance and equipment operation.

Whether your decision is weighted by the desire to improve quality and increase customer satisfaction or to protect your equipment against expensive service calls and downtime, the outcome is similar: a more successful and profitable business. FilterXpress can assist you with understanding the issues you consider important and help you make an info rmed water treatment decision that will yield measurable results. We can then provide recommendations for filtration or an advanced membrane separation system capable of meeting any of your quality and production requirements.